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HD650 + Schiit Asgard + HRT Music Streamer II? Need some advice.

post #1 of 20
11/18/11 at 5:08am
Thread Starter 

Hey,


I'm looking to buy a headphone, an amp and maybe a new DAC over the next year with a budget of $720 (I can stretch this a little to $800).

 

After quite a long research period, I've gone from considering just a WA6+Sofia 274B to buying a D2000+DT990 and now a HD650+Schiit Asgard+HRT Music Streamer II. Is this setup alright for my budget? Can anyone give me advice?

 

My music tastes are based mainly around EDM and rock but I already have a Pro900 for EDM so I'd like an all rounder pair of cans. While I have been wanting to get a very clear, detailed and trebly pair of cans (don't want Grado >_>), I'm willing to forgo this for the benefits for the HD650 (smooth, relaxed, rich, etc. from reviews I've read). Should I stick to what I know and go for a different HP (eg. D2000) or should I dive into the Sennheisers? I've listened to a well setup HD600 (not HD650!) before and I actually liked it quite a lot, listening to classical music for an hour. I don't know how the HD650 will fare for my music tastes though.

 

Now as much as I would have loved to have just gone for the WA6, I decided I'd rather not blow my budget on one (very well respected) amp. After reading around on Head-Fi, it appears that a good budget (<$300) amp to go with the HD650 would be a Schiit Asgard. Is this a good choice for an amp and are there better amps at a similar price that go well with a HD650?

 

For the DAC, I currently own a small ~$80 DAC for semi-portable use and I have access to my Dad's Stello DA100 at home. I would like a decent DAC of my own for home use as I can't always be borrowing my Dad's gear. I haven't researched DAC's quite as extensively so I'm at quite a loss to choose a DAC but I've heard the HRT Music Streamer II been mentioned by a few members here. At $150 it seems reasonable. Any better choices? (Sorry for asking so many times, even I'm sick of typing this phrase)

 

Wow, I sound like a rambling mess. I hope you can forgive my noobishness, I'm still relatively new here and my experience is quite limited. Thanks for reading.


Edited by rezel - 11/18/11 at 5:21am
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post #2 of 20
11/18/11 at 5:44am

Heya,

 

Get a HE-300, perhaps.

 

Very best,

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post #3 of 20
11/18/11 at 5:57am

 

Get the HD600, it's the more neutral can. Can get them for $399AUD

inclusive of freight.

 

That leaves you with $400 for DAC and amp.

 

HRT Streamer + Fiio E9 ($134)

 

Done.

 

 

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post #4 of 20
11/18/11 at 6:34am
Thread Starter 

^ Ah I use Shipito for freight from the US. So my combined cost for freight is ~$50 for all my items combined into one package.

 

I'm not too sure if neutral is entirely what I want right now. The emphasis on the bass described on reviews of the HD650 appealed to me a bit more than the sound I remember of the HD600. I don't think I appreciate neutrality yet... >_>

I'll have another look at the HD600 though.

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post #5 of 20
11/18/11 at 6:35am

I'm a big fan of the 650's, but they are not neutral. They are however, smooth, slightly warm, and engaging. While engaging is hardly a quantifiable term, the 650's do kind of pull you in to the music, are just the opposite of fatiguing, and coupled with the right amp, sound great. I used to like neutral and accurate, or at least I thought I did. It is very easy to get caught up in the gear, and a lot of fun as well. But at the end of the day, it's all about the music and how much enjoyment different gear combo's bring to the table. That being the case, I'll take my 650's every day! Good luck, have fun, and sorry about your wallet....

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post #6 of 20
11/18/11 at 6:50am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MalVeauX View Post

Get a HE-300, perhaps.


Haven't taken the time to research these yet but what do Hifiman's HE-300 more or less sound like?

 

*Starts reading some reviews*

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post #7 of 20
11/18/11 at 7:23am

What will your source be? If you have a decent sound card or CD player, I'd say skip the DAC and just get the Senn HD650 + Asgard (or possibly a Vahalla with the extra from the DAC).

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post #8 of 20
11/18/11 at 7:33am
Thread Starter 

I use a Macbook primarily so it has to be a DAC. I can use decent CD player but like my Dad's Stello DA100 DAC, I can't be borrowing it all the time.

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post #9 of 20
11/18/11 at 7:37am

I think the source is very important and makes a huge difference to sound on my HD650s. Running straight off my mac to amp sound very average tbh. Also check out the Matrix M-stage for SS amp for around $250. That would leave you with around $200 for a DAC - a second hand Cambridge Audio DACMagic could be purchased for just a bit more I think. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaSquirt View Post

What will your source be? If you have a decent sound card or CD player, I'd say skip the DAC and just get the Senn HD650 + Asgard (or possibly a Vahalla with the extra from the DAC).



 

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post #10 of 20
11/18/11 at 9:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rezel View Post

I use a Macbook primarily so it has to be a DAC. I can use decent CD player but like my Dad's Stello DA100 DAC, I can't be borrowing it all the time.

If you can't have a consistently good source, yeah, I guess a DAC has to be in the picture. Check out the Maverick Audio D1, it's a DAC/amp combo but you can use it as a standalone DAC as well. Also may the ZERO DAC/amp.
 

 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigabouli View Post

I think the source is very important and makes a huge difference to sound on my HD650s. Running straight off my mac to amp sound very average tbh. Also check out the Matrix M-stage for SS amp for around $250. That would leave you with around $200 for a DAC - a second hand Cambridge Audio DACMagic could be purchased for just a bit more I think. 

I agree with you, I was just thinking if he had a higher end sound card that included a good DAC on it, it would've been a good solution.
 

 

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post #11 of 20
11/18/11 at 10:45am


Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigabouli View Post

I think the source is very important and makes a huge difference to sound on my HD650s. Running straight off my mac to amp sound very average tbh. Also check out the Matrix M-stage for SS amp for around $250. That would leave you with around $200 for a DAC - a second hand Cambridge Audio DACMagic could be purchased for just a bit more I think. 

 



 


X2. At 250 ohms, the 650's need a good source. The great thing is they get better as your source gets better. When I eventually get into desktop gear, I'm sure the 650's will be great for that as well.
 

 

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post #12 of 20
11/18/11 at 10:49am

For what it's worth I think you made the right choices. MS + Asgard + HD650 would exactly be the combo I would choose if I had your budget. HD650s are very musical and stand up well against higher end cans. HD650s are my favorite cans under $500. I think you would be happy with them.

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post #13 of 20
11/18/11 at 10:59am

Agreed. Had this exact setup, and it had great synergy. Add a good Vaunix USB power brick to get the most out of the MS. Of course, it costs more than the MS itself :-)
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by M-13 View Post

For what it's worth I think you made the right choices. MS + Asgard + HD650 would exactly be the combo I would choose if I had your budget. HD650s are very musical and stand up well against higher end cans. HD650s are my favorite cans under $500. I think you would be happy with them.



 

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post #14 of 20
11/18/11 at 12:52pm

That's good to know..I had this idea that the HRT Music Streamer II would be too warm for the HD-650 and ruin the sound.

It seems that it's a perfect match for my Q701. HRT Music Streamer II is the best $150 I ever spent on an upgrade. I wish I did buy a DAC with an optical connection though.

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post #15 of 20
11/18/11 at 1:12pm

You could go the route of second hand and pick up a Benchmark DAC1 non-usb for $500-$550, and scout about for second hand deals on HD650s.

 

The DAC1 includes a headphone amp built into the headphone outputs, and has XLR and RCA outputs. This shouldn't be a problem assuming your macbook has optical out.

If not, a non-usb unit would stretch your budget too far I think.

 

I only recommend the setup because it is what I use, and I quite like it.

Though I tend to favour my K701s with my DAC1, which generally isn't a popular matching choice.

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