So I am starting to move up from the entry-level stuff. I have a SMSL DL200 and Wiim mini pro plus. A70pro has been on sale so I figured at least I will have the nice-looking VU meter and the most powerful amp at this price range, and I don’t have to worry about not giving any headphones enough power. I also want to start tradtionally before branching off to tube/amps or products with other features (at the amp level). I amy eventually get the D70 to compelte the stack, but that would be the same price as getting a Dx9. But I decided against the DX9 (very pretty) because

  • early bathces of Topping products tend to be iffy (juding my online posts)
  • the sales person assured be that Topping has fixed whatever that was giong on wrong with the A70pro in the earlier batches
  • the A70pro is actually powerful
  • I will have the freedom to mix and match

I decided to hold off getting a matching stack with D70 because:

  • from my undersatnidng, quality improvement from upgrading DACs matter a lot less (depending who you talk to), and I can see if the Wiim Pro Plus or the SMSL DL200 as a DAC could do for now (which is part of the experimentation mentioned)
  • I wonder if there could be better valued DACs (with more features) – with DSP (e.g., Chord Mojo 2) or whatever.
  • Maybe a new cool streaming Dac with a great DAC chip/section comes out and I would want that instead.
  • I can always get a d70 eventually.

thoughts？

  • ktks1@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    As others have stated, the DL200 powers most headphones adequately.

    Since you’d want to get into tubes, save the money from A70 and try getting something from Woo audio or Decware

    • bewaterlife@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Thanks – and I agree -but aesthetics, future proofing and psychological insurance are worth some money. See above. Also I don’t mind losing a couple hundred bucks if I do sell the A70pro in the future for tubes, just to have had the done the blind testing and experience for myself.