I would highly recommend the JohnBlue JB3. I used them with the original Nuforce Icon and now with a Jolida FX10 tube amp. They're small, beautifully made and sound incredible for their size and price.
I would highly recommend the JohnBlue JB3. I used them with the original Nuforce Icon and now with a Jolida FX10 tube amp. They're small, beautifully made and sound incredible for their size and price. |
TIC - I don't have any experience with the Icon HDP and don't spend much time listening to headphones so I can't help with either of those questions. I used the original Icon for awhile as you're describing, connected via USB to a Mac with the JB3's and was very happy with the sound for the price. When I got the little Jolida FX10 I got a Nuforce uDAC to put between the Mac and the amp. That was an even better combination, the tubes and the JB3's sound wonderful together. Then I replaced the Nuforce uDAC with an Aune Mini DAC SE, using the USB input from the Mac, and that was a much bigger improvement than I could have imagined. I'm a big fan of the small Nuforce amps and the uDAC, but especially of the JB3 speakers. I've tried them with every amp I've had in the house, including a Simaudio I-5 LE and an AES AE-25 tube amp, and they always sounded better than I expect. I don't think you can go wrong with any combination of the above and the JB3's are a great bet no matter what you drive them with. |