Next best heaphones to HD 800 using a NuForce icon HDP
Sep 25, 2011 at 9:59 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 6

Tassie Devil

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My (classical) music loving friend is hard to move on spending his hard earned $.  He has a very nice Rotel CDP which I've listened to using a Benchmark DAC1 & HD 800 headphones so can verify it is good quality audio coming out.
 
However he baulks at spending too much but I think I've persuaded him to replace his old DAC with a NuForce icon HDP.  First hurdle over.  But I doubt I can talk him into HD 800's and they would most likely be overkill coupled to a HDP anyway.
 
So the question is which less expensive headphones would you recommend he buy?
 
TIA
 
John
 
Sep 25, 2011 at 11:20 PM Post #2 of 6
LCD-2
 
HE-500
 
HD 650
 
DT-880 600ohm
 
Grado RS-1
 
Denon D7000
 
Audio Technica W1000x
 
All of those are splendid and each headphone has it's share of rabid fans who will go down defending 'em!
 
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:01 AM Post #3 of 6


Quote:
LCD-2
 
HE-500
 
HD 650
 
DT-880 600ohm
 
Grado RS-1
 
Denon D7000
 
Audio Technica W1000x
 
All of those are splendid and each headphone has it's share of rabid fans who will go down defending 'em!




Thanks Chris.  Would you have a personal favourite, particularly for classical music? Note my friend is in his 70's and his hearing is not as pristine as once so the upper range past 8K is unimportant.
 
John
 
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:16 AM Post #4 of 6


Quote:
Thanks Chris.  Would you have a personal favourite, particularly for classical music? Note my friend is in his 70's and his hearing is not as pristine as once so the upper range past 8K is unimportant.
 
John


 
Grado, for sure... but the problem is the HDP is overkill as an amp (the source part is good though).
 
 
They have bright treble and warmer mids (slightly more lush than what is considered neutral) which are great for our older generations because the more prominent treble makes more detail come forward than something with recessed highs, like say an HD650 which is great and all. The HD800 in theory should be more of the same since it's more of an analytical headphone from what I've extensively read compared to the other ultra-mega-flagships (I haven't heard them before however)
 
Then again, my absolute budget on headphones are like $400, I've rarely been given opportunities to hear much over that, but I liked the LCD-2, but they're rather heavy when youre used to plastic, wood, and aluminum headphones from Grado lol... very beautiful headphone though, the pictures make it look tacky, but it's very tasteful in person...
 
 
 
 
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:42 AM Post #5 of 6
+1 vote for the AT W1000X - Cheaper than the LCD-2 by a good margin, bass-less in comparison to the LCD-2
but excellent for classical treble, occasionally sings a harsh note here and there in that very syrupy AT manner
but it will probably be hardly a problem with a 70year old pair of ears
smily_headphones1.gif

 
If he's happy to make the trip over to Melbourne for the day then George at addictedtoaudio.com.au
will gladly help him with an audition with any of those headphones bar the Grado range. He drives
a good price too.
 
(The prices on the site are often out-dated ring for the latest day to day import price)
 
 
 
Sep 26, 2011 at 12:30 PM Post #6 of 6

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