[loco11]

Greetings, I’m new to this forum and after lurking for several months I have decided to come off the fence and join. About two weeks ago I ordered a pair of Omega 3XRS in the new Ebony laminate finish. Louis says it should be about three weeks for delivery upon ordering, so hopefully within the next 7-10 days they will arrive. I really hope that this is the right investment for my needs.  For now I plan to pair them with the NAD D3020 that I have, but I have already begun shopping for its replacement - a tube amplifier. I am a true novice when it comes to the tube amp, but I am willing to give it a go.

Premised on the many threads throughout Audio Circle, I am pretty certain that the Decware SE84 UFO is perhaps the amp best suited to pair with these speakers. Although, I have considered Line Magnetic’s Mini 218, amps by Dared, as well as the Musical Paradise MP 301, and - for solid state - the Clones Audio integrated amp. Where I am in most need of suggestions, though, is in the DAC category. Headphone usage for me is a necessity, since so much of my listening occurs during the bedtime hours of young kids (as well as during their waking hours when I don’t care to hear them). I have provided some possible considerations here, so please chime in with the good and the bad, as well as your recommendations. I believe any of these will cover the DAC/ headphone requirement. As for budget, the less the better. Though, from what I have listed here you can get an idea of the price point that I’m after.

Decware SE84UFO
Omega 3XRS
 and

1) Oppo HA-1 (can this be used as my stand alone DAC as well?)
2) Schiit Magni Uber2 and Modi Uber
3) Marantz DAC-1
4) TEAC UD-501 or UD-503
5) Schiit Bifrost Uber and Asgard 2

Thanks for your help.

[oskar]

I have a Grant Fidelity Dac11 hooked to my single input integrated.
The Dac11 has two analogue inputs as well as all the digital ins.
I listen mostly through the tube out stage and can tailor the sound by rolling a few inexpensive tubes.
Not the best DAC not the planet but since adding an Uptone Regen I'm plenty satisfied.

[Canada Rob]

Hi loco11,

Welcome to the Omega AudioCircle.  If you're looking to buy your amp once, go with the Decware - I've yet to hear it's equal at the paltry $995 they ask for it.  If you do go with the Decware you will need a DAC that has at least 2 volts output, so the Modi can be taken off your list as it has only 1.5 volt output.  If you're looking for a DAC that does duty as system DAC and headphone amp, check out the Resonessence Labs Herus+.  It's a great sounding DAC and headphone amp, and at the price it's a steal.  It can run off portable devices or your computer.

[beowulf]

Hi loco11, and welcome to the forums.  Have you thought about the Decware Taboo MK III?  You could cover both bases as it is an excellent headphone amp and can drive speakers just as well IMO (the MK II is my main speaker amp) as long as your source/dac has a good output voltage of about 2.1v or higher.

[kevtn8]

Hi loco11, and welcome to the forums.  Have you thought about the Decware Taboo MK III?  You could cover both bases as it is an excellent headphone amp and can drive speakers just as well IMO (the MK II is my main speaker amp) as long as your source/dac has a good output voltage of about 2.1v or higher.

Beowulf is right. But keep in mind also.....as versatile as the Taboo MK III is, ask yourself this simple question. Do you prefer the sound of SET ( single ended triode - SE84UFO) or SEP ( single ended pentode - Taboo MKIII)? Do you listen to more of speakers or headphones?

I've had the Super Zen Select for almost 2 years now and dollar for dollar, I don't think there's a better all-around SET amp for the money if head banging power is not a major priority. Its an incredible match/synergy with Omega speakers. With their new UFO transformers, this little amp is in a class by itself in that price range, IMHO.

[Nailbunny7]

Since you already like the gear Schiit makes, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Ragnarok. With it's varying output gain settings, it is extremely flexible for both speakers and headphones as well.

[jorgen]

I'll do what others does in here, and recommend Decware .Both the taboo mk3 and minitori are build for both speakers and headphone usage, decware build them so that you can plug in your cans and remove the speakercables without damaging the amp. I think you achive much better headphone quality this way. The taboo might be an extra good amp for cans, especially Audeze. I use them with my Minittori and really enjoy the result. The SET vs SEP sound I can't really tell what I prefer, but if the sound of SET is so uniqu, in terms of better, then I truly look forward to getting the SETamp I'm about to order. To be honest I believe it us nuances, and SEP sound I get with my omega speakers is truly really really good .

[Nailbunny7]

I'll do what others does in here, and recommend Decware .Both the taboo mk3 and minitori are build for both speakers and headphone usage, decware build them so that you can plug in your cans and remove the speakercables without damaging the amp. I think you achive much better headphone quality this way. The taboo might be an extra good amp for cans, especially Audeze. I use them with my Minittori and really enjoy the result. The SET vs SEP sound I can't really tell what I prefer, but if the sound of SET is so uniqu, in terms of better, then I truly look forward to getting the SETamp I'm about to order. To be honest I believe it us nuances, and SEP sound I get with my omega speakers is truly really really good .

From an objective point of view (without getting into which mode sounds better), the main difference for SET vs SEP is that SEP has significantly more distortion than SET, as well as lower damping factor (less tight bass) and much higher potential output power for a given tube (about 3X more power than the same tube set up for triode operation). For example, an EL84 can output about 1.5-2 watts in triode mode and about 5 watts in pentode mode. Of course, amp design is much more important than tube type or whether the tube is being operated in either mode.