Topic: Has anyone used one of these USB headphone preamps?

[acidjack]

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?

[notlance]

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

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.

[rastasean]

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. 
http://www.centrance.com/products/dacport/

24 bit/96khz

but after you get this, you'll need to upgrade your headphones. haha

[page]

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).

[acidjack]

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... 

[coloartist]

I just bought this Headphone amp. It makes a world of difference on both  my my Laptop and Desktop.


$350.00 retail and I paid $300 from 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/_e/Portable_Computer_Audio/product/HiFace/M2Tech_HiFace_Turns_an_Ordinary_PC_into_an_Audiophile_Music_Server.htm

[fmaderjr]

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.

[tapeworm48]

acidjack, won't this do the trick for you?

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=133190.0

[kindms]

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

[Idle Wind]

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)

[kindms]

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

[fmaderjr]

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