I recommend using the search function and seeing which of the items you listed have threads.
I think youāll find that the differences between DACs is less apparent than the differences between headphones. Basically your headphone will provide the biggest difference in sound followed by the amp, and then the DAC.
There are so many great combinations mentioned throughout the forum and I find that speaks to synergy. Sometimes things donāt always match up even though they may be great with a different combination.
The HD6XX are a great reference point, and many here consider them a standard.
Excellent gear you got there. If you happen to be in SoCal, consider paying a visit to The Source AV Design Group. They are some very nice people with lots of TOTL headphones to demo. As for the stack, I sincerely believe you should keep saving your pennies for something that would be quite a noticeable improvement over the Hel. Consider an Asgard 3 and Modius for example. You can actually go visit The Schiityr in Valencia also in California!
Iāve looked around a bit, but Iāll keep digging!
I really like these headphones. But, it took me a LONG time to appreciate them. Like, more than a year of not using them almost at all (maybe once a month). But now Iām home all the time, so I decided to actually sit and listen to them and theyāre so good! Bending that silly headband open so it doesnāt hurt my head helped.
Iām in NorCal, but Iād love to try some TOTL stuff one dayā¦ Post-pandemic trip to SoCal, maybe!
Will this really make that much of a difference, at least to my untrained ears?
Iāll be honest, going from my rather good motherboard dac/amp to the Hel did not sound different. I did a lot of A/B tests. Thereās a LOT more power, but thatās about it?
Then when I got the BTR5, I A/B tested that with the Hel and still couldnāt for the life of me spot any differences, and thatās unbalanced, which is not very powerful. Dunno, maybe I donāt know what to hear for?
I do seem to listen at very decent volume levels - using my iPhone I measured 75db (totally inaccurate, Iām sure, but ballpark). At this point, I just wanted to get the Loki so I can play around with the EQ a little bit, I like that.
Heh! Thanks, glad to be here
It can drive you crazy, but itās still a very fun hobby, I enjoy it all, the crazy subjectivity, the research, the decisions. Good way to pass the time.
Apple USB-C dongle => Loki => Magni 3+ is my plan. Am I doing this right?
I wanted to try the Vali 2, but everybody just seems to agree that it doesnāt really sound any different. Soā¦ yeah.
Why the Loki? Just because of the DT770? I have one, btw. See this video for a simple trick on the treble. Still need to try it though:
Not to mention thereās still DSP you can try before spending cash in something that may be in a drawer in 5 months from now. I have been there before.
Be patient, learn and then make decisions. Itās your though.
Iām a long time audio enthusiast, but relatively new to serious headphone listening. To me, the journey of auditioning various headphones and related equipment is more interesting than having an āendgameā setup, but of course that is still my ultimate destination. Iāve been emailing my recent experiences with friends and family who have encouraged me to share them with a wider internet audience. Iām still undecided but joining this forum is my first step in that direction.
Kudos to the admins here as I once created a small online community and know how hard it is to keep the discussion informative and opinionated yet supportive and respectful. Iām looking forward to interacting with the everyone here in this way.
Hi! Iāve been interested in music for as long as I can remember and high end audio for maybe the last 3 years. Specifically IEMs due to my commute requirements (at least pre-corona). Things escalated pretty quickly over the last year or so though, and Iāve got myself an Andro Golf, Solaris 2020 and a 64 Audio Tia Trio. Glad to join
Hi! Iām a headphone fanatic from Birmingham, AL USA. Iām really late to the table here. Iāve been into music for all my life. I used to work in radio and that was when I got my first quality headphones, Sennheiser HD 450s. It was only having a child in the last few years I got into headphones to turn down the volume of the music I still love.
I moved tremendously on from that first pair of Sennheisers. Currently, Iāve got a few electrostats, planars and a couple of dynamics. I hope to find a great community hear to learn and share.
Hello and welcome @billqs. Having kids will do that but theyāre worth it. Youāll enjoy the great environment thatās been created here and its a great place to exchange ideas setups. There are lots of friendly knowledgeable people on the forum. You only have to ask and someone will step up. Again welcome.
though.
