Magni vs Vali is solid state vs, a tube hybrid. Things like soundstage can be greatly improved, detail, balance - it's not unlike a graphic program that resamples an image, there's varying quality of the results. There's a lot of variation, in how a DAC takes a digital signal and turns it into a 'listenable' analog output. Some CD players have excellent DACs (my new TEC uses a 24bit Burr Brown it's outstanding) Some folks run a CD player as simply a transport, that is, just to supply a DAC with a bitstream. If the DAC is a limiter, sure, you could run computer>DAC>amp>headphones for more improvement - keep in mind some of this is very nuanced, better may mean different.

It will drive high requirement headphones like those 650s (there's some specific technical reasons why higher impedance phones sound better) and it will sound amazing. Yes, OK, so the Magni 3 - as you know - is a headphone amp, it'll handle taking the analog signal, post DAC, so you'd run a mini 3.5mm to stereo/dual RCA into the Magni. Later, if you decide you want to experiment with an external DAC, Schiit makes an incredible-for-the-price DAC, same footprint as the Modi (so they stack nicely), there's a Modi 2, Modi 2 Uber (with added coax and TosLINK in), and the killer Modi 2 Multibit, that uses a completely different DAC architecture that's supposed to be amazing and mirrors the tech used in units costing 10X as much.Īnd yes, 300ohm cans pretty much require an external amp (vs. If you want to get a little 'tube' into the path, the Schiit Vali 2 is also fantastic, it's a hybrid, so it's really a tube-flavored-solid-state, but it definitely provides a little warmness to the sound. The DAC in a MBP is pretty dang good, so if you're taking the post-DAC signal into an external amp, you should have a terrific end-to-end signal, assuming your sources (in iTunes?) are pretty good. Senn 650s are fantastic, I would HIGHLY suggest the Senn Massdrop Edition 6XXs for a startling $200, but they are currently between drops on them. So the Schiit stuff is _awesome_ great choice, it's boutique quality, over-engineered, and you've got a 15 day no questions asked return period. I think the H7 with a wired connection would be pretty outstanding too (there's a lot of mystery with the wireless, so I'm limiting my comments to using them wired). Again, this is a stage where the quality of the electronics, the specific implementation details can make a big difference. Once you have the digital source converted to an analog signal, then it's about the amplification. For example, from a Mac, you can use a DAC connected to a USB port, or on pre-16 models, to the optical (digital) that's housed in the analog audio out port. ' thread about my pursuit of a high quality CD player, that had a superlative DAC ( wound up with a TEAC).ĭevices like an iPhone/iPod/Mac combine the DAC with the amp - however, you can tap into the digital stream before the DAC and use a stand-alone DAC. OK, if it's digital is going to go through a DAC (Digital Analog Converter), and there's a good bit of variation in quality at this stage - I had a long post in the 'What are you listening to. Obviously, low sample rate MP3s are probably a weak link right up front (so spending lots more further down the chain won't make much difference). Just like any system that requires all components to be effective, you need a good source for the whole audio experience to be good. So first, the source (assuming digital vs. Some of this you likely know, just easier to discuss everything, even if it's a little redundantĭigital Source > DAC > Amp > Headphones Hahaha, seriously though, there are some good starting points, even though all of this is pretty subjective, and FWIW, I'm what you'd call a pretty 'frugal audiophile' (if I even qualify for the latter part). All great questions with impossibly complex answers.

Scite modi and magni combo