(Portable) source for headphones and two-channel listening

[John]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a portable source which I can use with IEMs/headphones, as well as can double up into a source to plug into a two-channel amp for two channel music.

Budget: Up to 10K.

Should be able to play flac and a wide variety of formats.

For two-channel, I am thinking of Norge 2060 + suitable speakers.

Thanks in advance for suggestions guys!

 

[vkalia]

Well, for a little more than your budget, you can get the FiiO X3 and the Hifiman 601. The former will give you a coax digital out as well, if you want to upgrade to a more expensive DAC later.

 

[indialogue]

Hi folks,

I am looking for a portable source which I can use with IEMs/headphones, as well as can double up into a source to plug into a two-channel amp for two channel music.

Budget: Up to 10K.

Should be able to play flac and a wide variety of formats.

The Fiio X3 is on Cyber Monday sale right now. Just above 10k and with free Fedex shipping. If I wasn't waiting for the X5, I would have helped myself to an early Xmas

 

[John]

The Fiio X3 is on Cyber Monday sale right now. Just above 10k and with free Fedex shipping. If I wasn't waiting for the X5, I would have helped myself to an early Xmas

Link please??

 

[indialogue]

Link please??

Check out mp4nation.com

 

[machounvdi]

Just above 10k and with free Fedex shipping. If I wasn't waiting for the X5, I would have helped myself to an early Xmas

 

[John]

Guys,

I got the Fiio X3 in December, sorry for the late followup.

Been doing great service. It came bundled with Brainwavz R3 earphones, good IEMs these, neutral sounding, very nice.

Now I am looking for a pair of over-the-ear headphones to go with the Fiio X3.

I was thinking of Audio Technica M50 initially and also considering ATH HD 700. Initially I was leaning towards the M50. Anyways, in the 10k-11K budget, is there anything with a little more impedance?

Like to listen to rock, Blues/rock (like John Mayer).

 

[theironhorse]

Guys,

I got the Fiio X3 in December, sorry for the late followup.

Been doing great service. It came bundled with Brainwavz R3 earphones, good IEMs these, neutral sounding, very nice.

Now I am looking for a pair of over-the-ear headphones to go with the Fiio X3.

I was thinking of Audio Technica M50 initially and also considering ATH HD 700. Initially I was leaning towards the M50. Anyways, in the 10k-11K budget, is there anything with a little more impedance?

Like to listen to rock, Blues/rock (like John Mayer).

M50 and probably you meant AD700 . both are low impedence and can be driven by the PMP's easily. however if you want headphones with more impedence i assume you would be looking at an HEadphone amp as well in the chain.


what reason is that you specifically looking for High impedence HP's. if its the assumption of high quality audio then even low impedence once can deliver the same.

 

[John]

M50 and probably you meant AD700 . both are low impedence and can be driven by the PMP's easily. however if you want headphones with more impedence i assume you would be looking at an HEadphone amp as well in the chain.


what reason is that you specifically looking for High impedence HP's. if its the assumption of high quality audio then even low impedence once can deliver the same.

Sorry, yes, I meant the AD700.

The Fiio X3 having a dedicated amplifier built in, I think it can drive higher impendance headphones without the need for an external headphone amp.

From the Fiio X3 site..

Just like its DAC chip, rather than using
the integrated amplifier of its main controller SoC,
the X3 adopts the AD8397 as its separate amplifier chip
This is a high current op-amp
capable of outputting 300mA into 16? headphones.
Moreover, thanks to its high bias current,
the AD8397s output sound quality closely-resembles
Class-A amplifiers, with warm timbre and
dynamic bass.

 

[Cherian]

Aside: If I remember right, the initial model of X3 had a 2V line out which was a tad too much for many amps. It was reduced (based on user feedback) to 1.7V to match better with a wider range of amps.

Cant remember the source of this info though, probably headfi.

I use the line out with a NAD c320 amp and it works nicely.