Hi Alex,
I see your on the market for new Cans, as you know I’ve been through my own experiences the last few months.
Part of the fun for me is the chase as I try to purchase preowned gear for a fair price in excellent condition. If your
patient enough, something always comes along.. Of course, preowned is not for everybody.
I find a pair of headphones has to be comfortable first followed closely by sound quality. It’s a personal choice so it
comes down to getting exactly what you want out of the new cans.. For me, I decided to purchase what I wanted to
hear in my home with my gear. It’s not exactly the most cost effective way but I had some money stashed from when I sold
my audio system so I decided to go for the gold ring.. lol
I purchased the Sennheiser HD-800S headphones weeks ago and have been using them with a Darkvoice tube amp
with very good results.. I also use the Beyer’s T1.2’s with the same amp. Both headphone sound wonderful but the
differences between the two for me are, the Senn’s have a more spacious sound then the T1’s and they are more
comfortable but the Senn’s are a tad loose on my noggin were the Beyer’s have just the right amount of clamping
force. I have large Italian ears and the Senn’s ear cups don’t even touch them. Besides all the hype, that’s the main
reason I wanted to try them. I’m glad I did..
I also recently purchased the HiFiman Ananda’s which are also very comfortable on my head maybe even more then
the Senn’s. I’ve been wanting to upgrade the 400i’s for awhile so I picked them up recently on sale on the HiFiman
web store. I’m using them with an older Graham Slee Solo SS headphone amp, their still breaking in but already
sound better to me then the 400i’s. The most comfortable Can’s I ever owned was the AKG Q701’s, at times, I didn’t
even know I was wearing them.. The only problem was they were a little bass shy for me. I like to hear tight and
controlled bass. It doesn’t necessarily have to be very deep.
I find once you get into the upper stratosphere in price, detail comes along with it and for me it is a double edge
sword, meaning.. Recordings that sound decent before all of a sudden might sound like crap with more resolving headphones
but if the music is recorded well given the right amp and dac combo, you will be rewarded like never before..
Yep, price can certainly sway my decision one way or the other but I alway do my best to get exactly what I’m looking
for. I’m actually in the market right now for a new solid state amp.. I’m thinking about an amp from Violectric. They
don’t turn up on the used market to often but I’m on the hunt.
I hope you enjoy your hunt and your new headphones which ever you decide.. Keep us posted, I always enjoy reading
what you have to say.
That said I am sitting here reading all your posts with a $25 dollar pair of Koss KPH30i's and listening to
Jake Shimabukuru and Emmylou Harris and Mark Knopfler's All the Roadrunning andwondering why I am going to spend
$1500!! These little puppies are really stellar!!
Well Alex, we don't need $1500 headphones to listen to our favorite tune's but it sure is nice. lol
Jerry