Hey all,
One more question.
I know everyone will call APTX / LDAC lossy and what not, but I am looking for recommendations for sources. Should I get an old cheap Android phone to send APTX over to the headphones or is there a DAP that can do this? I am thinking of the phone because I would be able to use PlexAmp or other such sources.
This is going to vary by ear shape. Something small like the Tripowin TC-01 works well for me. I can also use some canal types like the Tin HiFi T2, T3, and T4 or the Final Audio E3000. Recently I’ve been nodding off comfortably with the Jade Audio/FiiO JD7. The shell is larger, but it is pretty light, and the fit is lock tight for my ears.
The Moondrop Quarks are tiny and cost about $12.
Apologies for the late reply. I went with exactly this as it was also suggested by a staff member here. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. I can wear the IE200 practically all day without any fatigue. I have slept with them on every night since I received them and can barely feel them in. Sound quality is noticeably more crisp on these than on my air pod pro 2 as well.
Ok, I probably should have come here before I purchased anything but I kinda jumped in already.
I play mostly games (not always FPS games) I play a wide range of games. I also work from home and I am typically listening to music while I work. So I have a few questions:
I have heard that the imaging is not ‘great’ on the 6XX while I do play games like Tarkov/COD I truly play a wide range of games. (RPGs, MMOs Shooters, Sports games etc)
Do you think I should return my 6XXs for a better headphone for imagining like the (Audio Technica ATH-R70x).
Thank you in advance for any advice!
Hi Skiman1984, Welcome to your headphone forum!
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Even though I don’t like the Drop HD6XX, you did pretty well on your selection. Most people like those headphones and they are pretty comfortable to wear for long gaming / work from home sessions. The Schiit amp/dac choice is not bad for the money and it takes up a small footprint on your desk if that was what you were after. All of your items have good resale value should you decide to upgrade onto higher end gear in the future.
I agree with @hottyson, keep the 6xx at least a few years. It’s the entry level gateway to the audiophile world and it’s become a standard. So it’s very good to keep and to know as a reference in the future.
At some point you may want a dedicated gaming headphone and a different dedicated music headphone (or two (three (four))) and that 6xx will help point the way, be a guidepost for your future self.
Plus it’s decent. As is the Schiit stuff. You did just fine. Welcome to the rabbit hole forum.
Oh, and the power levels. High for the 6xx. Low for most IEMs. Generally you want the lower levels if you don’t have to crank it up most of the way. The 6xx loves to have plenty of power behind it.
Thank you so much! If I wanted to upgrade my set up what is the next logical upgrade? Just trying to figure out if I want to start budgeting for down the road.
Jump in with both feet, perhaps purchase a tube amp. eg. Little Dot Mk III
Test the water by trying another dynamic driver headphone. eg HD600 $, or ZMF $$$
Explore planar magnetic headphones. eg. HiFiMan Sundara
Here’s where budget matters. Headphones jump to $500-$1,000, then to $1,500, then to $2,000, and then to $4,000-$6,000. Your ears may not care but your wallet may care. Do you want to dive into the deep end, or wade in?
Also, consider the HD 800 or HD 800 S in the Sennheiser family. Focal has solid following, and the original Clear is the next quality tier.
Probably the next step is some introspection, followed by a set of contrasting headphones. For introspection, I use our work 5 step process that I use with my clients:
So think about what’s the next step, after you have listened a month to what you have. Do you need gaming or music headphones? Do you need a mobile setup? How do you feel about this hobby - do you want to turn others on to a great sound? Do you need to keep in your sound from others, or do you need to close off the world’s sound from you? What’s right and wrong with your present setup? Comfort?
That kind of stuff. Then here’s how to budget.
First pay yourself at least 10% of every dime you earn. That’s for savings and emergencies, not headphones.
Second, make sure you have what you need to live on.
Third, devote significant resources to paying off any debts
Fourth, start and keep a headphone/hobby fund
Did I mention that my day job is a Financial Advisor?
Listen to what you have, and decide what you like, don’t like and wish it did better, then look at your budget.
Honestly occasionally listen to my 6XX on mid tier gear when I sell something, that’s been sitting around, and I’m always impressed how good entry/mid level chains can sound.
The 6XX is a REALLY good headphone at the price, everything is really an incremental step up, and you have to decide if it’s worth it to you. While it has it’s limitations, the 6XX is difficult to best at what it does well without spending a lot more, there are people running HD 600 and HD650’s (which is more or less what the 6xx is) on multi thousand $$ amplifiers.
You can try other headphones around the price point, to get an idea is more Bass or more Treble extension, or more Detail is more your preference. I’m not a huge fan of tubes at the low end, but OTL amps work very well with the 6XX, and it all comes down to what you think is a reasonable budget.
People on audiophile forums like this obsess over the small differences, my primary listening rig cost more than most peoples cars, and I don’t regret that, BUT it’s fundamentally about the music and I can enjoy that with a 6XX with a mid tier DAC and AMP.
I do enjoy my 800s when pushed with some power (BHA-1 bal connection) .
Excellent advice, the Clear OG is pretty inexpensive used I would think (relatively), and new at headphones.com is $890. I don’t think you can beat it for price/performance. It’s next level from the HD 650/6xx.
For gaming I would say, can you feel something is wrong with what you are hearing? If you can hear footsteps from people coming behind or above and all the sound queues you get seems to be well positioned , I don’t see why you need to change unless you feel you want an upgrade.
I guess my brother uses a headset from Razer, if I’m not mistaken. When he wanted to change because it broke, he asked me about the Sennheiser PC38X that he searched and found as a good gaming headset in reviews. Many reviewers backing this headphone for gaming are people I trust, so I said to him to buy it he won’t regret. He didn’t like it and returned the headphone to buy another one from what he was used to. Maybe not too easy to make recommendations, hard to tell if you will feel it is better or not, and how much better.
I can’t say from the dac/amp you are using because I never had them, but sometimes good ones for music are not really great for playing. I found out that just a moondrop moonriver 2 dongle is better than using it with a cayin C9 as amp. It also seems to have a pretty low latency, which I believe it may be good in games, not sure if it does make a difference. The good thing is, you have a small usb dongle, so you get rid of the power plug and all cables. I replaced an O2/odac with it, did not gain anything in the gaming as the o2/odac did enough of a good job, but it helped in the desk organization. Maybe something you may be interested in trying. If it does not make a difference, you still have a dongle for portable listening 
.
And since you have a full size, maybe next move try some iem? I tend to prefer full size for gaming, but in the summer I sometimes get an iem to avoid the heat. I guess the Sennheiser IE line may be good for gaming (I never had one) as they are said to have good imaging, stage (not sure if it is all models or just the more expensive) and most importantly comfort. I played a lot using 64 Tia Fourte Noir.
Want to change things up a bit and have these two
tube headphone amps in my cart for weeks.
Vali2++ vs Bellari HA543 MK2
like the vali for the low gain switch option and the silver color matches my dac.
like the bellari for the open soundstage reviews and want to try it with mullard tube 12ax7.
already asked the oracle. she told me i already made my choice and trying to understand why i did it or some nonsense.
help me
Magic 8 Ball says, “Ask again later.” 
Seriously though, don’t know anything about the Bellari except for what’s on their website.
Vali 2 vs Bellari 540 Mk2:
Pros for Schiit: much more power, preamp outs, made in USA, $50 less.
Pros for Bellari: also made in USA, looks fairly well built, “pure class A”.
The Schiit is a known quantity, it gets a fair amount of love, and it’s a fun amp. I had an original Vali 2 (not 2++), it was a great little amp for the price. As usual, Schiit value is very tough to beat in almost all categories.
After reading some reviews on the Bellari, I’d say go with the Vali 2. Some buyers of the Bellari left feedback/reviews on it saying build quality was kind of sketchy, with impacts on noise level and sound quality.
I’d say go with Schiit. 
Stereophile review of Vali 2+:
I can help you, but only in half.
I own the Bellari HA540 MK2 (I suspect this is the one you mean, the HA543 is solid state), and I like it well enough. Personally, I’ve had both a Mullard and a Telefunken in it, and I prefer the Telefunken.
That said, I have never heard the Vali 2, so I cannot offer a comparison.
Does the MK2 have any whine or buzzing between songs or when at 0 volume,
while using lower 32ohm ish IEM’s?
heard XDUOO Tube amps do and a few others. without a gain switch on the MK2 that was the only thing really leaning me towards the vali.
Thanks
Sorry, I don’t use IEMs.