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New amp or New Headphones?

post #1 of 15
6/11/09 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Hello all. I am new here and new to headphones. My present system consists of:

Teres Audio TT/Graham arm/Titan cartridge
Granite Audio CDP

Manley Steelhead Phono
Audio Research 3 pre
Audio Research VTM 200 mono blocks

Vandersteen 5A speakers

Headroom Max amp (older version)
Senn. 650 headphones

The Headroom Max and 650 headphones were purchased used a few weeks ago to see if I liked headphone listening. Turns out I do. Now, how to improve the experience? I have called around to my favorite audio stores to see if I could have a listen to different amps and headphones and found that Grado is about all any of them carry. So, I have come to the experts, you guys.

My question is, for $1400.00, what would be the bigger improvement. A Woo Audio amp over the Headroom? Or, the new 800 headphones over the 650.



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post #2 of 15
6/12/09 at 1:40am
Go for the headphone change. People here convinced me of the mantra "upgrade headphones before amps," and I have had plenty of cause to celebrate that advice, not regret it. There are simply larger changes to be had by changing headphones than by changing amps.

I'm currently listening to HD800s out of the Woo 6SE, and loving it. Upgrading from the Headroom Micro amp to the Woo 6SE made a tremendous difference to the sound of my HD650s. But the HD800s are extraordinary, a piece of revelatory truly-high-end gear that will impress you, define your headphone system and drive your further upgrade path. The change to the HD800s was much larger than the admittedly large change from the Micro amp to the Woo.

You can get the Woo later. And if you get the HD800s, you probably will. Unlike the forgiving HD650s, the transparent HD800s are the sort of headphone that will send you on a quest to make your whole chain live up to what's on your ears.
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post #3 of 15
6/12/09 at 1:46am
nice turntable.

the HD800 is top notch. worth the purchase. would go that route over new amp.
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post #4 of 15
6/12/09 at 7:09am
Headphones 1st
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post #5 of 15
6/12/09 at 7:19am
headphones....but this is the high-end forum...the answer is you should get both!
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post #6 of 15
6/12/09 at 9:25am
But isn't the Headroom Max pretty top-end even today?
Haven't heard it or the HD800 but if you like the Sennheiser signature, it looks like a logical upgrade to me
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post #7 of 15
6/12/09 at 10:43am
I would go with the Headphone upgrade first. It will allow you to hear the signature of the phones . The HD 800 is a great choice. The next step would be an Amp upgrade. The WOO would ideal, however, you would want to make sure that it would be a good match for the 800.
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post #8 of 15
6/12/09 at 2:33pm
Certainly a new headphone. Do not think you can do much wrong with the HD800, for $1,400..
Welcome to Head-Fi!
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post #9 of 15
6/12/09 at 4:40pm
The Headroom Max is a very good amp. Don't think less of it because it isn't the latest model. There's a lot of out of production gear that sounds great and always will.

Which is why I think you should buy the HD-800 as an upgrade.

Also, I like your system!
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post #10 of 15
6/13/09 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by krmathis View Post
Certainly a new headphone. Do not think you can do much wrong with the HD800, for $1,400..
Welcome to Head-Fi!
No need to tell this guy, "sorry about your wallet"

Audio Research =

NK
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post #11 of 15
6/13/09 at 3:31am
^ Yeah, he obviously know that quality audio components do not come for free..
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post #12 of 15
6/13/09 at 3:46am
To the OP, since you live in So Cal, why not come to IPodPJ's mini-meet being held in Chatsworth on July 11th? That way you can hear a variety of gear in person.
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post #13 of 15
6/13/09 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the replies. It seems everybody agrees, headphones first.

Donald North,
Does OP mean original poster? If so, thanks for the invite. Can you give me more info?
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post #14 of 15
6/13/09 at 3:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by XXII View Post
headphones....but this is the high-end forum...the answer is you should get both!
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post #15 of 15
6/13/09 at 3:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by agaffer View Post
Thank you for the replies. It seems everybody agrees, headphones first.

Donald North,
Does OP mean original poster? If so, thanks for the invite. Can you give me more info?
Yes, OP means original poster. Here's a link to the event:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f24/lo...y-11th-429201/

IPodPJ is organizing it. I'll ask that he contact you with more details.
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