Headphone set up $3000/£3000

There are lots of different philosophies for how you should distribute that money.  Some people here believe that the bulk should be spent on the source.  Others believe you should buy the best headphone possible, and spend the rest on source/amp.  I fall in the latter camp.  If this is a purely home-listening audio system, and you're ok with an open headphone, I would build my system around the HD800 (which I think is a better headphone than the LCD-2).

 

If you need new, I would spend around $700 on a DAC and around $700 on an amp (I don't have any recommendations in that range as I haven't heard most of those products).  If I were you, I would think about three more things: 

 

First, consider buying used.  If you go that route, you can have something like Benchmark DAC1 USB --> Luxman P1 --> HD800 for close to $3K.  That would be a very nice system.  I think the Benchmark is great, but underrated here (and most hi-fi audiophile websites).  I've had a great experience with some of that pro gear, and would buy a Benchmark, Lavry, Mytek, Zodiac, etc. before any audiophile fluff.  Pair it with a nice warm amp like the P1, and you're in good shape.

 

Second, if you're sure you want to go the speaker route in the near future and will be listening primarily on speakers (and I went from headphones to speakers and enjoy speakers infinitely more than headphones), I would seriously consider a headphone amp that will double as a good preamp down the line.  If you are willing to give tubes a shot, I would say the Eddie Current Zana Deux is your best choice.  It sounds great with the HD800, and is a wonderful preamp.  A cheap DAC (e.g. Schiit Bifrost) + Zana + HD800 would be a terrific combination.

 

Third, think about Stax.  When I do pull out headphones these days, it's almost always electrostats.  You can buy something like the Woo GES for $1500, a Stax 507 for $1000, and pair them with a $500 DAC (I don't know, DACMagic, or DACit, or whatever is hot these days in the $500 range) and have an amazing sounding system.

 

Lots to think about, but if you're spending that much money, it's worth doing the research and maybe even hearing some of that gear first.  Good luck!

The Stax would sound fine through a Stax solid state amp -- something like the 323 or the 717/727.  They all come up quite often on the used market.

The preamp in the W4S is a digital one, I believe, and I think you can do better (in terms of preamp).

Most of today's DACs play hi-res music via USB, up to 24/96 at least.
 

 

Dangalf - What are your music preferences and quality of source material? 

Where are you located?  You should try to go to a meet.

I agree with n3rdling. or otherwise you may end up buying and selling a lot of equipment before you find what you like.  From your description of the music you like though, IMO, you are going to eventually want to have more than one headphone.

 

 

I'm probably going to be labeled a Christmas grinch but 3k dac/amp/headphone is nearly impossible to get a "high end" rig.

 

 

That said a hifiman 500 new and a Zana Duex used set you back around 2k and then you have a grand for a USB dac and even that is tough. So maybe. Of "high end" but very good and musically pleasing for 3k? Crap grado RS 1 and a Melos sha sounds great and can be had used for about a grand

The OP's budget in pounds sterling is equivalent to $4,600.

Edited by Ridleyguy - 12/24/11 at 4:00pm

Maybe if that saves you some money. Otherwise that recommendation is evidence to suggest that you don't take that dealer's advice seriously from now on.

High end is easily reachable for 3k. You can get a used o2mk1 for 1700, a srm717 for 900 and have 400 left over to get a nice vintage dac like a parasound. I had that setup for a while and its better than almost anything unless you want to spend thousands more.

Good luck finding a 717 for $900 today