AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Headphone Mania => Topic started by: Freo-1 on 6 May 2022, 09:21 pm
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So, what does your headphone rig consist of? Many headphone enthusiasts have a variety of DACs, headphone amps and cans.
Me, I've one DAC, two headphone amps, and two headphones, which are as follows:
- Headphones: Sony MDR-Z7, Abyss 1266 phi cc
- DAC/Headphone amp: Chord Hugo-TT2 with Chord M-Scaler
- OTL headphone amp: Kludge
How about you?
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So, what does your headphone rig consist of? Many headphone enthusiasts have a variety of DACs, headphone amps and cans.
Me, I've one DAC, two headphone amps, and two headphones, which are as follows:
- Headphones: Sony MDR-Z7, Abyss 1266 phi cc
- DAC/Headphone amp: Chord Hugo-TT2 with Chord M-Scaler
- OTL headphone amp: Kludge
How about you?
Can you tell us how they sound to you?
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My headphone system is using a MSI Trident 3 i5 computer. Using Realtek HD app and VoiceMeeter mixer app, Streaming Amazon Music HD.
With this setup I listen with my Yamaha TW-E3 Earbuds, which I consider to have excellent sound and bass extension, which cost me only $130 buck CDN.
Recently added GVAUDIO wireless bluetooth headphone amp, which allows me to connect my Yamaha RX-V2200 avr. With this I can use my loudspeaker or headphones.
Headphones I'm using Beyerdynamics Custom Studio through the Yamaha headphone jack. Using the Yamaha allows these cans to achieve mush better resolution and higher volume level. So now these headphones show that they are clearly superior to my earbuds. But of coarse with increased volume come increase risk of hearing damage. I find these headphones to be excellent sounding, excellent resolution without harshness that I've heard from headphones I've owned in the past. Only downside is ears feel sweaty after wearing for awhile. :smoke:
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Can you tell us how they sound to you?
The Abyss 1266 cans are the best and most natural sounding headphone I've ever heard. I have owned Focal Stellia and Stax SR-007, and the 1266 betters those fine headphones. The 1266 provides outstanding reproduction with every aspect of the audio spectrum. Bass is deep, but not overwhelming, a very smooth midrange, and treble that rivals the best ESL cans.
The MDR-Z7 is a high end headphone, that provides a fun an pleasant experience. They have a very deep bass signature, slightly recessed midrange, and extended treble. Distortion seems less than many cans in this price class. They work well with portable music sources, such as Askell Kern.
The Chord Hugo-TT2 is an amazing piece of kit. The DAC section is among the very best currently available. When combined with the M-Scaler, digital playback sounds very natural, with no digital harshness, and one of the very few DACs that seems to get the time domain aspect right. It's also a damn fine headphone amp in its own right. Some think it's slightly warm sounding, while others think it's analytical sounding.
The OTL headphone amp can drive the 1266 cans very well. It's got a warmer sound than the TT2, with a bit more bloom. Sounds wonderful with jazz, small scale acoustic music, etc. Very sensitive to tube rolling.
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I only really use headphones on the move or at work.
At work I use modified Beyerdynamic T70 headphones, Beyerdynamic A20 headphone Amp connected to my work computer.
On the Move I use Etymotic ER-4SR, Audio Technica CKW1000ANV, Ray Samuels headphone amp connected to one of my Walkman either Sony WM-D6C or WM-DC2 or WM-DD9.
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I have a pair of Hifiman 5le, Senn 650, Senn HD800's, Beyer 990's, Beyer T1's, Audioquest Nighthawk's and Koss 950's.
Amps are Burson Soloist, Bottlehead Crack, Dark voice it chatham 5998, Koss energizer, Audio_Gd 11.38 dac/amp/preamp
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I briefly owned 4 sets of headphones that I pitted against each other in detailed listening tests. They were Audeze LCD-3, Focal Clear, HEDD HEDDphones and Hifiman Arya. I ended up keeping the Audeze LCD-3. They were the best sounding of the bunch.
My rig consists of a Raspberry Pi4 running piCorePlayer and LMS feeding a Topping DX7 Pro DAC / headphone amp. I EQ my headphones using sox based upon oratory1990's measurements.
I also have a pair of Apple AirPads Max that I use with my iPhone when traveling.
Martin
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Beyerdynamic DT990 (not pro version) fed by a Nuforce HDP amp. Source is an ipod classic 7th gen with 1tb hard drive. The ipod sits in one of those cradles which allows me to get the line out for the HDP. I've tried quite a few headphones over the years, but always come back to the 990s, they just suit me. Same for the HDP, I've used quite a few amps including Bottlehead Crack and Bottlehead S.E.X.
The "rig" sits on my nightstand as headphone listening is done almost exclusively at night before bed.
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Very basic here.
NAD Viso HP50 headphone connected to my iPad (7th gen) used as a Roon endpoint. :thumb:
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It gets complicated 🤣 somedays but Eddie Current Studio B and Line Magnetic 32 Dac are a favorite combo on many HP’s
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240362)
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Current setup:
Sources: Nuc 8th Gen i7 16gb w/Roon Rock, Lumin X1 Streamer/DAC
Amp: Bryston Audio 4B³
Headphone: RAAL SR1a
Cables: Sablon Audio 2020 ethernet / Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper XLR / ZenWave SCR-11.
Power: Sablon Audio Petit Corona & Lessloss C-Marc cords / Audioquest Niagara 5000 / Uptone JS-2
Misc: Innuos PhoenixNET / Gigafoil V4
Bob
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Many years ago I sold my WooAudio WA6 and a set of Byerdynamics DT880s.
I looked on eBay and there was my exact same WA6 with the same set of included tubes SO I instantly bought that back but wasn't able to pry the DT880s away from his son.
I liked the Byerdynamic sound so went with a pair of Amiron Home which are okay and use an HHB Burn-It Plus 830 CD Burner (which no longer burns but plays back fine) into a Pacific Valve DAC 62 which I purchased here on AC many years ago.
I compared this to a current Rega Apollo-R and to me this old combo sounds better. I'd probably have to go up to the Saturn to better it.
The headphone section in the HHB is actually pretty good, all the rest just adds a bit of bass, warmth and detail.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240373)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240374)
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Some nice rigs so far. Good variety.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240383)
This is a picture of the Kludge OTL headphone amp. It has a RCA 5691 (6SL7) input tube, and a Bendix 6080 output tube. Tube rolling made a huge difference with this amp.
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I have two different headphone systems at the moment.. The one on my desktop sees the most action. Auralic Taurus headphone amp with a pair of HiFiman Ananda headphones.. the Dac is a Schiit Modius.. This system had a laidback sound signature with nice tight bass.. Very comfortable headphones with large ear cups to go around my large ears..
The other system is a Woo Audio WA 2 paired with the Sennheiser HD 800S headphones and the Chord Qutest Dac. I use this system when I want to do some critical listening and it delivers. Everything sounds rich, full and natural. The top end is revealing yet smooth.. Both systems are connected to my iMac with iTunes.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240393)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240395)
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My first HPs were a set of ZMF “Auteur” about 3 years ago and I’m still using them.
Got them with a 10% discount for purchasing them pre-sale when they first came out..
I use a Decware “CSP3” for the HP amp.(my first Headphone amp)
I had a 12’ custom HP cable made by Cullencable to reach from the stereo cabinet to my easy chair.
The rest of the system is my main system.
Source 1
Tidal subscription
InnuOS- Zen (Hapa -USB)
Holo Audio- Spring 3 KTE (Hapa-RCA)
Source 2
Denon -DP59L
Decware- ZP3 pre (Hapa-RCA)
Aric Audio passive preamp (Hapa-RCA)
HP system
Decware- CSP3 (Cullencable -HPC)
ZMF- Auteur
Or
Speaker system
Decware- Zrock2 (Hapa-RCA)
Decware- Zen Mystery Amp (Zenwave-SC)
Tekton- Double Impact se
Tekton- Enzo subs x2
The power cables are a mix of TWL & Cullencable. (10 power cables)
P.I. Audio Group- UberBUSS.
I prefer to listen to the speakers, but since the wife works at home I spend a lot more time with the Headphones on ..
I would like to upgrade the 12’ HP cable to a Hapa Audio , I believe it would make an improvement in the headphone system.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240419)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240420)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=240421)
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+1 for the TC 1266 Abyss, I built my whole chain around this headphone.
Listening to music still at the moment while it is 1:51AM NY time... reading this forum, lol.
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Just sold a ton of gear and have a couple of amps, namely a tube amp and a SuSy Dynahi, coming in the next few weeks and months, but right now, I'm running with this setup:
- Headphones: AKG K1000, Aurorus Audio Borealis, E-MU Teak, Koss KSC75, PhilPhone, Sennheiser HD 580, Sennheiser HD 6XX, Sennheiser HD 800 S, STAX Lambda Nova Basic, STAX SR-007A, STAX SR-404LE
- DAC: Soekris DAC 1541
- Amps: Bryston BHA-1, STAX SRM-717
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Current setup, all coming from an Yggy OG:
Electrostatic Amps
Eddie Current Electra
Mjolnir Carbon
(Auditioning) SRM-007t
Electrostatic earspeakers
Stax L300 LE
ES Labs ES-1a
Stax SR-007 mk1
Dynamic setup
ZMF aeolus off an Ampsandsound Kenzie Encore
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=241696)
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I have two different headphone systems at the moment.. The one on my desktop sees the most action. Auralic Taurus headphone amp with a pair of HiFiman Ananda headphones.. the Dac is a Schiit Modius.. This system had a laidback sound signature with nice tight bass.. Very comfortable headphones with large ear cups to go around my large ears..
The other system is a Woo Audio WA 2 paired with the Sennheiser HD 800S headphones and the Chord Qutest Dac. I use this system when I want to do some critical listening and it delivers. Everything sounds rich, full and natural. The top end is revealing yet smooth.. Both systems are connected to my iMac with iTunes.
Looks nice. What are the speakers? I need a pair of smaller speakers to fit on my desk.
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(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=241705)
There you go.
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There you go.
Thank you!
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I wrote to Stax to see if I can't get a new band for my old Sigmas and that got me poking around some and next week: SR-404s with the Stax amp and old RCA tubes.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=243316)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=243317)
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=243318)
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Sweet!
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These days I’ve pared my gear down a little, as all of my listening time was with the Woo Audio WA2 (below), as it has excellent NOS tubes and a top-notch fuse in place.
Plus, my two ZMF headphones (Eikon & Auteur) pair so well with the tubes that it is quite magical!
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Used for late night listening. NUC Rock running Roon, Raspberry Pi4 as Bridge, Chord Qutest DAC, Auralic Taurus MKII Headphone Amp, Sennheiser HD800S Headphones.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=234909)
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No luck from Stax on a new headband but I was able to glue the thing back together using an acetone/ABS slurry.
This inspired me to do a temporary lash up of stuff that was sitting around so I wound up with a Rega Saturn CD player, Conrad-Johnson MF-2275 amp and a Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 preamp.
Overkill for a little pair of headphones but it all worked out really well,
This Fall I'll drag it upstairs and add an old Harman-Kardon tube tuner I've been letting sit for years or maybe add some Mini Maggies to the mix.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=243402)
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The Stax 404s are here and I really couldn't ask for anything more.
I need a better set of headphones for my WooAudio 6 but I don't think I'll find anything I like better than the Stax.
Also have a new headband on order for the Sigmas, I'm told a current Lamba one will fit.
Guess I'll find out.
Nope, later models use stout pins to hold the ear speakers on, Sigmas take skinny ones. I think I can make some adaptors out of Allen bolts, we'll see.
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2 system as well
Study; Woo WA7 (2nd Gen) for Flac files
Main; Woo WA 2 for redbook and Flac. Driven by a McIntosh D100 DAC - soon to be replaced by the DAC2 module in my McIntosh MA8950 on order (10 weeks and counting)
Original cans were HD650 w/ Cardas Cable.
Upgraded to HD800 and loved them so much purchased a 2nd Pair : HD800S
Fairly certain I will be at my end game once the new 8950 arrives.
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Main; Woo WA 2 for redbook and Flac. Driven by a McIntosh D100 DAC - soon to be replaced by the DAC2 module in my McIntosh MA8950 on order (10 weeks and counting)
Original cans were HD650 w/ Cardas Cable.
Upgraded to HD800 and loved them so much purchased a 2nd Pair : HD800S
Fairly certain I will be at my end game once the new 8950 arrives.
As another WA2 owner with headphones that work well with it (in my case, ZMFs), I agree that a WA2 with good tubes, clean AC power, and a high-quality source has hit the point of very rapidly diminishing returns.
I know I’m very happy with my WA2 and high-impedance headphones, and my DAC is plenty good enough to match… I like the WA2 so much that I will be using it as my preamp as well! :thumb:
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A "new" Sherwood S3000-V tube tuner showed up, these old things are great.
On one song somebody is hitting a block of wood with a stick and it sounded like it was coming from outside the front door, not inside the headphones.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=243830)
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I'm running a nuforce DAC-80 into Luxman P1U to drive my focal clears.
Used to have a pair of Stax SR-303 from the SRM-323A but decided to try some more dynamic cans and have enjoyed the sound.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=245133)
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Dan Clark Aeon with 4.4mm balanced cable into fully balanced ifi Zen Signature Dac, headamp., and phono preamp stack. Also Meze Wood 99 classic also with 4.4mm balanced cable. Finally Sennheiser hd600 redesigned with 4.4mm balanced cable, sheepskin ear cups, comfort head strap under original one.
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I am 'in transition' on my headphones rig.
I only want 1 "really nice" setup that is very portable, when I can't spend time in my sound room. I have young children, lots of competing factors for my time and attention, so it has to be easy too.
The old setup included ADL 128's w/ a Pixel 4a source.
Currently using ETA mini closed headphones and Hidzis DAC. 4.4 balanced, using ninja cables. Source is either Pixel 5a or Samsung S9. For streaming, the Pixel sounds a little better, using the same DAC through USB c.. kind of surprising.
Since the Samsung has an SD card, I use the Onkyo HF app with local FLAC files, and that sounds ultimately the best.
I also have 1more quad iem's which I think sound good on everything. They don't even make the lists I've found of iem's.. good, bad, or otherwise. I do wonder if there is something better. But not knowing is financially a good place to be. :)
I really want to try a Chord mojo DAC. If anyone is interested in lending or selling let me know.
I plan to do more critical listening this week and record my thoughts on this new rig. So far, I am very pleased with what I have, it's far superior to anything I've had. I'd also like to hear some Aeon's one day. If, for no other reason, to see what all the fuss is about. :)
Also, still waiting for some of this new stuff to burn in. Every time I listen it gets a little better and my minor complaints start evaporating.
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Hi Guys,
I most listen to headphones when I'm in the office. It helps me to concentrate and block out the noises. I usually use bluetooth to my sennheiser headphones or final audio iem's.
I recently purchased a FiiO KA1 Lightning USB DAC & Headphone Amplfier and use it with my iPhone 13 pro max into a Fostex TH-00 Massdrop Headphones and Audio Technics MX50 headphones.. Its quite a nice sound and I like the fact that the dac/amp is quite small.
Cheers Rod
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Sony MDR 7506 and Mytek 192 (silver version). I use them if I can't run the speakers.
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Listening to a Massdrop Cavelli hybrid with my modded Fostex RP50. The dac is a Schiit Bifrost 2 fed by my laptop or Onkyo cd. I also have an Asgard 3 amp and an Ack! dac. And Massdrop Sennheiser 6xx (650). It all sounds good.
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Well, my headphone/portable HiFi system journey has come to an end (at least for the next few years).
The ifi iDSD signature DAC is my new source. It is very detailed. Presents mids and highs without being sibilant or digitally etched. The bass is very exacting, almost annoyingly so. Not sure how to describe it. However this is a truly spectacular DAC on its own, the fact that it's portable and rechargeable is an astounding feat. If I fed this into a tubed preamp, I think I'd be in heaven.
The ifi will feed the headphones directly, I'm not going down the tube rabbit hole with this setup. I have found some extremely balanced natural sounding headphones that let me thoroughly immerse myself in the music. The ETA model S is my final destination. Very happy with this combo.
I wrote a ridiculously long review and Discovery experience here. (https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=183898.msg1930467#msg1930467)
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Started my first dabble into the headphone world today. Only threw a few bucks at it since I really love 2 channel speakers best, but wanted something to listen to while wife is sleeping. I picked up Hifiman Sundara headphones and a Schiit Magni+ amp. I do need to sort some longer headphone cables as right now I have to piggyback an extension and adapter. Does anyone have a recommendation for an affordable decent cable for 1/4" to dual 1/8" at about 6 or 8' in length?
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Not a specific recommendation but my first stop for something customish sounding would be Blue Jeans Cable.
https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/headphone-cables.htm (https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/audio/headphone-cables.htm)
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Started my first dabble into the headphone world today. Only threw a few bucks at it since I really love 2 channel speakers best, but wanted something to listen to while wife is sleeping. I picked up Hifiman Sundara headphones and a Schiit Magni+ amp. I do need to sort some longer headphone cables as right now I have to piggyback an extension and adapter. Does anyone have a recommendation for an affordable decent cable for 1/4" to dual 1/8" at about 6 or 8' in length?
These might work:
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=29515
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=29516
I've had very good results with a couple Monolith cables from Monoprice, not these specifically. Hifiman used to sell cables, you might try them.
You can also use an extension cable from your stock cable. Grado has a decent 1/4" extension cable, I have an extension from Audioquest that I liked better.
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Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'll give them a lookover and figure something out. I may just go diy something together, depending on my level of motivation on this. Either way it's kinda fun listening to headphones for a change.
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I have a headroom max out home amp, but I haven't used it years.
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Very basic here.
NAD Viso HP50 headphone connected to my iPad (7th gen) used as a Roon endpoint. :thumb:
Circumstances at home have me using headphones more, so I recently took the plunge on an upgrade.
Drop+DCA Aeon X Closed planar headphones
JDS Atom+ headphone amp
My new setup is currently fed by my Logitech Squeezebox Touch being used as a Roon endpoint. Sounds great! :thumb:
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=250501)
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Brand new Sennheiser HD600 on Amazon for $261. For those who feel HD600 is better than HD650 or HD6xx.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2TM8PFL4OI68D&keywords=sennheiser+hd600&qid=1677433036&sprefix=sennheiser+hd600%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-3
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I just added a Schiit Lyr and the newly released Gjallarhorn to a Bifrost and Lokius I already had.
Eventually the stack will end up on the desk but I’m going to let it get some hours driving the Sapphire M4. The combo sounds pretty amazing right out of the box.
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=250629)
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Portable-Original Chord Mojo
Home- Roon to either DAC: Schiit Yggdrasil A1 Unison USB or Bricasti M21 LAN (office vs main system, currently my amp is on my office system)
AMP: DIY Dynahi to
Audio Technica W-5000, AKG K-501, AKG K-7XX, AKG K-1000, CIEM Alclair Studio4
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=250967)
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Topping E70 Velvet DAC
Topping E90 Discrete HPA
Audeze LCD-MX4 Headphones
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=250970)
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I have Sennheiser HD650 and Sennheiser HD800 open back headphones. They pretty much sound the same after EQ and there is no real difference between them when it comes to distortion that my ear can detect. However, the HD800 throws a much larger sound stage due the the placement of the drivers where the HD650 just sounds 2D by comparison. Bass actually sounds better through my Bose noise cancelling headphones though, open back headphones cannot compete in the really low frequencies.
I have used a McIntosh MHA100, McIntosh MHA150, and a Luxman SQ-N10. Honestly there wasn't much of a difference to my ears and a Topping headphone amp would be the most cost effective.
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I actually have two systems at my desk. More than that if you consider portable, but I digress:
Desktop system:
- Theta DS Pro Basic II DAC
- Schiit Freya preamp
- DNA Stellaris
- Schiit Mjolnir 2
- Metrum Baby Ambre
- Onkyo T-9090 II FM tuner
Side system:
- Schiit Modi Multibit 2 DAC
- Schiit SYS
- NITSCH Piety
- Schiit Vali 1
Sennheiser HD600, HD650, HD800, and Audeze LCD-2 mostly.
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New here, but headphones are a familiar (in fact, obsessive) topic to me. In my home office I have two separate audio systems, each with its own computer as source (via USB cable) to a DDC feeding a DAC:
Main system: The DDC is a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 3. The DAC is the MHDT Labs Orchid, which I paid to have modified by addition of a 2nd RCA output pair on the back panel. From the DAC signal goes to two headphone amps, one of which is a preamp (I change these fairly often). Currently these are the Wells Milo & Violectric V281. The preamp output goes to a Marchand electronic crossover which feeds high-pass signal to a Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 class D amp, which powers a vintage pair of KEF 103.2 two-way speakers; and the low-pass signal goes to a JLAudio e110 subwoofer.
Side system (headphones only): The DDC is a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 2. The DAC is the Metrum Onyx, each output of which goes to a headphone amp (currrently the Icon Audio HP8 TC-tube amp; and the Cavalli Liquid Carbon v2).
Of course there are other pairs of speakers to rotate in and out of the main system: ATC SCM12 Pro's and a pair of Harbeth 30.1s just purchased from the UK. There are also multiple pairs of headphones. These range from the modest/affordable (Marantz MPH-2s; Philips Fidelio X2s); to higher end models (ZMF Aeolus; ZMF Verite Open; ZMF Ori; Final D8000).
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Current Rig:
Headphones: -Ultrasone Edition 15 Open Back. - Ultrasone Edition 15 Veritas (Closed Back) -Sony MDR Z7
Sennheiser Momentum 4
DAC/Headphone Amp: Chord Hugo TT
Headphone Amp: Kludge OTL
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Mola Mola Tambaqui to XL AUDIO Formula S to HiFiMAN SUSVARA
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My headphone set up :
Schiit - Magni with built-in DAC.
Source usb cable from computer.
Headphones : Sennheiser HD650
Modest set up but does the job.
Double A