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Hello Don!Welcome to the AudioCircle and the Headphone mania thread...I do have a Schitt Vahalla 2 and use it with my HD600's...its a very good match and hard to really improve on this combination in my opinion....others will disagree but I have this amp and have hundreds and hundreds of hours listening to a 'wide variety of headphones with it.Your inquiry indicates this will be your amp...so this means that the headphones you us with are somewhat limited....even though Schitt (which I like their stuff alot)..states its been improved and you can use it with lower impedance headphones and the results will be better than the first generation of the Vahalla.Schitt states go ahead and use it with Grados, and IEM, and the low gain impedance is 3.5 ohms, so using the 1/8 rule, 3.5 x 8 = 28 ohms...so headphones as low as 28 ohms technically should work just fine.In my real world experience it does but its not as good to me with low impedance headphones as with a amp designed to handle low impedance cans....this is only my opinion...and you will need to try and see for yourself...you just may like the sound.With 250 ohm cans and higher IMO think the amp really pairs well with senns and beyers...So I guess I am saying some of the headphones on your list are lower impedance than an OTL amp would work well with....but again the V2 should.I recently purchased the Focal Clears and they were on sale for $999. So they do come down in price....I would highly recommend them at this price.One of the guys on the circle had Focal Elears and just upgraded to Audeze LCD3's and might stop in and recommend something. I have Beyer T1's, T90's DT 1350's, Audio Technica ATHM50's, MSR7's, Grado 325i's, Had LCD 2 R2's, AKK 701/702 and others....The Clears are open backed, the HD820s I believe are closed back? and you list them as possible end game cans....which IMO may very well be.Classical music on the Focal Clears are wonderful....to me....but I might look at a different amp with them...only you can decide this.If you can get to an audio store that has these and listen before u buy,Good Luck and let us know what you decide...lots of good stuff out there!Alex
I listen to some of the above noted material, Prokofiev, English prog, high dog soundtrack, ... I must add the Audeze LCD2C to this. High value target. I am using Audeze Deckard, bullseye match, purchases two years apart, and also an Eastern Electric MiniMax 6BM8 PP amp with 9R resistors over the speaker taps, and either sound almost unbelievably good. tubes, perhaps abit too much of a good thing. Source, Chord Mojo.
Hmm, you say "replace" the HD650. Does that mean get rid of it? Though I don't think the Senn HD6 series are the best cans in the world, I think at least one belongs in any headphone collection, so I always have one regardless of what else I acquire. (Have bought 650 twice )You have a mix there of open and closed back considerations. I would narrow that down before comparing brands. For me, open back usually are a more open window in terms of spatial presentation. The only closed back I have listened to that knocked me out was the Focal Stellia at a recent meet. Great isolation and staggering clarity/true timbre. New it's $3k though.Beyond that, when I listen to good cans with few sonic problems in frequency response, I listen to the personality of the presentation. Regarding some you mention, I find the HD6 series, Elear, and Clear to be upfront and a bit forward (row "A"). I find the LCD series, Ananda, and HD 800S (don't know about HD 820) to be more graceful (row "M"), yet able to provide as good or better micro details.Have fun and listen to everything you can beg, borrow, or go to a meet!
As you can see there are many opinions... I used to think there was that just one headphone that was perfect for "all" and the real answer is we all are very different and our listening preferences are widely different.I will not say the HD 650 shouldnt be in anyones headphone collection...you will have to decide that.I think what gefski is saying is the soundstage is important to him and many others....and to me as well....There is alot more to think about when spending $1000- $1500 in a set of cans for sure. Opinions are great, including mine!!! But before you buy go listen or try them and YOU decide for your ears...Alex
The Cable Company sells headphones and has a 'loaner' program to try candidates. (I believe they put a hold on your CC while you have the 'phones.) Could be a good way to winnow out the contenders since there are no B&M audio stores anymore.FWIW I sold my HD650's a couple years ago for 'Beyer Amiron Home', not a lot more $ but a big improvement in SQ IMO.
Good Morning Don...To be really honest I would not recommend the V2 for the Clears....there are better choices for a 55 ohm headphone in my opinion....The Clears would be really different compared to the HD650's....the tonality is one of the best IMO and many others....really nice, accurate and musical...The HD800s will have a similar sound to the 6xx series, but much wider soundstage for sure, some love it, some do not...I like both.The LCD's are nice had a set of the 2's when they first came out, but just too heavy and abit cold to me....but again its a personnel taste.Listening at a store is good...then you can get a much better idea..for what you like....Advice: Take your time, dont jump at the first thing that you think is great....One idea is if you get a lower impedance set of cans than the V2 can handle to your liking, is to get a smaller low cost, BUT VERY GOOD solid state amp...There are several out there that will work well with the Clears and other low impedance headphones....like the Schitt $99 Magni3 or their really new Asgard3 for $199.Then JDS Labs has their ATOM...All the bestAlex
Hi Don..... Good Morning!The Utopias at 4,000 IMO are abit much for headphones, the Clears get you 90% of the way there and can be had for $999 on sale.Much more sensible and great headphones, many say they are the upgrade to the HD 650's for best all around headphones....I paid $1000 or so for my LCD2's and found other lower cost cans that made me smile as much for less...I sold them after several months.Wish you could have tried the Clears and the HD800s. These were my two contenders and I have the HD600's again and wanted either this kind of Senn house sound but witha wider soundstage, but the dealer didnt have the HD800's either but had the Clears, he had the lower cost and the Utopias but the Clears for my just seemed to have a perfect tonality.Some describe the soundstage of the 800s' are being several rows back at a concert, while the Clears are more like front row or in the band, BUT this really depends on the recording ALOT.I wonder what the source gear they used to demo them? Seperate amp/dac or receiver etc...?This can make a small difference.Good LuckAlex
Beyer Amiron and T1s have that sort of HD600 sound but WAY more refined, detailed, stronger bass, just everything in a much higher class, while retaining that core musical sound that the 600s are famous for. I hate the 800's, too bright, but I heard the 700's and though they were amazing. Focals I heard have been underwhelming, just too aggressive for my taste. The only uber-expensive headphone I've heard that even semi-justifies it's price is the Meze Empyrean.
I lucked out for sure...I see the Clears (Pro) version for $1349 at Moon Audio and at Adorama here in the states.Maybe during the crazy season of Black Friday they might go back on sale...if I see this I will let you know!But again...you still should listen to them at first.The Burson Conductor V2+ is a really decent piece of gear....I never really liked close back cans..so I never even thought of trying them out...one shot at the clears and the bass impact with well recorded drums like onPatricia Barbers Verses CD ...blew me away and I have to have them....then the $999 price...well the HD 800s just didnt have a chance!!Maybe someday..Alex
Harman has the NQ90 Quincy Jones headphones by AKG on sale for $599 ($900 savings)https://www.harmanaudio.com/over-ear-headphones/N90+Q.html?dwvar_N90%20Q_color=Gold-GLOBAL-Current&cgid=over-ear-headphones#prefn1=isLuxuryProduct&prefn2=isRefurbished&prefv3=false&srule=price-high-to-low&sz=12&start=1&prefv1=no&prefv2=false&prefn3=isSupport
