Go to 32 Ohm and try the Audeze LCD-2. Then after that, see if anything else seems interesting at all.
 
An LCD-2 plus a basic $250 dac/amp is likely to spank any mid-fi headphone regardless of the megabuck setup it's connected to. And it can only get better as you later upgrade the components and cables.

Thanks everyone for the help.  Thought I'd toss out a quick update for any others in similar shoes.  I was able to stop by 32 ohm for a (slightly rushed) visit, and came away most pleased with the HD600s among the 702s, some mid-range Denons, and some Grados.  Hard to put why I liked the sound the best in words, it just sounded the best!  I listened to the phones mostly on a Woo6, and thought it sounded great, but after reading through the comments here, agree that I'd rather invest a smaller amount in the headphone portion of my setup and look into investing into the MMGs once I've got less privacy concerns regarding noise.
 
For the time being, I'm looking at HD600, Gilmore Lite, and ? for the source.  A number of recommendations above said I could find a solid <$50 source, but in hooking up the DAC to my PC, I haven't found anything for <$200 that didn't seem of dubious quality over on the head-fi for sale boards.  The HeadAmp pico base model seems like the closest match.  Any thoughts?  Better to just go straight to a DAC/amp combo?

One other note- 95% of my listening will be done connected to my desktop, with the other 5% being from when I feel up for moving my setup and plugging into my ipod.  Do I need to invest in a better soundcard than the integrated mobo soundcard?  Or is using a USB connected DAC sufficient?  The ipod is really a secondary concern, just want to be able to listen comfortably by my computre setup.
 
Thanks again.

Instead of trying to do it all at once, get one peice right one at a time.
Start somewhere.
Get a mid fi setup and save some money if u can. It will come in handy when u find urself afflicted with upgraditis pretty soon.
See how u like a set phones and then go from there.
Save the boxes/papers etc. U can sell most stuff without a big loss if u took good care of your gear, to move up the chain.
Get a decent amp - then go from there.
Dont try to get speakers as well as a headphone setup all at once. You will likely end up with a mess on your hands.
 
One component at a time...
 
#End of sermon
 

Wise advice.  At this point I'm set on the Gilmore + HD600, so the biggest question is what's a good short term solution for hooking up my pc soundcard to the gilmore while I look for a DAC?

I love Blockhead. Music By Cavelight is easily my favorite album. I adore Sunday Seance, it brings such joy to my soul. Hello Popartz gets me going too. The whole album is phenomenal.

Get a uDAC. Should set you back about 70 if you get it used. This should be a sufficient / quality dac that you can get for a low price.

/nod  I also love Insomnia Olympics.  Any recommendations for artists with a similar sound/style?
 
Quote:

dub beatz said:

I love Blockhead. Music By Cavelight is easily my favorite album. I adore Sunday Seance, it brings such joy to my soul. Hello Popartz gets me going too. The whole album is phenomenal.

Click to expand...

@epocs  Thanks for the rec for uDAC, it's a name I see coming up here a lot on these boards as a solid baseline reference, I'll check it out.


Quote:

epocs said:

Get a uDAC. Should set you back about 70 if you get it used. This should be a sufficient / quality dac that you can get for a low price.

Click to expand...

I wish my man. I have yet to find an artist with a similar sound style to Blockhead. If you have anything, let me know please! Lol.

 
edit: Actually now that I think about it, El-P has a similar style. Check some of his stuff out. Albums to look for... Collecting The Kid, Fantastic Damage.
 
edit 2: Look up the song, "Sunrise Over Bklyn" by El-P, it has a slow beginning, but you may find the style similar to that of Blockhead's.

Quote:

andrew h said:

Go to 32 Ohm and try the Audeze LCD-2. Then after that, see if anything else seems interesting at all.
 
An LCD-2 plus a basic $250 dac/amp is likely to spank any mid-fi headphone regardless of the megabuck setup it's connected to. And it can only get better as you later upgrade the components and cables.

Click to expand...

Agree. Owning other units from Audio-GD I bet the NFB-12 now at 200$ promo with LCD-2 will sound more satisfying than mid amp and mid cans. And with this setup one don't need to upgrade the HP in the near future as the LCD-2 scales wonderful with better equipment.

I just bought myself a set of LCD-2, and i was thinking of what Andrew H suggested. I feel that headphones upgrade is the most prominent in the whole chain, and i have a pretty tight budget. thats why i decided to get the LCD-2 and drive it with a hopefully mid fi dac/amp. currently using the Audinst. Previously i had HD-650 and Denon D7k, and have much time with Darkvoice 337 and had some experience with Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear. Honestly, i didnt sound much difference for both the headphones with darkvoice, BCL, and even the headamp out of the Audinst.
 
However, i got to try out LCD-2 with a set of Leben and it was pretty impressive, so i decided to get the set of cans. Now, using LCD-2, i tried to compare between using Darkvoice 337 and Audinst Headamp out and distinctly hears quite a big difference. I used to think that audinst was a very good set, judging from the fact that i couldn't hear much difference between it and the other dedicated amps. but now that there is a difference, i would like to ask for any recommendations for any dac or amp upgrade.
 
i know im rambling alot.. i spent quite a bomb on the set of cans and have a little tight budget for the dac/amp. thanks in advance.