So you want a great 1st home listening system ? (PART 1)

I am creating here, in a series of 3 posts a system for Music reproduction using a Computer (PC or MAC) and headphones. the systems will consist of a USB-DAC, a Headphone Amplifier and set of Headphones. I have tried to cater for everyman's budget here by recommending 3 systems, STARTER (around £300), MID-FI (£600-£700), HI-FI......(£1000 +)

These solutions would work well with streaming services like Spotify, Quobuz or Tidal, the more expensive options benefit from HI-RES audio sources. Also these systems are for use at home via a laptop or static computers. You can buy the kit below via the SCHIIT Europe website and the SIGVA via amazon.co.uk.

I benefit in no way from these posts, i have owned all the kit i am saying make a good system to spend your hard earned cash on.

One thing i would say if you can't stretch to £300, start with a Audoquest Dragonfly BLACK USB DAC for £90 and KOSS KC275 clip on headphones for under £20, see my post here

System 1 -  STARTER (around £300)

USB-DAC
SCHIIT Modi 3 (£120)
SCHIIT are USA based HIFI company that design and build their hardware inn the USA, great value for money. This DAC is powered over USB and does a brilliant job of producing a clean and weighty reproduction of the music you wish to listen to. For £99 this is the bargain HIFI component of the century. I have this DAC driving by very expensive NAIM AMPS and LINN speakers and it was not out of place, AT a HUNDRED QUID.



Headphone AMP
SCHIIT MAGNI 3 (£115)
Matches the DAC above perfectly and is frankly a classic combination. The AMP Provides a Full 2000mW into 32 ohms of output power and quite simply converys the supurb sound signal out put from the DAC and drives the cans that are plugged in, NICE unclouded and natural sound.


Headphones
The SIVGA SV006 (£90) 
These cans are built like a tank, have real wood as ear cups, they pull off the amazing trick of being brilliant value in the modern RIP OFF world of ours. OK you are thinking WHO ARE SIGVA ?  SIVGA Electronic Technology Co Ltd are located in Dongguan city in China, one of the new wave of Chinese HI-FI companies that are trying to be quality driven at fair pricing and try and get a foothold in the global market. These can's have great bass response, offer a easy to drive profile, the amp and DAC i have defined will drive these cans perfectly. The headphones have a high level of comfort and are made of high quality wood and metal/plastic. GREAT VALUE