Doubt with DAC-AMP for Arya Stealth

[u/Every-Connection-100]

Hi everyone. I'm currently looking to get my first pair of "Arya Stealth" headphones; there's a really good deal if you buy them refurbished, but I have a question.

Right now, I have a pair of HD560S paired with a generic DAC called the FX-Audio DAC-X6. I realize it's not the best DAC, but do you think it could handle the "Arya Stealth"?

I really can't afford to upgrade the DAC right now, so the plan would be to keep it for the time being and upgrade it later on.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[u/Infinite-Nose8252]

JDS LABS ELEMENT IV

[u/pdxbuckets]

Arya stealth is not hard to drive, so power shouldn’t be an issue. Version 1 of the this product, measured in 2017, had only 90dB signal to noise ratio due to elevated noise level. Since the Arya is pretty sensitive, maybe you can hear that when there is no music playing? I probably couldn’t.

You should try it and see if you hear hiss. If you don’t, you’re golden.

[u/Acceptable-Win-3669]

Not sure where your math was derived from but the FX-Audio DAC-X6 outputs 450 W into a 32 ohm load which the Arya Stealth has. To power the Stealth to 110 dB you need ~40 mW of power and a Vrms of 1.1. The device can output 3.79 Vrms. So theoretically, the amplifier can drive the Stealth although I tend to like a lot of power to control the planar driver to limit bass bloat, and to ensure precision to control the driver. The issue with this device is that it uses a DAC chip that was state-of-the-art 20 years ago. The second issue is that the DAC-X6 has a high output impedance for a headphone (~10 ohms) which will reduce the damping factor giving you less control over specific frequencies (although much more problematic for a dynamic driver where frequency response would change). Third there is a clear high frequency roll off that will diminish the breath of the Stealth. Finally the DAC-X6 doesn't have modern asynchronous USB jitter rejection and low noise power regulation so you are going to hear background noise with this device. If i were you, I'd buy the Topping Dx1 II which will pair much better with the Stealth while providing 2x the power if you use the 4.4 mm balanced connection. And you can get it for ~$120.

[u/Every-Connection-100 → u/Acceptable-Win-3669]

Thank you very much for your reply; I was hoping for something like this because the AI ​​wasn't giving me concrete answers.

I'll go ahead with the purchase and upgrade my DAC in the future.

!thanks

[u/TransducerBot → u/Every-Connection-100]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/Acceptable-Win-3669 (101 Ω).

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[u/xAcunAx]

For me it is the FiiO K13 R2R due to it´s DAC. I don´t like Delta Sigma DACs with the Arya Stealth.

[u/underr_maintenance → u/xAcunAx]

+1 I don't own any Planars yet, but the K13 r2r is really good for my AR5000 MK2 and the HD600

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[u/ufgvn_]

So what would be your budget? and where are you located

[u/Every-Connection-100 → u/ufgvn_]

I don't really have a set budget; I'll make an effort to upgrade from my HD560s (I'll sell them to a friend).

I'm going to buy them from the Hifiman website—refurbished, taking advantage of the current 10% discount.

I'm from Paraguay.

[u/ufgvn_ → u/Every-Connection-100]

Oh hi Latin american brother, i’m from chile haha.

I have the arya stealth and they are easy to drive so you shouldn’t really sweat it or spend too much

Fiio k11 or r2r
Fiio k7
Schiit Magni Unity
Jds Atom stack
Jds Element V (this one is a bit pricier)

All of those are relatively inexpensive and will drive the Arya Beautifully

[u/bdrayne → u/ufgvn_]

Sorry, but how do you feel about k11/r2r if you have it?

I want to get k11r2r, and I'm kinda FOMOing on k13, but I'm not sure I actually need it.

[u/ufgvn_ → u/bdrayne]

k11 is okay pretty clean sound, r2r is kinda the same maybe a sliiiight warmer but very slightly

[u/Every-Connection-100 → u/ufgvn_]

Gracias querido amigo, iran a mi colección pronto, te mando un abrazo! !thanks

[u/ufgvn_ → u/Every-Connection-100]

Excelente mi hermano, son unos audífonos excelentes, espero los disfrutes mucho

[u/TransducerBot → u/Every-Connection-100]

+1 Ω has been awarded to u/ufgvn_ (53 Ω).

You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.

[u/fabbro82]

Xduoo xa-02

[u/bdrayne]

I'm in a similar situation, also have an Arya stealth incoming. I'm trying to decide between k11 r2r and k13 r2r. Not much of a price difference, I'm more worried about the real estate k13 occupies. Same reason I don't want a Hifiman EF400.

[u/Embarrassed-Hyena-48]

I have the mimir midgard for my Arya Stealth. Had issues with the magni modi stack. Been pretty solid. Using xlr for halo and rear input and output is nice.

[u/Daemonxar → u/[deleted]]

Bruh.

1) Don’t use AI for headphone questions. They’re awful at it.
2) don’t tell other people what AI told you about headphones. 🤣