So far what I think I want are Micca MB42x speakers with a SMSL SA60 amp, but now I'm stuck on the DAC/headphone side of things. Alternately I've been considering the Micca PB42x, but I would still need a DAC/headphone amp.
Any advice?
Posted Oct 11, 2015, 10:56 PM UTC
I love my Monoprice USB DAC/AMP. Powers everything I've thrown at it just fine, with ample volume to play with. Zeos does a pretty good review of it, I've found the DAC to be fairly transparent, and the amp to be a tad bit warm. Otherwise, it's a great all in one unit that does speakers + headphones.
There's several others that does this like the E09k.
I really love my SMSL M6/SMSL SA60 set up...Its the Best IMO...Transparent and covers both of your needs...32bit DAC/Headphone Amp...1/4 inch jack so you wouldn't have to worry about breaking it.
If you don't mind using SPDIF instead of USB, I love my SMSL SD793II.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-47_1TU9HY
I was considering this one, but I'd really prefer USB. If I can't find a comparable USB DAC I'll probably go with this one.
If you have an option to go spdif I recommend it because noise from your computer can make it down stream USB. This has actually happened to me and it's not very uncommon on this sub either.
I do understand though that you may not have a spdif out or don't have an extra slot for a sound card.
I have a spdif/toslink output; I was originally trying to avoid any sort of internal sound card, but now that I think about it I never had any reason _why_ I wanted to avoid it.
I think I'll end up going with the SMSL SD793II.
Cool, It looks pretty convenient to me.
I also have an sd793 II and it is fantastic.
Micca Origen but you have to live with the double volume.
If that had line-out instead of pre-amp I would have gotten it no questions asked. I ended up going with the SMSL SD793II -- I though I wanted USB, but now that I've thought about it more there's no reason to avoid my integrated SPDIF output.
Correct. The 793 is too good an option to avoid.
Yes.