I use Cardas Clear, Cardas Clear Light, and Cardas Cross aftermarkets. Also have WyWires Platinum, Wywires Red, and ZMF Silver Michanikos, Arctic Cardas 4x24 Blue, and Periapt. Have a couple of Dan Clark Audio ones too. The Cardas Clear and Cross both sound great with the Clears. Take a good look at Arctic. Val makes great stuff.
Zach makes nice cables. If you buy ZMF headphones, he has some nice options that would go well with your new cans.
Nice, thanks for the recs!
Yeah, I saw those new ZMF proprietary connectors. Looks real good!
Here you go @hifiDJ, this is what my Arctic adapters look like. If you look at Norne or Double Helix’s websites, you can see what theirs look like.
Thank you for the pics!
Man, that cable goes really well with your verite. Gorgeous!
Thanks, the “naked copper” cables from any of the cable manufacturers really complement both the Verite and Stellia.
Hello Everyone, I am back once again. Hope everyone has been doing well and staying safe.
So I am about to purchase my second set of headphones and I wanted to get your opinion on which one I should buy. I am going planar magnetic, I am between the HiFiman Sundara or Ananda. I got a local audio shop that is basically going out of business and they got the anandas for 500 no tax. Debating if it is worth upgrading and if that is a good value.
I see brand new it’s 699 and OB 599. Should I bargain and get a better deal or walk away. I don’t know what’s worth it more
Been MIA for a good while, I am disturbing the peace in home theater forums and I am about to purchase my first tower speakers and complete a 5.1 setup. So I’ve been over in that realm over thinking everything per usual. Got my first stereo set up and I am really enjoying the speakers side of sound.
I’m in deep on these rabbit holes. 
Welcome back. I used to own Hifiman including these cans. I no longer own Hifiman. If you’re set on planars, the Sundara and Ananda deliver at their retail price. Between these and if I recall your future proof goal, the Ananda at $500 is attractive (especially if you were to resell it).
Bless those other forums jk. What speakers are you enjoying and what towers are you considering?
Which to purchase: the Astell & Kern Kann Alpha or the Kann Cube? They are the same price at headphones.com ($1,099, with the Cube open box). I can’t find much describing the difference between the two.
I don’t have experience with these, but the newer Alpha looks to have a smaller chassis, more powerful amp, and better battery life. The initial retail price of the Alpha is also cheaper than the Cube. Those all seem favorable, but the skeptic in me questions whether sound quality or build quality would be compromised (maybe not and just advancements in technology and innovation). See review below. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Bless them all and all of you as well 
Debating still, I bought a pair of Unifi 2.0 bookshelves. Just to hold me over, got an amazing deal on a marantz 7013. So those speakers were basically free.
Right now I am between continuing my elac Unifi 2.0 collection or I want get the Focal aria 926/936, more towards the 936. Also Chorus 826. I think speakers are far worse, I’m going bananas per usual. Way too much selection.
Unfortunately it’s cutting into my headphone and amp budget, but it’s okay. I have greatly increased my music listening to about 6 hours or more per day.
I don’t know still be researching amps and dacs. I think for an amp I’m going with the SMSL SH-9, seems like it has some good measurements via audio science. Just the dac is still up in the air, good luck figuring that out. I don’t see any big sales going on
When does @HeadphoneNoob become the user formerly known as @HeadphoneNoob?
Friends don’t let friends rely on measurements only for purchase decisions. 
and I’m not referring to SBAF-type friends, either
When I evolve into an intermediate
Well damn, I guess technically I got another dac amp considering my Marantz. 
Just remember that whatever they measure, it’s not sound quality.
And some of the hardcore true believers will tell you that you can’t possibly prefer equipment that doesn’t match some random measurement. Or say that you can’t hear a difference because their broken AB test process won’t allow you to hear any difference.
Lousy measurements? Try tubed gear…
it sounds great though.
I tend to listen to music rather than measurements. I let MY ears decide.
Back to the drawing board -_-
So what amp do you guys suggest? Maybe a list of 3 more on the budget side, 400 or less for certain. Prefer both balanced and unbalanced just incase.
There’s an Arcam rHead, I believe it was discontinued. I know arcam makes some decent products.
Has anyone here heard the Gustard A18 DAC? Thoughts?
