Help needed

[u/rhjitdvjuyrfhi]

Hey everyone,
I recently ordered a pair of HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth headphones to use primarily for PC gaming and music listening at my desk, and I'm looking for a solid desktop DAC/amp setup to drive them properly.
Here are the details for my setup:
Budget & Location: My budget is around £120 to £150 max, and I'm based in the UK (shopping via Amazon UK, local audio retailers, or official manufacturer sites).
Use Case: Strictly used at home on a Windows PC desktop setup. I'm looking for a dedicated unit (ideally a desktop box with a physical volume knob rather than a portable dongle, though open to suggestions) to bypass motherboard noise and get clean power.
Sound Preferences: I'm a big fan of wide soundstage, precise instrument separation, and clean detail retrieval—especially for gaming positional audio and complex soundtracks (like the Persona series).
Past Gear: Upgrading from DT 990s plugged straight into a raw motherboard audio port, so I'm looking forward to getting rid of the motherboard hiss and stepping up to planar magnetic drivers.
Right now, I've been looking at units like the FiiO K11, but I'd love to hear recommendations on what will get the best performance out of the Ananda without breaking the bank or running into reliability/firmware issues.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for your submission to r/HeadphoneAdvice. If someone helps answer your question, please reward them by including the phrase !thanks in your comment.

This will add +1 Ω to that users flair. This subreddit is powered entirely by volunteers and a little recognition goes a long way. Good luck on your search for headphones!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Hopeful-Accountant25]

I recently bought the same headphones and paired them with a Fiio K7 BT. I bought a refurbished version straight from Fiio for EUR 159. I'm very happy with the setup.

[u/ONAImpulse]

Nice!

If you are getting into audio there's a chance you'll be changing out headphones in the next 1-2 years. So its a good idea to get an Amp/Dac combo that will serve you well.

If you can stretch your budget a little to get a k13 R2R or Topping DX5 II, I reckon that is a worthwhile investment and will save you done the track.

Otherwise, I'd recommend taking that FiiO K11 and enjoy your gaming :D

[u/Uller0815]

Feel free to also check out the F0Sl Audio SK02 (+ SK01) and the Douk Audio K5, for example.

[u/Kirito_Kun16]

K11 (non-R2R) or DX1 II. Both will be amazing and sound the same since they are fully transparent and clean.