Base DAC/Amp - Magni Unity vs Asgard X vs Jot 3
I'm interested in going a bit deeper into my headphone setup and trying to determine what would be a the best pick for my base gear. I currently run HD 600s with a Topping DX3 Pro+ and I plan to pick up a pair of Meze 109 Pros and potentially DCA E3s.
I'd like to end up with a single DAC/Amp unit that serves as the default, but allows me to expand to EQs, alternative amps, tubes, etc. I'm not very interested in swapping different DACs so I'm satisfied with the mesh card that can be added to any of the three modular units. While I do occasionally move my gear around the house, I'm usually sitting right next to it so the cable runs and fairly short. My deliberation can be summed up into 3 basic questions -
- Are the balanced line outs beneficial in comparison to SE RCA when stacking other equipment?
- If all aspects of balanced are non-factors, why would I need the Asgard over the Magni?
I can see myself adding a Valhalla or Gremlin amp and either the Magni Piety or Pietus Maximus to the stack in the future. Speaking of, is there any audible difference between the NITSCH amps?
Which DAC/Amp best fits my use case of having a single piece of equipment serve as the default headphone setup, but also allows me to best utilize just the DAC and feed other amps if I'm looking for a different sound signature?
Edit: Thanks for all the feedback! I’m pretty well settled on the Asgard X at this point. It sounds like exactly what I’m looking for.