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In Reply to: RE: Amp/DAC for Sennheiser HD800 headphones posted by SteveJewels on October 21, 2019 at 02:28:09
First let me respond to the replies, thanks, and,
I would like to stick with MQA, especially a DAC that fully unfolds/converts MQA files.
Portability is not the top concern, lugability is probably sufficient. :)
A good match, SQ wise is a top criterion.
I will do the mods necessary/available to improve the 800's.
I got the 800's today. My initial impression is very good.
I can hear the 6 kHz peak on some songs.
I was pleasantly surprised that my laptop can drive them adequately.
My list as of today, in no particular order, includes the Meridian Explorer 2, Mytek Liberty, iFi xDSD, Dragonfly Cobalt.
Follow Ups:
I own a Mytek Brooklyn Bridge and it's the best sounding DAC I've ever owned. However, I find myself playing my FiiO M11 Pro more frequently because it sounds nearly as good if not just as good and it's so much more fun to play. Both of these components support MQA and both have WiFi streamers. The FiiO includes a display so you don't need a computer at all. Both of these also have balanced headphone outputs and unbalanced headphone outputs. The FiiO M11 Pro simply blows me away!
Good luck,
John Elison
" My list as of today, in no particular order, includes the Meridian Explorer 2, Mytek Liberty, iFi xDSD, Dragonfly Cobalt."
A rational list of contenders. However it is reasonable to expect that there is no one on this forum (nor I would bet on any other) who has sat down with a pair of Senn HD800s and those 4 DAC/ headphone amps and compared them one to another. So, IMO, there can be no definitive advice.
Given that ultimate portability is not your primary concern and as you haven't mentioned any particular price point then out of these choices I would go for the Mytek. This is obviously not because I have heard it but it meets your spec, is not over large and is more of a "main system" device than the alternatives listed. It has the ability to deal with hi-res formats outside of MQA should you ever download any DSD or DXD files. It has good reviews too.
BTW, I would not overlook the need for a good USB connecting wire ( I recommend Audioquest Carbon as a fair combination of price and performance). Further, as you are using a laptop as source, would recommend that you also look into USB conditioners as the PC/DAC USB connection can be rather "dirty" insofar as EMI is concerned.
Let us know how you get on so that our store of knowledge can be improved.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
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