[SOLVED] Is there a USB powered DAC with Bluetooth?

[sizzling]

I would appreciate some help looking for a DAC/AMP to pair with my AKG 712 Pro's. I am currently using a ASUS Phoebus Xonar sound card and it does a good job, I can live with its performance but it is annoying that it lacks an equaliser if not using Dolby. However I would like to be able to easily use the headphones with my iPhone (Bluetooth), laptop and maybe XBox. I found one which nearly ticks all the boxes https://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-x7-limited-edition but it requires a power plug which will be quite inconvenient. I see other DAC options without Bluetooth that are USB powered, I would prefer it is USB C powered but that's not essential. For budget I would like to keep under £300 as I dont believe the headphone warrant anything more expensive and they are only 64ohm. Ease of moving around is my key requirement here. I don't need 'gaming' but a mic input would be a nice bonus but is not a show stopper as I can go wireless modmic or other options.

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Absolutely great headphones. Criminally underrated. Comfort and that wonderful soundstage make them my currently most used pair. They work for any music and are 10/10 for gaming.

You're looking for an amp/DAC combo that's USB powered?

 

[hang-the-9]

Sounds like you want a bluetooth adapter for your headphones, EarStudio ES100 is good, old version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NX5ZS...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

New version
https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES...76QRWDTX0VY&psc=1&refRID=39V6XPDHR76QRWDTX0VY

The desktop size ones would need secondary power.

 

[sizzling]

Absolutely great headphones. Criminally underrated. Comfort and that wonderful soundstage make them my currently most used pair. They work for any music and are 10/10 for gaming.

You're looking for an amp/DAC combo that's USB powered?

I am looking for an Amp/DAC combo that is usb powered and has Bluetooth connectivity. These are my minimum requirements. A mic input would be a bonus.

I've been really pleased with them, I like a neutral sound and from what I could find these are very good in that respect and compete with headsets at twice the price. I have tried to stop myself going down the rabbit hole of paying for better audio equipment so I am trying to use this headset to good (even if not full potential) across all devices instead of buying multiple headsets.

Thanks for helping

 

[sizzling]

Sounds like you want a bluetooth adapter for your headphones, EarStudio ES100 is good, old version https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079NX5ZS...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

New version
https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES...76QRWDTX0VY&psc=1&refRID=39V6XPDHR76QRWDTX0VY

The desktop size ones would need secondary power.

Thank you for the suggestions. They look to be good options that I will look into.

Thanks for helping

 

[sizzling]

I have found the Sound Blaster E5 https://uk.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-e5 which seems to tick all boxes including mic input. I think these are discontinued but I have found a second hand shop selling a grade A item for £65. Still need to do more reading on this option.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

How about the Fiio Q5?

https://www.fiio.com/q5

I have one of their portable lossless players and a Q1 headphone amp from them. Both are quite good.

 

[hang-the-9]

How about the Fiio Q5?

https://www.fiio.com/q5

I have one of their portable lossless players and a Q1 headphone amp from them. Both are quite good.

I don't think the cost for that thing justifies the performance unless you are dealing with hard to drive headphones. The Fiio BTR5 is probably a better pick for cost/performance https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-BTR5-38...Y4829PAY42D&psc=1&refRID=3SB1R8HEKY4829PAY42D

$300 on a portable dac/amp is getting into the range of "well I already bought my 3rd Rolls now where do I spend money on" LOL

 

[sizzling]

How about the Fiio Q5?

https://www.fiio.com/q5

I have one of their portable lossless players and a Q1 headphone amp from them. Both are quite good.

Oh wow, that is a thing of beauty. I think the optical input would be handy for connecting to an XBox. I feel tempted but this I fear is that rabbit hole I was trying to avoid of mounting costs.

 

[sizzling]

I don't think the cost for that thing justifies the performance unless you are dealing with hard to drive headphones. The Fiio BTR5 is probably a better pick for cost/performance https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-BTR5-38...Y4829PAY42D&psc=1&refRID=3SB1R8HEKY4829PAY42D

$300 on a portable dac/amp is getting into the range of "well I already bought my 3rd Rolls now where do I spend money on" LOL

That does look good and at a very attractive price. In all honest this would most likely do what I want but I do have a nagging now, do I want optical input to connect to console? Hmm thinking to be done.

 

[sizzling]

Again, thank you both for the help. Much appreciated.

 

[hang-the-9]

That does look good and at a very attractive price. In all honest this would most likely do what I want but I do have a nagging now, do I want optical input to connect to console? Hmm thinking to be done.

You can get a cheaper desktop AMP/DAC with optical in https://www.amazon.com/FX-Audio-Dig...P2YWH19QF7W&psc=1&refRID=FWN9C9ZG2P2YWH19QF7W and the cheaper Fiio or earstudio for bluetooth on headphones.

Plenty of options out there.

 

[sizzling]

You can get a cheaper desktop AMP/DAC with optical in https://www.amazon.com/FX-Audio-Dig...P2YWH19QF7W&psc=1&refRID=FWN9C9ZG2P2YWH19QF7W and the cheaper Fiio or earstudio for bluetooth on headphones.

Plenty of options out there.

Maybe going with 2 separate units is the better way and gives more flexibility.