Stationary USB DAC / Headphone amp (use with a notebook docking station)

OK audio nuts of NBR, I'm looking for an AC-powered USB DAC / headphone amp.

It's to use with a Precision M4700 (and subsequently an M4800) when sat in the port replicator / E-View stand. Needs to drive a Beyerdynamic Tesla T1 or a Sennheiser HD 800 with good results. I'd like one USB input, and one TOSlink input. Analog input would be a bonus but not a giant deal. Two headphone outs a bonus, but one will do. I'd rather core controls be on the unit rather than a too-minimalistic machine with a button-festooned remote.

However I do like something that looks nice. The whole gunmetal brown / black colour scheme of the Dell setup (along with the U3014) is quite severe / no-nonsense yet quite smart, and the ensemble is sitting on a white desk - and I'd be looking for something which can sit somewhere near the docking station, or even act as a base for the E-View (I use them lid closed so height is not an issue: The ability to take the weight + additional stress of pressure when being docked would be) without looking out of place.

However I also have a low BS threshold. Not a fan of e.g. Schiit - the Apple of the headphone audiophile world. Perfect brand name, 'affordable premium' pricing, marketing department firing on all cylinders leading to a lot of fans, nice looking both inside and out - but often forgets to take the BullSchiit out of the all-important amp engineering once you get past the visuals.

Among others I already have an Audiolab MDAC - the flavour of 2012 - which I have running off a Sonos ZP90 elsewhere, and in terms of looks it'd probably go very well with the setup - but it's definitely a work in progress and it does have USB issues, so that's out.

Sennheiser HDVD800 - while it's paired for the HD800 and ticks the box for visuals, I'm really not sure if it's worth it for my needs and I'm also unsure of Sennheiser's ability to build a world-class headamp/DAC (which it really needs to be for the money) - since every other Sennheiser amp (& in one case DAC) I've had/have kind of sucked (though I guess judging a 90's device now is a bit unfair).

Benchmark DAC1 USB & Grace 903 - had the non-USB or previous versions, will go for them if no other viable candidates but would prefer going for something I haven't had before, and besides I would like something a bit less 'studio' in terms of aesthetics.

The infamous O2+ODAC - a little on the 'homemade' side for me from any maker (Epiphany Acoustics probably makes the neatest package), though again probably as good a bet as any and the cheapest way to resolve the issue to a satisfactory level. But as I said ideally I'm looking for something that looks more the part.

Maximum budget - let's say the M903 (~$1800) is the absolute max I'd be looking to spend, but the $1000 and under range would be better since this setup won't be used that regularly.

 

Just curious, what are your thoughts about this product? It's way under your budget. I've admired this as a very flexible unit for computer audio setups.

Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1

What are you connecting by Toslink?

 

Under budget isn't really a problem. It's more about having something that's adequate for the task, allied to aesthetics that matches the setup.

I don't know anything about that DAC. From what I can see of the circuit it doesn't actually look too bad for what it is - but at that price point, I'd rather go for an O2 + ODAC, which will very likely leave it in a cloud of dust in terms of sound quality.

 

I've had the O2 + ODAC for over a year. I haven't heard any $1000+ DACs, but I am in love with the ODAC. I drive my DT990 600 Ohm comfortably with it.

 

Yeah - props to NwAVGuy for briefly setting the cats among the 'fished my totally authoritative opinion out of my butt depending on how I feel that day' audiophiles. I was pleasantly surprised he's able to do the work he did with his collection of relatively entry-level test gear, I tried to replicate his results with my superior measuring gear and it usually checked out as consistently as many measurements from popular blogs / pubs don't - shows you methodology is just as, if not more important than, the gear you have.

HOWEVER, as I said I'd like it to look the part as well - while I realise unfortunately that a lot of equipment which looks the part more often than not tends to have a fair bit of BS in their actual circuit design. But as I said, no ODAC variant really does have what it takes in the visuals. I might end up going "#### it, I'll just get an ODAC" (or actually more likely "#### it, I'll just get a DAC1") though I am ideally looking for something different, but good.

 

If noone else has any worthwhile suggestions I'm just going for a boring ol' Benchmark DAC1-USB.

 

Ordered DAC1-USB.