Dedicated headphone amp vs Headphone socket on amp

I’d highly recommend these Hifiman Arya Organics that can easily be returned through Amazon if they don’t work out.  I own the Arya Stealths that are a model below these and am thrilled with them, and the Organics are supposed to be a significant improvement (see review below) but aren’t much more expensive and still within your budget.  They are also relatively easy to drive so should work perfectly fine with your Aethos.  The Stealths are very open sounding with an expansive soundstage and imaging that is very much of an “outside the head” type of presentation.  They are neutral and very balanced with great detail and tone with very quick, tight, and tuneful bass and are very light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.  They go quite low but don’t do boom boom kinda bass so if you listen to EDM, rap, etc. there are probably better choices, but if you want a well-balanced, audiophile experience these are excellent and very well worth a try.  Just one idea FWIW, and best of luck. 

https://www.amazon.com/HIFIMAN-Arya-Organic-Full-Size-Audiophiles/dp/B0C5RFXMM5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=63ME27D9XL7L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gZiIW-FtM_VJzkxpPNYXmtY9arIQ1GRqHWX_x5G3RMpKL12EiHBglMp-Gz0EdJ0SizCWbspiltGmMA8iGOxUuA99Ymomm_9u9ih29HMbim-cfPcFI5wr_A6ikbBbK5ZVZ5HtaqitghBfUa-HlTQXTJCSBWHfJMqqx6aYxAsR-zkA9wmRgi2lvnfN-2P5HKYGqzxSwzu5MhguvwF2v1IExq4TEP1eCK8ExrAPAxD34Ok.p540th1sN4ffFXXsj-V44PP0DMFJHoX6c3Oya9JWI60&dib_tag=se&keywords=hifiman+arya+organic&qid=1745004111&sprefix=Hifiman+arya%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1

The review…

https://soundnews.net/reviews/headphones/hifiman-arya-organic-review-comparison/

The most difficult  factor to get from an headphone is a natural timbre...

On par with it the spatial qualities of sound, and with many good public recording an "out of the head" holographical effect when you forgot that you listen headphone  as if listening speakers.

None of my past 10  headphones ever  did this two aspects right together...

Add to this  very deep bass with no booming effect and we lost most headphone at any price...

The best  headphone for timbre i owned, save my AKG K340, was the Stax SR-5 gold, but the soundfield was around my head never out of my head and no deep bass at all...

I am not able to recommend any other headphone than my optimized K340 but it is old now...

I would fear buying anything new because of costs and dissatisfaction

The upcoming challenge will be to replicate as accurately as possible the reference system sound albeit at higher volume levels on headphones. Hardly possible to ensure 100% fidelity to the reference system sound. With that in mind, the headphones which get closest ,while still offering a personalized listening enjoyment/engagement will eventually be the keeper.

The Hifiman Arya Stealth - Just saw them on amazon and are on the shortlist of candidates. Anyone have experience or opinions on the Aune SR5000/7000, the Focal Lensys, Beyerdynamic T1  or the Sennheiser 650 ?

@mahgister "...The most difficult  factor to get from an headphone is a natural timbre..." I agree. 

For me the thing that completely changed the game actually moved all the headphones way closer to natural timbre and power was the headphone amp. Suddenly the Focal Utopia, Sennheiser 800 and others sounded much more  alike than different. And so much like my main system in overall presentation, tonal balance, power, and satisfaction. Obviously there remained specific sonic location differences, but they just don’t seem important anymore. 

Hi @mahgister .... I'm enjoying my aids, having spent some time 'dialing' them in.  As long as I don't ask them for heavy basslines, 👍😎.

...but that's what my real headphones are for...;)