How to allocate budget among headphones, amps, and DAC (source).

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    ''Resolving'' can be attached to different attributes. Lotsa non-signal related information in high mids with K70x :p

    Being serious for a moment: the K701 out of a totl system is pretty awesome at some points, lots of slam, liveliness and clarity (surpassing HD650 here) if one listens to music where upper mids are missing or unimportant. For my tastes K701 out of EC 2A3 >>>> any Audeze I've heard. I would take K701 in this chain even before my beloved HD800 out of some random SS amp.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    K701s are cleaner and have sharper transients than HD650. They also have a treble peak that leaves the impression of "resolution"; but what we are talking about really isn't resolution but macro-detail. Out of a TOTL setup, the HD650 will start to capture fine microdetails like the tail ends of decays, ambient cues, and fine gradations of sound volume much better than the K701. The HD650 will never have the clarity and bass tautness of the K701. The K701 will never have the resolution and smooth frequency response of the HD650.
     
  3. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Out of curiosity, how does the KXX hold up? Not talking TOTL rig here, but out of Valhalla 2 type gear. I adore my HD650s but sometimes I could use something a little different just to mix it up.
     
  4. Rex Aeterna

    Rex Aeterna Friend

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    i'm at the source stage pretty much right now. still gonna get few speaker parts and maybe invest in used 650/800/paradoxes or so for my headphone use but, my main thought from here has always been source in back of my mind. i been using my echo audiofire 2 for years and been looking into stuff for near future upgrade when i get a better job. been interested in digital aes/ebu stuff but, plain analog balanced xlr work fine so been looking at Yggdrasil for longest time now as end-game dac of choice as a thought unless i run into something state of the art for super steal deal that no one knows about haha...
     
  5. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    One thing to consider when setting money aside for a source is that it doesn't have to be used exclusively for a headphone system.

    A setup with a $3000 DAC + $100 headphones + $100 headphone amp is more justifiable if the DAC is already part of a speaker system with a $5000 amp + $10000 speakers and you are just adding headphone functionality.
     
  6. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    I really like very much the simple approach here: DAC, amp, headphones. According to some computer audio forums you have to spend on endless, ever more complex and expensive, regeneration of USB stream before you finally buy your $1000 USB cable and connect to your DAC.
    My purchase of Sony HAP-Z1ES DAC ($2000) with build in HD was the way to sidestep this whole mess and I could not be happier - it had great reviews, it sounds very good to me with a number of amps, and it's going to stay,
    Next I spent money on headphones, ended up first with HD600, then T5p Gen 2, and finally HD800S.
    Now it's time for a good balanced amp, it will be Mjolnir 2 most likely but I am still considering other options like Violextric 280. I actually like a lot my current headphone amps: well used Talisman T-3H andT-35H, but want to have the option of balanced connection, and preamp out.
     
  7. Dino

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  8. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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  9. Dino

    Dino Friend

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  10. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    I totally agree, there's been some great equipment put out since that thread. Operating on a tight budget, I went with the Leader board recommendations of the Vali 1 and the GO450 for 140 together, but now am seeing Project Sunrise III going for 185 and second guessing myself...which is perhaps endemic to this hobby?
     
  11. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    It's also the great thing about the hobby. Try lots of gear, you don't know what you will like until you try it. Buy fairly priced, well taken care of used equipment and you can try and resell if it doesn't move you.
     
  12. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    That's encouraging. I think it's about finding that system synergy. For example, I'm a big Dylan fan, but Blonde on Blonde's famous 'mercury' sound hurts with a bright setup - one of the things I was thinking about when I decided on my soon-to-be opened HD650s... we'll see!
     
  13. Jerda

    Jerda New

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    Thanks @purr1n : I've followed your suggestions about cans budget and I can say now to have acquired after half a year my first hifi setup: Modi Multibit -> DIY 5W Class A "AF-N" ( Italian Diy amp project who is still developed, modified and upgraded after more than 10y... big props about SQ from lots of italian hobbyist who knows a lot more than me about SQ ) -> HE-560
    Paid 700€ for everything, in the future I will add a raspberry streamer :sail:
     

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