Hi everyone:
Been lurking for a few weeks, first post. Though I have some reasonably nice stuff I am definitely a newbie, I don't really have any grounding in the technical aspects of this hobby yet. I just ordered a pair of Hifiman HE-500s. I will use them mostly in one of my offices (I run a company with multiple locations, thus, multiple offices). I currently have a Fiio e7/e9 combo. From reading around here I get the sense that this isn't gonna bring the best out of the HE-500s.
My digital sources will be a mix of iTunes AAC and MOG streaming, I also have an old NAD c340 integrated amp in my office and a Sansui 2050c turntable that I listen to daily. I am thinking I will pick up a Schiit Bifrost. I am wondering if I should just go from the Bifrost to the c340 for amplification, or if I should pick up either an Asgard or a Lyr. I get the sense from reading up around here that the clear favorite pairing between the two seems to be the 500s with the Lyr, but I am a little daunted by the tubes, and frankly, my sources aren't top of the line.
I listen to a really wide mix of punk rock, new wave / no wave, hip-hop, older latin, classic rock, electronic, jazz and country. Pretty much the only thing I don't listen to is classical.
I'd love any advice as to whether I should just run the Bifrost into the c340 and be done with it. I could also replace the c340 with a vintage Marantz 2230 I've got at home. I don't know if the headphone outs inside these amps/receivers are better/equal/worse than something like the Asgard or the Lyr?
Thanks so much!
