I’m looking to put together a headphone setup for when working on my PC and would appreciate some advice from those in the know!
Currently I have the PC which has a MPG Z390M motherboard; this has optical/S/PDIF out, though I was thinking of connecting the external DAC via USB.
At the moment my listening setup at the PC is:
PC (XtremPro USB DAC) → generic 2 port audio switch (PC connects to one port, and my laptop connects to another, both via RCA) → powered speakers/sub via RCA (Bose Companion 3 Series 2). The audio switch has a headphone socket, so I can plug headphones in to that and turn off the speakers when I want to listen to music via headphones. Headphones are Sennheiser HD580 Precision.
I recently bought a Cambridge Audio DACMagic 100 (with a linear PSU) which I was planning to swap for the audio switch, and connect to the PC via USB. It has different inputs on the back so I could use that to perform the switching function between laptop/PC.
What I neglected to check when I was buying it was that it had a headphone connector - which it doesn’t! It only has one set of RCA outputs.
So where do I go from here? I was thinking about buying a headphone amp, which I would connect the DacMagic to - maybe a Schiit Asgard, for example. That has RCA input, a headphone out, and also an RCA “pre out” on the back.
Would this be a suitable option? Would I be able to connect my powered speakers to the “pre out” of the Schiit? Is there a better option? Any help appreciated!
SukieInTheGraveyard
(This one time, at Bandcamp... I spent too much money!)
2
A headphone amp, with pre-out, would work well. You’ll probably get lots of advice about buying a high-end expensive HPA, but I don’t think you’ll need to.
As you’re in the UK you might want to go for something easier to get hold of. Amazon stock the JDS Atom+ HPA which is a great piece of kit.
Amazon also stock the Sabaj A10h, which is great value for money. This has a digital volume control so you won’t get any channel mismatching (normally only a problem if you use the amp at low volume).
You can spend a lot more on a HPA, but you’d only need to do that if you were using balanced connectors.
Thanks for the suggestions! What about the THX 789?
SukieInTheGraveyard
(This one time, at Bandcamp... I spent too much money!)
5
Agreed. If balanced input is need the L50 would be hovering around the top of my list.
SukieInTheGraveyard
(This one time, at Bandcamp... I spent too much money!)
6
THX 789 is fine, but you can get more for your money these days. It’s not easy to get hold of in the UK, as far as I know.
Bill_Janssen
(Wigwam wool socks now on asymmetrical isolation feet!)
7
Everybody seems to love the THX 789. I haven’t heard a word against it. But Topping and S.M.S.L. also have low-priced gear with strong advocates. I’ve got a Topping DX3 Pro, and it’s tremendous.