Headphone Amp - What should I buy

[CB22]

I'm thinking of getting a headphone amp. I'm looking for something <200 dollars. I'm really trying to for bang for buck here. What would you guys recommend? I plan on bringing this to work so it will be in transit in the backpack. So hopefully at this price I can get something that's pretty durable. I will be paring it will a Toppings D50 DAC and a pair of Sennheiser HDxx's that will be coming at the end of August. (seemed like too good of a deal to pass up for the HDxx's on MassDrop) Also please note, I really don't know much about headphone amps.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/35/objective2-headphone-amplifier/
https://www.jdslabs.com/products/82/objective2-diy-kit/

I have two, one I built and the other I bought. Love them both.

 

[CB22]

https://www.jdslabs.com/products/35/objective2-headphone-amplifier/
https://www.jdslabs.com/products/82/objective2-diy-kit/

I have two, one I built and the other I bought. Love them both.

Thanks! A perfect price too.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

If you dont have dac already get O2DAC combo. If you do O2 amp is your best bet.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If you need a usb dac and a phone amp, Behringer UMC202HD is one I'd recommend based on my recent ownership of UMC404HD (went with larger model for it's proper balanced outputs) - it replaced AudioEngine D1 - which was mostly fine device, but I do like a lot umc has separate controls for main out and headphones.

 

[CB22]

If you need a usb dac and a phone amp, Behringer UMC202HD is one I'd recommend based on my recent ownership of UMC404HD (went with larger model for it's proper balanced outputs) - it replaced AudioEngine D1 - which was mostly fine device, but I do like a lot umc has separate controls for main out and headphones.

I think I'm gonna go with the Objective 2 amp. Personally, I haven't had the best experience with Behringer products in the past. Glad your liked yours thought. Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I think I'm gonna go with the Objective 2 amp. Personally, I haven't had the best experience with Behringer products in the past. Glad your liked yours thought. Thanks for the advice guys.

No offense taken. I understand your reluctance (though it's not same here as I have I guess good luck with 3 out of 3 were perfect)
NwAvGuy (who created original designs for odac and o2) is a legend, quite fascinating story really:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/silicon-revolution/nwavguy-the-audio-genius-who-vanished
Can't go wrong with odac/o2
Speaking of NwAvGuy, here's his review of older Behringer DAC (I also own same one) http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html

 

[CB22]

No offense taken. I understand your reluctance (though it's not same here as I have I guess good luck with 3 out of 3 were perfect)
NwAvGuy (who created original designs for odac and o2) is a legend, quite fascinating story really:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-history/silicon-revolution/nwavguy-the-audio-genius-who-vanished
Can't go wrong with odac/o2
Speaking of NwAvGuy, here's his review of older Behringer DAC (I also own same one) http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html

Wow, NwAvGuy is or was one baddd asss dude! Shouts out to him. After reading this I just bought the O2 for 102 total. I'll happily have some nice toys to play with in the coming months. Thanks for the article!

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

Just to be fair, here are two other O2 amp purchase options besides jdslabs:

https://mayflowerelectronics.com/
http://www.headnhifi.com/