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RE: Help for newbe into headphones

Posted by Frihed89 (A) on July 10, 2014 at 17:45:59

In Reply to: Help for newbe into headphones posted by ahendler on July 8, 2014 at 19:28:46:

I'm always amazed what these little new USB Dacs abd Dac/headphone amps can do. IFI products stand out in my mind, but there are others. The newest IFI - they come out with so many products, I can't name them - also has other digital connections than USB to a digital source.

To get excellent SQ, you will need to find a portable device with lots of formats (or maybe only WAV or AIFF for an Audio Note lover) that can send a good digital signal to the Dac/amplifier. Plug in a pair of HD650s and you will be in like Flyn. Maybe this set up is not as good as a full size headamp, but you needed portable.

I use a Mac as my source, so I am not up on portable portable music sources that can act as a real transport. My USB Dac is a Wavelength Proton. It's portable, but larger than the other small Dacs or Dac/amplifiers on the market.

I would steer clear of flagships headphones. They are often source pickey and the ones i have heard are good at some things and not others - generally midrange and/or treble. The HD650s are high impedance and a just a bit on the dreamy side; the K-701s are more neutral. They are very good in all departments, and most of all coherent. Nothing is out of proportion, musically. Both will work wonderfully well plugged directly into a small Dac or Dac/amp, plugged into a good portable digital source.

I would check IFI first, because they have so many products and the reviews are always great, even Art Dudley's in Stereophile.

I wish you the very best for in dealing with your illness.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

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