[npw112]

OK so I would like a "audiophile" system for around $600.
 
Will be used for FLACs from Foobar 2000 and Spotify.
 
Currently have ATH-M50 and Fiio E7 which I will keep for my portable rig with my iPod Classic 160GB.
 
Music tastes ranges from Rock, Pop, RnB, Jazz, Electro, Acoustic, Rap and everything in between. 
 
Things I am looking for are soundstage, "dynamics" ( I want to hear everything on the recording) and longevity (don't want to upgrade this for a few years) 
 
Looking at so far:

AKG Q701 - $226.66
JDS Labs Objective2 Headphone Amplifier - $144
JDS Labs Standalone ODAC - $149
FiiO L2 3.5mm Interconnect Cable - $9.95
Woo Audio HPS-H Aluminum Headphone Stand - $50
 
Total = $579.61

Any thoughts / feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[soundstige]

O2 Amp: $125
Mad Dog modded Fostex T50RP: $250
PCM2704 USB DAC from China on eBay: $20
Some random thick-guage 3.5mm interconnect: $15
 
Done. And only just over the $400 mark. Mad Dog >>> Q701. ODAC isn't as quality a performer as O2 Amp from what I've read, seems to be "just another DAC". I have a PCM2704 in a box from China, and it's incredibly clear and good-quality. Trust me, this will far out-perform your tentative setup above.

 

[talisman42]

Quote:

O2 Amp: $125
Mad Dog modded Fostex T50RP: $250
Akg Q701: $226
PCM2704 USB DAC from China on eBay: $20
Some random thick-guage 3.5mm interconnect: $15
 
Done. And only just over the $400 mark. Mad Dog >>> Q701. ODAC isn't as quality a performer as O2 Amp from what I've read, seems to be "just another DAC". I have a PCM2704 in a box from China, and it's incredibly clear and good-quality. Trust me, this will far out-perform your tentative setup above.

Done and under the $400 mark ($386)     JK.. but is there a Mad dog vs Q701 thread out there somewhere?

 

[richierich]

HE-400s + E17 + any decent DAC 

 

[talisman42]

Quote:

HE-400s + E17 + any decent DAC 

 
Do you mean E17 + any decent amp?

 

[MattTCG]

Quote:

HE-400s + E17 + any decent DAC 

 
Yeah, this is really hard to beat at it's price point period!! (sorry  for the alliteration). The MD's are a good choice, but if I could have only one it would certainly be the he400. The MD's would make a closed closed compliment hp though. 

 

[punks15]

Would you mind a secondhand?
 
First
Secondhand HD600/HD650 ( around $200-400 )
Secondhand DACport ( around $200 )
 
Second
Secondhand HD600/HD650 ( around $200-400 )
Secondhand DACport LX / HRT MSII+ ( around $200 )
CMOY

 

[yokken]

If you don't need in-your-face bass, DT880 250ohm + E17 = $280 + $140 = $420. This was a great combo. Very crisp details and accurate bass which extended pretty far down. It just wasn't wobbly or punchy. Great dynamics though. Airy, mesmerizing sound. Or go a bit bigger, HE-400 + E17 = $400 + $140 = $540. The amp in the E17 isn't bad by any means, but if you want, you can get the CMOY for another $40-$50. Great bass response on these with incredible detail retrieval. Definitely heavier and not as comfortable as the DT880s though, which were godlike in their comfort. We're talking forget-you're-wearing-them comfort. The velour pads and their light weight are unmatched. Damnit, I'm starting to miss them... The HE-400s aren't bad though. You GOTTA get the velour pads if you get them. You can bend the headband to your liking to alleviate clamping, and you can angle/adjust the cups pretty well.
 
The DT880s + E17 is a great starter kit, in my opinion. I ended up returning them after getting some HD600s and HE-400s because the HE-400s covered the airy details but also added epic bass response, while the HD600s have nice detail retrieval but maintain a bit warmer/laid-back sound signature. If I didn't feel so guilty for blowing $1700 on headphone equipment in the past month, I would've kept the DT880s but that would've put me over the $2000 mark. Lyr+Bifrost+HE400+HD600+E17+restocking fees+shipping costs brought it to $1700. A $600 setup is nothing to scoff at, especially since it's something I only dreamed of for a very long time. Now I have my dream setup and I'm very happy. But it's hard to read these forums and NOT want to buy more headphones to see how they sound. I'm really liking the looks of the M-100s, especially because they're portable and have a sweet case, as well as reportedly sounding good.
 
Good luck deciding what to buy... happy reading... lol 

 

[CoryGillmore]

Also consider the Nuforce Icon HDP or whatever it's called. It's good paired with a computer and it's good with the HD600/650 or the DT880 and a ton of other phones. Wish I had $600 to spend right now lol. I envy you!

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

OK so I would like a "audiophile" system for around $600.
 
Will be used for FLACs from Foobar 2000 and Spotify.
 
Currently have ATH-M50 and Fiio E7 which I will keep for my portable rig with my iPod Classic 160GB.
 
Music tastes ranges from Rock, Pop, RnB, Jazz, Electro, Acoustic, Rap and everything in between. 
 
Things I am looking for are soundstage, "dynamics" ( I want to hear everything on the recording) and longevity (don't want to upgrade this for a few years) 
 
Looking at so far:

AKG Q701 - $226.66
JDS Labs Objective2 Headphone Amplifier - $144
JDS Labs Standalone ODAC - $149
FiiO L2 3.5mm Interconnect Cable - $9.95
Woo Audio HPS-H Aluminum Headphone Stand - $50
 
Total = $579.61

Any thoughts / feedback would be greatly appreciated

 
Heya,
 
Look towards:
 
Sony MA900
Beyer DT880
AKG Q701
Sennheiser HD600
Hifiman HE-400
 
Most of these headphones do not need the power output of various amps that will be suggested. I would be comfortable putting any of them on a Fiio E10 or NFB12 or MusicStreamerII + Schiit Asgard or O2.
 
Very best,

 

[npw112]

Looking at a Anune X1 and some seccond hand K701s. Should be just under $350.
 
Thoughts

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

Looking at a Anune X1 and some seccond hand K701s. Should be just under $350.
 
Thoughts

 
Heya,
 
I hope you like your sound to have very shy mid-bass and relatively weak sub-bass compared to the mids & treble. They have a big sound stage, with what sounds like mostly mids & treble, very analytical sounding, dry, anemic, not warm at all to me, very shy low end representation. I would suggest you look at the Sony MA900 instead. Huge sound stage. But warmer. Maintains excellent mids. Pair with a simple Fiio E10 if using PC source; maybe E11 if using portable source.
 
Very best,