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Upgradeitis but want to prevent sidegrade!

post #1 of 17
12/5/11 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 

I've had my setup for 3 years now.  It has served me well and I still enjoy it quite a bit.  It has however become quite familiar, and as such a little boring.  I don't do active listening very often where I just crank it up and enjoy.  When I do this I can still appreciate the quality, but am starting to yearn for something a little different.  With passive listening I'm very accustomed to the sound.

 

My biggest issue is I am afraid of not liking, or not finding value in what I buy.  I am terrified to sell my hd-650s because I really like them, but ever since I moved up to this level of equipment I have been really interested to try other cans.

 

This started when I found the Bottlehead Crack amp.  It looks like a fun project, but I am not sure how quantifiable the gains would be over my current setup.  I am open to modest DIY projects like the Crack or maybe making some headphone cables.

 

Where should I be looking to make changes?

 

Headphone change

Headphone mod - wiring?

Amp Change

DAC change

Other?

 

I am not looking to spend much beyond what I could re-coup out of selling any one piece.  I cannot afford to have multiple components.  Its one or the other unfortunately.  I would say max out of pocket being $150 with some quantifiable benefits with a newness factor.

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post #2 of 17
12/5/11 at 7:52pm

Given your very understandable fears, I suggest NOT selling anything in order to buy something new unless you have significant time to audition the new thing along with the rest of your equipment so that you are positive you prefer it.  

  

Wait longer and save longer. Don't take such a big risk! You clearly love your setup very dearly, why put it in harms way by selling pieces of it in order to get new things? Just wait, wait until you can get the new things without needing to sell!

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post #3 of 17
12/5/11 at 7:52pm

Heya,

 

I would say keep your HD650 if you really like it. It's a good headphone, if that's what you like. You could get a lot more from it simply by putting it on a much more powerful amplifier (it scales nicely). Maybe a powerful tube. Lyr?

 

Very best,

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post #4 of 17
12/5/11 at 9:25pm
Thread Starter 

 

You guys make good points.  I feel like if I did buy a new pair of headphones I wouldn't be able to sell one if I liked both.  I am definitely able to buy something and audition it for a while before selling another component.  I just can't justify keeping more than 1 major component around.  Too many hobbies and this one falls a bit further down the list :)

 

Looking at my setup, does anyone see something that is holding me back so to speak?  I haven't heard anything better than my setup to know what could possibly improve from here.

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post #5 of 17
12/5/11 at 9:45pm

Go give LCD-2 or LCD-3 a try. Try before you buy though.

 

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post #6 of 17
12/5/11 at 10:43pm

Many will be shocked to read this but given your familiarity with the HD650 and "really liking" it, I'd suggest you NOT consider the LCD-2. Sure it's technical capabilities over the HD650 is indisputable but I would not be surprised if you found it an expensive sidegrade given what you've stated in the OP.

 

Keep the HD650, save a little more, then explore the other mid-tier kings. Audition where possible is generic but sound advice.


Edited by olor1n - 12/5/11 at 10:44pm
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post #7 of 17
12/5/11 at 11:53pm

The HD-650 is sensitive to amplification.  I'd keep it and buy a different amp.  You'll get a different sound.

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post #8 of 17
12/6/11 at 12:12am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

The HD-650 is sensitive to amplification.  I'd keep it and buy a different amp.  You'll get a different sound.



That was one of my original selling points with them...room to grow in the future.  Maybe its time :)  At what point will the DAC become a limitation and how will I know?

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post #9 of 17
12/6/11 at 12:21am

Well, DACs are contentious.  I don't find much difference between them.  As long as you're not getting dropouts and obvious noise (like hash or static) the  you're not going to get much, if any, improvement from spending more.  We should be thankful that digital is cheap and good today.

 

So I'd keep the DAC and start looking into different amps.

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post #10 of 17
12/6/11 at 12:30am


I agree here. Something like the HD650 really needs amplification to avoid clipping peaks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Well, DACs are contentious.  I don't find much difference between them.  As long as you're not getting dropouts and obvious noise (like hash or static) the  you're not going to get much, if any, improvement from spending more.  We should be thankful that digital is cheap and good today.

 

So I'd keep the DAC and start looking into different amps.



 

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post #11 of 17
12/6/11 at 12:33am

Don't bother with headphone cables. As for amplifiers: what exactly are you looking for from your headphones that you feel a different amplifier would be likely to provide? If you want to experiment with a cheap SS amp, the Fiio E9 will drive the HD650s with very little distortion and plenty of headroom. Please note that the HD650 really isn't that hard to drive if you look at the sensitivity rating.

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post #12 of 17
12/6/11 at 1:14am

try the schiit asgard! its pairs extremely well with the hd650s, and its at an extremely reasonable price of 249 new:)

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post #13 of 17
12/6/11 at 1:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willakan View Post

Don't bother with headphone cables. As for amplifiers: what exactly are you looking for from your headphones that you feel a different amplifier would be likely to provide? If you want to experiment with a cheap SS amp, the Fiio E9 will drive the HD650s with very little distortion and plenty of headroom. Please note that the HD650 really isn't that hard to drive if you look at the sensitivity rating.



Fiio E9 with the HD650 - no distortion, no grain, plenty of volume and no dynamics and very little detail.

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post #14 of 17
12/6/11 at 7:10am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by SanjiWatsuki View Post

I agree here. Something like the HD650 really needs amplification to avoid clipping peaks.


 

The starving student the OP already has will drive HD650 to absurd levels, in the 120db range if not more. The rec for switching the amp was simply to find a different sound there. 

 

I'd lean towards OTL tubes for the HD650, but there are tons of ways to go here.

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post #15 of 17
12/6/11 at 10:05am
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by nikongod View Post

 


 

The starving student the OP already has will drive HD650 to absurd levels, in the 120db range if not more. The rec for switching the amp was simply to find a different sound there. 

 

I'd lean towards OTL tubes for the HD650, but there are tons of ways to go here.



Well I like that suggestion since I'm likely to build a Bottlehead crack if I do get a new amp.  I figure if I don't like it I can always sell it for a slight profit if I don't mangle the build ;)

 

I'd say one thing I'd love to get out of a new amp is more detail at a lower volume.  When I really crank it up, and yes it does get louder than listenable, its like dunking my head in an ocean of sound.  The sound tends to get bigger and more immersive when I turn the volume up on the hd-650's, not just louder.  It can truly be a sublime experience, but I have to turn it up to the point that I can't possibly focus on anything else at the same time.  My headphones play through my computer and at the very least I'm usually studying, doing emails, or browsing forums while listening.

 

I don't know if that experience is obtainable at a lower listening volume, however that is what my general understanding of a good headphone amp does.  Maybe I should just make more time to enjoy music while doing nothing else.

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