2. misc-audio
  3. 173276-169159

Advice on new headphone system please

     I'm buying a new headphone system.  I have a few combos I'm throwing at the community that are being contemplated.  These units will be new except for the Cambridge Audio CXU universal disc player I already own.  The system will be primarily used for red book listening.  I will be streaming with the Cambridge and a computer also along with copying a relatively large cd collection to high quality file.  A discreet streamer is in the near future.  Pre-owned systems are also an option.  This would save money which is always a plus.  These are the few systems I'm looking at.

     1)  Bryston BHA 1 headphone amp, Sennheiser HDV 820 headphones and either the Bryston BDA 2 DAC or the Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 200.  The Bryston DAC is on sale here.

     2)  The same system with the Rogue Audio RH5 headphone amp. 

     3)  I'm also looking at the Burson Conductor 3 Reference headphone amp, dac preamp.  I like seperates better though. 

     I take care of my mother, so closed back headphones are necessary.  I'm open to headphone suggestions.  I'm not crazy about planars yet will consider all suggestions.  Planars may be better with the tube Rogue.

     Interconnects are also needed.  The few I have are low quality.  I'm not into exotic cables.  Please advise on a set of decent RCA, Coaxial and balanced interconnects. A coaxial cable will be used from the cd player to the DAC, A decent set of balanced cables will be used from the DAC to the headphone amp.  A decent RCA is needed in order to use the DAC in the CXU.  I'd like to use this option too. I'm using the cables that come with the headphones for now as the headphones are expensive enough.  Still suggestions for balanced headphone cables are appreciated.

     Thank you for your time.     

     

paulg1966

Showing 4 responses by big_greg

big_greg
6,711 posts
 

Check out the Sony TA-ZH1ES amp (it includes a nice DAC) and MDR-Z1R headphones. That might tick all your boxes and leave you with some money in your pocket. 

big_greg
6,711 posts
 

Headphones come in a multitude of sonic flavors. Some are warm, some are very detailed, some emphasize bass, midrange, or treble. What's your budget? What flavor do you prefer? If you don't provide more information all you're going to get is "This is what I have and like and it's what you should buy.", which to me isn't very helpful. 

big_greg
6,711 posts
 

What gives you the idea open back headphones are "better"? In what way? Why was the Sony combination not an option? 

You should definitely go audition some headphones. 

big_greg
6,711 posts
 

I have owned a number of headphone amps and stopped at the Simaudio 430HA.  Mine doesn't have the DAC, so I can't speak to the DAC.  The 430HA has a ton of clean power and will drive almost any headphones.  It's very neutral and detailed.  It has three inputs (including one balanced one), which is nice.  It allows me to listen to either my analog or digital source.  It has fixed and variable outputs, so you can use it as a preamp.  The volume control is one of the best things about it, it has 530 steps and allows you to precisely control the volume.  It also has high/low gain settings which are helpful for harder to drive cans. 

I have Focal Elex, Sennheiser HD 800, and Audeze LCD 4 headphones to name a few.  All very different, but the 430HA lets each of their strengths shine through and has more than enough power for any of them.  There's always something better, but once you get here, you're approaching the realm of diminishing returns.

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