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SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 24, 2017
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Tigerman
412
Sep 25, 2017
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SusanoOI think any of them would be excellent for you to start with. Whatever you get, if you can hear a huge difference between it and your Cayin, then you can explore more expensive stuff. If you don't hear much difference, then you can relax and enjoy the music!
Personally I'd get this SDAC and the Magni 3, rather than a combo.
Cokeman
1971
Sep 25, 2017
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SusanoOThis will work very well with that. I would go with the Magni 3 and SDAC over the O2 and SDAC combo. The Magni 3 is a much more powerful AMP than the O2 and has a lot more power at 300ohm, which is what the the HD6XXs operate at. Also spending the extra $30 to not get the combo allows you to upgrade. Down the road if you want to get a better DAC or AMP, you are stuck because they are in a combo.
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 26, 2017
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TigermanThanks for the advice Tigerman! I will probably do as you say and get this SDAC and the Magni 3. And I am pretty sure I will be enjoying my music a lot with that.
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 26, 2017
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CokemanHey Cokeman,
I was already leaning towards that choice, and you and Tigerman definitely support that so I will just go with it! And I didn't even think about the fact that it would allow me to upgrade easily when needed (instead of having to change a whole combo, I'll be able to decide whether I need only a better DAC or a better AMP). So thanks for the tips, and I am really looking forward to see how that setup will work with the HD6XX.
I'll also take the opportunity to ask one last question, if you don't mind helping me out one more time: I also have a pair of desktop passive speakers (Micca MB42X) that have been driven by a Lepai 2020 so far, and I also wanted to do a little upgrade on these guys. But my knowledge is also lacking on these things so I wanted some advice as well. My idea is to get something like a SMSL SA-50 (apparently pretty good for the price, and I don't want to spend much more than that on a speaker amp). Would I be able to use it in the combo as well? As I understand it, I will have the SDAC>Magni 3>SMSL> for the speakers and when I will plug my HD6XX into the Magni 3, it will switch the sound to the headphones automatically, am I correct?
Thanks again for the help and have a great evening!
Z0d1Ac
251
Sep 26, 2017
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SusanoOWrong, wrong, wrong. Please reread the o2+sdac description page.
"About the Jack Configurations"
"On the back of the device, you'll see a single set of RCA jacks labeled with symbols for both input and output. When you're using the USB input, the RCA jacks act as an output from the SDAC. If you disconnect the USB, you can connect analog input from your favorite DAC straight to the O2."
= You can buy a sepaerate amp or dac and still use it with the o2+sdac in case you want to either upgrade the dac or amp. For example the magni 3 is a better amp, so you could output the sdac to that amp and that amp has rca outputs so you could passthough the dac through the magni 3 to something else like powered monitors.
If you have powered monitors/speakers I would recommend the sdac and schit magni 3 amp combo.
I you have passive monitors/speakers then you could just buy a all in one like the smsl AD18. I seen massdrop have a few times lately for around $100. Very good deal to me.
= You can buy a sepaerate amp or dac and still use it with the o2+sdac in case you want to either upgrade the dac or amp. For example the magni 3 is a better amp, so you could output the sdac to that amp and that amp has rca outputs so you could passthough the dac through the magni 3 to something else like powered monitors.
If you have powered monitors/speakers I would recommend the sdac and schit magni 3 amp combo.
I you have passive monitors/speakers then you could just buy a all in one like the smsl AD18. I seen massdrop have a few times lately for around $100. Very good deal to me.
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 26, 2017
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Z0d1AcHi Z0d1Ac,
Thanks for the explanations, but I still think I might be right with what I intend to do, maybe I just didn't explain well enough.
What I want to buy is the SDAC only and the magni 3 as a combo so that the SDAC is connected to my PC via USB, and then the magni 3 is connected to it via its RCA IN.
Now I can use the combo to connect headphones to the Magni 3 headphone out, but I can also use the Magni 3 RCA OUT that would act as a pre-amp (quote from Schiit's website description: " Magni 3 includes preamp outputs. This means you can connect it to your desktop powered monitors for a complete system—or even connect it to a speaker power amp and use it as a preamp. With its built-in time-delayed start-up and instant shut-down, there’ll be no glitches or pops through either headphones or speakers, either.") to connect a speaker amp (I had the SMSL SA50 in mind) which would drive my passive speakers (Micca MB42X). And theoretically everything would stay connected together all the time, so that I can listen to music through the speakers, and when I want to use my headphones, just pugging them in should switch the music to them (quote from Schiit's website FAQ: " It also automatically disconnects the preamp outputs when you plug headphones in.").
But again, I am by no means very knowledgeable on that matter, being pretty new to this hobby, hence my asking to make sure I am not making false assumptions here.
Again thank you on your feedback!
Dino_391
4
Sep 26, 2017
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SusanoOFrom memory the Magni 2 Uber auto switched between it's pre outs and headphone out. It played through the headphone out whenever headphones were plugged in and the pre out when headphones were unplugged. Schiit also said this is the case on the Magni 3 in their FAQ (you quoted it yourself) so you won't have to worry about unplugging your speakers all the time. Also, the SDAC itself has two line outs that play simultaneously, one 3.5mm and one RCA. I am planning on running one of those line outs to my speakers and the other to my headphone amp. It will be simple enough to switch between them by lowering the volume on one and raising it one the other.
Also, if you do want to go down the passive pre amp path with the Schiit Sys, it may be worth looking at the JDS Labs OL Switcher. It has two inputs and two outputs making it a more complete switching pre amp in my opinion.
I hope all of this helps and please correct me if I got anything wrong.
Also, if you do want to go down the passive pre amp path with the Schiit Sys, it may be worth looking at the JDS Labs OL Switcher. It has two inputs and two outputs making it a more complete switching pre amp in my opinion.
I hope all of this helps and please correct me if I got anything wrong.
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 27, 2017
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Dino_391Thanks for the answer Dino_391. I will look into the Sys but I think I wouldn't even need it.
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Sep 27, 2017
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Z0d1AcGood advice again Z0d1Ac! I'll keep that in mind. ;)
SusanoO
25
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 25, 2017
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AmJoshGreat to hear that @AmJosh ! I can't wait to get all three (Magni 3 + SDAC + HD6XX) and enjoy my music! Enjoy yours as well ;)
Tigerman
412
Oct 25, 2017
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AmJosh I'll be interested to hear what you think, once all your gear arrives.
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Does anyone know how this would work with the newly released Magni 3 from Schiit? I am hesitating between that and the Massdrop O2 AMP+SDAC combo, or even the Topping D30+A30 combo also found here. I am pretty new to the Mid-fi community and would like some advice based on my sound preferences and my current and upcoming gear. So far I have some portable gear, including the Topping NX1s to run with my Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, as well as the Cayin C5 (DAC/AMP version) paired with a Cayin N3 DAP. My headphones include a Philips Fidelio L1, Shure SRH750DJ, Beyerdynamic DT1350 80 ohm, AKG K7XX, as well as a Fostex T-X0 (my first planar) and a Sennheiser HD6XX on the way. As for IEMs, it's only worth mentioning the Magaosi K3 Pro (and the VE Monk Plus of course ;) ). I listen to various music styles but tend to be more on the Hip Hop / RnB side, so I do like my bass (although I wouldn't consider myself a basshead). So what would you guys suggest be the best combo out of the 3 I mentioned for me to enter the desktop DAC/AMP world (tight budget around or under 200 dollars, thanks Massdrop for forcing me to get the T-X0 and HD6XX! :D )? Thanks for your suggestions!