Great DAC + Headphone amp recommendations?

[Brucemck2]

For a second home I'm looking for a great DAC + Headphone amp with:

(1) USB input that accepts DSD (I'll be feeding it via HQ Player via Roon; I have no need for any other sources beyond USB)
(2) Great headphone output (ideally for my not particularly efficient balanced HE1000's)
(3) Remote control over volume

Ideally a single box, although if relatively small (under 19" wide and under 2" high) I could go two box.

Recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[asiufy]

Bruce,

The darTZeel LHC-208 is a fantastic integrated, as it includes a DAC, streamer *and* headphone amp. It's not necessarily inexpensive, but it's a fantastic, all-in-one piece, that you can even hook up speakers to in case you feel like it.


cheers,
alex

 

[phunge]

I recommend the Grace Design m920. I have it's older sibling, m902 and love it -- especially the remote control!

http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m920/m920.htm

 

[Brucemck2]

Bruce,

The darTZeel LHC-208 is a fantastic integrated, as it includes a DAC, streamer *and* headphone amp. It's not necessarily inexpensive, but it's a fantastic, all-in-one piece, that you can even hook up speakers to in case you feel like it.

cheers,
alex

Appears to not support DSD.

Anyone with experience with the Simaudio, Questyle CMA8, or new model Grace units?

 

[asiufy]

It does support DSD, up to Quad.

 

[EdmontonCanuck]

T+A DAC 8 DSD. It's a superb DAC which I'm enjoying very much.

 

[Priaptor]

T+A DAC 8 DSD. It's a superb DAC which I'm enjoying very much.

YUP. My headphone setup is T&A DAC 8 being fed DSD512 being fed by my i7 6700K Falcon NW Tiki with Roon/HQP using poly-sinc-shrt-mp, ASDM5 bit rate limit 22579200 into my Cavalli Liquid Carbon. It's awesome and eagerly awaiting my Liquid Gold.

My headphones are LCD-X and HD800s and love them both.

I highly recommend the T&A as a headphone DAC

 

[Brucemck2]

YUP. My headphone setup is T&A DAC 8 being fed DSD512 being fed by my i7 6700K Falcon NW Tiki with Roon/HQP using poly-sinc-shrt-mp, ASDM5 bit rate limit 22579200 into my Cavalli Liquid Carbon. It's awesome and eagerly awaiting my Liquid Gold.

My headphones are LCD-X and HD800s and love them both.

I highly recommend the T&A as a headphone DAC

Looking for an "all in one" DAC+Amp with remote .... it's in a wife-frequented room in a second home (so, definitely no Hydra/Typhon stack feeding an MSB stack feeding a VTL pre feeding a Decware Taboo as in my other rig )

 

[microstrip]

Looking for an "all in one" DAC+Amp with remote .... it's in a wife-frequented room in a second home (so, definitely no Hydra/Typhon stack feeding an MSB stack feeding a VTL pre feeding a Decware Taboo as in my other rig )

Devialet? People say the new version is now even better!

 

[asiufy]

microstrip,

Seems to be geared towards headphones, so the Devialet won't cut it.

Bruce,

The T+A has a headphone amp built-in, so it seems like it'll work for your situation. Only thing it'll lack is a remote. I think at its price point, the T+A will be hard to beat (like the darTZeel).


cheers,
alex

 

[Bobbi]

I use the TAD DA1000 for this purpose and im very happy with it.

The synergy with Fostex TH900 is excellent, so much so that I dont even use my HD800 anymore. I havent tried it with HE1000 though.

Another option would be Chord Dave.

 

[PhilipAC]

I have a Lampi Golden Gate HeadDAC with HD800s.

Sensational!!

 

[Priaptor]

microstrip,

Seems to be geared towards headphones, so the Devialet won't cut it.

Bruce,

The T+A has a headphone amp built-in, so it seems like it'll work for your situation. Only thing it'll lack is a remote. I think at its price point, the T+A will be hard to beat (like the darTZeel).


cheers,
alex

If you use it as an all on one it has a remote volume. However there is no balanced headphone jack if that matters

 

[wisnon]

I have a Lampi Golden Gate HeadDAC with HD800s.

Sensational!!

Totally agree! The headamp in the HeadDac is first class. The Big7HeadDac created a big buzz at the Warsaw show last year...and had balanced output and a VT99 driver tube. ALRainbow owns that actual unit and can give better feedback than I can. Up to DSD512 is possible. R2R PCM 384khz. Remote for volume and input selection.

The Chord Dave is another one to consider at a similar pricepoint.

 

[Sablon Audio]

T+A DAC 8 DSD. It's a superb DAC which I'm enjoying very much.

I would 'third' that recommendation on the assumption that budget is moderate given the second home placement. Have been running one fed 512DSD from SGM server into my HEK over the past couple of months. Is very competent with plenty of drive.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

microstrip,

Seems to be geared towards headphones, so the Devialet won't cut it.

Bruce,

The T+A has a headphone amp built-in, so it seems like it'll work for your situation. Only thing it'll lack is a remote. I think at its price point, the T+A will be hard to beat (like the darTZeel).


cheers,
alex

T+A does have a remote.

 

[George K]

+1 for T&A DAC 8 DSD.

 

[wisnon]

I would 'third' that recommendation on the assumption that budget is moderate given the second home placement. Have been running one fed 512DSD from SGM server into my HEK over the past couple of months. Is very competent with plenty of drive.

How is it when NOT fed with a $20K superserver?

 

[Sablon Audio]

How is it when NOT fed with a $20K superserver?

Fwiw I have also run it on Tidal off my ipad via an apple camera connector kit and it was still a pretty engaging listen on PCM once burnt in.

 

[EdmontonCanuck]

How is it when NOT fed with a $20K superserver?

Still awesome. My server is a CAPS V4 Pipeline (optimized with Audiophile Optimizer V2.0 on Win10), and running off an HDPlex LPS. This is a $2K server, and the results are still impressive in my humble opinion.