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Hukkaz
0
Jun 7, 2018
Im looking for a good DAC/headphone amp for my setup: headphones: HD650 active speakers: 2x Genelec 6040 (rca) and 5040 subwoofer. Would this do the trick ? Or could I get away with just using a Topping D30 and a Magni 3 maybe ?
Rosiebar
126
Jun 7, 2018
HukkazA D50 and a Magni 3 would do better. You can always change out the amp later as you grow into the sound your looking for but the D50 will hold strong as a DAC for sometime. Some may poo poo Schiit but the Magni's are great amps. I have a Magni 1 that still sounds great when paired with different DACs and at a $100 a pop they are a sound (he, he) purchase. The Objective amp listed here is also a nice alternative for a neutral offering. You may want a nice tube amp later to experiment with sound. The key is to separate your DAC/Amp unless your looking for an all one and done purchase in which case there are better offerings then the DX7s.
Enjoy!
bhazard451
120
Jun 7, 2018
RosiebarWhat DAC/Amp uses the new dual ES9038Q2M, runs balanced, and even comes close to this price?
Rosiebar
126
Jun 7, 2018
bhazard451A D50 uses dual ES9038s and can be purchased as a drop at $150. Pick a separate amp for power separation and a cleaner signal. Your choice of amp. Read up on the specs of the DX7s in relation to its little bother the DX7.
https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-topping-dx7s-dac-and-headphone-amp.2378/
bhazard451
120
Jun 7, 2018
RosiebarThat's not what was asked. Many combos exist running separate, but I don't want separates. Specifically, what DAC/amp, all in one setup runs balanced with XLR, uses the newest DACs from Sabre or AKM, and comes close to this price and spec wise? You say there are better offerings but have not mentioned any.
Rosiebar
126
Jun 7, 2018
bhazard451That's not what was stated. " A D50 and a Magni 3 would do better". Want a all in one, I would go with the DX7. You want dual ES9038Q2M with linear? So did I and this wasn't it at this price looking close at the specs. It didn't make sense to require a linear power supply while compromising its performance simply to get one box. Your mileage may vary.
But... good luck in finding a DX7. Do you believe in delayed gratification? This would make a great drop request to bring down the price: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24459#QuestionsandAnswers
If an all in one unit is a must then $379 may scratch the itch. I just know I would keep scratching with this unit regretfully but I do love Topping.
Fayne
2575
Jun 7, 2018
HukkazYou totally don't want this if you plan to use it as a headphone amp. The DAC portion is ok, great in specs, kinda meh in operation. The firmware is quirky and the amp is pitiful (put on [balanced] He4xx and HD6xx and turned the dial to max, brain didn't melt). I was getting some seriously LOUD pops coming from mine when it did sample rate changes on my Mac in Audirvana and Roon, none on Linux; might be environmental.
Unless you're looking for cheap XLR out, you're probably better off looking elsewhere.
FrostyP
502
Jun 7, 2018
RosiebarThe only issue with the DX7s is the output impedance of 10
PawPawDog
59
Jun 7, 2018
FayneI disagree. While I am not a headphone person, I do have both HD6XX and HE4XX. I think DX7s has a fiarly good headphone section and able to drive the HD6XX better than many others. I also have Oppo 205 which uses 9038Pro as DAC and frankly, I think DX7s sounds a little better. As far as loud pop goes, I never have this problem using Windows and Foobar2000 switching PCM or DSD output at various rate. Overall, I think DX7s is a great value.
Fayne
2575
Jun 7, 2018
PawPawDogLike I said, sample rate pops might be environmental. Coreaudio on Mac is a steaming pile. They don't happen when using it on Linux via ALSA. That said, none of my other DACs exhibit this annoying tendency to pop when doing sample rate changes.
Headphone section is not that amazing at all. Has a seriously difficult time driving planar magnetic fully. Is possible that this is localized to my DX7s, as I don't know anyone who owns one to compare with. And don't get me wrong, the headphone section doesn't sound bad. I just don't get the pressure I get from other amps and monitor outs.
The DAC on it is fine enough, but I still prefer to use my TEAC UD-501 for general listening, even though it has lesser specs on PCM and DSD.
PawPawDog
59
Jun 7, 2018
RosiebarDX7 was done and gone, so there is no point to talk about it as option. I have the DX7s and think it is a great value.
PawPawDog
59
Jun 7, 2018
RosiebarUse the same logic, one can also argue to get the DX7s now and if one fell needed, one can always add an amp down the road. I connect my DX7s to a tube amp that also has a headpone output. I have the flexibility to choose either headphone output when not using the speakers.
PawPawDog
59
Jun 7, 2018
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demize
157
Jun 8, 2018
Fayne Just turned off volume leveling in JRiver and even at -19dB it was too loud for me to have my HE-400i (with a balanced cable) actually on my head. Pushed them down to my neck, turned the volume to the max, and it was *impressively* loud. Turns out the HE-400i make fairly decent speakers if you feed them a loud enough signal. Not sure how that translates to being a "pitiful" amp, honestly.
Fayne
2575
Jun 8, 2018
demizeI'm talking with R128 enabled. No point in ramping your levels before DAC. I do the same thing with a Little Dot or even with the monitor out on my behringer mixer and my brain starts trying to leak out my face. I'm starting to wonder if I received a dud of a DX7s.
demize
157
Jun 8, 2018
FayneI've got mine at -23dB now, and it's plenty loud with R128 enabled. I got a good amount of background noise too—aquarium filter practically right next to me, fan and air conditioner down the hall. Not quite loud enough to drown them out during the quietest parts of tracks, but loud enough I don't want to turn it up at all.
You may have gotten a dud. Too bad there's no practical way to measure the output... so no practical way to actually figure out if you did aside from a side-by-side comparison. Only thing I can think of would be trying the single-ended output, which might tell you if the balanced output is messed up.
Fayne
2575
Jun 8, 2018
demizeYeah, I didn't bother with the single ended. Probably should have. Not that I planed to use it as an amp anyways. It is just one of the balanced audio sources I funnel through a mixer (unity of 0) so I can use a set of amps, cans, and speakers for multiple workstations and devices without having to swap cables.
demize
157
Jun 8, 2018
FayneSounds like a neat setup! This is now the entirety of my setup, basically. Came from a Modi 2 Uber/Little Dot I+ that served me well for quite a while. Not long after this drop ended the Modi 2 Uber stopped working (which may have been more on my computer than on the DAC itself) so this is it for me now. I got no complaints.
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