General purchase advice: Ask your questions/for advice here!

I need advice!
751

@HeadphoneNoob, hopefully my sarcasm didn’t put you off the SMSL. I just meant “that other forum” makes decisions purely on measurements, whereas this one tends to focus more on how it sounds.

From what I’ve read, SMSL gear tends to be on the analytical side of neutral, whereas Schiit gear tends to be on the warm side of neutral. It all depends on what kind of sound you like and what kind of headphones you have. Personally, I like the warm side of neutral (that’s my bias, I suppose), so I tend to gravitate towards gear with that kind of sound signature. But that may not float your boat.

You said in another post that you’d borrowed an ifi micro iDSD Black Label. How did you like it? Is there any reason you wouldn’t buy one yourself? If you like the ifi sound but want something cheaper, I see that Headphones.com has a bundle deal on the ifi Zen DAC + Zen CAN for less than $300.

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752

No no, they only do home theater, they are truly blessed. They have a headphones section but it is dead.

Yes I am aware. I previously wanted topping. They have the same situation, like the dx7 or the a90/d90 or a50/d50s.

I do know the amp plays a role as well, my dac is still unknown at this time.

It has been a while, but my friend let me borrow his ifi Nano BL, I have been using it and it sounds great.

This place that got the Ananda has a music hall 11.1 open box for 200. But that amp says 10 mw at 32 ohms. Sounds like it’s really weak. I mentioned the Arcam rHead, Arcam is pretty premium company for home theater, so you would hope they got their audio down.

It’s a pretty tough decision, I have just been sucked into home theater research as that seems to be the more expensive situation. I am going to be 3000 dollars into that, so I need to really make the right decisions.

Just need to get back to regular work and have my normal income and this could again take off and I’ll be able to purchase whatever I want. Which is supposed to be March 21’ but this decision was made months ago when the situation is far better. So we have yet to see

753

If you liked the ifi Nano BL, is there a reason you wouldn’t buy one for yourself? One of the biggest problems with audio purchases is buying blind, but you have the advantage that you’ve listened to this and like it.

Quite a few members here have or used to own ifi equipment and @SebastienChiu just joined too, so one of them should be able to give you some advice on which model to buy. That deal on the Audio Zen DAC and Can looks appealing, if you don’t need it to be portable.

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754

Thanks for the tag @PaisleyUnderground! Absolutely agreed, trying and liking things is what I wish I did more often when I just started in this hobby/lifestyle. Ironically, the Nano BL was one of my very first personal dac/amp purchases before I ever joined the iFi team, and still have it to this day.

@HeadphoneNoob - let me know how I can help you with anything you want to no know more as well as what you’re on the fence about. I can also do general A/Bing for the majority of our lineup since I have anything from the ZEN to the Neo/Micro iDSD Signature in hand for times like these.

My two off the cuff recommendations for your situation would be the Nano or ZEN stack depending on what you’re using them for, what you’re pairing them with, and how much portability you will need.

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755

I picked up the xDSD a year or so ago when I had an unfortunate electrical incident with the last generation Headroom amp. Found it to be very nice, and still use it when I’m being more portable than my Office setup (Mac Mini to Schiit BF2, Stax SRM T1S, or Schiit Lyr 3) and less portable than my go kit - (Now pretty much LCDi3 plus Cipher cable, but has been Dragonfly Cobalt and various headphones).

So I know it’s sort of like well . . . integrated tech, but how do you place the xDSD in comparison to the Zen Stack? I really like the portability, and occasionally even the Bluetooth capability. I’ve been a fan of Burr Brown chips in general since I got my old ROTEL CD player.

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756

unfortunate electrical incident? Would love more context not this, lol.

We like Burr-Brown chips too. Just a little!

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757

It involved a cable insertion and a popping sound. It may have been a freak, but the unit was powered on, and I know one really ought to turn down power when putting TRS or TRRS plugs into a unit. The cable seems fine on the multimeter.

758

My midlife crisis

Hi, I have decided to have a music related midlife crisis. Far better than the motorbike and teenage girlfriend version, imho. So I’ll spend a little bit of money on what is to be my ultimate audo set-up.

The type of headphone/amp/DAC I am looking for is: Full-size

My price range is: Looking for that one flagship that will make my audio life complete. $5000 or something, maybe?

I like to listen to: Vocals are my key love. Both solo and choirs. I do some of that myself, so I am very aware of the details. For solo, the emotional timbre matters, as does the “bottom” of the voice. Both male and female, from Basso Profundo to Kate Bush and Natalie Dessay. I love my Sinatra, Elvis and that period too. For chorals, I love to hear the choir fill the room!

I will be using them for: Everything! I already have some pretty decent headphones (Grado RS1, Denon AH-D5000 markl mod, and for iem Jeff Harvey Roxanne with silver cable), so my key use will be at home. Size and weight does not put me off, though, not even for sitting on the bus.

Source-wise, I can understand the need for better sources, but am sceptical to 600Ω headphones that people say sound wonderful on some very particular type of amp but trash on all others. So if I have to buy an amp to do full justice to the headphones, that is fine. But if the absence of that amp means the headphones sound dreadful, then they are not for me.

= = =

About me: I am 54 years old, which means I have lost 20kHz and its close friends. I also have a slight recess at around 8kHz. My hearing is otherwise well preserved. I know my hearing might not be so good in 20 years’ time, so I want to enjoy it while I can, and simply go for the best (within reasonable affording limits; I can’t afford Sennheiser Orpheus!).

My current sources are

  • Lootoo PAW Gold (for portable)
  • Apogee Duet (for home)

What I have listened to? Not too much, but so far:

  • I have listened to the LCD-2 on a Chord Hugo, and it was very agreeable.
  • I used to have Grado SR-325i. Some people find these too “shrill”. I didn’t. I don’t hear much difference between these and the RS-1, though.
  • The Denons are very agreeable, and have a bit more soundspace than the Grados. Better for choral. Maybe ever so slightly on the dark side in the sense of not doing the higher frrequencies justice.
  • JH Roxanne. Also a bit dark, and leaves me wanting that last little “pinprick” of detail. But by all means great.

Sound-wise:

  1. I like my bass tight. Dry and controlled, but not at all vanishing! The headphones should be able to go to at least 14Hz (my lower hearing threshold; tested).
  2. Music happens in the mids, with highs and lows and wonderful seasoning. I love vocal, and vocal gets so much from 2-400 Hz, which I guess are low mids.
  3. I hate muddy and love to be able to hear things clearly. As I said, my ears are older (age 54), and the mosquito tone at 17kHz is lost to me, though I seem to have an odd “island” of hearing at 18kHz. My general threshold is around 15kHz, and I have a small recess at 8kHz.
  4. Since I hate muddy, I like to hear that there are two cellos when there are two, and not one-ish. Same as with the bass: Dry and clear, and placeable.

Some of the frequency profiling, I guess, can be made up for by EQ. So maybe I that doesn’t need to be much focus. But the headphones should be able to reproduce any frequency with ease, little distortion and NO muddiness.

I have looked at far too few headphones, but DO love technology. So I have looked at LCD-4, simply because “planar magnetic” sounds so cool. I recently looked at the top models of Focal, and they too sound very promising in their descriptions. I hear some love electrostat, and maybe that is what I need, but since the tech is so different and incompatible with everything else, I must admit there’s an extra threshold there.

But I won’t let my inner techno freak run the show. This is primarily for my ears.

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759

Hmmm I assumed it’s my time to experiment a little. However, as I had mentioned previously I am still to get to distinguishing a dac for its character. I was hoping to go with something different, or maybe some variety. I don’t see very many sales this year.

Trying to save a buck. I was thinking earlier to get the micro black label to have more power and have a variety of headphones which can be driven wether now or in the future. I am guessing since the signature dropped prices may go down or sales will occur. Who knows.

Which would generally be following in the footsteps of the Nano BL.

Unfortunately it is a frustrating situation not knowing and I can’t even demo dacs in my price range.

760

Well again I am seeing a variety of dacs to choose. Most the ifi stand alone dacs seem a bit more pricey. I think for someone at my level of experience should with let’s say a $1000 buy 3 or 4 dacs to get a better idea. Not saying I plan to do that. But possibly 2 dacs and 1 amp, trying to go with separates for opportunities and change rather than all in one.

I have the focal Elegia and I plan on purchasing either the Ananda or Sundara.

I know most audiophiles seem to stray away from closed back headphones or that maybe my assumption. But I really enjoy the Elegia. Got it for a steal too.

761

Now to another subject, I want to purchase some Bluetooth headphones, just something for convenience and lack of luggage. I am not glued to my pc all day, which is my main streamer for music.

I see two headphones I am interested in and I am not sure what to choose. Even worse when all you get is BS reviews on them.

But I was between the Grado GW100 and Senn PXC 550 2. Or open to other suggestions, want to keep that under 300 if possible.

Opting out of a center channel on my home theater setup as it seems unnecessary so I am just going to use that money towards this pair of headphones.

Got some junkie JBL 450bt’s I think was the model number I bought more than a year ago for $15, so anything would be better.

762

Senn PXC 550ii is about $200 now. BH Photo, Audio 46, DROP. $220 on headphones.com, and I bet they’d match the $200 if you asked.

I just picked up a pair. Mostly for TV and radio use.

763

Are you looking for a combo unit? DAC/ HA?

Combo unit - Benchmark DAC-3 series is very capable. Around $2200.

Are you interested in tubes or Solid State? One solid state amp worthy of a look is the Headamp GSX-mini. Great build, very neutral great sounding HA. Around $2K. Lots of choices.

Lots of things to consider including equipment placement, do you need something with a remote, and the type of headphones you plan to use.

Focal Clear is a good all around headphone choice and can be found below their $1500 retail price.

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764

I’d like to point out that these statements combine to rule out almost every flagship audiophile headphone in the market.

HD800? Nope, needs specific amp pairings to sound decent, let alone good. Lcd4? Same thing. Susvara? LOL. People use speaker amps to drive it. SR1A - designed to need extremely specific types of amplification. HEDDphone = eats DAP & smartphone outputs for breakfast. HD600/650 have a veil on bad chains that carefully chosen amp pairings overcome, and the result is delightful. TH900? Doable, but you said you want mids, so…

Even high end IEMs are sensitive to the amp that drives them. Look at the CA Andromeda for a prime example.

I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything. I’m really not. However, your request is akin to requiring a sports car be driveable without a steering wheel.

Edit: You might look into the Sennheiser HD660S. It’s lower impedance and higher sensitivity make it easier to drive, and it’s bass isn’t overwhelming but extends low enough you might like it. Mids are good, and highs are highlighted.

Another thought - the ZMF Auteur sound fine from just about anything. I’ve listened to them from a fiio btr3. They sound completely amazing from amps like the ECP 3F and (insert almost any tube amp here).

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765

Welcome to the forum!

Based on what you wrote I suggest trying the Focal Clear (I own the “Pro” version because I prefer the Black and Red color way, same headphone otherwise).

It’s a neutral-bright headphone that’s very even, and just reaches up in the highs before getting to the point of being fatiguing. They’re very efficient and can be powered off of your DAP.

Good luck with the search, and I look forward to hearing what you decide upon.

Cheers!

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766

Better headphones expose the Amp and DAC, you don’t need to spend the earth on components, but you do need high quality amplification/source.

At $5K you have a lot of options, you could spend mid 2K’s on a used/openbox flagship (Verite/He1K/Empyrian/Utopia/D8000), $700 on a Bifrost2 (which I think is among the best sounding DAC’s until you get much higher up), and have enough left over for an $1.5-$2K amp that matches well with your preferences and selected headphones.

D8000 Pro is relatively easy to drive but you’d be looking at $3K+ used.
Susvara’s/Abyss aren’t really an option because of cost and they really are amp picky.

There are other DAC options, the new Soekris, Denaphrips Aries, depends a lot what you are after.

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767

Thank you, Valentine! :slight_smile: How does the Clear compare to Utopia and Stellia, which are the other two Focals on my radar?

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768

That sounds reasonable. The Chord Hugo sounded nice when paired with the LCD-2, tried a few years ago. I think that’s $2k. If the advice was to pair it with LCD-4, that would total $6k, which is ok … or less, if I can get B stock or decent used.

I am thinking primary focus on headphones, second on amp, and for DAC I must admit I have problems hearing the difference above a certain level. I do, as stated, have the Lootoo PAW Gold, which has a decent DAC, and the Apogee Duet. Send signal from there through an amp in the price range you suggest … sounds good. It’s when the amp demand alone ends up in the 5k+ league that I simply have to throw in the towel. But up to $4k for headphones and $2k for amp is fine. Not that it has to meet that ceiling to sound good.

If it should turn out that Lootoo PAW Gold and the Apogee Duet are insufficient as DACs, I will have to save up for a new one.

As for specific advice: How do you rate the D8000 pro given my sound preferences, against (my admittedly limited) list of LCD-4 and the top Focals?

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769

No offense taken. That the headphones should shine better with the right amp is no problem. The problem is if they only sound brilliant with Brand X model Y modded by W with power supply Z, and shite on everything else. You get a bit too many comments (true or not) like that on different forums, even if the manufacturers do not make such demands (though they may of course be wrong).

If there is a range of good amps that can drive the headphones and make them shine, that is sufficient. I hope that clears it up a bit. I am not looking for max 20Ω or anything like that, in a belief or hope that the flagship should sound brilliant out of a regular mobile phone.

And maybe this opens the range of good advice too? Hoping so.

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770

I’m with @ValentineLuke in recommending the Clear for general, high-quality usage. Please see my Focal Utopia, Clear, Elex, HD-600 review:

I wouldn’t recommend the $4,000 Utopia because of its reactive treble – very prone to piercing tones with even mild sources. The Clear is largely immune to this.

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