I haven't had headphones in my audio system in a while. I used to have a Stax system, but sold it for various reasons. I'm considering getting phones again, but would need an amp as my integrated does not have a headphone output.
Okay, so I'm on a serious budget. Between $200 -300 tops. I tend to like Grado's musical priorities with regard to their cartridges. John Grado is seriously into opera, so he loves to get that midrange down pat. From what I read, I'm not sure I'd like the top end of the more budget cans, being a bit more shrill. I'm thinking perhaps the Alessandro MS-1 or the Grado SR-225i phones. I'm certainly open to others. I see Headroom likes the Sennheiser HD448, but I saw a professional review citing to stay away if boomy bass is not your thing (It isn't).
I listen to most types of music, from vocal to jazz to rock to classical, and I appreciate tonality, nuance, lyricism and pace. I currently have a set of Koss PortaPro Jrs. as a cheap portable, and you know what? They're pretty musical and quite balanced, FAR better than the cheaper ones in the Koss line. On the other hand, I can hear the lack of ultimate resolution. Even the Grado SR60s wipe the floor with them in that area. It's not going to be my main form of listening, but for later at night, I'll use it.
So here's the thing, obviously the more I spend on the phones themselves, the less I can spend on an amp. With the above budget, what's the best way to spend the dough (and I could go used)? I'll go for quality over portability, but I also realize that a portable amp will allow me to get better sound from my portable players too. I see Headroom has their Total Bithead for $99 and I have seen the Minibox D. I have seen ones for less, too. I realize I may not approach the quality of the rest of my system, but I can't afford more now.
Any suggestions?
JB
Okay, so I'm on a serious budget. Between $200 -300 tops. I tend to like Grado's musical priorities with regard to their cartridges. John Grado is seriously into opera, so he loves to get that midrange down pat. From what I read, I'm not sure I'd like the top end of the more budget cans, being a bit more shrill. I'm thinking perhaps the Alessandro MS-1 or the Grado SR-225i phones. I'm certainly open to others. I see Headroom likes the Sennheiser HD448, but I saw a professional review citing to stay away if boomy bass is not your thing (It isn't).
I listen to most types of music, from vocal to jazz to rock to classical, and I appreciate tonality, nuance, lyricism and pace. I currently have a set of Koss PortaPro Jrs. as a cheap portable, and you know what? They're pretty musical and quite balanced, FAR better than the cheaper ones in the Koss line. On the other hand, I can hear the lack of ultimate resolution. Even the Grado SR60s wipe the floor with them in that area. It's not going to be my main form of listening, but for later at night, I'll use it.
So here's the thing, obviously the more I spend on the phones themselves, the less I can spend on an amp. With the above budget, what's the best way to spend the dough (and I could go used)? I'll go for quality over portability, but I also realize that a portable amp will allow me to get better sound from my portable players too. I see Headroom has their Total Bithead for $99 and I have seen the Minibox D. I have seen ones for less, too. I realize I may not approach the quality of the rest of my system, but I can't afford more now.
Any suggestions?
JB
