frontpageTattyBear | Staff posted Yesterday 03:15 AM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
frontpageTattyBear | Staff posted Yesterday 03:15 AM
Monolith Desktop Balanced Headphone Amplifier w/ ESS Sabre DAC
+ Free Shipping$310
$600
48% offMonoprice
Get Deal at MonopriceGood Deal
Bad Deal
Save
Share
Leave a Comment
Top Comments
Budget
Listening style (fun or analytical)
Listening apparatus (IEMs, high-impedance dynamic, planars, etc.)
Desired placement (at desk, on shelf, designated listening area, etc.)
Aesthetic
Size
etc, etc, etc.
Just a few off the top of my head (it's 2am for me right now lol 🤙😎🤙):
*Discrete DAC and Amp Offerings*
The famous (or infamous) Schiit Stack
DAC: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-5
Amp: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-unity (This can also be a full DAC/amp for ~$200 instead of $120 if you pick the DAC option)
I don't have this specific stack, but I've have and had a few Schiit products and I like them!
The JDS Atom Stack (Not as famous as it used to be but still good)
DAC: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-dac-2/
Amp: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp-2/
Apos TOPPING-30 II Ensemble
https://apos.audio/products/apos-...i-ensemble
Apos X Gremlin/Druid Stack (will require a XLR or 4.4mm penta connection from your headphones)
DAC: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3198839020
Amp: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3291343084
Both links have the combo selected, so it's not $335x2, just FYI.
*Integrated DAC/Amp Offerings*
TOPPING DX3 Pro+ Bluetooth
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...th-dac-amp
TOPPING DX5 II DAC/Amp
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...ii-dac-amp
FiiO K11 R2R (In my collection and currently on my desk, love it so far)
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
FiiO K13 R2R
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
SMSL AO300 PRO
https://www.linsoul.com/products/smsl-ao300-pro
*Tube Amp Offerings*
xDuoo TA-66 OTL Tube Amp
https://apos.audio/products/xduoo...-amplifier
15 Comments
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Good find thought!
Good find thought!
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank kungpowchicken123
Budget
Listening style (fun or analytical)
Listening apparatus (IEMs, high-impedance dynamic, planars, etc.)
Desired placement (at desk, on shelf, designated listening area, etc.)
Aesthetic
Size
etc, etc, etc.
Just a few off the top of my head (it's 2am for me right now lol 🤙😎🤙):
*Discrete DAC and Amp Offerings*
The famous (or infamous) Schiit Stack
DAC: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-5
Amp: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-unity (This can also be a full DAC/amp for ~$200 instead of $120 if you pick the DAC option)
I don't have this specific stack, but I've have and had a few Schiit products and I like them!
The JDS Atom Stack (Not as famous as it used to be but still good)
DAC: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-dac-2/
Amp: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp-2/
Apos TOPPING-30 II Ensemble
https://apos.audio/products/apos-...i-ensemble
Apos X Gremlin/Druid Stack (will require a XLR or 4.4mm penta connection from your headphones)
DAC: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3198839020
Amp: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3291343084
Both links have the combo selected, so it's not $335x2, just FYI.
*Integrated DAC/Amp Offerings*
TOPPING DX3 Pro+ Bluetooth
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...th-dac-amp
TOPPING DX5 II DAC/Amp
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...ii-dac-amp
FiiO K11 R2R (In my collection and currently on my desk, love it so far)
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
FiiO K13 R2R
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
SMSL AO300 PRO
https://www.linsoul.com/products/smsl-ao300-pro
*Tube Amp Offerings*
xDuoo TA-66 OTL Tube Amp
https://apos.audio/products/xduoo...-amplifier
Budget
Listening style (fun or analytical)
Listening apparatus (IEMs, high-impedance dynamic, planars, etc.)
Desired placement (at desk, on shelf, designated listening area, etc.)
Aesthetic
Size
etc, etc, etc.
Just a few off the top of my head (it's 2am for me right now lol 🤙😎🤙):
*Discrete DAC and Amp Offerings*
The famous (or infamous) Schiit Stack
DAC: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-5
Amp: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-unity (This can also be a full DAC/amp for ~$200 instead of $120 if you pick the DAC option)
I don't have this specific stack, but I've have and had a few Schiit products and I like them!
The JDS Atom Stack (Not as famous as it used to be but still good)
DAC: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-dac-2/
Amp: https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp-2/
Apos TOPPING-30 II Ensemble
https://apos.audio/products/apos-...i-ensemble
Apos X Gremlin/Druid Stack (will require a XLR or 4.4mm penta connection from your headphones)
DAC: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3198839020
Amp: https://apos.audio/products/apos-...3291343084
Both links have the combo selected, so it's not $335x2, just FYI.
*Integrated DAC/Amp Offerings*
TOPPING DX3 Pro+ Bluetooth
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...th-dac-amp
TOPPING DX5 II DAC/Amp
https://apos.audio/products/toppi...ii-dac-amp
FiiO K11 R2R (In my collection and currently on my desk, love it so far)
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
FiiO K13 R2R
https://apos.audio/products/fiio-...op-dac-amp
SMSL AO300 PRO
https://www.linsoul.com/products/smsl-ao300-pro
*Tube Amp Offerings*
xDuoo TA-66 OTL Tube Amp
https://apos.audio/products/xduoo...-amplifier
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank make_moneys
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Other options not with kpc's list:
Topping L30 II + E30 II stack: inexpensive, very low noise and distortion, great if you want separates with remote and display without going full DX5 II. Topping tends to be analytic vs the K11 and similar cheaper R2Rs which are more analog/musical.
SMSL RAW‑HA1: around 250 USD, integrated DAC/amp with strong measurements, mentioned as a "top choice" by some for mixed speaker + headphone use.
WiiM Ultra + cheap amp or K11/K13: not pure head‑fi, but for someone who wants streaming, PEQ, and room integration, pairing a WiiM device with a value DAC/amp can be huge bang for buck.
If you are a DIY personality, for your inner geek, consider rolling your op amps . It is fun all the way from 5 $ opamps to the sparkos and similar
But, I've probably gone through 7-8 Schiit products in the last 5-6 years and even some those had issues like the pot scraping when adjusting the volume, one of my Hels randomly decided to stop working outright, etc. They have a great warranty, but still. I know that Topping in particular has really upped their game and none of my FiiO products have had any issues. I've also noticed SMSL, kind of like JDL, has been less popular for whatever reason.
Again, spend the freedom bucks on freedom products, by chi-fi has really come a long way.
I'm a bit in between. Had a Rekker die on my pretty early on. Was able to get a quick RMA. So my daily Schitt stack's been serving me well for a few years.
Also have a Topping DX3 pro+ on another desk that's been rock solid. It's really hard not to recommend the DX3 in that price range, unless someone really knows what they want. Like in my case, I simply wanted 2 different brand stacks (though I did need Bluetooth originally which works great on the DX3). No other good reason.
Good find thought!
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Leave a Comment