The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1060321 6-Jun-2014 11:05

With those headphones I would probably go with either the Dragonfly or something from Fiio. I think the DAC would make the most difference over direct computer sound. This would also allow you to upgrade to higher impedance cans later with enough amplification to drive them. Then its a slippery slope of constantly upgrading each component in turn searching for the non-existent perfect sound, or is that just me? :-)

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#1060322 6-Jun-2014 11:11

geekiegeek: With those headphones I would probably go with either the Dragonfly or something from Fiio. I think the DAC would make the most difference over direct computer sound. This would also allow you to upgrade to higher impedance cans later with enough amplification to drive them. Then its a slippery slope of constantly upgrading each component in turn searching for the non-existent perfect sound, or is that just me? :-)

See topic subject :)

I have decided I am done after I upgraded to the T1's, I could see myself going down a rabbit hole. I will buy one more thing, which is a really decent amp/dac combo, but it won't be for a while.

Krishant007

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#1060329 6-Jun-2014 11:20

Hmm, i think DAC would actually be the best in my case. Dont think I really need a headphone AMP - not for these cans at least. So FIIO, I have heard quite a bit about these ones (and seen the occasional one up for sale here as well). Anyone recommend a particular model? I remember the E6 being a popular one.

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#1060331 6-Jun-2014 11:23

Krishant007: Hmm, i think DAC would actually be the best in my case. Dont think I really need a headphone AMP - not for these cans at least. So FIIO, I have heard quite a bit about these ones (and seen the occasional one up for sale here as well). Anyone recommend a particular model? I remember the E6 being a popular one.

From recall the E6 is an amp only (I might be wrong about that). The E7 is a DAC/amp, as is the E17. I'd take the Dragonfly over either of these to be honest, but it's outside your stated budget ($150USD new, although via Ebay/HEad-Fi for sale forums can probably be had for about $110-120USD any day of the week).

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#1060332 6-Jun-2014 11:25

geekiegeek: With those headphones I would probably go with either the Dragonfly or something from Fiio. I think the DAC would make the most difference over direct computer sound. This would also allow you to upgrade to higher impedance cans later with enough amplification to drive them. Then its a slippery slope of constantly upgrading each component in turn searching for the non-existent perfect sound, or is that just me? :-)

Not just you :)

I've found the headphone for me though, the HiFiMan HE-6 driven off the speaker taps of a speaker amp is my end-game. I'm just taking my time settling on the upstream gear now, in particular the right speaker amp...

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#1060408 6-Jun-2014 14:42

i have a Fiio E17. i hate it! it is so clear that everything is so sharp and piercing.

hence I plug my (ok please don't kill me) Audeze LCD 2.3 into the headphone jack of my high end laptop with signal processing - bliss :D

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#1060410 6-Jun-2014 14:43

don't get me wrong - i've tried it in my samsung phone, iphone, ipad, Denon amp, you name it - rubbish.

there's something about my laptop and my pleasure centre in the brain ...

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#1060411 6-Jun-2014 14:46

joker97: i have a Fiio E17. i hate it! it is so clear that everything is so sharp and piercing.

Sounds to me like your E17 is faulty, its almost impossible to make the LCD-2 harsh or piercing ordinarily (its guilty of being overly lush and non-revealing most of the time IMO).

I had the E17 a while, didn't find it that great a DAC in all honesty from the point of view of clarity or resolution, but bang for buck is decent.

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#1060412 6-Jun-2014 14:52

i meant the midrange and treble is overpowering and the small sound stage didn't help.
i'm more of a basshead so I digitally process the bass up to balance it all up.
(i had a Fidelio X1 for a bit - muffled treble and midrange was cluttered and low res. so this works for me)

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#1060413 6-Jun-2014 14:55

joker97: i meant the midrange and treble is overpowering and the small sound stage didn't help.
i'm more of a basshead so I digitally process the bass up to balance it all up.

Wow, unless your LCD-2 is some kind of outlier, that is the most odd description I have ever heard of the LCD-2, which has the most shelved treble I have heard in any headphone ever (this is not just my impression, but the general consensus). I guess that just goes to show how we all hear differently!

One question, the treble isn't way up on the E17s tone controls is it?

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#1060415 6-Jun-2014 14:58

NZtechfreak:
joker97: i meant the midrange and treble is overpowering and the small sound stage didn't help.
i'm more of a basshead so I digitally process the bass up to balance it all up.

Wow, unless your LCD-2 is some kind of outlier, that is the most odd description I have ever heard of the LCD-2, which has the most shelved treble I have heard in any headphone ever (this is not just my impression, but the general consensus). I guess that just goes to show how we all hear differently!

One question, the treble isn't way up on the E17s tone controls is it?

apparently the latest LCD2 has this Fazor thing - I tell you if I didn't tell you it's an LCD-2 you'd think it's an LCD-3.

no the E17 is flat. i tried to adjust the treble and bass on the E17 - just made things imbalanced. i'm just a basshead. or have damaged hearing.

PS i think the small soundstage of the LCD was the biggest problem to be honest

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#1060417 6-Jun-2014 15:00

joker97:
NZtechfreak:
joker97: i meant the midrange and treble is overpowering and the small sound stage didn't help.
i'm more of a basshead so I digitally process the bass up to balance it all up.

Wow, unless your LCD-2 is some kind of outlier, that is the most odd description I have ever heard of the LCD-2, which has the most shelved treble I have heard in any headphone ever (this is not just my impression, but the general consensus). I guess that just goes to show how we all hear differently!

One question, the treble isn't way up on the E17s tone controls is it?

apparently the latest LCD2 has this Fazor thing - I tell you if I didn't tell you it's an LCD-2 you'd think it's an LCD-3.

no the E17 is flat. i tried to adjust the treble and bass on the E17 - just made things imbalanced. i'm just a basshead. or have damaged hearing.

Ah yes, I'd heard the Fazor makes the LCD-2 a little airier and less lush (probably the older one would suit you better!). Pretty sure I would be able to tell the difference between LCD-2 and 3 blind though, they're leagues apart to my ears.

It's good there are choices out there for the serious bassheads amongst us :)

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#1062542 10-Jun-2014 13:02

Cheapest I've ever seen the Beyerdynamic T1's and from a reputable buyer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BeyerDynamic-T1-Tesla-600-OHM-Audiophile-Stereo-Headphone-/331227747866?pt=US_Headphones&hash=item4d1eb6561a

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#1062546 10-Jun-2014 13:10

Great price! Makes me tempted to get another pair once again!

(the ears are willing, but the wallet is weak at present)

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#1062562 10-Jun-2014 13:23

NZtechfreak: Great price! Makes me tempted to get another pair once again!

(the ears are willing, but the wallet is weak at present)

It's a crazy price, I'd agree. Having spent time with it recently, I'd say it's worth noting they take a bit of amplification to get the most out of them, surprisingly the ODAC and Amp have proven very very good.

Listening to some female artists last night brought the hair on my neck and arms up, most pleasant.

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