I’m no real audiophile but I did go down that rabbit hole for a while and I do care about audio quality.
I have less-than-stellar sources, my music is played mainly from my laptops and I have an iPod Touch that’s no more useful for portable use ‘cause the battery won’t hold a charge anymore so I use it in my car. I’d be interested in a new DAP but most of them are so expensive.
As for the rest of my rig:
- DAC: Topping D30
- Amp: Schiit Magni 3
- Headphones: Sennheiser HD600 and Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Ebony
- Portable headphones: Sennheiser IE80 and JVC HA-S400
The DAC and amp should help out on the quality side, regardless of source. Unless of course you're plating like 128kbsp files.
I'm also somewhat interested in a DAP for when I travel for work. The cost for me too is a limiting factor. Besides, I doubt I would get much for critical listing in the hellhole that is airports and planes.
I did randomly find an old iPod mini in a camera bag but the audio quality out is worse than my phone + E10k. It does at least help me save battery on my phone.
Shiit Magni and Modi 1st gen + HD650.
Am I missing something out there or I'm good for the next 50 years?
It all depends on how happy you are with the sound quality. I got my DT 1990 Pros and doubt I will upgrade my desktop headphones in the next 10 years. IEMs, noise-cancelling, something else mobile, probably.
Not really an audiophile eventhough I appreciate good sound quality, just got these ATH-m50x this morning and wow the sound is superb, I got a Beats by Dre PRO 7 years ago for 400$ and sound quality was great but still not as good as these I think, they lasted until some weeks ago tho so good investement nonetheless, these m50x for 120€... a bargain, very satisfied.
ATH-M50x is starting down the rabbit hole. They have been a gateway drug for many, including myself. Next thing would be a dac & amp combo on the cheap.
Cool thread
main room setup is simple these days:
Amp: DIY FIRSTWATT F6 (love it)
Pre/streamer/dac/room correction: minidsp shd
Speakers: klipsch heresy
Sub: svs sb-2000
Pretty content with this tight set up. No bass ports on anything + roomcorrection gives great bass control in my cellar-like room.
next project might be a 300b tubeamp build
Awesome set-up! I would love to dip my toe into the waters of room correction. I'm fortunate that the rooms already sound pretty good, but one still never knows until they actually try.
Is there a specific tutorial on the tube build you're looking at? I would love to see a video or photo walkthrough if you move forward with it.
For music I have:
Yamaha AS501 amp
Onkyo c-7030 cd player
Rega Planar 1 (2016) with AT-VM95E cartridge
Raspberry PI with hifiberry dac+pro and touchscreen running picoreplayer
Synology DS118 running logitech media server
Q acoustic Q3050 speakers
BK XXLS400 sub
Additional kit includes PS4 and PS3, Yamaha RXV381, LG 55B7, pair of Q3020 for rears (when i get round to fixing them to the wall), a Q3090C and a diy selector switch to switch my floorstanders between the two amps; this is going to be modified to work automatically by replacing the switch with relays.
Will be upgrading the receiver in next year or so as it doesn't have atmos or pass through dolby vision (hoping ps5 will have both of these).
Nice set-up! I've thought about getting a HiFiBerry. My new amp comes with streaming and flac playback though, so not sure it would do me any good at this point unless I need to route through a different dac.
Is this the right thread to ask for some advice about the shitty Windows 10 OS and how it breaks the Sound Blaster Z with it's latest updates?
Why not? Unfortunately, I'm of no help. I'm more curious on why go through a soundcard vs external dac & amp?
