Decent DAC headphone amp for my kid

afterburnt

anything inexpensive but good? 21st birthday present.

afterburnt

oh she has a pc, ps3 and ipod sort of stuff for sources.

afterburnt

I gave her my Audio-Technica ATH-M30x, they are probably are the best that she has but she has a couple of other sets that she got from her job.

EndersShadow

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/171335/new-audioquest-dragonflys#latest

OldSchoolPolk

I would 2nd the AQ Dragonfly, or better yet, their new Beetle. Both are supposed to debut in June.

The Beetle b/c it has bluetooth, optical and usb. She'll be covered for all of her sources.

afterburnt

Any thoughts about this one?
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A9LHLQ6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_2&smid=A288K1LN6Q00EF

afterburnt

This is not even funny, I just found out that her brand new car didn't even come with a cd drive. It does have a usb slot. I give her cd's now and then hoping that she might get into something a little better sounding than mp3. Her only cd players are a ps3 or the pc. Maybe it is too late?

ken brydson

afterburnt wrote: »

This is not even funny, I just found out that her brand new car didn't even come with a cd drive. It does have a usb slot. I give her cd's now and then hoping that she might get into something a little better sounding than mp3. Her only cd players are a ps3 or the pc. Maybe it is too late?

What kind of car doesn't have a CD player?

afterburnt

2015 Kia Soul evidently cd's are so last week

ken brydson

afterburnt wrote: »

2015 Kia Soul evidently cd's are so last week

Wow!

polkfarmboy

I now use a pangea tube headphone amp, its just usb in and can be had for $90 making it a great price for gifting.

voltz

Bruce for portable setup that Fiio would be nice, you can rubber band them together with IPOD using the LOD cable (line out dock) 30 pin.
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-L-Shaped-Line-Cable-iPhone/dp/B005N6ZAT2/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1STS0HMVCBWSDVDE2FFH

I using the JDS Labs C5 that Dan & Steve talked me into
https://www.jdslabs.com/products/70/c5-headphone-amplifier/ but it cost more..

voltz

a Ipod classic full of ALAC files and a little amp makes great music as the LOD cable byass the internal amp where the distortion is.

http://musicalmusings.themindofgame.com/2013/08/amplifier-round-up-part-4-jds-labs-c5/

Upstatemax

afterburnt wrote: »

This is not even funny, I just found out that her brand new car didn't even come with a cd drive. It does have a usb slot. I give her cd's now and then hoping that she might get into something a little better sounding than mp3. Her only cd players are a ps3 or the pc. Maybe it is too late?

Does it have bluetooth?

If it does, will it stream bluetooth audio?

I use the sync system in my Ford Edge to stream ALAC rips from my 6S. Also allows me to use radio/steering wheel controls to control iTunes.

afterburnt

I sent away for that Fiio for her. I hope she likes it. She does appreciate my home system so maybe she will get into a little better sound.

polk500

I think she will like the Fiio, I had the same one for awhile and Karmaed it last fall to scubalad and he seems to like it as well as his Daugther.

Cheers

scubalab

Still using the FiiO that Roger so generously Karma'd. It is a great little headphone amp. We use it more as an amp/splitter when our kids watch a movie when traveling, but I can say that it does well as a DAC with music from the PC as well. Would be nice to get an adapter like the one Voltz showed, but we need one with the lightning connector. Don't know if they make one that works well yet...

But, I'd agree that the little FiiO does the job well!

Thanks again for the Karma Roger!

-Al

voltz

I have looked but have not seen one yet for the lightning connector -just the older 30 pin.

I have not seen a lightning cable for RCA's either

RamZet

afterburnt wrote: »

I sent away for that Fiio for her. I hope she likes it. She does appreciate my home system so maybe she will get into a little better sound.

I plugged my Fiio into my car, not much of a difference b/c the head unit is going to convert any thing that comes in from the USB, BT, or Aux connection.


The 2015 Kia is aimed at a younger age group. The speakrs have a sound lamp on them and it comes stock with a 600w 5.1 sound system. Comes stock with FM, AM, HD, XM, BT, Aux, USB, and an internal HDD. I could see why they left out the CD player. My wife's 2013 Soul has all that + a CD player.