For the budget mentioned, the Audeze LCD2 Fazors should be on your very short list especially if you have other phones in your system. If you were looking for just one set of phones with no others to trade off with, the Hifiman XV2s would be my choice, as they like and do all music well. Enjoy the music
Best sub $1200 headphone as complement to 99 Classics
Just getting into headphones and looking to spend some Christmas bonus money. Love the look (I know) and the reviews for the Meze 99 Classics, so those are a given. If you had ~$1200 to spend on a second set of headphones to add to this setup, what would it be and why?
Use will be almost exclusively in my home office, which is a separate room to the rest of the house, but does not have a door to seal it off completely. Sources include CXN v2 streamer (Tidal), CD transport via Ruby DAC module in my Creek evo100, and a VPI nomad turntable. I have a set of Campfire lyra 2 earbuds for on the go, so portability is not a concern this time around. Leaning towards open-backed just to try something I haven’t had before, but definitely open-minded. Amplification will be the one built into my creek evo100 integrated to start but hoping to pick up a Topping A90 down the line.
Use will be almost exclusively in my home office, which is a separate room to the rest of the house, but does not have a door to seal it off completely. Sources include CXN v2 streamer (Tidal), CD transport via Ruby DAC module in my Creek evo100, and a VPI nomad turntable. I have a set of Campfire lyra 2 earbuds for on the go, so portability is not a concern this time around. Leaning towards open-backed just to try something I haven’t had before, but definitely open-minded. Amplification will be the one built into my creek evo100 integrated to start but hoping to pick up a Topping A90 down the line.