I have both all in one and separate amp setups and the separates are just more musical and involving. The DAC is the wonderful Audio gd NFB12 that John was kind enough to send me, so it's sound is familiar to him. John, I have to agree that the headphone amp in that unit is too etched and digital sounding. It always sounds just somehow off, despite its excellent specs, a really powerful little sucker. However is sounds fabulous as a stand alone DAC, so I kludged up the power amp section from a NAD 3020B through the headphone output which taps directly off the speaker outs, using the volume control on the Audio gd. The result is as sweet, dynamic, and musical as any dedicated headphone amp I've heard. Not sure how much help that gives your search, but you asked for the vote to be explained. And in my little world separates rule.