Comments on Profile Post by señorhifi

  1. Sqveak
    Sqveak
    The former. I'd rather build a solid base beneath a forgiving performer than cheap out for a costly diva.
    Sep 19, 2021
  2. señorhifi
    señorhifi
    My question basically boils down to HD650 (or 600) out of a nice stack vs TOTL (any TOTL of your choice) out of an entry level stack
    Sep 19, 2021
  3. Walderstorn
    Walderstorn
    I prefer 600 out of a cheap stack, that pairs well with it than with a TOTL with a cheap stack. The HD800s is a good example of this, it can sound absolutely ...insert a negative word here... with the old Magni/Modi and i much prefered the 600 with the Crack+Bifrost1.
    Sep 19, 2021
    Cryptowolf likes this.
  4. wbass
    wbass
    Utopia/Modi/Magni.

    IMO the Focals can sound good driven by modest amplification. And I also think that DACs make a more subtle contribution to the overall sound. Whereas, for me, the Utopia are much more capable than the HD650.
    Sep 19, 2021
    nishan99 likes this.
  5. rhythmdevils
    rhythmdevils
    Rule of thumb: unless you are permanently constrained to a certain budget, buy your favorite transducer first. Then build a rig around it as you can save up $.

    Transducer > amplifier = DAC
    Sep 19, 2021
    Azimuth, StageOne, Vtory and 8 others like this.
  6. Lyander
    Lyander
    ^What he said. Sure cruddier or less synergistic upstreams could well gimp headphones (by mitigating strengths or exacerbating flaws) but generally speaking headphones are the single determining factor to how good the overall system will sound. But of course that's only presuming you're stick with that system forever with no plans to upgrade at all.
    Sep 19, 2021
  7. Lyander
    Lyander
    The Senns are a bit of an anomaly in that they're damn good but sound better out of flattering gear. Senns go from "acceptable" out of a mobile to "...wow" out of a good amp and DAC. Not gotten ears on Utopia but it seems that one needs a fair bit of consideration upstream given its nature.

    Also: would argue amplification may matter somewhat more than DACs given a base level of "not-horrible" for the latter :P
    Sep 19, 2021
    Jinxy245, Cryptowolf and rhythmdevils like this.
  8. dubharmonic
    dubharmonic
    The Utopia is more upstream dependent than anything else I've heard. On poorly matched gear they can be pretty awful. I've heard these combinations in house, and I'd go with the HD650.
    Sep 19, 2021
    Azimuth, sheldaze, Lyander and 5 others like this.
  9. SoupRKnowva
    SoupRKnowva
    I’d take the Utopia combo for sure.
    Sep 19, 2021
    rhythmdevils likes this.
  10. wbass
    wbass
    FWIW, I’d also take the Elex/Elear/Clear over the HD650. (Am not as a big a fan of the 650 as many here.)
    Sep 19, 2021
    SoupRKnowva and rhythmdevils like this.
  11. sheldaze
    sheldaze
    I would ask what is the long term commitment - investment in a Utopia, which may require several years to get a synergistic chain? Or get it all now in HD650/Jot2/BF2? I own separate setups where the two headphones are equal enjoyment, but the Utopia was more tricky at the start.
    Sep 19, 2021
    dubharmonic and rhythmdevils like this.
  12. Cryptowolf
    Cryptowolf
    I would take the 650 because of synergy, overall sound profile, and the better separation of the bifrost 2. The 650 better suits my broken ears.
    Sep 19, 2021
    Tchoupitoulas likes this.
  13. purr1n
    purr1n
    Utopia from Magni / Modi Multbit stack (with mods to Magni and Modi). Or better yet for not much more, Utopia / Vali 2+ / Modi MB.
    Sep 19, 2021
    Azimuth, Cryptowolf and rhythmdevils like this.
  14. Vtory
    Vtory
    Another vote for the latter. Decision even clearer if I replace Utopia with Clear Mg.
    Sep 19, 2021
  15. zerodeefex
    zerodeefex
    The utopia + $200 to spend on building a system.
    Sep 19, 2021
  16. Gazny
    Gazny
    hd650, utopia will tell you everything wrong and right with the latter. But it should scale more in the long term
    Sep 19, 2021
    Cryptowolf and sheldaze like this.
  17. ChaChaRealSmooth
    ChaChaRealSmooth
    The Utopia stack, although if we're talking HD600 I would go for that instead.
    Sep 19, 2021
    Cryptowolf likes this.