Headphone + DAC recomendations

[arekana]

(Will get straight to the point) I am looking for a new headphone and DAC, I am at the moment in the market for new hardware as a few days ago I was at a store that had some great demo's for headphones. So decided to try one out and even on my cellphone with my music in (AAC 128?) it sounded amazing. So not being a big audiophile i was wondering what would you guys (and girls) recommend for a good headphone and DAC. At the moment I am using My Macbook pro's bluetooth (and cellphone) hooked-up to my Sony zx770bn and was wondering what improvement I can make and how to get a better sound. I dont mind switching to cable just have these bluetooth headphones as they sound decent and are noise canceling but as I just upgraded my self to a personal office that is not really needed anymore.

 

I really do not listen to bassy(?) music. I listen really only to Metal (Melodic/Death/Power) bands like Epica, Be'lakor, Insomnium, Soilwork Scar Symmetry, Rammstein ... etc etc etc. the only other real requirement is that it cant be like crazy expensive (my limit is about 800 euro's == ~900$US)

 

Thanks in advance.

[Majestic]

What is the current headphone lacking? IE what are you expecting to improve? Also, macbooks generally have good audio implementations, if you don't go too crazy with the headphones in terms of power requirements, you should be fine.

[Rpkiller]

5 minutes ago, arekana said:

(Will get straight to the point) I am looking for a new headphone and DAC, I am at the moment in the market for new hardware as a few days ago I was at a store that had some great demo's for headphones. So decided to try one out and even on my cellphone with my music in (AAC 128?) it sounded amazing. So not being a big audiophile i was wondering what would you guys (and girls) recommend for a good headphone and DAC. At the moment I am using My Macbook pro's bluetooth (and cellphone) hooked-up to my Sony zx770bn and was wondering what improvement I can make and how to get a better sound. I dont mind switching to cable just have these bluetooth headphones as they sound decent and are noise canceling but as I just upgraded my self to a personal office that is not really needed anymore.

 

I really do not listen to bassy(?) music. I listen really only to Metal (Melodic/Death/Power) bands like Epica, Be'lakor, Insomnium, Soilwork Scar Symmetry, Rammstein ... etc etc etc. the only other real requirement is that it cant be like crazy expensive (my limit is about 800 euro's == ~900$US)

 

Thanks in advance.

do you like a lot of treble? 

[arekana]

@Majestic What seems to be lacking for me is that these headphones don't sound as clear as I would like, I have the feeling that when listening to a grand song some instruments are missing or are not as they are suppose to be. I always figured that it was because these headphones ware bluetoothm I and not really familiar with bluetooth vs cabel + dac.

[arekana]

1 minute ago, Rpkiller said:

do you like a lot of treble? 

Not especially I think i prefer a more balanced "clean" sound. Don't want to sound to cheesy but as the artist intended it to be.

[Rpkiller]

2 minutes ago, arekana said:

Not especially I think i prefer a more balanced "clean" sound. Don't want to sound to cheesy but as the artist intended it to be.

so you like a more analytical sound. also what kind of headphones to you want? Open? semi open? closed?

[arekana]

2 minutes ago, arekana said:

@Majestic What seems to be lacking for me is that these headphones don't sound as clear as I would like, I have the feeling that when listening to a grand song some instruments are missing or are not as they are suppose to be. I always figured that it was because these headphones ware bluetoothm I and not really familiar with bluetooth vs cabel + dac.

Yes I guess that would be a good description of it.

[Majestic]

Just now, arekana said:

Not especially I think i prefer a more balanced "clean" sound. Don't want to sound to cheesy but as the artist intended it to be.

Well, you might have to get used to that.

 

Can they be open? Open means virtually no noise cancellation (in or out).

[arekana]

Just now, Majestic said:

Well, you might have to get used to that.

 

Can they be open? Open means virtually no noise cancellation (in or out).

Sure that is no problem anymore. So open or closed is fine.

[Rpkiller]

Just now, arekana said:

Sure that is no problem anymore. So open or closed is fine.

are you sure?

[arekana]

3 minutes ago, Rpkiller said:

are you sure?

Think so(as I mentioned not really a audiophile) Is there is a good reason against one or the other ?.

At the moment my company has grown a lot and we can now afford offices for me and other people so any sound getting out is not going to botter anybody.

[Dackzy]

Just drop the DAC, maybe get a amp depending on the headphones you end you getting. Maybe look at HE 560 if they fit inside of your budget.

[Majestic]

Maybe start with something a little more affordable like a K612, or sennheiser 558 

[arekana]

2 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

Just drop the DAC, maybe get a amp depending on the headphones you end you getting. Maybe look at HE 560 if they fit inside of your budget.

Those are pricey, but will try to see if I can demo them somewhere to see if they are worth it. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Rpkiller]

Just now, arekana said:

Think so(as I mentioned not really a audiophile) Is there is a good reason against one or the other.

At the moment my company has grown a lot and we can now afford offices for me and other people so any sound getting out is not going to botter anybody.

closed are sound isolating (usually unless they have crappy sound isolation and you crank your music all the way up) and are more bassy than open headphones. open are exactly how they sound they leak sound which gives you a larger sound stage.

if you want a analytical sound i would recommend AKG.

[arekana]

5 minutes ago, Majestic said:

Maybe start with something a little more affordable like a K612, or sennheiser 558 

 

4 minutes ago, Rpkiller said:

closed are sound isolating (usually unless they have crappy sound isolation and you crank your music all the way up) and are more bassy than open headphones. open are exactly how they sound they leak sound which gives you a larger sound stage.

if you want a analytical sound i would recommend AKG.

Those AKG K612 Pro's have a very nice price thanks! would these need(or be improved by) a AMP/DAC or is my MBP mini-jack more then enough ?

[Rpkiller]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/685483/akg-k702-the-classic-vs-k612-pro-the-upstart-review-and-comparisonAkg makes analytical headphones

612 vs 702

[Majestic]

11 minutes ago, arekana said:

Those AKG K612 Pro's have a very nice price thanks! would these need(or be improved by) a AMP/DAC or is my MBP mini-jack more then enough ?

As I said, generally MBP's have good integrated audio. So i'd try those out first. You can always get an amp later, should the volume not suffice.

[arekana]

1 minute ago, Majestic said:

As I said, generally MBP's have good integrated audio. So i'd try those out first. You can always get an amp later, should the volume not suffice.

Ok thank you very much for the help.

10 minutes ago, Rpkiller said:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/685483/akg-k702-the-classic-vs-k612-pro-the-upstart-review-and-comparisonAkg makes analytical headphones

612 vs 702

Thanks as-well, very good read. I think I will go for the 702's as its not that big of a price difference and the detachable cable is a feature I do like.