Headphones + DAC

[Kirihuna]

I have a $500 limit for a combination of headphones and a DAC.

 

Most of my friends recommend the Audio Technica m50s

 

I was thinking about the Sennheiser HD 8 DJ headphones, but for $400, I feel like that'd be too much to spend right now when all my music is 320kbps MP3 or VBR.

 

Primary use for these headphones will be at computer only. So gaming and listening to music.

 

If it's in the budget, would anyone have speakers to recommend?

[AMICLG]

DT880 Pro 250 Ohm and O2 + ODAC which are about $50 over budget but totally worth it

 

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-880-Pro-Headphones-250/dp/B001B1QENY

https://www.mayflowerelectronics.com/shop/digital-to-analog-converters/objective2-odac-combo-with-rear-power/

[johngo90]

m50's are not the best for gaming, however for music they are noicceeee. If your inside i recommend open or semi open headphones. Closed headphones get all hot and sweaty.

 

Personally I recommend the Schiit stack with dt990's, Sennheiser 558/598.

[creatip123]

I'm going out of the mainstream here, but I'd recommend the Hifiman HE-400 + desktop amp+DAC (no idea there). The HE-400 is on sale at head-direct, $299 (from $399). I'll write a review on the HE-400 as soon as I have the spare time, but yeah, best headphone I had as of yet....

 

*edit: the HE-400 is quite power hungry though, so you must get a decent amp for it to provide the needed juice. But I dare to say, buy it first, thank me later....

[Guest]

Or you could get the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones... they are highly recommended by a lot of people for a reason.

 

Yes...and that reason is that people parrot the same thing whether they know what they're talking about or not.

[creatip123]

Yes...and that reason is that people parrot the same thing whether they know what they're talking about or not.

 

Lol, well to be fair, the M50 is quite decent as a headphone. But yeah, too overrated, sometimes until we're sick of hearing the same thing over and over again....

 

I'm guessing the M50 got mainstream features, sleek design, 'easy to hear' sounds, not too bulky, and yeah, words that goes around.

[t0wer]

*edit: the HE-400 is quite power hungry though, so you must get a decent amp for it to provide the needed juice. But I dare to say, buy it first, thank me later....

 

was going to say he400 as well, but my he500's are pretty efficient, to the point where they sound fine on my phone w/out a separate amp, and iirc the 400's are even more efficient.

[BoredErica]

I have a $500 limit for a combination of headphones and a DAC.

 

Most of my friends recommend the Audio Technica m50s

 

I was thinking about the Sennheiser HD 8 DJ headphones, but for $400, I feel like that'd be too much to spend right now when all my music is 320kbps MP3 or VBR.

 

Primary use for these headphones will be at computer only. So gaming and listening to music.

 

If it's in the budget, would anyone have speakers to recommend?

Your mp3 part is irrelevant. Telling mp3 and FLAC apart is very difficult just in general. The m50s are nice. The Sennheiser Momentums are a fun headphones and fine for travel. Or, you can upgrade to the Sennheiser 650 which can be had for $340 if you buy secondhand from Amazon (they've got great return policies). Then there are the Audiotechnica AD900x and AKG Q701 which excel in positional audio, so it's the best buy if you're very serious about your gaming.

 

And you can probably cheap out on your Dac/amp and not hear a damned difference.

[NannerBeans]

M50 are actually not that bad if you get them for pretty cheap. Like $90 or so but you have to replace the earpads like every year or so. I would say Mayflower Fostex V3 and o2 amp or those HE400 someone else mentioned. AKG K612 are also nice if you want to save a bit of money. No dac/amp should be needed for those. 

[creatip123]

Good news for M50 lovers. It's on massdrop for $99.99, 6 days left...

 

*I don't know if it opens or not, but anyway: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ath-m50?mode=guest_open&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Massdrop%20-%20Master&utm_campaign=Product%20Announcement%202014-05-02&utm_content=C