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It's too difficult to know what you want

post #1 of 18
6/26/09 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone,

I'm kinda new to the whole Hi-Fi headphone scene. And let me tell you that All I've listened to is great speaker setups, the earbuds that come with an ipod, unamp'd senn 600's and amp'd senn 650's(which sounded a fair bit better than my more expensive speaker setup).

So I've decided that I wanted to get myself a set of high(er) end headphones I have about 400-600$ CAD to work with to get myself a setup. Problem number 1 is that headphones are ridiculously overpriced in Canada..... lots of research later into prices and websites and all that. Head-Fi For Sale section would seem to be my best bet. Which gives rise to yet another problem, so many people are obviously prefer selling to the lower 48 (no blame, it just sucks) but I'm sure given some time i'll find someone with what I want to send it to canada.

The next big problem for me, is that well I've listened to so few headphones, just ipod earbuds, 600's and 650s which gives me a limited perspective on the matter and there isn't any places that stock high end headphones to go demo. So I have a bit of a dilemma in that I am quite happy with the performance of the 600/650s considering the price (especially when you put them up against a speaker setup haha) but I haven't heard any other headphones in that range. Which makes me think that I could be missing out on something else, but after looking around for awhile I am happy with what others have been saying about the 650s and am comfortable jumping in semi-blind.

So I'm fairly settled on getting a pair of used senn 650's which would seem to be around the 300-400 mark but the rest of my money seems to be at a loss. I do listen to the bulk of my music off of my computer, a smaller portion off of an ipod 80/20 split. A Ipod LOD would seem to be a good idea. But as to an amplifier/dac or cables? I am truly at a loss. I am especially at a loss on purchasing cables. I mean in the speaker world you buy a gauge of wire that is appropriate to resistance of the speakers and length of the cable run. The amplifier/dac and/or cable section is what I am looking for help with. I guess if someone could suggest a setup for 200 or so CAD that is used or just general information in particular on investing in different cables besides the stock ones would be nice, aswell as if I should go portable for that 20% or get a desktop one and suck it up during that 20% (is there better SQ generally speaking out of a desktop amp?).

Thanks for all of the advice and recomendations in advance, I appreciate it.

-Andrew Smith

(P.S I think I did in fact just post this in the incorrect section as my main inquiry was about headphone amplification so if this needs to be moved please do so thanks.)
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post #2 of 18
6/26/09 at 1:02pm
Right, better to post in the amp forum. I've owned the HD650 with inadequate amplification, and I don't recommend it.
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post #3 of 18
6/26/09 at 1:11pm
There's a lot of sweet deals to be scored around the For Sale forum this time around, very sweet deals. There's a deal on a Stax Lambda System for $300 USD which is almost criminal.

I'd say don't worry about your cables, not at this point. Your source and amplification are far more important. Are you always going to run your cans from a portable? If so, I don't know if the higher-end Senns are a good choice for you..
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post #4 of 18
6/26/09 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by taso89 View Post
There's a lot of sweet deals to be scored around the For Sale forum this time around, very sweet deals. There's a deal on a Stax Lambda System for $300 USD which is almost criminal.

I'd say don't worry about your cables, not at this point. Your source and amplification are far more important. Are you always going to run your cans from a portable? If so, I don't know if the higher-end Senns are a good choice for you..
Yes well whatever amplifier I choose be it desktop or portable would be the only amplifier I would have for a good amount of time. So do I just use them un-amped off my ipod for the 20% and get a desktop amp for the 80%? Or do I get a portable amp and use it all the time, 80% of which sitting at home and 20% off and ipod. Any advice on this?

Again sorry about posting this in the wrong section
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post #5 of 18
6/26/09 at 2:26pm
You will be way better off buying a desktop amp.
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post #6 of 18
6/26/09 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Time View Post
You will be way better off buying a desktop amp.
Now, after reading a bit in the Amplifier section specifically http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/man...-jacks-338299/ it would seem that my ht receiver has at least a possibility of being a good amplifier for the 650s it is a pioneer vsx-1016txv so perhaps that is something to consider
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post #7 of 18
6/26/09 at 4:45pm
buy a desktop amp and then some KSC75s for your portable use. That's my advice for creating a portable and home rig. You don't want to fool with lugging around a portable amp for casual portable listening and you certainly don't want to use a portable amp as a desktop when 80% of your listening is at home.

The only real reason to buy a portable amp is if you do a good majority of your listening sitting down, but outside or in a myriad of different rooms.
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post #8 of 18
6/26/09 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
After reading all 13 pages of that, very difficult at times to understand thread, I think for now at least I am going to just get the 650s, and test them out with a/v receiver and see how they do. If its great ill probably get a portable for out and about, if it is awful desktop it is.
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post #9 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjrabon View Post
buy a desktop amp and then some KSC75s for your portable use. That's my advice for creating a portable and home rig. You don't want to fool with lugging around a portable amp for casual portable listening and you certainly don't want to use a portable amp as a desktop when 80% of your listening is at home.

The only real reason to buy a portable amp is if you do a good majority of your listening sitting down, but outside or in a myriad of different rooms.
Yes, seems like solid advice to split it up. I think I am going to hold off spending the extra 200$ until after I get the 650s, because I have a decent a/v receiver that I can try out as a desktop amp, and if its awful, I will probably put that 200ish into a desktop amp and buy some those KSC75s as you suggested. However if the a/v receiver is great then I can perhaps put that money into a lod for the ipod and some great mobile phones and have 2 setups, which would be great
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post #10 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:05pm
Hello Blacktemplar, buy these...

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/f-...-t-amp-430162/

If the seller is prepared to send them to Canada that is?

I would buy these in a moment if they were in the UK!!

Anyone in south UK willing to sell a Stax Electrostatic set up please?

Cash awaits, PM please, serious genuine request!!!
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post #11 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:13pm
It's free to try. If you don't think it works, you can always look into a desktop. All portables are opamp driven and won't have enough power to drive the 650s fully. It may be satisfactory for some but until you hear it on an amp with more than enough power, you won't be able to tell what they can do.

I've tried my HT pre/processor with limited results. Budget amps may look tempting but the parts used are compromised to meet that price. When you're ready, folks here can guide you through the decision making process. #1 recommendation would be to find a meet (local meet forum) to take your hps to for an audition. You can decide your flavor (tubes or solid state) and price range.

The key to this hobby is accepting what you choose and not romance the thought that the other headphones are offer something yours don't. In the price range you've chosen, you can find a different flavor but you won't find something clearly better. Senns have a bit of a veiled sound unless you change cables and/or give them enough power to really move them. If you like the Senn sound, the 580s are a good value at under $150. You gain a bit more extension on both ends but unless you have the gear to appreciate it, paying twice as much will have limited return.

For portable use, you would be better served with a more portable hp. Something low impedance that the pdp can drive easily. That way you don't have something you seldom use because of the extra baggage. You'll use your portable more when it's convenient.

This is just an opinion so keep on reading and welcome to the obsession we call head fi.
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post #12 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:16pm
The fact that you've listened to 600's and 650's is a great thing. They are very popular cans and can give you a baseline to build on. Read some comparison threads.

There are tons of them out there. Search for one like ""hd600, dt880, k701 reviewed". If your thoughts on the hd600 are the same then you can get a good idea of what to expect from the other cans in the review.
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post #13 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:26pm
SR-Lambda + adaptor combo that's in excellent condition has always been going for around $300. So that deal isn't especially sweet. However, for $300, that combo is a very good bang for your buck.

But without knowing what music the OP listens to, I'm hesitant to recommend it.

So what music do you listen to OP?
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post #14 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blacktemplar View Post
Yes, seems like solid advice to split it up. I think I am going to hold off spending the extra 200$ until after I get the 650s, because I have a decent a/v receiver that I can try out as a desktop amp, and if its awful, I will probably put that 200ish into a desktop amp and buy some those KSC75s as you suggested. However if the a/v receiver is great then I can perhaps put that money into a lod for the ipod and some great mobile phones and have 2 setups, which would be great
I'm assuming you're talking about running your computer's audio out into your receiver. I think you'd be better off getting a DAC to get off your computer's built-in soundcard Than dropping that much on an iPod setup. This is coming from someone who owns a LOD and portable amp and doesn't use either of them, ever.
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post #15 of 18
6/26/09 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post
It's free to try. If you don't think it works, you can always look into a desktop. All portables are opamp driven and won't have enough power to drive the 650s fully. It may be satisfactory for some but until you hear it on an amp with more than enough power, you won't be able to tell what they can do.

I've tried my HT pre/processor with limited results. Budget amps may look tempting but the parts used are compromised to meet that price. When you're ready, folks here can guide you through the decision making process. #1 recommendation would be to find a meet (local meet forum) to take your hps to for an audition. You can decide your flavor (tubes or solid state) and price range.

The key to this hobby is accepting what you choose and not romance the thought that the other headphones are offer something yours don't. In the price range you've chosen, you can find a different flavor but you won't find something clearly better. Senns have a bit of a veiled sound unless you change cables and/or give them enough power to really move them. If you like the Senn sound, the 580s are a good value at under $150. You gain a bit more extension on both ends but unless you have the gear to appreciate it, paying twice as much will have limited return.

For portable use, you would be better served with a more portable hp. Something low impedance that the pdp can drive easily. That way you don't have something you seldom use because of the extra baggage. You'll use your portable more when it's convenient.

This is just an opinion so keep on reading and welcome to the obsession we call head fi.
Oh my lord the is so much to read. obviously I should try out my A/V receiver well, cause its free first to see if i'm happy with it, but say I'm not, what would you(or others) suggest to go for in regards to the amplifier that would get to a point of diminishing returns on my money, you know the sweet spot.

I do think getting separate rigs for home and portable seems like a good idea, the old jack of all trades (just 2 in this case) but master of none. How much money get put into the portable depends on the ability of A/V receiver though, and my happiness with it.

I'm not sure if there is any meets in Halifax, NS but that definitely would be ideal to try things out though.
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