DAC and AMP upgrade for desk HP/Speaker setup

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by Nathan (Darkmatter35), Sep 11, 2018.

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  1. Nathan (Darkmatter35)

    Nathan (Darkmatter35) New

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    Okay so in the past year of my time as an audiophile I have been buying and selling audio gear like crazy and I would like to stop that soon.

    Gear that I currently own:
    • Schiit Modi Multibit (From PC, BD player, and possibly a CD player down the line)
    • Parasound Zpre v.3
    • Parasound Zamp v.3
    • Project Ember 2 (brand new)
    • MCTH
    • Kef Q100's
    • HD650's
    • Hifiman Sundara's
    • Monoprice retro's

    I am planning to sell my dac, the MCTH, and all three of my current HP's (the dac will be the last to go towards 2019). Why? I would like more features and connecability. I realized that my love for my current cans has really only been from new toy syndrome. Now it's time to make room for the two new HP's I have coming in. I just ordered a pair of Denon AH-D5200's and I backed the Verum One HP which will hopefully meet production goals in January.

    I am very excited for these two headphones. My understanding is that the denons might not sound as good on a tube as they could on a solid state. And as for the verums I'm not sure. I just picked up this ember and I still need to figure out what jumpers need to be where and where to put the amp in my loop. What I found was that my HD650's sounded good through it, but I still hate that their isn't subbass and TBH, I've heard better detail through my sundaras through the MCTH/Ember. When I plugged the sundaras into the ember, the detail and the speed of the plannars still shined but there sounded to be a sort of haze on top of the sound. I'm not sure if I enjoyed it or not. Then again this could be altered with different tubes (oh boi). Still hesitant on selling the sundaras. I might keep them until I get my hands on the verum one and compare the two.

    So I think I would be looking for an amp for my denon's and any future HP that would require solid state. I'm unsure whether the ember will be ideal for them, but if not I would like one that would suit the Denon's and the Verum's techincal needs. My budget would preferably be around $700 and is flexible. I really just want to get out of midfi and maybe just rest on the sea bed of the high end market. To my knowledge, since the Verum one is an 8 ohm HP, I would want something that has around a watt of output power at 12 ohms ( as per Verum's project updates on Kickstarter).

    As for the DAC, I currently have my eyes on the Denafrips Aeres. This will be bought last since I would like to save more to get it. I really like it's features and ascethic and I'm considering it because I believe it could be my endgame. OFC I have no idea because I haven't heard it.

    FYI - I really don't like Schiit products. After owning a Jot and a Modi I have made the decision that I just don't like their looks and functionality.

    Thank you all for reading! All opinions and suggestions welcome!
     
  2. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    Not only did you double post, but you started a new thread when your musings would be more appropriate in the general advice thread.
     
  3. Nathan (Darkmatter35)

    Nathan (Darkmatter35) New

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    Sorry. Personally, can't tell the difference between the two because there are people asking the same types of questions in both the all purpose thread and in their own threads. If a staff member could delete this thread that would be fine. You come off a little rude when you word is the way you did.
     
  4. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Rudeness likely inadvertent because this is one of those things that just keeps happening. If memory serves, the All-Purpose Flour thread is for questions the like of what you posed, whereas individual threads are for questions that could be useful for a wider audience/not tailored specifically for a single case, as most "need help" posts are.

    Won't be much help, but I will say that I hadn't heard of the D5200s before now. Damn that zebrawood looks good. Also, curious that they make no mention of biocellulose/biodyna in the marketing spiel, instead calling it a FreeEdge^TM driver. Either this is a departure from previous cans in the line or they're just trying to reinvent the DX000 series. Huh.
     
  5. Nathan (Darkmatter35)

    Nathan (Darkmatter35) New

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    Thank you for the clarification. I am very interested in how they will sound. They look amazing.
     
  6. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    For whatever it's worth, I'd be interested to read what you think of them when they do arrive. Comparisons to previous incarnations or "competitive" cans would be great— X00 I guess? ZMF Ori? HD650 is pretty much the one pair of cans loads of people have heard that you've listed, so that works too. Also, feel free to nitpick them and not let shiny toy syndrome cloud your judgement, haha. Not many take kindly to that :p

    But really this doesn't warrant its own thread.
     
  7. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    In many ways your post makes no sense. You start by saying that you want to stop your "new toy syndrome", but you are selling a lot of gear to buy new gear.

    It is also unclear if you are asking for headphone advice, or DAC advice, or amp advice, or just going through a stream of consciousness.

    Whatever the case, it seems you want a little more lively sound than the HD650 while retaining it's smoothness, and perhaps a bit more sub bass. With the Denon you are likely to find more sub bass, but you might not like it's "detail". I actually think you might like a DT770 based on your post (but not really sure after reading some of your posts in the past in other forums).

    Also forget about your mid-fi and "sea bed of the high end market" concept. Focus on really buying what you like, regardless of mid-fi, low-fi, summit-fi or whatever label.

    As far as DAC and amps, I don't know how I can help you. I have no sense of what you might like in terms of "looks" and what you are looking for in terms of "functionality". It seems you are fixated on getting "end-game" and "high end" stuff more than anything else.

    Furthermore, please avoid double posting, you are not new to how forums work:

    https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/65000-what-is-the-most-highly-rated-dacamp-for-under-350/

    Follow up here:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...purpose-advice-thread.19/page-348#post-224537

    Closing thread.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2018
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