I figure this is as good a place as any to ask about amp and DAC recommendations for this set of headphones. At the moment I only have a Fiio e10k. However, for the HE4XX I'm thinking I'll most likely be needing a proper amp upgrade to get my value out of these cans, but I'm on a college student's budget, so I had in mind the Magni 3, and just use the e10k as my DAC for now.
So my tl;dr question is, what would make a solid (budget, <$300ish) amp/DAC combo for the HE4XX? Is the Magni 3 great for now, and I can buy a DAC later? Or should I look in to spending more on a combo unit, like ... the NFB-11?
WhiteVailleI'm not really looking to spend money on a DAC right now, but if I were to buy a new DAC, I've recently read that the Topping D30 is a better choice than a Modi? I'm also curious about the Modi Multibit in particular, but I don't think I can justify $250 for it, especially when half the comments I've read on it leave me with a feeling that it's just snake-oil, though the other half do make it sound like a solid performer. On the other hand, I hate to admit that, aesthetically speaking, I'd be a little irked by mismatching DAC/amp housings (D30 + Magni 3). But I s'pose I could tuck the DAC away somehow/where and not need to look at it most of the time.
Disregarding all of that, supposedly the NFB-11 is even better at both being a DAC and as an amp, though I'm hesitant about having to deal with their ordering process. So a used unit here in the US would be really attractive. But are there any other/better options? (Preferably for less money, as well.)
WhiteVailleI have been using a Magni 3 connected directly to a Shanling M1 DAP for the past month of so. Just this week I got an SMSL Sanskrit DAC and was blown away by the difference it made. Much fuller low end and mids. I'm looking forward to trying this setup with the Hifiman.
I went for the SMSL rather than a Modi because it has all the features of the Uber at a much lower price, especially when you factor in shipping. If I was in the US I probably would have gone with a Modi because of the 2 year warranty on Schiit gear.
Having said that, the e10k is supposed to be a pretty good DAC anyway. So if were you I would just stick with it for the Fiio until you can afford something better.
So my tl;dr question is, what would make a solid (budget, <$300ish) amp/DAC combo for the HE4XX? Is the Magni 3 great for now, and I can buy a DAC later? Or should I look in to spending more on a combo unit, like ... the NFB-11?