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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: acidjack on August 12, 2010, 04:03:26 PM
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Since I don't have much choice but to do a lot of my mastering with headphones and my computer, I think I might need a better headphone preamp than the built-in on the Macbook Pro... I also don't want to spend a ton of money.
This http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php looked like a pretty good solution. USB powered, small footprint, etc.
Anyone used one, or something similar?
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I use this USB interface with headphones instead of my laptop sound card:
http://www.amazon.com/Cakewalk-UA-1G-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B0021HUHEO (http://www.amazon.com/Cakewalk-UA-1G-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B0021HUHEO)
It sounds good to me, but my laptop sound was so bad that anything would be good in comparison. Most of the time I master via loudspeakers, but I use the cans when I need to hear details at a high volume. The above interface has worked well with headphones.
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To me that is a ton of money for analog. If I were to buy a pre-amp for a computer, I'd go big and drop way too much money on this DACport. >:D
http://www.centrance.com/products/dacport/
24 bit/96khz
but after you get this, you'll need to upgrade your headphones. haha
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Since I don't have much choice but to do a lot of my mastering with headphones and my computer, I think I might need a better headphone preamp than the built-in on the Macbook Pro... I also don't want to spend a ton of money.
This http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php looked like a pretty good solution. USB powered, small footprint, etc.
Anyone used one, or something similar?
whats your budget? I think some of the ibasso or pico line that are likely to beat those, but they cost slightly more (the ibasso line averages around $210 or so).
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Since I don't have much choice but to do a lot of my mastering with headphones and my computer, I think I might need a better headphone preamp than the built-in on the Macbook Pro... I also don't want to spend a ton of money.
This http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php looked like a pretty good solution. USB powered, small footprint, etc.
Anyone used one, or something similar?
whats your budget? I think some of the ibasso or pico line that are likely to beat those, but they cost slightly more (the ibasso line averages around $210 or so).
Yeah, I was thinking not more than $200 or so. I'm using Senn HD280s right now, nothing fancy... so I guess I should upgrade my cans, too... >:D
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I just bought this Headphone amp. It makes a world of difference on both my my Laptop and Desktop.
(http://www.firestone-audio.eu/shop/images/fubar4plus1black.jpg) (http://www.firestone-audio.eu/shop/images/fubar4plus3backplate.jpg)
$350.00 retail and I paid $300 from http://aphroditecu29.com/FirestoneAudio/Fubar.aspx (http://aphroditecu29.com/FirestoneAudio/Fubar.aspx)
I also bought this dongle for my laptop USB>SPDIF. The usb only gives 16/48 where the SPDIF give 24/96 with 24/192 upsampling.
(http://www.tweekgeek.com/zoom_img/_1256022856.jpg)
http://www.tweekgeek.com/_e/Portable_Computer_Audio/product/HiFace/M2Tech_HiFace_Turns_an_Ordinary_PC_into_an_Audiophile_Music_Server.htm (http://www.tweekgeek.com/_e/Portable_Computer_Audio/product/HiFace/M2Tech_HiFace_Turns_an_Ordinary_PC_into_an_Audiophile_Music_Server.htm)
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The bithead does have an onboard DAC. I have the cheaper analog version and it still sounds great.
The company makes excellent products. I think the bithead should more than suit acidjack's needs, given that he doesn't want to spend more.
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acidjack, won't this do the trick for you?
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=133190.0
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http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/FUN/FUNEN.htm
This is what I recently picked up. Although my USB is only 16/48. He has changed the chip and it is now 24/96 over USB
roughly about 300 bucks and you can mix and match the chips if you want to.
Kingwa was easy to deal with and quick delivery from China
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Any other comments on the FUN?
It looks too good to pass up. I'd like to run my office system - USB out from my computer
to either bookshelf speakers (Usher 520s) or powered monitors (M-Audio Bx-5a)
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Any other comments on the FUN?
It looks too good to pass up. I'd like to run my office system - USB out from my computer
to either bookshelf speakers (Usher 520s) or powered monitors (M-Audio Bx-5a)
I have been very happy with it. I use it almost every day in my main system as well as just as a headphone AMP. I have the earlier version which is just 16/48 on the USB but is upgradable. The transaction was smooth and no problems etc fast shipping. It drives my AT50s with ease
I have considered buying a 2nd.
PC/PS3/Directv > Audio gd FUN (DAC Out) > Music Hall Mambo > VR2's
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If you don't need portability, this sounds great and is a steal at $90. Plus it will power speakers as well and also has an RCA input:
http://www.hifidiyshop.com/topping-tp30-class-t-digital-amplifier-usb-dac-ta2024_p221.html
Topping models have some with USB for a few $ more.
I have one of the topping amps with USB in my computer playback system. USB DAC, Headphone amp, and Class T speaker amp all in one. I love it -- sounds great, very flexible. It has RCA inputs, but I usually use the USB DAC input, and then I use it both as a headphone amp with my Grado SR225's or my A-T ATH-M50 cans (really getting used to those for post-production work!), and also use it for speaker playback with my Soliloquy's.
More expensive than what Chuck is looking for, but a great box!
I just got one a couple of weeks ago (Topping TP-30) for computer playback & I concur. It sounds great as a headphone amp powering my Sennheiser HD 650's and does a great job powering my Polk bookshelf speakers. I use the USB input for computer playback (although I had to do some research to find out how to get Adobe Audition to use it as an external DAC) and have a radio plugged into the RCA jacks for when I want to listed to the radio when working at the computer (the quality of internet radio is a disappointment to me in most cases).
At around $100, this was one of the best purchases I've ever made. It took about a month to arrive from China, but well worth the wait.
Now I see you can get one for $90 shipped here:
http://www.hifidiyshop.com/topping-tp30-class-t-digital-amplifier-usb-dac-ta2024_p221.html