# Sub-$900 Headphone Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** I need advice!\ **Created:** [May 18, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617 "2020-05-18T03:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DEXCOM7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/dexcom7/32/15171_2.png) [@DEXCOM7](https://forum.headphones.com/u/DEXCOM7)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/85 "2020-05-24T21:14:34Z")
Yes it is, Pretty straight forward. ---
**Author:** ![DEXCOM7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/dexcom7/32/15171_2.png) [@DEXCOM7](https://forum.headphones.com/u/DEXCOM7)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/86 "2020-05-24T21:14:51Z")
Thanks for posting it! ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/87 "2020-05-25T02:12:08Z")
Thanks, will have a go at it then. Although when it comes to lossless format for years I have relied on Foobar 2000’s DSP, there was a time when it was the only solution available, and it it still works. But “work” is the keywork, Foobar is not the most intuitive interface out there what with endless plugins and configuration thereof. Starting with Win7 it taught me one thing though: WASAPI in exclusive mode is way easier to pull than ASIO. ---
**Author:** ![DEXCOM7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/dexcom7/32/15171_2.png) [@DEXCOM7](https://forum.headphones.com/u/DEXCOM7)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/88 "2020-05-25T02:43:18Z")
Roon has come along way and the DSP engine is one of the best things of roon. You will like it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 3:28am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/89 "2020-05-25T03:28:57Z")
Great, it just so happens that I currently have in my temporary possession a Moon (Simaudio) 280D Mind 2 Roon-enabled streaming DAC. This is an open-box demo unit with DSD256 384Khz PCM-32bit (on USB only) with Bluetooth disabled at my my request (to avoid breaches). Let’s have a go at it. ---
**Author:** ![DEXCOM7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/dexcom7/32/15171_2.png) [@DEXCOM7](https://forum.headphones.com/u/DEXCOM7)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/90 "2020-05-25T03:50:45Z")
w000t! Awesome test! Reach out if you need help! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/91 "2020-05-27T02:49:30Z")
Split this topic on May 27, 2020, 2:49am UTC 25 posts were merged into an existing topic: [Questions & Comments about Roon](https://forum.headphones.com/t/questions-comments-about-roon/1208/42) ---
**Author:** ![frkasper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/frkasper/32/9408_2.png) [@frkasper](https://forum.headphones.com/u/frkasper)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/92 "2020-05-25T13:26:58Z")
> [@Questions & Comments about Roon](https://forum.headphones.com/t/questions-comments-about-roon/1208/42): > > APO road I guess I might be wrong but I don’t think one can have both Reference 4 system-wide and EQ APO doing the DSP on Windows. Just out of curiosity though. * * * **EDIT:** PS. Not saying one would be engaging both at the same time. Meant both running concurrently at system level. ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/93 "2020-05-25T14:31:58Z")
You’re not wrong, Ref 4 and APO can’t run system-wide concurrently, at least not in exclusive mode that I know of. In any case I don’t intend to EQ the Elegia with Ref 4 enabled and that for two main reasons: 1) Ref 4 doesn’t support the Elegia and 2) if it did then what would be the point, Elegia’s response would already be neutral, negating the need for EQ. As of now the only EQ available the Elegia is the tailored preset built for it into the Micromega Arche. That $2,500 DAC has different EQ profiles for all five “native” high-end Focals (Elegia, Elear, Clear, Stellia and Utopia). The Elex by Drop can use the Elear’s and the Clear Pro works with the Clear’s. What I’m aiming at is a much cheaper solution for the Elegia since it can’t benefit from Ref 4 or SoundID due to lack of support by Sonarworks. Using Ref 4’s settings for the Elear or the Clear on it doesn’t work I tried that, just for the heck of it: no dice. ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/94 "2020-05-25T16:12:52Z")
> [@MuzeMuff](#): > > As of now the only EQ available the Elegia is the tailored preset built for it into the Micromega Arche. That $2,500 DAC has different EQ profiles for all five “native” high-end Focals (Elegia, [Elear](https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-elear-over-ear-open-back-headphones), Clear, Stellia and [Utopia](https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-utopia-open-back-over-ear-headphones)). Focal’s Arche does not apply EQ, nor does it have “EQ profiles”. The settings for the different headphones simply configure the amplifier mode and its operating points. Changes in FR are extremely small and are attributable the interaction between amplifier mode and the result interaction with impedance-variant FR of the headphone. This was something I measured with several headphones, including the relevant Focal models. ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/95 "2020-05-25T16:19:29Z")
> [@Torq](#): > > The settings for the different headphones simply configure the amplifier mode and its operating points. Is that equivalent to matching impedance/power requirements? That seems like the best solution for powering a headphone. ---
**Author:** ![Torq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/torq/32/16384_2.png) [@Torq](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Torq)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/97 "2020-05-25T16:28:53Z")
Partly. The settings do switch the amplifier from its standard (as in conventional for most amplifiers) “Voltage” drive mode to a hybrid (current/voltage) drive mode … and that will affect the output impedance and other factors … but it’s an indirect effect rather than a _specific_ switch in output impedance. ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/99 "2020-05-25T16:42:51Z")
> [@Torq](#): > > Focal’s Arche does not apply EQ, nor does it have “EQ profiles”. My mistake. I had understood the statement below to mean that the “presets” in question were EQ profiles, as is generally the case in such a context. I let myself be mislead. _Arche also offers presets for every set of Focal audiophile headphones ([Utopia](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/for-home/utopia), [Stellia](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/for-home/stellia), [Clear](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/for-home/clear), [Elegia](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/for-home/elegia), [Elear](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/for-home/elear)) to make sure you get the absolute best from this ultimate combination._ Source: [www.focal.com](https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/stellia-and-arche-two-new-references-in-the-high-fidelity-headphone-collection) I should have investigated this further instead of taking it at apparent face value. Sorry about that. That leaves the Elegia without any custom EQ, so the project goes on. ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/120 "2020-05-25T23:30:03Z")
What was it about already? Something to do with EQ’ing the Elegia… memory getting foggy now 🤫 ---
**Author:** ![DEXCOM7](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/dexcom7/32/15171_2.png) [@DEXCOM7](https://forum.headphones.com/u/DEXCOM7)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/121 "2020-05-25T23:31:12Z")
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Maybe @generic can help us get back in the tracks? I am lost… Mom? ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/122 "2020-05-25T23:47:52Z")
I’m not sure who I’m replying to, but I think the EMU Teak, and Fostex TH610 are pretty good “Sub-$900 Headphones”. They do kind of require a pad swap, but other than that their stock configurations sound good. And there’s a pretty cool mod available if you ever wanted to ‘upgrade’ them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MuzeMuff](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/muzemuff/32/12402_2.png) [@MuzeMuff](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MuzeMuff)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/123 "2020-05-26T01:29:19Z")
> [@ValentineLuke](#): > > ’m not sure who I’m replying to You are replying to @Minjun-Kim, hailing from Beijing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Minjun\_Kim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Minjun\_Kim](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Minjun_Kim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 5:30am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/124 "2020-05-26T05:30:36Z")
Hello! Glad to see you! ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/125 "2020-05-26T05:37:16Z")
Yeah, sorry about that. The thread strayed a little off topic. Did you decide on a headphone? I think I also tagged you on the Elegia sale. ---
**Author:** ![Minjun\_Kim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Minjun\_Kim](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Minjun_Kim)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617/126 "2020-05-26T05:44:01Z")
Yes. I remember I wrote that I would buy a B-stock Atticus, an Elegia or an Ether CX. Well, there are no b-stock Atticuses(?) available, so I am left with the Elegia or the Ether CX. I recently visited the DCA website for some eyecandy, and read that the 15% sale was still ongoing, meaning getting the Æon 2 Closed would cost less than getting an Ether CX with a case from DCA. So I am now wondering if I should get the Elegia and pay $85 for shipping or a A2C and pay $50 shipping. I’ve been going back through the thread, and think the A2C would be a better choice for me, though the Elegia would be a far better value buy. Thanks to everyone for helping me decide! [Previous page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617.md?page=4) [Next page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/sub-900-headphone-recommendations/6617.md?page=6)