Reddit mentions of Schiit Modi 3 D/A Converter - Delta-Sigma DAC

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones in Black.

JDS Labs Atom Headphone Amp

Schiit Modi 3 D/A Converter - Delta-Sigma DAC

It's important to note to get the Modi 3 DAC, not the Modi 1 or 2. The Modi 3 is a much-improved device according to Audio Science Review. JDS Atom amp is one of the best new amps on the market and is also highly reviewed from Audio Science Review. There are different impedance versions of the DT 770. You'll need to pick between 80 ohm vs 250 ohm. Unless you plan on taking your headphones on the road to be powered by a cellphone or laptop, I'd recommend the 250-ohm version. Collectively these are roughly $140 + $100 + $120 = $360 excluding taxes/shipping and expenses acquiring the necessary cables.

With $600, you can get a very nice setup.

• Kanto YU4 for $270
  
• Dayton SUB1000 for $110
  
  That's $380, but let's take it a step further:
  
  
• Schiit Modi 3 DAC for $120
  
• JDS Atom Headphone amp for $99
  
  That's a complete setup for $599, and the one I currently use. Sound is amazing.
  
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  If you only want speakers for the $600, you can get the Kanto YU6s for $399, and the dayton sub linked to above and have a nice setup for $509.

I would stay away from receivers if you're looking for a headphone amp. The lower the output impedance, the better. There's a few different options for you. The Fiio K5 Pro for $150 is a dac/amp combo and would suit you well. It's out of stock at the moment, though. The Schiit Magni 3 on sale for $74, but it's only an amp. The SMSL M100 for $80, Topping D10 for $90 (USB only), Topping D30 for $105, and Schiit Modi 3 for $120 are all good dacs. If you only really need USB and you have a USB-C port on your computer, the Apple Dongle is very cheap and a decent dac. As far as a desktop amp, there's the SMSL SA100 for $74 and the Topping PA3 for $105 as options for you.

If I had your money, I would go for this:

AMP: https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-Magni-Headphone-Amp-Preamp/dp/B07KWJ9QMN

DAC: https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-Modi-3-D-Converter/dp/B07KWHWV1M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549174246&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=shiit+modi+3&dpPl=1&dpID=31YBfKudw3L&ref=plSrch

Headphones:
https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphone/dp/B0006NL5SM (250 ohm version)

Yes of course it's like a hundred bucks over your budget... This is how upgrading your battlestation goes usually xd

Great looking setup though!

First, everyone saying you won't hear a difference, is full of it. Not a difference from 24/48 to 24/96 mind you, but you WILL hear a difference going from whatever DAC and amplification your monitor is supplying your headphones, to equipment designed solely to perform these tasks. The jump from the monitor to even a dragonfly will be huge, but the jump to end game level equipment like THX AAA amps and a high quality DAC like a Geshelli labs, or SMSL SU-8 will be life changing, and you'll go down a path that will lead to you spending way too much money on headphones. I'm currently on this path, and it's glorious, but your family/friends might think you're insane for spending thousands on headphones.

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You need a DAC and amp. I don't know how seriously you are taking sound quality, but there are a number of combo units that are fairly cheap, probably best for your situation if money is tight, being a student I know the struggles, so you should get the Audioquest Dragonfly. It's a DAC and amp in one tiny USB stick sized device, supports 24/96 (I think that's its highest supported quality) and it's only $99. There are other versions that are better, and more expensive, but if you're gonna spend more than 100$, or want some reference for the future then.....well, read the rest of my comment.

Audioquest Dragonfly https://www.amazon.com/AudioQuest-DragonFly-Black-Preamp-Headphone/dp/B01DP5JHHI?th=1

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If you are willing to spend a little more, and are a little more serious about headphones, I recommend the JDS Labs atom headphone amp, it's VERY good especially at the 100$ price point. As far as dac just get something like a Schiit Modi 3, also 100$.

JDS Labs Atom amp https://jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp/

Schiit Modi 3 DAC https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-Modi-Converter-Delta-Sigma-DAC/dp/B07KWHWV1M/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=schiit+modi+3&qid=1569914940&sr=8-1

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If you're really serious about headphone quality, and want end game level equipment, and money is no object I recommend the THX AAA amps, they are superb and vastly outperform anything else on the market in terms of harmonic distortion and noise floor. They are a bit hard to get right now because of demand, massdrop isn't shipping their 789's out until late November, and Monoprice isn't getting their new model 887 in until around the same time. The only option is to buy used, but everyone is asking for a small premium because of the scarcity, and demand. They're 400$ MSRP, used it's like 420-450. Monoprice has another model however, it's the one I currently have and I LOVE it, it's a balanced DAC and balanced AMP in one unit, and it's 500$, the Monolith THX AAA 788. With it you don't need anything else, and it sounds....well it sounds like whatever you're listening to, because it has such low levels of distortion (well below what is even noticeable by human hearing), it's truly source perfect.

As far as DAC to pair with something like a THX amp, there are a number of options, but Geshelli labs makes a good balanced DAC that's only $180 I believe (if you go balanced amp, like the THX, you'll need a balanced DAC to get balanced output, and you'll need a balanced cable from your headphones to the amp)

The Monolith THX 788 DAC/AMP https://www.amazon.com/Monolith-124459-Headphone-Amplifier-Technology/dp/B07KQW1WFX/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=monolith+thx&qid=1569914858&sr=8-1

Drop THX 789 AMP https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier

Geshelli Labs balanced DAC https://geshelli.com/shop?olsPage=products%2Fenog2-pro-dac-purple-case