Headphone set up $3000/£3000 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp11801 

Good luck finding a 717 for $900 today 

There was one at that price here a week or two ago 

Are you looking for a balanced source of Single Ended?

Smyth SVS Realizer and a high end Oppo player would give abilities considerably beyond most headphone setups - outside of your head soundstage, imaging from the DSP, included Stax system, head tracker

http://www.head-fi.org/t/418401/long-awaited-smyth-svs-realiser-now-available-for-purchase

(note that many of the "negative" comments are wild speculation frrm people who haven't heard them with personal calibrations - search out comments indicating actual experience with the SVS Realizer)

you get impressive simulation of real rooms, loudspeakers, up to 7.1 surround

you can collect calibrations of your friend's best setups, pay dealers or studios for an hours access to their best - anywhere you can plug into the amps, sit in the sweet spot

I wouldn't advise you to step into Stax's world with 3k$ (3k gbp might cut it though). Grab a decent source first, then based on your phone choice check out the best (or nearly best) amp out there with the remaining fund. IMO a good old O2 + a kgsshv (I don't like Stax's amps) should go beyond 3k$ already, not to mention you need to pick up a DAC as well.

If I were you the B22 is a promising candidate to be considered (both price wise and performance wise, but it might not be your taste though), or any great diy amps out there. Get a good balanced source to prepare for another upgrade in the long run (Stax?). then spend the rest on your fones.

No problem. I'm also UK based btw.

I used to be in the same situation as yours when I was considering selling most of my dynamic set up (around 3k$) to venture into electrostatic world. Yet after calculating the cost to build a good enough electrostatic amp (the t2 or bhse is out of my reach) I gave it a second thought. The thing is, I wanted to get the most I can with 3k$ and be done with it but most of the amps that can fit the bill are Stax's, which I don't favour very much (this might raise some flame but it's my personal opinion so take it with a grain of salt). That's why I chose to wait for a bit longer until I can save up enough to go all out, and not to mention I pretty much enjoy my current setup the way it is.

That being said, it all comes down to what you want to achieve in the end, whether you will pull the trigger another time down the road or this's gonna be your last purchase (which I highly doubt lol)?

http://smyth-research.com/index.html has a UK office - don't know if they would give a demo there