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New Headphone User

Due to family considerations, I recently bought a new pair of Sennheiser HD600 (with stock cord) for a great price here on AudiogoN. As my preamp already has a build in headphone amplifier, I did not have to purchase one. What a fantastic purchase! For $259 I have outstanding sound with no room interactions and I can listen however loudly I wish without disturbing everyone else. Also as a bonus, the sweet spot is a 10' radius.
I am posting this because I am actually shocked at the fidelity one can obtain in a pair of headphones that, relative to my system cost, is inexpensive. How many of you have headphones and what are your impressions compared to listening through your speakers?

David
david_berry
inna
7,296 posts
 
Headphones are certainly good as a back-up, but they do not represent acoustic space in a correct manner.Second rate system regardless of what it can do right.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Enjoy the HD-600s (my choice as well), and check out Headfi.com. You will probably be amazed at what you can get from a dedicated HP amp.
dudeaudio
39 posts
 
Hello all. I use my HD 600's connected to my Earmax pro via a 10ft. pair of Cardass cable. Pure sonic bliss. I find the source is very important as this is a very revealling headphone. My source for the record is a modified/upgraded Anthem CD1. I have this feeding a Taddeo Digital Antidote II via XLO Signature interconnects. From my Taddeo to my Earmax Pro I'm using Hamonic Technology Pro Sillway II's. Tubes swapping in this system is worthwhile. For the moment I've settled on a Siemens CCa (60's vintage) in my Anthem, Mullard for the 12AT7 input on my Earmax, and Telefunken CCa's in the output position. I love my setup. I've also tried my Seinnhesser/Earmax combo on my Veceur 2.2/Kora Hermes dac from my 2 channel rig with SPECTCULAR results. Amazing dynamics and incredible seperation between instruments...inside and outside my head. U know what I'm talking about if your a headphone nut. But I cant afford to buy that combo again for my headphone setup, so the Anthem/Taddeo combo keeps me satisfied.

This headphone is incredible bang for the buck as it can be had brand new on Audiogon for under $250
Throw a good tube headphone amp on it and mate it to a good source. You wont be dissapointed.
O ya......upgrade that cheap cable on it

Happy listening

dudeaudio
david_berry OP
211 posts
 
Many thanks to your thoughts/advice. I will look into a separate headphone amp and see whether or not I can accommodate it in my current setup.
I have surfed around the HeadFi website and almost unanimously people say to replace the cable, as the stock one is not as good musically. It does seem odd that there are really no "cable wars" with respect to changing this stock cable to an aftermarket one vs. the cable wars that I have read numerous times with interconnects and speaker wire. Regardless, I require 15' anyway and the extra cost is not overly horrendous.
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