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help needed for new headphone system

It's time to focus on my headphone setup and need some help in figuring out how to proceed.  It's for an apartment.  Budget?  It's flexible but let's start at $3-4k.  I have Sennheiser HD650s that I paired with Schiit Modi and Magni, fed from a laptop or phone.  The sound was too muted so I sold the Schiitstack and got a Qudelix which, to my surprise, was much better.  I liked the ability to move around and the equalizer was helpful.  It was Bluetooth, of course.  Now I want to upgrade.  I focused initially on the headphones and spent some time at Axpona listening to Meze and Audeze, mid-range offerings.  In that setting I was unable to reach any conclusions and was left scratching my head.  

I could add a Bluesound streamer with lps to replace the computer.  I'm tempted to get another Schiitstack, maybe based on a Bifrost dac.  Too many options.

I like to listen to female and male vocalists, blues, some vintage rock and Argentine tango.  Nothing to loud.  Not too analytical.  I'm a fan of the BBC sound with Stirling LS3/6 speakers in my main system with Bacch4Mac processing.  A little help with how to narrow this process down would be much appreciated.

treepmeyer
bobelton
19 posts
 

If you’re happy with your DAC and headphones (the biggest improvements in my opinion) then the next best upgrade I ever made was getting the ZMF Aegis headphone amp. It’s not cheap, but it sounds incredible.  And the tube rolling options are pretty much unlimited. Additionally, the community thread on Head-Fi based on this amp is a wealth of knowledge and support. There they have covered a thousand different tube combinations, trouble shooting, equipment synergies, etc.  Plus the designer of the amp participates frequently and is a wealth of knowledge as well. 

mashif
378 posts
 

Another headphone amp to look at is the Linear Tube Audio VELO.  It's tube based (6SN7) and uses ZOTL Technology for impedance matching. It also works as a reference level 3 input preamp. Or even a speaker amp for very high efficiency speakers. 

 

abenavraham's avatar
abenavraham
9 posts
 

Several years ago I started switching to Benchmark DAC3 HGC (DAC/Headphone amp), HPA4 (Preamp/Headphone amp), and AHB2 (power amp). My headphones are Sennhesier HD600 almost every version through HD800s, Gardo GS3000x, Meze Poet, Focal Clear and etc., etc.

No matter what headphones I use, I couldn't be happier with the experience I get using the Benchmark equipment. I have six other DACs to compare with. 

travelinjack's avatar
travelinjack
245 posts
 

Ditch the HD650. They are ancient tech and dark mud sounding. Go to the nearest high end headphone shop and try as many as possible. 

The new HD800 are nice. ZMF and HiFiman have great cans. Plus more since I quit for speakers. 

big_greg
6,724 posts
 

Lots of great suggestions here. 

I've been wanting to try a tubed headphone amp (most likely Woo), but haven't experienced one, and hesitate to make recommendations for products I have no experience with. 

Your HD650s are really nice and will benefit from a better cable and a good headphone amp.  I have a pair of HD6xx, which are basically the same and replaced the stock cable with a balanced cable and use them with a Sony TA-ZH1ES amp.  I have a dozen headphones including some TOTL cans like Audeze LCD-4, but find myself going back to the HD6xx for their comfort and how easy they are to listen to. 

I have also replaced the stock earpads on most of my headphones.  This doesn't typically result in a big sonic difference, but almost always increases comfort.  

For higher end headphones, the Sony MDR-Z1R are a great value.  Excellent sound quality, deep bass, while being light and comfortable.  

Note that I tend to focus on comfort as much or more than sound quality.  The LCD-4 sound amazing, but they are heavy and not the most comfortable thing to have on your head for a long period of time.

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