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Advice on upgrades

post #1 of 8
12/23/11 at 10:24am
Thread Starter 

Greetings, friends. I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season, whatever that may mean for you.

 

Here is my dilemma: it is time for me to start upgrading my components. I intend on spending between $500-$1000 USD. What to do? (That's where you come in.) I am looking for any informed advice as to what to do to improve my overall listening experience. Right now, I have:

 

Senn HD650

AKG K271 Mk II

AKG Q460

Senn PMX680i

 

FiiO E7

FiiO E9

 

I am most concerned with the HD650s... obviously. (The 271s are at work and should be fine with the E7/E9. The 460s are used only for travel and the 680s only for jogging.)

 

I listen to a huge range of music, from classical to jazz to hardcore to house, etc.

 

I am open to any suggestions from hardware to software.

 

Thank you in advance for your input!

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post #2 of 8
12/25/11 at 4:59am

If you're concerned with the HD650s, I'd start from getting a decent amp.

 

Your first step might be selling your FiiOs and get a new amp set (perhaps Schiit Asgard, works great on low to medium impedance cans imo)

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post #3 of 8
12/27/11 at 4:42am
Thread Starter 

Thanks, Texpect! I keep debating between new amp new DAC. The Schiit certainly seems like good value.

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post #4 of 8
12/29/11 at 4:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenaesthetic View Post

Thanks, Texpect! I keep debating between new amp new DAC. The Schiit certainly seems like good value.


Absolutely it is. I think you can't go wrong with it. And if you're not happy with it, you can send it back, 'cause they have this extremely awesome 15 days returning possibility.

 

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post #5 of 8
12/29/11 at 4:40pm

A good budget DAC is the HRT Music Streamer II.  It's an asynchronous USB DAC and sounds great, especially for $150.

 

I personally would devote most of my budget towards a good pair of headphones.  You can upgrade other components down the road but it'd be a pain to have to sell and buy new headphones.

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post #6 of 8
12/29/11 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks, Saintly. The HRT looks pretty good, and is certainly a good price.

 

I don't think the headphones are an issue. I am currently staring at AKG K702s and Senn HD650s hanging on my new Woo Audio headphone stand.

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post #7 of 8
12/29/11 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenaesthetic View Post

Thanks, Saintly. The HRT looks pretty good, and is certainly a good price.

 

I don't think the headphones are an issue. I am currently staring at AKG K702s and Senn HD650s hanging on my new Woo Audio headphone stand.


Ah, I see.  I have never heard the HD 650s but loved the K702s while I had them.  Are you interested in solid state or tube amps?

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post #8 of 8
12/31/11 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 

I am open to either and have experience with both. To be honest, though, there is just something about the tube sound that really does it for me

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