I want a DAC and awesome headphones for my PC! What is the best?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

admin_exported

New member
Aug 10, 2019
2,556
5
0
A few days a go, I started a forum topic on this, then decided I didn't want one. However, looking at the options, I do want a DAC!

I'm soon going to be buying some expensive headphones as well for my PC, but I don't know which ones to get!

So here is my question, what is the best DAC and headphones for my PC?

DAC cost limit: £200

Headphone cost limit: £500

Thanks 🙂
 
so update to come - guess you've had time to play - meant to try connecting my pc up to my fubar without the usb cable but using an optical cable as my comp has an optical out to see if makes a difference - have you tried that?

to the op - £500 will but you one hell of a set of cans but lots of options - when and where will you be using them? if at work you might want closed back if at home and no one to annoy def go for open cans - to me sound better
 
I will be using them just at home, they can be as loud as you want!
 
JohnDuncan:Well if you can wait for my "Fubar IV and Grado SR325i - First Impressions" thread later tonight...

I will 🙂
 
Beresford Caiman £220

Sennheiser HD650 £250

Quality sound that won't give you a headache. Could listen to them for hours..
 
Don Guess:Beresford Caiman £220 Sennheiser HD650 £250 Quality sound that won't give you a headache. Could listen to them for hours..

the sens are great - just upgraded from them and without getting in to trouble they are currently on ebay if you search drop me a note on there if any questions
 
Don Guess:Beresford Caiman £220

Sennheiser HD650 £250

Quality sound that won't give you a headache. Could listen to them for hours..

That looks like a sweet combo! Will it work with USB?

Do the HD650's sound good with pop and R&B?
 
The caiman has a good USB input and a very good headphone amp for the money.

Whether they are good for pop and RnB - the Sennheisers are not particularly forward. They have strong bass and sweet treble but they're not as dynamic as Grado phones for instance.

The problem with phones is some sound great for a few minutes but become fatiguing on long listening sessions.

The Senn 650s are a good all rounder. Comfortable too.

I doubt they're better than other similar priced cans. They all have their own characteristics. Only you can decide which you prefer..
 
i'd agree with that - new to grados but just upgraded to grado ps1000s and they are def a lot more forward than the senns i'm used to - also more detailed with far deeper bass but are 7 times the price
 
I can't speak about the headphones, but I can't speak highly enough about the Beresford Dac. I have modded the Beresford 7510 and it sounds fantastic but there are constraints with modding the circuitry so the Caiman I imagine sounds even better still so definitely that for the dac
emotion-2.gif
 
Buy matengawhat's old kit 😉

Its almost exactly what I use and I find it delightful!

Caiman>little dot headohone amp>senn HD-650 gets my vote.
 
not put the little dot on ebay yet still toying with the idea as quite taken by it - really need to sit down and compare the solo - job for the weekend - but i should really only keep one!
 
matengawhat:not put the little dot on ebay yet still toying with the idea as quite taken by it - really need to sit down and compare the solo - job for the weekend - but i should really only keep one!
See. I told you it's nice to have these amps hanging around. And they aren't an enormous amount of money.
 
ajharris:
A few days a go, I started a forum topic on this, then decided I didn't want one. However, looking at the options, I do want a DAC!

I'm soon going to be buying some expensive headphones as well for my PC, but I don't know which ones to get!

So here is my question, what is the best DAC and headphones for my PC?

DAC cost limit: £200

Headphone cost limit: £500

Thanks 🙂

Well, you can get a pair of second hand Grado RS1s on ebay for around £350. These retail for around £650. Anything more than this is definately going to be the last 5-10%, in terms of SQ. See here.

The Beresford is a good starting point for a DAC. I still use mine and I think it's great. You can get older versions for less than a ton. Take a look at this. Please note these earlier versions don't have a USB input.

So how much have I spent? Headphones - £350. DAC - £100. I've got £250 to spend on an amp. 🙂

The GS Novo is a 5 star product costing around £220. You can get it for less if you fancy making it yourself (see my useful posts in my signature). This leaves you with a few quid to buy cables. You can buy this later and just use the Beresford headphone amp to start off with, allowing you to decide if headfi suits you or not.

Hope this helps.

Note - the ebay links are provided to show examples of what is available. I can't comment on the quality of the actual items or the honesty of the sellers.
 
matengawhat:not put the little dot on ebay yet still toying with the idea as quite taken by it - really need to sit down and compare the solo - job for the weekend - but i should really only keep one!

You can't help but warm to those valves (pun intended)

Personally I don't think selling it would be worth the outlay as PJ says.
 
Let's get back on track 🙂

I want a DAC with a headphone amp in it that will work with my PC via USB.

I will leave the headphones for now, let's concentrate on the DAC.

Let me put the maximum budget up to £300 on the DAC.

Let's try again 😀
 
Hi ajharris,

In addition to the dacs with built-in headphone amps already recommended, also consider the Musical Fidelity X-CAN V8 or V8P, both of which have USB-dacs built-in, too. They have tubes (in the pre-amp section, I believe) and therefore are warmish yet very detailed. The only difference is that the V8P has pre-outs.

Both should be available within your budget on Ebay if you are patient.

These should work well with many headphones; I find mine amazing with AKGs.

Hedgehog
 
Keep clear of valves if you're not absolutely sure that's what you really want.

The 'warmth' in valve sound is basically harmonic distortion. Meaning the amp adds 'harmonies' to the original sound. It's like a slight echo or reverb effect in my ears. Not pleasant at all. And certainly not 'high fidelity', as something gets out of the amp that was not put into it.
 
if you buy the right amp that allows you to change the tubes they are great for tailoring the music to how you want - i personally think they are fantastic especially with compressed/uncompressed/ipod audio etc as its just adds a little warmth to the overall sound

i also think they really add to the overall sound and should not be thought of as above (not 'high fidelity') - ppl find differences in all equipment these difference have to be created by the components used and tubes should be thought of no differently

for example Sennheiser headphones seems to produce a fairly flat response - Grados from what i've read and what i am currently learning are far more forward in their presentation than sennheiser some will prefer some will hate - it could be argued that because the sound is so different between these two manufactures that one is artificial but the truth is your ears are yours and what you hear will be different to me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
DAC comparison
Replies
32
Views
4K
Hi-Fi
Rodolfo
R
Fandango Andy
First HiFi for a teenager?
Replies
30
Views
3K
Hi-Fi
Roog
R
Entrigo
Class A - Wattage (Marantz PM7200)
Replies
3
Views
815
Hi-Fi
twinkletoes
T
d00
Need help with amp/dac under 1000$
Replies
4
Views
2K
Hi-Fi
d00
d00
K
Total newbie looking for advice on sources and speakers
Replies
12
Views
2K
Hi-Fi
good_enough
G

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom