Question Amp or DAC/Amp recommend

[Barnaby]

Hi

I have a Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer and it has I believe a moderately acceptable DAC in it. I am no longer using it in my main system and I want to take it into the living room to use with my Sennheiser HD650 headphones only. I am sort of looking at the Fiio K11R2R which is available at a reasonable price at the moment, but I wonder if I really would notice much difference between the DACs these two have - and I suspect not.

Should I go for a headphone amp only and use the DAC in my MXN10 or is it really not cost - effective and should I just go with something like the Fii0/

Also, is there a better match for my MXN10 and headphones? I am not changing either of these.

Thank you for your help

 

[PieterG]

Hi -- i'm not sure you're comparing apples to apples here. The MXN10 has a good and widely used DAC chip, and Cambridge typically tunes the sound of their products very well around the DAC. It's not a flagship Sabre DAC but a very good one nonetheless.

The Fiio is a R2R DAC. If you're considering that one, you are choosing it for its different technology and the warmth and musicality associated with it. When directly comparing DACs, i suppose you will pick up the (subtle?) differences.

The MXN10 has no headphones circuitry. If you do a lot of listening that way, maybe it makes sense to buy the Fiio. If you have another headphone output, for example on your amp, maybe that one is good enough for you?

 

[RoA]

I had both the K11 R2R and normal version at the same time. Decided for the latter as it is more detailed with better focus but not as warm or expanding (diffuse) sounding. Headphones are Hifiman, Grado and Sennheiser. Pick your poison.

It is better by some margin than the integrated amplifier options I have (not tried my latest integrated with H/P's yet but I expect a similar outcome).