jamesrc Posted March 11, 2020 Share Posted March 11, 2020 (edited) I have a "need" to put a headphone amp in my office and am looking for some suggestions and/or thoughts. Current running Roon on a Nucleus. Most music I listen to is from my NAS, with some from Tidal. I have an unused Bluesound Node 2. Current headphones are Sennheiser HD800s and Focal Clear. My thoughts are: 1. Use Node. Buy amp, maybe Dac Amp such as the HDV 820. Use the DAC in that. 2. Use DAC in Node, get simpler non-DAC amp. Maybe Schiit Jotunheim 3. Buy Jotunheim with DAC. Stream via Macbook/USB to Jot. Cant use the Blunode for this as it has no USB output. 4. Get some other streamer with USB output (? what??) and go to the Jot. Ceiling is about $3k. Any of this sound foolish/good? Can anyone advise some other approach. It is always difficult to get great advice from shops as they will only sell you what they can sell you Cheers James edit: Connection in this room must be WIFI. no cabling options available. I have very solid industrial strength Wifi Edited March 11, 2020 by jamesrc forgot stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Clarke Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 I use a iFi Micro DSD Black Label with phones, so good it is now in main system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Surprisingly I've found these cheap little 8x TDA1387 headphone amp/DAC's to be pretty unbearable for headphones or into an amp for near field listening: https://www.ebay.com/itm/323438251474 You can do better though for significantly more money. About $700 will do it That said, this solution will destroy all. DAC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174119973656 USB interface: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/283589458895 Headphone amp: https://www.ebay.com/itm/142434188439 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idiomatically Posted March 19, 2020 Share Posted March 19, 2020 I'd just get a JDS Labs Element 2, superb headphone amp with a strong DAC. I had the original in my office for years and have recently upgraded to the model 2 to get the stronger Dac. For the money I think it's hard to get a better, more polished combo than the Element 2; https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jds-labs-element-ii-dac-and-headphone-amp-review.10029/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts