Office Headphone playback system - advice needed

[fozzy]

#

[heikki]

I'm in the same boat (with the same cans).  Looking for some affordable ideas ...

-Heikki

[Nick Culbreth]

It sounds like the Bithead from Headroom might be a good option for you.  I've never heard the Bithead but I have had the chance to hear the Airhead which uses the same headphone amp circuitry and I though it sounded very pretty darn good.  Maybe some of the Airhead users on the board will pop in with their experiences.

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-mobile-line/headroom-total-bithead.php

[MattD]

http://www.ciaudio.com/vhp1.htm
However, I don't know how good a DAC the one in your soundcard is. Getting a good DAC with an equally good headphone amp will require a step up to the MiniDAC (which has USB input), at least. I warn you, once you hear a Benchmark, you will not want to go back to anything lesser, so avoid listening to one! (I haven't heard the Grace 901 or 902 yet, though.)

[Kyle]

The m-audio Transit is also a good solution for getting audio from the comp - bit perfect as well, but optical only..

[TenoRichards]

The m-audio Transit is also a good solution for getting audio from the comp - bit perfect as well, but optical only..

i own a transit. I've always wondered if it delivers the same quality data stream as say, the audiophile sndcard. What EXACTLY determines the quality of a optical signal? Bitperfect-ness? Or is it something else? If the transit simply delivers a perfect signal, is there ANY reason to get an audiophile soundcard?

Thanks in advance.
Andrew

[Tim]

http://www.ciaudio.com/vhp1.htm
However, I don't know how good a DAC the one in your soundcard is. Getting a good DAC with an equally good headphone amp will require a step up to the MiniDAC (which has USB input), at least. I warn you, once you hear a Benchmark, you will not want to go back to anything lesser, so avoid listening to one! (I haven't heard the Grace 901 or 902 yet, though.)

Bel Canto DAC 2