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I've decided to focus on my headphone system for a while, given that my household environment includes other people who are bothered by my music least some of the time -- and make their own share of noise that I object to.OLD headphone system:
= Realtek computer audio Speaker output
= Pro-Ject Head Box amp (older model)
= Sennheiser HD 555 'phones (open back)NEW headphone system:
= Topping D50 DAC
= JDA Labs Atom amp
= Massdrop's HDXXX rebrand of Sennheiser HD 650, (open back) and
= Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 250 ohm, (closed back)First bought the HD 650's but realized that I was often going to need closed back for isolation for household noise, so I got the DT 770 Pro's
My overall conclusion is that my new system is much better than my old, being more detail & dynamic. However the greatest single upgrade I suspect was going from the computer's Realtek DAC to the Topping D50
The HD 650's are very smooth, clean, and well resolving but perhaps a little bland. Maybe the blandness is due to lack on dynamic drive by my JDS amp -- or maybe a little break-in is needed, or maybe it's my imagination.
The DT 770 Pro's also sound well resolving but seemingly less bland and/or just dynamically perkier than the HD 650's.
The JDS Atom amp can drive both these 'phones, (300 ohm and 250 ohms respectively), to satisfactory levels even on low gain. However it I were to go for any further upgrade it would probably be to the amp.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 08/08/19Follow Ups:
This is how most of us end up with numerous headphones/IEM's/amps over time. Double money pit into headphone and speaker system is even worse. Weird thing is.., we see the pit, yet we walk straight into it.
I generally sell on my redundant equipment if there is any sort of market for it. I will be trying to sell my Massdrop HD 6XX, (since I can't return them to Drop.com).
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
I carried my DIY SEP amp to the high end store 15 years ago, auditioned a pair of inexpensive Grado phones, and stopped there. This combination is the equal of anything I've ever heard, and that includes a great many expensive phones that I auditioned in the '70s and '80s. I personally believe many of you would find it easier to achieve satisfaction with this aspect of musical reproduction if you started with a simple, high quality tube amplifier and used it as the foundation for the system.
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
They are very detailed and transparent and have excellent bass. They are closed back with reasonable isolation which is good from me most of the time. Also, IMHO, the ATH-M50x at the end of an excellent chain: Topping D50 DAC and JDS Labs Atom amp.In the future I will consider planar or electrostatic 'phones, but not right away.
The Sennheiser HD 650 have be around for years. They are easy and pleasant to to listen to non-critically but are no longer worthy of a high ranking against the competition today.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 08/12/19
Glad you found a winner!
Cutting razor sounding violins
The best or at least most objectively compelling headphone reviews I've seen so far are at Rting.com, see link below. Based on these review I still strongly considering the Hifiman Sundara.Meanwhile, for close-backed 'phones, I have ordered Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The latter seem slightly better and cheaper than the Beyer DT 770 Pro which I sent back.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 08/10/19
A lot of folks don't realize how good less expensive DAC/amps can be. Yours is a good example of a reasonably priced system (adding the Drop cans) that should sound exceptional.
I too have the 6XXs, and love the things. Best $200 I've spent in a long time. Using a Micca Origen2 DAC/Amp daily for now (have a Mojo, but battery life won't allow for all day listening), but have the Drop THX amp on order for Nov delivery, and am anxious to see if it's as good as advertised. You might look into this amp. At $400, not cheap, but certainly in the affordable range. After that, a new DAC.
Other cans include the Focal Elear, Sony 1000mk3 wireless NC; IEMs, JH Audio 13v2s, Shure 535s.
I bought them based on the Sennheiser HD 650 reputation, but I'm finding them clean and smooth but a bit veiled and lacking dynamic sparkle. If I were permitted by Drop.com to do so, I would return them, but as an out-of-USA buyer I can't.
OTOH I am returning the Beyer DT 770 Pro's. Sonically they are more detailed and dynamic than the HD 6XX but also more likely to fatigue. I'm considering the Hifiman Sundara. They aren't closed-backed which feature I'm not longer considering so important.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
You might try a pair of Dekoni fenestrated pads when a drop comes up. These might help the areas you find a problem.
nt
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Did I mention the M1060s...
Cutting razor sounding violins
... in my earlier post. You might have mentioned it but I can find where.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Feanor -
Have you considered an OTL tube headphone amp? I can recommend the Crack kit by Bottlehead.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
The Crack amp is heaven on my HD800. At $315 for an easy two-evening kit, it's a steal. (NOTE: it's on sale for $215 through August 15th.) It is for high-impedance headphones only. There is plenty of room to add a Corda crossfeed circuit, or your favorite audiophile caps. It's a SET/OTL design built around the 6080 (5998, 421A) dual triode. Excellent customer support from the Bottlehead people, as well as their very active forums. The optional constant-current p/s upgrade is very worthwhile, but requires precision soldering.
The Crack + Senns is the best sound I've ever had.
WW
"I'd crawl over twenty miles of bad country to listen to you pee in a tin cup on the telephone." (Jo Carol Pierce)
That was a fun kit to build. The bottlehead kits are well-engineered & very well-documented.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
I'm thinking I don't want a tube amp. Also, re. Bottlehead, I'm thinking I don't want a kit; I've had mixed luck getting kits assembled and working.
I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich ...
Edits: 08/08/19
I would consider a stepped attenuator for gain control, if possible. I've used a Goldpoint, and I'm seriously considering retrofitting my Stax amp with one.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Edits: 08/08/19
My Burson HA-160 amp has a stepped attenuator. It's truly an annoyance because the steps are large enough that the sound is either too loud or too soft for what I want. Too bad, because all of my headphones sound great with it (Focal Clear, Senn HD600, Hifiman HE-400i).
I can see the problem. That's why I'm seriously considering a 47-step Goldpoint. One can also preattenuate.
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
Yes, headphone amps do make a difference. I got a Sony amp. So far, very good. Esp with the AT-AD2000X.
Yes Fender, no doubt nice. But could you have rather passed the budget stated by the OP in his earlier post of $800 for both cans and amp?
Many headphones and amp in the last 40 years. Finally landed something I can wear for hours and sounds nice. The Audio-Technica open-back 1000-2000 series cans are very good.
My first used cans. These puppies sounded okay, but were not that comfortable.
8^)
Not that comfortable? More like medieval torture device. Had a pair new in the 70's but at 17 I could take it. When I experienced my first pair of Senn HD-414 I realized the good folks at Koss were trying to kill me! :-)
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