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Budget $700 Home Audio Set-Up

post #1 of 42
12/27/12 at 5:15pm
Thread Starter 
First thing first... I am very sorry to start anotjer thread. I started one called 'My experience with AKG, Sennheiser, Sony, Audio Technica, Shure & Ultimate Ears" & I asked my question there. however I can't see anyone replying my question. Therefore I had decided to start this one.

So here's my question: what's the best home audio set-up I can get for $700 budget? I am looking for a pair of headphone & a amp.

Types of headphone I'm looking for:
-Open/closed design
-Wide soundstage & great details
-Just right "enough" amount of bass with smooth mids & crisp highs.
-sound as clear as the AKG K550
-Full size circumference that covers my ear entirely
-suitable for all genres of music
-Using it mostly for music.

Currently, I am looking at AKG K550, Sennheiser HD598/HD650/HD600. Open for recommendation.

As for amp:
-Not necessary to have built-in battery
-pair well with the headphone
-Must be external as my PC has no extension slots
-Portable or not does not matter

Not much experience with amp. Had only tried Beyerdynamic A1 & iBasso D7. iBasso DX100 if you consider them as an amp/dac hybrid

Side notes:
I am trying to avoid used headphones as this will be my last purchase for years.

Help appreciated smily_headphones1.gif
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post #2 of 42
12/27/12 at 6:24pm

Heya,

 

I would say probably something out of the following:

 

Hifiman HE-400

Beyer DT880

Sennheiser HD600

 

Schiit Modi & Magni

JDS Labs ODAC & O2 Amp

 

Very best,

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post #3 of 42
12/27/12 at 6:29pm

HE-400 lacks in the treble. It does have some crispness to it, but the treble seems too uniform for me.

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post #4 of 42
12/27/12 at 6:42pm
Thread Starter 
Sennheiser HD600 vs HD650? Which one suits me better? I can't find HifiMan here... Unfortunately, my amp choices are narrow. I can only find iBasso, Hippo Cricri & Fiio amp that is within my budget... :/
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post #5 of 42
12/27/12 at 7:00pm

DT880 + E17/E09K combo should do fine. The DT990 is a better all-rounder with elevated bass/treble but recessed mids. So it comes down to your preferences.

 

HD600 vs HD650 I'm not sure, but they won't do too well with bass heavy music. 

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post #6 of 42
12/27/12 at 9:52pm
Thread Starter 
Can't find DT880 here... frown.gif

I think HD650 is totally out of my budget... It needs a around $500 amp to do well. I think HD600/HD598/K550. Which one fits my needs better?

As for amp:
FiiO E10
iBasso D-Zero
iBasso D7 <-I tried pairing this with AKG K550, it's really close to my needs.

Help appreciated smily_headphones1.gif
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post #7 of 42
12/27/12 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillsonChang007 View Post



I think HD650 is totally out of my budget... It needs a around $500 amp to do well.

Not true, a O2/ODAC or Asgard/ODAC would perform admirably.

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post #8 of 42
12/27/12 at 10:32pm

The HD600 + Asgard is a great combo (I own it myself). You can probably add the new Schiit DAC for $100 more and that should be well within you're budget. I got my Asgard/HD600 for a bit over $400, buying used.

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post #9 of 42
12/27/12 at 10:36pm
Thread Starter 
But I can't find any of those amp... :/
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post #10 of 42
12/27/12 at 10:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillsonChang007 View Post

But I can't find any of those amp... :/

 

Here you go: http://schiit.com/

 

Also, I noticed you're in Singapore. The Magni amp I don't think works there, but the Modi DAC should be fine.

 

Modi ($100) + Asgard ($250) + HD600 ($350) = $700. That's you're budget and that's assuming you buy everything new too. Buy used and you can probably cut $100-200 off of that price.

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post #11 of 42
12/28/12 at 2:32am
Thread Starter 
Let's make everyone's life more simply. My budget in Singapore dollar are SGD850:

Here's the store website: http://stereo.com.sg/
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post #12 of 42
12/28/12 at 2:34am
Thread Starter 
I can get amp from here jaben.net in their singapore store... smily_headphones1.gif
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post #13 of 42
12/28/12 at 2:44am
Thread Starter 
http://audioiconic.com/category/brands/schiit-audio/ found it...extremely expensive :/
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post #14 of 42
12/28/12 at 3:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BillsonChang007 View Post

Let's make everyone's life more simply. My budget in Singapore dollar are SGD850:
Here's the store website: http://stereo.com.sg/

 

Heya,

 

Based on what's available there and prices, I would look at primarily:

 

Beyer DT880 250ohm with the Ordnance .25 DAC/AMP.

 

Good for every genre and use and can travel any where with you.

 

Very best,

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post #15 of 42
12/28/12 at 3:34am

My Ibasso D12 cannot drive my Hd650s. so forget anything of that or similar combination. 

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