Topic: Guidance requested: Use of external headphone amp w/ ADI-2 DAC FS
I've had my ADI-2 DAC FS for several months and absolutely love it. I use ZMF Auteur and Verite Open headphones (300 Ohms).
For my first venture into amps, I paired it with a Bottlehead Crack Speedball and noted that I'm not too crazy about how the tube amp "blurs" sounds and leaves me with lack of definition, clarity, and imaging. The low-end extension and sub bass, is quite nice however. I guess this is the tube amp experience. Warm, but undefined and blurring of certain instruments. I guess I prefer analytical or distinct separation in my listening.
When I plug my headphones directly into the ADI-2 DAC FS headphone out (hi-power mode), all the clarity is there, separation & imaging are great, and there is good definition of high frequencies. However, I'm not sure I'm hearing the same depth to the low-end frequencies.
My question: I've read and watched videos that recommend the Benchmark HPA4 or the Topping A90, but I'm curious if my ADI-2 DAC FS headphone out is roughly the same as using of these highly-regarded external amps?
If you guys were in my situation, would you recommend an external solid state amp or do you feel the ADI-2 DAC FS headphone amp covers this ground? I'm especially curious about bass/sub-bass, as I know the detail and imaging sound to be there already for mids, upper-mids, and high frequencies. I am absolutely fine with using EQ and currently use some of the recommended targets published on-line for my headphones.
Thank you in advance!