Higher end audio....starting with cans

[BoredErica]

Lol what? That's what I just said?

soz, can't read.

Please don't hurt me.

Are we still friends?

I'll buy your stuff.

[swifty7]

@OP

 

if I were you, I would buy this combo:

 

for headphones: The Audio Technica ATH-W1000X

 

 

for headphone amp:

 

Schiit Asgard 2

 

 

you can get both for around $740

 

I've also read incredible reviews for the HifiMan HE500 but haven't heard it myself unlike the Audio technica.

 

[BoredErica]

-

[GamerDude]

Surprisingly, I find myself not liking cans,IEM's or speakers that I perceive to be bright. As it is, I find the highs on my HD555 to be bright, but not so bright that I can't enjoy music with it. I do enjoy a nice bass emphasis so I do think the HD650 would be a better fit sound wise.

[BoredErica]

@OP

if I were you, I would buy this combo:

for headphones: The Audio Technica ATH-W1000X

for headphone amp:

Schiit Asgard 2

you can get both for around $740

I've also read incredible reviews for the HifiMan HE500 but haven't heard it myself unlike the Audio technica.

Why would you get Asgard 2 when a Magni is transparent? 

 

Gamerdude, here is the FR chart:

The HD650 has a good bump at the bass/low midrange without the spike in treble at 9k. It's also cheaper, less bulky, and less heavy. If you're a 20-30hz junkie you might have to eq a bit though, but I think the HD650 wins overall.

[swifty7]

asgard 2 is substantially better than the magni.

[BoredErica]

asgard 2 is substantially better than the magni.

 

Time to leave the forum plebs alone...

[NannerBeans]

asgard 2 is substantially better than the magni.

Schiit is a terrible company and doesn't deserve my money. Not to mention that their products are fairly overpriced. At $100 instead of a magni I would rather get a Monoprice dac/amp or Fiio E10k and above that, the o2/odac is a better choice. 

[swifty7]

 

Time to leave the forum plebs alone...

clearly you don't know what you're talking about

[ShearMe]

clearly you don't know what you're talking about

 

Oh he's got you there wizzie.

[MayflowerElectronics]

Oh he's got you there wizzie.

Check and mate.

[GamerDude]

OK guys, I'm looking at a nicely priced Musical Fidelity V8P (plus extra two Ampherex Bugleboy tubes), would this headphone amp/dac work well with the HD650? Looking through eBay and Amazon, I'd appreciate it if you guys can recommend a headphone amp/dac that's resonably priced....perhaps up to 300USD, but I'd not mind if it were cheaper.

[NannerBeans]

OK guys, I'm looking at a nicely priced Musical Fidelity V8P (plus extra two Ampherex Bugleboy tubes), would this headphone amp/dac work well with the HD650? Looking through eBay and Amazon, I'd appreciate it if you guys can recommend a headphone amp/dac that's resonably priced....perhaps up to 300USD, but I'd not mind if it were cheaper.

Monoprice dac/amp 

[Lays]

Check and mate.

 

 

You should of seen the picture I sent him in our private audio-feels chat to make fun of him 

[BoredErica]

Gamerdude, I think I've already mentioned this:

Get the O2/Odac combo. Reference performance above human hearing baby. Should be like $240 at the cheapest. Mayflower is having a promotion, $20 off purchases over $100.

 

Other options: Schiit Modi+ Magni = $200. Syba amp/dac $50.

[GamerDude]

Gamerdude, I think I've already mentioned this:

Get the O2/Odac combo. Reference performance above human hearing baby. Should be like $240 at the cheapest. Mayflower is having a promotion, $20 off purchases over $100.

 

Other options: Schiit Modi+ Magni = $200. Syba amp/dac $50.

I'm looking at the Modi + Magni combo, looks good. If I don't hear anything bad about the combo, I'd prolly be ordering them in a couple of days. Anything wrong with choosing a SPDIF/Toslink Modi? I like it in that I can connect it to my Marantz CD player as well as to my PC via SPDIF.

[GamerDude]

I still have the option to go with the Alpha Dog, so......which would be a better bang for buck? AD at ~416USD with 4 months left of warranty? Or, the HD650 at ~320USD with no warranty left? I've read that the AD has a more neutral bass with the HD650 having more of a bass tilt. My preference is for bass......NOT overwhelming in-your-face bass or boomy bass, a little tighter bass would be preferred. Crunch time, AD or HD650?

 

NVM, I bit the bullet and decided on the AD, like that it's close backed unlike the other cans I have. Read that it sounds pretty airy and has a pretty wide soundstage for a closed cans. Anyway, should be getting it soon...

[MayflowerElectronics]

Just for future reference don't base your purchase on warranty. There's nothing to really break and worse case you can buy replacement parts.

[GamerDude]

Just for future reference don't base your purchase on warranty. There's nothing to really break and worse case you can buy replacement parts.

Bear in mind, I'm in Asia, replacement parts aren't cheap....far from it actually. That is why I don't stuff from overseas like europe or the US. Shipping cost plus lack of warranty or pay for shipping back in case of RMA. Not cost effective at all! Besides, I liked the idea that the AD is closed hence I can listen to music in relative quiet....all the cans I have are open design. Also, this'd be my first planar cans....something different.

[BoredErica]

All right Dawg. 

[ShearMe]

Hey, if your wallet aint hurting, no worries. The AD is definitely something I want to own some day.

Schiit isn't a company we particularly like around these forums, but there's nothing inherently wrong with a Modi/Magni combo. Should provide plenty of clean juice for the cans.

[BoredErica]

I was fond of the Alpha Dogs myself in the limited time I've used it, but I felt the Mad Dog provided a much better bang for the buck.

[ShearMe]

I was fond of the Alpha Dogs myself in the limited time I've used it, but I felt the Mad Dog provided a much better bang for the buck.

Mad Dog doesn't have a pearl coat tho.

[Lays]

Mad Dog doesn't have a pearl coat tho.

 

 

or 3d printed cups 8)

[GamerDude]

Was looking forward to the Alpha Dog, then I saw someone advertising a used Audeze LCD 2.2 (non-Fazor) for about 580USD, worth it? I've not quite sealed the deal with the AD seller coz he wants to retain the AD headphone stand, if I want it, I'd have to pay ~30USD more, so we've hit an impasse of sort.