Reddit reviews Fiio E07K Andes USB DAC and Portable Headphone Amplifier Black

you should certainly have an amp/dac to get the best out of those.

you don't even have space for something like the fiio e07k?

i use the modi/magni stack (about $180) for my HD650s

I'd definitely opt for the T440s over the T440p. The T440p is quite a fat system, at 1.3" thick. I mean maybe you're into thick stuff, but I find the T440s' 0.80" to be much more attractive. It's also half a pound lighter (or about the same weight when you config it with the 6-cell rear battery). Here's how I'd config one:

• 4th Gen Intel Core i5-4200U Processor (3MB Cache, up to 2.60GHz)
  
• Windows 8.1 64
  
• T440s 14.0 HD+ WWAN (1600x900) - Upgrading to the 1080p screen might be worth the $120, but that's a personal preference call you'd have to make
  
• Intel HD Graphics 4400 with docking connector
  
• 4 GB DDR3L - SDRAM 1600MHz Base (They want $80 for the 4GB upgrade to 8GB total, which you can do very easily yourself, aftermarket, for less than half that)
  
• 256GB Solid State Drive Serial ATA3
  
• ThinkPad Battery 3 cell Li-Polymer (23.2Whr) Front
  
• ThinkPad Battery 6 cell Li-Ion (72Wh) Cyl HC Rear
  
• 45W AC Adapter - US (2pin)
  
• Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AC with Bluetooth 4.0 (upgraded WiFi b/c I'm sure at some point during the life of this sytem, you'll want to use the speed of AC, and it's only $30)
  
  Price: $1,164.60 when you sign in via the Barnes & Noble gold discount site (which you can create for free here: www.lenovo.com/barnesnoblegold)
  
  The only downside is the video performance would not be as good as the T440p with a discrete graphics card inside. The HD4400 will run Skyrim, but not very well. Here's a list of games and how they perform with the HD4400 and here's the GT730M for comparison. That's the trade-off really. There do exist systems that could game, somewhat portably, but I just don't think the GT 730m in the T440p is worth having to deal with such a heftier system. I think the durability, portability, and redongculous 14 and a half hour battery life (as tested by Laptop Magazine) outweigh some casual gaming. As far as audio quality goes, most laptops have the same internal sound cards. Fortunately there's some decent portable USB DACs on the market (like the Fiio E07K), if you're looking to upgrade your sound performance.
  
  Also keep in mind that the Lenovo Y40 is just around the corner (probably May?) if you're looking for something with some more gaming prowess that'll be in your sweetspot of portability. It won't have quite the durability of a ThinkPad, nor battery life, but its keyboard isn't far off from the ThinkPad's, and its gaming performance would be far more significant than anything a ThinkPad could offer.

I'm /u/whitefeather14's friend. If it's solely for headphones and you're not looking to spend a lot, then I would strongly recommend something by Fiio. I have an older one, the FiiO E7. They don't sell this one anymore, but they have a newer one called the FiiO E70k. I haven't personally used it, but I can only assume it's like mine but better.

If it's a little more than you want to spend, then I'd look at the Q1. I've heard good things about these as well.

These are nice, because they double as a USB dac and a portable headphone amplifier. Which means if you're traveling or something you can plug your phone into it and still get the amplifier out of it, no need for a USB source.

If that doesn't interest you, then there's the FiiO K1, which is just a USB DAC, and does not have an analog 3.5mm input, only the micro USB.

Now, understand that any of these aren't going to be the greatest DAC ever. Sub $100 is pretty cheap for a DAC, and I'm pretty sure these are all 24-bit, with 32-bit being more or less the best you can get (There's some debate on whether or not you can hear a difference, but that's entirely a different conversation.)

If you do want something a little more pricey and nice, the Schiit Modi DAC and Magni amp are really quite nice. They also have a Amp/DAC combination for $80 which I haven't heard anything about, but Schiit is pretty good.

The one /u/whitefeather14 said is a PreSonus AudioBox USB. You probably don't want this, as it is primarily an audio interface for recording instruments and microphones, and isn't a dedicated DAC, though the DAC is pretty nice, and as a bonus has a 1/4in headphone out as well as two 1/4in outs for L/R powered speakers, such as studio monitors, if that's of any benefit for you.

As for the SMSL one you posted, I have also heard good things about that one, though it's a desktop unit and does not have an analog 3.5mm input.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help.

I have hd558s and use a creative soundblasterz sound card, and I am happy with the quality. But would something like a FiiO E07K be much better?

Sounds a lot like how I use my closed VModa M100s. They're a bit bassy though and at $300 I really can't justify suggesting you stretch the budget. It's not really worth the $50 on top unless you get a lot of utility from the fact they collapse so small for easy transport, the super hardcase you get, detachable cables, etc. Sound alone you can do the same for less.

Such as the Beyerdynamic Custom One. They can be bassy if you want, less so than the VModas, but have adjustable ports to move towards the "open" side of headphone world. Which might be nice for later nights in the office when you're not so worried about sound leaking in. Also the Beyer DT770, which is the earlier forerunner to the Custom. They are both super comfortable for long periods (so is the VModa).

The Custom One has a detachable cable while the DT770 has a typical studio long-as-heck cable. Those are bits to keep in mind if you're going to, say, roll from the office to public transit to the home office. You don't want a 12' cord with you.

Speaking of 12' cords, the ATh-M50 will of course get mentioned. Also very comfortable. More bassy than it should be for a monitoring headphone but I've noticed that changes with dacs/amps. Taking the M50 right out of my Macbook there's a lot of difference between it and the VModa also running out of the macbook. put a Fiio E07K in the signal path and the differences get cut down a bunch. Not entirely sure why as I just noticed this over the week. But wanted to put that FYI out there.

If you stay with these choices, and/or other 32 ohm and less models, you don't need an AMP or a DAC/AMP, but they can make a solid amount of difference. But perhaps not in the sense of "I can't believe I used to listen straight from my headphone jack." These headphones will themselves make the biggest impact with regard to quality difference in the sound. The amp or amp/dac will do more of the Quality Control side.

To me, especially if I'm seated in an office for a long period doing computer work uninterrupted, getting quality full sound out will keep me from putting the volume up too high to compensate for any SQ shortcomings derived from the computer, power requirements which change the power going to the headphone out, etc. Plus, I can EQ some bass away if the closed office headphones necessitated by the isolation requirement remain too boomy for the music de jour.

Things like the Fiio E07K or E17 are great and cheap, so is the Schiit Magni/Modi stack or the o2/odac. While the E07K is probably the only bit that would fit with headphone at a combo price in your budget, they are all interesting $100 bits to add to the setup later to up the sound quality (from the sound card). Not a ton of difference between them all so I would just go on price/feature basis. Or just collect them all. I have a Fiio stuck in my bag for mobile and a schiit magni now at the office, which is easy to connect to the Fiio as a DAC. Probably will grab the modi at some point because stringing cables to the Fiio isn't always "office friendly" in appearance for days where it shouldn't look like I was soldering at my desk, but I am really happy with the setup and work flow it creates. YMMV but hope that paints a complete picture which perhaps can help you judge other recommendations relative to your planned usage.

Well, the HD 558's are actually fairly easy to drive to adequate volume levels, but they benefit from a headphone output or amplifier with low output impedance - from the reading I did, it seems like the output impedance of the Xonar DG is fairly high.

If you're upgrading, you could go for something external with a DAC, like the Fiio E07K.

That said, expect the differences between the DAC and your sound card to be fairly subtle - at most you can expect bass that is a bit tighter and tidier. The HD 558's are fine headphones, but aren't in any way what I would consider high end.

(Also: Your question would probably have been better in /r/headphones)

For those who are interested, the cans are V-Moda Crossfade LPs that can be picked up on Amazon for half price from retail (my particular pair are Gunmetal, but they come in other colors). The ear shields on the sides are interchangeable and can be custom ordered and laser engraved from the official V-Moda website in various colors, and this is the image I used for engraving... cost around $50 for the custom etching if memory serves correctly.

On the nerdier side of audio, the headphone amp/DAC (digital audio converter) combo sitting on the left is a portable FiiO e07k Andes, all being played from a Google Nexus 10.

Out of the box, the LPs are a bit bassy (or "muddy" as some people call it), but using an amp really cleans everything up, in my personal opinion, and pushes the cans to their potential. For those who don't really consider themselves "audiophiles" or whatever you want to call it, headphone amps make a pretty big difference on mid - high range audiogear... near night and day in my opinion.

Hope this answers any questions about the set up! :D

I would recommend you buy a fiio andes.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6

It is powerful enough and you won't really be missing out on anything.

At any rate, you are always better off buying better headphones and getting a good enough amp than buying ok headphones and getting an all-star amp.

I'd recommend the Mad Dogs for $300, and spend $90 further on a Fiio E07K if you want to get the best out of them. One of the best-value high-end closed headphones around.

The HD598 is good, but I'd also look into the AD900X if you liked your old headphones. The bass and treble extension should be much better, and the soundstage will remain very nice and open.

A good amp/dac to consider is the FiiO E07K which has EQ settings for bass and treble, so you can flavor your music even more to your tastes.

I have the Fiio E07k. I really like it. Nice and small, fits in my pocket, great battery life.

that is an analog mic with an ADC then the USB interface, essentially a sound card, it isn't just a wire adapter. sound inside the computer is digital, sound outside of the computer is analog, there must be some means to convert it from one to the other. For headphones I'd use a decent DAC and amp stage, something like this for portability, or this for stationary use or FiiO E07k for ultra portability

my HD-25's sound pretty crisp with this fiio. check it out sometime if you're looking to up the sound quality. get the line-out dock cable with it.

I see. You will need to get an extra amp if you decide on getting an external dac, but why is that not the case if you buy an internal sound card? Also is this a good choise for a noob audiophile like me, or are there better combos for under 100$? Thank you for the excellent explanation btw.

I need to adjust my exemptions, I've owed the last two years and probably will this year.

However, if I can give you some unsolicited advice, don't get Beats headphones. To be blunt, they're overpriced garbage. Sure, they sound good, but you're primarily paying for the brand, not quality. Personally, I'd rather pay for quality than the brand.

If you're looking for headphones, you can't do better than the AudioTechnica M50X headphones for the money. If you're looking for earbuds, I highly recommend the Shure SE215 earbuds. Both of them sound amazing, though if you really want to hear how good they sound, a headphone amp like the FiiO E07K "Andes" will really bring out what the headphones can do. Creative makes some great portable headphone amps as well, though I found that the FiiO (which is surprisingly hard to find now, was easy a year ago) gets digital audio from my iDevices, which is fantastic.

alternatively there are dac/amp combos that go for the same price as the magni (or less) that plug into the usb.

Monoprice Desktop Amp

Fiio e07k

Fiio e17

Fiio e10k

Yeah, they're probably fine. Check the seller's ratings to make sure that they've been positive. I don't know if you'll want the very cheapest one, but maybe a rechargeable one or something. For example, the Tiger one that is rechargeable, it's seller has a positive feedback of 100% of 963 customers. That's really fucking good. You'll want to look for at least 95% or above, and hopefully more than 100 customers minimum.

Also, if you want to use one of these, that's fine and all, but it's just an amp, not a DAC. Most of the time, you're really going to want both of those things. Seriously, look at this one. I have it, it works well.

http://www.amazon.com/E07K-Andes-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370971156&sr=8-1&keywords=fiio+e07k

[Fiio E07k amp/dac] (http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6)

and

ATH-M50x

or you can go for the slightly older version
ATH-M50

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LP3AMC2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419505391&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1419505391&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

There's currently a Fiio E07K going on amazon for £50, I'd grab that asap if I were you, direct link here, or search ebay. DACs are a difficult thing to get right under £50 because, generally, you have to start looking at unknown brands or models. If head-fi doesn't have a thread on it, I'm always wary :P

I would suggest you pickup a FiiO E07K. It's a great DAC and you can pick one up on Amazon for $89 here: http://www.amazon.com/E07K-Andes-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368643467&sr=8-1&keywords=fiio+e07k

This is what I use to power my headphones. It will have plenty of power for those ATH-M50s.

Budget - Flexible ~$175. Not going for something high-end
Source - Laptop - Gigabyte P34Gv2. I don't have an amp, but would be open to suggestions alongside headphones (separate budget for amp - ~$90 looking at the Fiio E07k portable)

Requirements for Isolation - Not too much leakage - I live in a dorm
Preferred Type of Headphone - Over-ear
Preferred tonal balance - Bass is the main focus, but still somewhat balanced
Past headphones - AT M40x
Preferred Music - Mainly electronic (dubstep, DnB, trap) but also some Alternative


I've been interested in getting the 598's, but I've read that they may not have the best bass (and are open headphones).
Also looked at the DT770's, but

1. they cost a bit more
   
2. the resistance is a lot higher (better amp?)

What about this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andes-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=pd_cp_ce_1

It's the new E7. Only 7 pounds more than E10.

About the loudness, I can order them from Amazon, try them, if the sound isn't vastly improved, I will just return them.

Nice sound setup. I have a pair of ATH-A700X's and I just ordered the Fiio E07k yesterday. I'm new to the audiophile world, so I have been using my motherboard sound card for months with these cans, which is apparently not a good idea. Can't wait to try them out on something that will actually make them worth while.

Fiio E10k is another good option, or their portable E07K.

Coming up a little bit, you can get the Dragonfly also.

EDIT: Sorry, updated to amazon UK instead of US.

Oppo-PM3 vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm?>

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6

And would this amp be enough?

Which would be better for listening to hip hop and punk?

The Oppo-PM3 is retail (400) and I can get the DT 770 off Amazon for $150.

I recommend this guy. Low noise floor, and also can be used as an amp. Just plug it into your usb port and you're good to go! But, this could be something for the future because it's at least an extra 70 bucks depending on the current price.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6

I have 2 cards. I have a portable usb amp/dac, i just select it as output in mate, and good to go. My fiio usb/amp/dac works to drive a more power hungry headphones and has no laptop noise.

Plus with it being USB, it just shows up as an audio card in linux and works with my phone line in when I'm traveling also.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/

I have an older one that cost a tad more, but newer models came down in price.

I'm new to headphones, dacs, and amps and I had a couple of questions. Can I use something like this headset adapter to combine my headphones and modmic into 1 audio cable going to this dac&amp? I'm trying to reduce the amount of cables I have to run to my computer which is in a closet in my home theater room where I play a few games, stream videos, and watch blu rays. Also, can I add a USB 3.0 hub before the dac&amp? The hub would be helpful if I want to get away from my wireless keyboard and mouse. My plan is for this to all go into an armrest space in my recliner and just have one USB cable going to my desktop about 8 feet away. I'm completely open to other ideas to accomplish this if this sounds terrible.

Something like this might fit your bill, but I can't guarantee it'll work with the Nex5X.

Looking for a dac/amp for the HD598's, currently looking at the Fiio E10K or Fiio E07K

Budget - Under £100
Source - PC, maybe a Galaxy Tab but for now looking for something for home use
Location - UK/England

I'm fairly new to this stuff and just trying to get the most out of my current headphones

Thanks for the reply :D I currently have a Creative Sound Blaster Z in my PC at the moment. I didn't know a huge amount about sound cards or how they improve audio quality when I bought it, just that it did improve sound and that I loved (and desperately needed) the audio control panel and how easy it is to switch between speakers/headphones. So I guess I have that going for me. And when I say $60, I mean that's what I have in my pocket at the moment that I'd feel comfortable spending, not my be-all end-all budget. Now that I think about it, I'd much rather wait and save up instead of getting something that I'll inevitably replace with something better. I've learned and learned and learned not to cheap out on audio equipment. Do you imagine I'd see enough improvement with the E07 and my phone to be worth it, or do you think I should eventually get a dedicated music player as well? I plan to get a desktop amp later on, I just feel like my mobile music rig could be greatly improved. :)

What kind of music? I use an ATH-M50X with a Fiio E07K DAC/amp. Your experience depends on multiple things:

1. Your headphones. Shitty headphones will sound like shit, no matter what you do. Earphones aren't very good either except maybe the super high-end ones, and even then you won't get much bass out of them due to how small they are.
   
   
2. Your sound card. A DAC (digital to audio converter) converts your music, stored digitally into analogue signals that your headphones can play. Sound cards are basically DACs (I'm not sure if they ARE DACs or have DACs built into them, but whatever, that's not important). Most computers come with really shitty DACs which don't do a very good job. One way to fix this is to buy a better sound card and install it. This is a bit of a hassle though since you'll have to open up your PC and install it, so what I have is an external DAC/amp that plugs into my PC via USB. An amp is a device that takes signals and, well, amplifies them. High-end headphones require lots of power to sound best; your phone/PC usually won't output enough power by themselves, which is why the amp is there to amp your signals. The Fiio E07K is a device that is both a DAC and amp (you can also buy separate DACs and amps but they're a bit more complicated). So basically I plug my E07K into my PC via USB, plug my headphones into my E07K and boom, good music.
   
   
3. Music bitrate/format/quality. Your hardware isn't all - your music files need to be of good quality. Bitrate is how much information goes through every second and is measured in kbps (kilobits per second). If you have a song that's 90 seconds long and has a bitrate of 320kbps it'll be 320*90 = 28800 kilobits large, which is 28800/8 = 3600 kB large. You can try this out yourself on your songs. Songs with higher bitrates sound better. You won't be able to tell the difference between lower and higher bitrates using shitty headphones on a shitty setup but it becomes more obvious once you get good headphones. Generally, 192kbps is acceptable, but not amazing. 320kbps MP3 is pretty good. However, MP3 files are lossy, which means that information was lost when they were created (MP3 files are rather compressed). Lossless formats are formats like FLAC, ALAC etc which lose no information when they are created and thus offer really high quality audio. That being said, I can barely tell the difference between FLAC and 320kbps MP3 files, but it's nice to have good quality music. Remember that your headphones will reproduce your music exactly how it sounds - if your songs are at a really low bitrate, they will sound awful on your headphones.
   
   
4. Equalizing. One thing I love about the Fiio E07K is that it has a very basic equalizer that lets you adjust bass or treble. Not as good as a full equalizer but it does the job pretty well. Software equalizers (the ones built into music players) usually aren't very good and cause distortion, but the equalizers built into DACs are really good. I notice almost no distortion when cranking bass up to max. However, I do notice a slight hissing noise during silence when turning up the treble to max. The hissing is unnoticeable while listening to music but becomes obvious during pauses or really quiet scenes.
   
   I would highly recommend going to a store with some good quality music on your laptop and trying out some headphone/dac/amp setups. There are a lot of reviews on Head-Fi that will help you out. For some, the change in music quality is mindblowing and impossible to return from. For others, it's not worth the money. If you mostly listen to podcasts it's probably not worth it unless you have a voice fetish or something. But if you spend a lot of time listening to music and have money to spare it's great. Oh, and don't expect too much portability. The ATH-M50X are quite portable but most DACs are USB only. Mine does have a 3.5mm jack which lets you plug it into your phone using a female-female 3.5mm plug, but this disables the DAC and turns it into an amp only so your music won't sound as good. It's also a bit bulky. Some headphones are not designed to be outside, period. Such as the Grados - they leak so much sound they're basically loudspeakers on your ears, and some are massive or ugly as hell. Make sure you do your research on them.
   
   Good luck! Audiophilia is fun. JOIN US
   
   EDIT: I rambled so much I forgot to answer your question. The ATH-M50X is 169 USD and the Fiio E07K is 89 USD. That's a good budget for entry-level headphones. IMO the headphones cheaper than that aren't really worth it (I'd rather save up), but it's up to you to decide.

Is this the E07K + E09K combo? (http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417724915&sr=1-1&keywords=fiio+e7 + http://www.amazon.com/E09K-Output-Desktop-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B008J26ZL4/ref=pd_sim_e_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H50ZT2069A3FRNX3AXW ?)

If so... Do they come with original packaging? I'm assuming 8-9/10 cosmetic condition and 10/10 functionality?

There's always this:

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6

USB OTG works for my setup.
.
Nexus 5 (Stock/Rooted) > USB OTG to USB Adapter > USB Type A to Type B Mini Cable
> Fiio E07K Andes USB DAC Headphone Amp > Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.

I got the black because those are the ones I wanted for the longest time and they match my setup nicely, but the ones you got do look pretty sweet. Right now I'm torn, between which DAC/Amp to get that fits within my price range. Right now, I'm looking at the Audioquest Dragonfly USB DAC or the Fiio E07K Andes USB DAC and Portable Headphone Amp.

E10K or E07K + quality headphones > other solutions.
If you can't afford an DAC+Headphones then something cheaper from This List might be a option.
Panasonic HTF600, ATH-M30 or the AKG K81 are all nice options.

Mostly just a question at the end. Asked and got advice on the topic before.
Budget: $300 +- 50

Source: PC, Sometimes HTC One M8

Requirements for isolation: None

Preferred Types of Headphones: Fully over the ear.

Preferred Tonal Balance: No clue really

Past Headphones: Bose qc15

Preferred Music: Listen to mostly alternative rock, some trap.

Location: US

QUESTION: So i found HD650s on ebay all around the price of 350 used. It is a little out of my budget but my last headphones lasted me 3 years so i dont mind the price. First question is do NEED an amp to use them, or can i just use my computer/phones output. Second question: is that price ok and do i have anything to worry about, should i just buy new HD598s? If i do need an amp or some other equipment what should i look up so i know what im doing/getting into. I have no clue what amps or anything else do/are. Saw this 2-1 on the reccomended page plus it looks like something i could carry around if i did want to bring them places :http://www.amazon.com/E07K-Andes-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6 , is this all i would need if i got the HD650's?

Edit: also are the HD598's outdated? I remember seeing them when i was looking at my bose qc15s

Edit2: Ok just looked up what Amps and DACs are and feel fine getting one, is the one linked above ok for now? Also do amps and dacs require an input that i would need prior knowlege too or are the settings easy to figure out

I received them 2 hours ago. The HFI 780s are uncomfortable as fuck. I usually wear my headphones 8 hours a day so even if I liked them, I would not keep them. However, I don't like the way they sound. They are too "neutral" and not as punchy as the DT 770 Pros. The 770 Pros are so comfortable, you almost forget you are wearing them.

I have a 5 year old mainboard and the soundcard is probably bad. I have been listening to a lot of songs and they aren't loud enough.

People recommend the Fiio E07K for them. What's your opinion on this?

Pe 50€ non esiste nulla di decente nuovo. Se quello è il tuo budget prova a orientarti sull'usato: personalmnte consiglio delle soundistick II/III. In seguito valuta anche l'acquisto di una scheda audio esterna come questa

Oops, I meant E07k, which is a DAC&AMP, not the E09K. But anyway..

A DAC/AMP combo will make a huge difference. I have almost the same headphones as you at work, and love my Aune T1 http://i.imgur.com/O9cVWal.jpg . I listen about 4 hours a day so it was a worth while investment for me at $200. I put a better Genalex Gold Lyon tube in it for $35 too. Sounds incredible, can't belive what I was missing.

A Fiio EO7K would be about half that at $89. Portable, pretty good sound but you really got to crank it with my DT990s.


Aune T1 - http://www.amazon.com/Aune-T1-Generation-Amplifier-Decoder/dp/B00A2QJMRY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411543816&sr=8-2&keywords=Aune+t1

Fiio EO7K -http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411543301&sr=8-1&keywords=E07k

This USB DAC Amp has worked wonders for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6

I've been thinking about buying a pair of semi quality headphones for a while now. The DT770 seems like the best choice for it's price but I'm very new to all of this so I don't really understand most of this stuff.

Budget: Around 250€, but for a good reason I can up it a bit.

Source: PC only. Probably.

Isolation: I'll use them solely at home so not too necessary. Though it would be great if it blocked out my roommates voice(from the next room) if we're in the same voice chat.

Type: Full-size.

Balance: A bit of bass is alright but I'd like them balanced.

Past headphones: Some cheap <50€ stuff..

Preferred Music: Any and everything.

So unless you guys have so brilliant ideas I think I'm going with the DT770, but I'd need some advice with the amplifiers. A friend of mine suggested the FiiO E07K but since I'll almost definitely will use it only on my desktop would something like E09K be a better choice? Like I said, I'm fucking clueless when it comes down to these so all help is appreciated.

Links for clarity:

E07K

E09K

Or both?

Thanks in advance.

If you want something decent to go with your headphones, get a FiiO DAC/Amp combo. I have the E07K and it's great with my old FA's and my new DT 770s

DAC: Schiit Modi

Crossover/DSP: Mini DSP 2x4

Powered Speakers: Emotiva Airmotiv 6S

Subwoofer: Polk PSW10

Headphones, open/inside: Sennheiser HD650

Headphones, bassy/portable: V-Moda M100

Headphones, IEM: Echobox Finder X1

Portable headphone amp: Fiio E07K

Bedroom speakers: Emotiva Airmotiv 4S (6S was the upgrade for the main setup)

If you're wondering what a DAC is, it's the processor that converts the digital music to waveform before it gets to the amp. Your sound card usually does this job, but you can spend $30-2300 on getting better sound - Behringer UCA202 for improvement over on-board sound to Schiit Yggdrasil for deep pockets.

Edit: Car: Audison bit.ten, Alpine PDX amps, Hertz HSK 165XL component speakers (4x100w), Image Dynamics IDMax12 subwoofer(1x1200w)

http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1367690517&sr=8-8&keywords=Fiio

Schiit makes a great product. Magni 2 is one of the best options in your price range.

I would also consider offerings by Fiio, like the E07K, E12, E12A, E17, and E18 for portable, or K5 and E10K for desktop.

And I'd look at anything by Topping, Teac, Audio-Technica, Musical Fidelity, and Pro-Ject.