Hi,
So I have a hi-fi setup at the moment that is a Roksan Kandy CD player connected via the aanlogue outputs to a Roksan Capsian M2 integrated amp which also takes a stereo line out feed from a Denon AVR-X4200W. Connected to this are a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 6 speakers and I am very happy with it. However, we all like an upgrade.....
So what I would like is a headphone socket which means getting a headphone amp as the M2 doesn't have one. From what I have read, I seem to have two options.
Option 1
Take the analogue line out feed from the M2 to a headphone amp and use it simply to plug some headphones into. Seems simple although I'm not sure which one to go for but something like the Project Head Box S would seem a simple and cheap option.
Option 2
It seems that there are pleny of DAC units our there that serve as a DAC and a headphone amp. So, what I could do is take the digital output from the Kandy CD player and plug this into a DAC (such as the Audiolab M-DAC+ or the Pioneer U-05) and let that unit handle the DAC instead of the CD player. I could then run the analogue outputs (balanced or RCA) to the M2 and let it then amplify the signal and feed the speakers.
Given the setup that I have, which would be better? Is there an advantage in using the DAC to do the audio conversion instead of the CD player or is the DAC in the Roksan Kandy likely to be better? Option 2 would also allow me to feed in ripped CD files as well I guess instead of having to do this through the Denon.
Thoughts before I waste a load of cash?
Nathan
So I have a hi-fi setup at the moment that is a Roksan Kandy CD player connected via the aanlogue outputs to a Roksan Capsian M2 integrated amp which also takes a stereo line out feed from a Denon AVR-X4200W. Connected to this are a pair of Monitor Audio Silver 6 speakers and I am very happy with it. However, we all like an upgrade.....
So what I would like is a headphone socket which means getting a headphone amp as the M2 doesn't have one. From what I have read, I seem to have two options.
Option 1
Take the analogue line out feed from the M2 to a headphone amp and use it simply to plug some headphones into. Seems simple although I'm not sure which one to go for but something like the Project Head Box S would seem a simple and cheap option.
Option 2
It seems that there are pleny of DAC units our there that serve as a DAC and a headphone amp. So, what I could do is take the digital output from the Kandy CD player and plug this into a DAC (such as the Audiolab M-DAC+ or the Pioneer U-05) and let that unit handle the DAC instead of the CD player. I could then run the analogue outputs (balanced or RCA) to the M2 and let it then amplify the signal and feed the speakers.
Given the setup that I have, which would be better? Is there an advantage in using the DAC to do the audio conversion instead of the CD player or is the DAC in the Roksan Kandy likely to be better? Option 2 would also allow me to feed in ripped CD files as well I guess instead of having to do this through the Denon.
Thoughts before I waste a load of cash?
Nathan