Not long but I didn’t want to spend too much over 2k to begin with and also, would ideally like something more transportable.
1 Like
1)Buy a used hipdac
- get the headphones you would rather wind up with
3). Stay out of headphone forums. They increase likelihood of second guessing purchases by 100%
4). Enjoy!
12 Likes
Great advice @mfadio!
Or is it… 
Thanks for the advice! Any reason to get a hip-DAC power-wise? Or mainly for reducing noise?
Cause it’s more power and a much better dac than your phone, and super cheap for the performance you get.
It will hold you over until you can get the desktop or portable setup you really want.
1 Like
Hip dac is good. You like. One day I might level up my portable solution but if it means anything I like it and I’d rather have cords all in my bag to support a hip dac than a btr5 because it is better. Plus you have portable option for when you try closed backs and iems and…
I’d lean in on maximizing the chain and not lose focus by overly diversifying the setup.
2 Likes
Right but if I went with an LCD-2 I could go with a modius/magnius or maybe stretch my budget and get a bifrost/magnius… but you’re right if I just get a hip dac I could wait a bit and get something else later… although I’d prefer to not spend a ton of money on this setup. I’m hoping this will be endgame for a while.
Thanks for the help on this btw!
1 Like
I’m looking for advice on an endgame tube amp. I think I’ve narrowed it down to either the Decware Zen Taboo Mk4 or Ampsandsounds Mogwai SE. The reason I’ve honed in on these two is because I specifically want a tube amp that can power both high impedance dynamics AND low impedance low sensitivity planars. I’m leaning more toward the features/functions of the Decware, though I’m concerned about whether 1.6W will adequately power Arya (32ohms/90db)? Mogwai definitely has enough power to drive Arya, but is lacking several features of the Decware that I kinda want (dual inputs, balanced, crossfeed, smaller form factor). Basically, the Decware has everything I want except maybe enough power; the Mogwai definitely has enough power but I’m not impressed with its feature set.
So, I’m wondering if anyone here has experience running a low sensitivity planar like the Arya on the Decware, or failing that, if anyone has any recommendations for other models I should have on my radar?
I hear you. I’ve never gone higher than a BF2 level DAC so it’s hard to imagine how much better it can get, particularly when it gets hard to demo the higher end units without making a big financial commitment. Having said that, your new Holo Audio May is definitely giving me ideas haha. Just have to resist the allure of another pair of headphones!
1 Like
Maybe look into a Spring DAC or a Yggdrasil. They’re both supposed to be solid performers and would definitely advance your RAD/Pendant chain. I know all about the allure of headphones bud, I just buckled and picked up a new set this week 
5 Likes
Ah, then I are the wrong people to ask, as I said the same thing about an ananda headphone and a magnius / modius three months ago.
And now I own 2 amps, an all in one, a hopdac, and four sets of headphones. And no magnius, no modius, and I’d be willing to sell the ananda.
(and I have more on the way. Not kidding. )
1 Like
Many on the forum have nothing but praise for the Ampsandsounds built ZMF Pendant (including myself). It’s a tube amp that can definitely handle Planars based on many posts here, though I’ll leave it to others with more knowledge of their pairings to speak to it. Having said that, ZMF has an upgraded version of it coming out shortly that might be worth a look.
Like the Mogwai though, it lacks the features the Decware has that you’re interested in.
3 Likes
Anyone heard the Little Dot amps? The “higher” end ones, MK IV SE and MK9 ?
Guys, I work in FL Studio, the sound in my headphones is so-so, I asked what is DAC and as I understood from the article on this forum, I need a whole set of headphones, amplifier and DAC, what can you advise?
1 Like
It depends on your budget and your needs. Schiit Asgard 3 and Bifrost 2 combo can be a good one or Modius and Magnius if you need balanced output and need to spend less. For headphones it depends if you prefer open or closed ones.
2 Likes
In the recent HeadPhone Show Live Q&A was a question how to decide between an Elegia at 700$/€ or a Celestee at 1000$/€? @Resolve recommended to get the Celestee (or at least the Elegia w/ some Celestee pads).
Now, as I am looking for a closed back headphone, and the Elegia being discontinued and popping up for sale here and there, what would be a price where you’d say it’s a “no brainer” to get it? 600$/€, 500$/€, …, or is it “sell a kidney” and get the Celestee recommendation?!
Or, what would be other closed-back options in that sub 500$/€ range?
Just in case, use cases and context:
I like (bassy) Jazz (M Miller, SMV, Herbie Hancock, GoGo Penguins (of course!)), Electronic (JM Jarre, Groove Armada, antix, Carl Craig, Daft Punk), and Rock/Pop (Tears for Fears, Icehouse, Saga, Yes, and thanks to some test-track recommendations here Dua Lipa)
Setup would be iMac w/ Apple Lossless / CD thru an ifi ZEN DAC or AudioQuest Beetle; or Vinyl via an Onkyo receiver. Bonus if it can be powered by an iDevice or Sony Walkman (NW-A105) on the go, if we ever travel again, either with the Apple dongle or a Dragonfly Red.
Thanks in advance!
tl;dr: What’s a good closed-back headphone under 500$/€ or how cheap must the Elegia get?
5 Likes
Elegia discounted is a great deal.
But according to your preferences in music and since you
jazz I don’t believe you will enjoy them, unless you’re familiar with EQ.
Elegia are mostly focused on the mids/treeble and bass isn’t their strength.
I don’t believe swapping pads will affect their tuning at the point of making them bass like headphones.
For a tuning oriented to bass check Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed Retuned, I believe they are in your price range.
2 Likes
Thanks for the feedback. With bassy jazz I didn’t mean a punchy, in-your-face bass - more like, when the bass is the or a main instrument (like old Police songs, John Mayer Trio with Pino Palladino, some of Dua Lipa’s stuff, and of course Marcus Miller).
I’ll check the Aeons. 
2 Likes
No problem. Jazz music requires a little bass accentuation in headphones tuning IMO, otherwise we’re talking about something else but not jazz. Take a look at the Aeons returned. You’ll probably have to EQ a little the treble but you can also use the tuning pads for this purpose.
1 Like