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Actually, doesn't make sense. I think you have that backwards. If I'm getting the jist of what you are saying you mean the HD600's put you to sleep and the RS-1 would prohibit sleeping because they are so darn exciting and fun, right? Then in this case he would be the insomniac.

Get it right if you want to make me look like an arse.

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I'm afraid I don't know. But I will be hitting the streets fairly soon to do some headphone research and will post the prices I come up with. There are very few bargains to be had here. You may know, for example, that Japanese autos are cheaper in the U.S. than here in Japan due to the huge mark ups [and lack of discounting] for the Japanese market.

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I'm new here. Do I call a Gort in to stop all this bickering on my thread? Oops! Wrong site terminology .

all right, all apoligies to team hd-600. they are wonderful headphones, i use them myself.

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An insomniac is someone who can't fall asleep very easily, so they would want the HD600 in order to put them to sleep easier. Grados would then be an imsomniac's worst nightmare.

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Ah, yes, it's so clear now. From that perspective that would be an imsomniac's worst nightmare!!

Anyway...sorry for the sidetrack here. I guess I would recommend you give the HD600 a try, you never know, or the forthcoming HD650. Also, you might consider the Beyerdynamic DT880 or the Sony CD3000's. Those seem to be obvious choices.

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I believe your avatar does a fine job of that

Hi rontokyo, welcome to the site. I found R-10's in Yodobashi Camera in Sapporo (they should have a tokyo branch though) for 288,000 yen: http://www.yodobashi.com/enjoy/more/i/170542.html
2655 dollars, but I remeber them being cheaper. Keep in mind that there are three things cheaper in Japan than in the U.S.: Sony R10's, Stax products, and good soba.
If you are in Tokyo proper, make sure you go to Akihabara. There is an INSANE hi-fi store there. It's called "Dynamic Audio 5555" It's in katakana. It has 5 levels of equipt. that gets more and more expensive as you get higher in the store. The stax stuff is on level 1. The top floor was salarymen sitting in huge leather chairs in front of several hundred thousand dollars worth of hi-fi junk. It's on Myoujin dori near the corner of Shouheibashi dori.
As for headphones though, I suggest HP-1000s if you can find some...(they may not be as prized in Japan as they are here, so you may be able to find them cheaply used. As you may now, used electronics in Japan are usually not that popular, so you can find great prices for them. Otherwise, the AKG-K1000s are the best headphones I have heard. Put them with a good amp (I imagine the Cary would work), and they cannot be beat. There were some on sale for 295 dollars at jeffssoundvalues.com the other day, they may still be there.

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LOL!!!

Rontokyo,

I too have the SLI-80 amplifier. The HD600 is nice. The W2002 is OK, but not a significant step forword with this amplifier. However, the Grado HP-1 is an excellent combination with the Cary. Something synergistic with this pairing. They can be had at your budget level at least in the US.

Good luck.

There is nothing better. The RS-1 is IT!

Take up photography or something if you have to too much time and money. Or go to med school ha ha.

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Sounds like you know your way around Tokyo. I became *intimately* familiar with Akihabara a few years ago when I decided to build my own computer--spent three days alone researching the CPU fan. I'll check out the Dynamic Audio shop when I'm next in the area. Do the AKG-1000s require a dedicated amp or is there a phono plug adapter available? The used AKGs are quite old--might be safer going with new ones. But I'm *very* anxious to audition them.

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Difficult question, but what does the HP-1 provide that the Cary headphone out doesn't? I've been hoping that the Cary would suffice my headphone amp needs.

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Sadly, neither too much time nor money applies here . Call it an "itch," if you will. Though "sickness" is probably more apt!

The r10s should be around 2k In Japan.

If youre looking for something BETTER, rather than just different, you might be pressed to try the stax or r10s.

I feel msp's are superior to rs-1s, but they are very close to rs-1s as they ARE moded rs-1s!

The new senns with aftermarket cable might be interesting too.

Senns have a wonderful synergy with the cary amps(it did with my 300sei any way). It really made them sound different. Lively yet still sweet. Full sounding with grado like bass.

k.s.