Headphone and/or Amp that you regret selling most and why?

Discussion in 'General Audio Discussion' started by Ice-man, Mar 29, 2018.

  1. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Not sure if this has been posted before but I couldn't find anything. For me, it would have to be the Stax sr007 mki and KGSSHV. I really really enjoyed that setup for about a year. But I had a lot of money tied up in that rig. In fact, all of my discretionary/hobby income was in that one setup.

    Eventually I missed my dynamic driver and planars too much and let the Stax setup go. I do miss it though. Especially with jazz, classical and most acoustic sets. in a word, it was hypnotic.
     
  2. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    I regret any gear you or @Luckbad sell more than once.
    :p
     
  3. sheldaze

    sheldaze Friend

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    If you look at my profile over on Shiny-Fi, I've gone through a lot of stuff. Unfortunately, I'm a very quiet listener and just cannot get a good listen until I'm at home, right time of day, right frame of reference, the right music playing, etc. (I'm not a Friend with access to any of the tours) So I've had to buy and sell things to get a good listen. You might think some of the best things from my list would be highest cost - Cavalli Liquid Gold, Cavalli Liquid Glass, HeadAmp GS-X mkii.

    Nope. The two things I missed (and was lucky to re-purchase): DNA Sonett 2 and Eddie Current Black Widow

    No matter whatever else I may settle into for permanent setups, mostly for pre-amp or direct to speaker duties, these two dedicated headphone amplifiers are what I would most miss having. They just do something right, simply, and through many different headphones. They are, in my opinion, a testament to an era of amplifiers when things weren't too costly, but they were damn good!
     
  4. Garry

    Garry Friend

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    The Stax SR-Sigma Pro I had in the late 1970's Still have a feeling of nostalgia about these.
     
  5. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I don't regret selling much, though I do miss some stuff. I sold my modded HD800s to help fund a trip to Japan. Would do it again in a heartbeat, but I really do miss them for classical/soundtracks. I do maybe regret giving up on my Bottlehead S.E.X.

    Now if we want to talk about regrets on purchases, I have pages to write...
     
  6. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    No regrets.

    It was a bit of a winding journey to get to a place I'm happy at, but it was worth it. I learned something with each purchase.

    What do I look back on fondly, though?

    HE-500. Hands down, no question. If I had the money I'd buy one and put it in a glass case. It's my audio version of that one blanket we all had as kids and all secretly wish we had back.
     
  7. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    DNA Sonett 2 and EC Black Widow 2. Especially the later. Best SS I have ever heard. I sold them both so I could buy the ZDS I have now which was the right move, but I will always have fond memories of those two. I will probably feel the same way about my ZDS when I sell it to fund the Stratus.
     
  8. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    Strangely enough, I dont miss any headphone or amp that Ive sold so far. As my experience with headphone audio grows, I simply focus on getting closer and closer to a personal ideal type of sound. Which of course requires not only purchasing and listening but also thinking and figuring stuff out. And demoing as much as possible. And thinking once again. That approach seems to work fine so far, zero regrets with any move Ive done so far.

    The only piece of gear I ever rebought was HD800 and that only due to an incredibly low secondhand price. I knew right away that I am going to sell it eventually.

    What helps me is to write down reasons why I bought something... or why I sold something. Always knowing what you do and why you do it is the key for me to keep it all sane.

    Far from the end of the journey so lets see what future might bring!
     
  9. Benny-x

    Benny-x New

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    It's hard to say I regret selling my DNA Sonett 1, but I do have very fond memories of it. Maybe it was the time in my life or the stage in my headphone journey, but that was a damn fine amp at just the right time.

    And like Magentostatic above me, I too keep a list of all buys, haves, wants, and sells. It's getting pretty long nowadays and I've had to reformat it, but it certainly does keep you sane. It's nice to have a list that's showing where you got stuff, what was going on at that time, what your settled impressions of something were, and maybe what you were using it with at that time. Saves scratching your head about stuff later. Also saves making stupid purchasing mistakes from happening over again~
     
  10. Lenroot77

    Lenroot77 Friend

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    It really seems that I need to hear a BW 2 one of these days!
     
  11. Erikdayo

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    There are a few headphones I at least somewhat regret selling. The AD2000, while not the greatest headphone around, was a favorite of mine for a number of years. I consider it one of the most comfortable I've used because I really like the A-T wing system. I found the AD2000 pretty enjoyable sounding despite the rolled off sub bass. Clarity could have been a little better.

    In addition, I also miss the HD800S. I might actually pick one up again depending on how things turn out with the Auteur. While my current setup wouldn't really fix the mids on the HD800S I think the Onyx + Kenzie Encore combo could get a lot more out of it than my previous setups did.
     
  12. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    I kind of regret selling the T3 but i am happy with what i have now. When Doug and Tom get around to releasing the T5 i will take serious look though...
     
  13. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Denon D7000. Beautiful, and I loved the warm full bottom with slightly sparkly highs. I like pristine stuff, and I was always afraid I’d wreck the wood cups. I finally sold them to someone who probably did wreck the wood cups.....
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2018
  14. Jdnoss

    Jdnoss New

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    I probably regret selling my Grado SR325e. They were the first set good headphones I ever bought. They had awesome mids that where great for guitar and vocals. I sold them to fund other hobbies I was interested in at the time. Still miss them when a good acoustic guitar song come on.
     
  15. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Stax Srs3100 (L300 and 252 amp), which is stupid good for the money. I’m not sure if anything <$500 can top it
     
  16. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    I'm a bit of a hoarder so I don't sell much. But I sold, regretted and repurchased three Sennheisers: HD600, HD650 and (most of all) HD540 Reference Gold. 650 and 540 I repurchased twice just to be sure. On the amp side I fondly remember the Lyr and Deckard but don't regret the sale. Might live to regret the Lyr if I ever buy a pair of HE-6's.
     
  17. Benny-x

    Benny-x New

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    I'm also waiting for the T5. I'm talking to Doug right now to see what my options are from him. Really wondering how things will go against, with, or otherwise with my LAu.
     

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