Opps, forgot the Headphone amp! Now what to do?

[Bob in Canada]

Just received the ZD3 and when setting up, was testing IEMs and Headphones off my PC. Stupid me, did not consider the Headphone amp requirement when I ordered the ZD3 and now, need to add a proper headphone amp to the configuration. I have an UpTone Audio JS-2 Linear Power Supply powering the DAC with plans to do some Op Amp rolling down the road. The ZD3 is feeding a pair of KEF LSX II powered speakers via the RCA output on the ZD3.

My mistake has me looking for a proper headphone Amp fed via the balanced outputs, bypassing any other features on that HF amp except feeding the headphones. Looking for suggestions, guidance.

Cheers
Bob

 

[RudydG]

I Love my ZH3, doubles as a DAC, pre-amp and a very nice headphone amp.

 

[PaulStevv]

If you don’t have any high power requirements for your headphones, I find the Fosi GR70 to be a very enjoyable combo with a ZH3 or ZD3 with V7V op amps.

Unfortunately, Fosi does not offer any headphone amplifiers with balanced inputs, but I suggested that they make a balanced version of the SK01 for this exact use case.

Absent of a balanced headphone amplifier from Fosi, I would suggest Schiit Midgard or Douk U5Pro