What's wrong with buying the cans first?  Got to start somewhere.  Next stop amp and dac.  

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You are right, of course. I just couldn't resist the commentary

purrin said:

   
I'd go Crack + speedball (or even without) unless you plan on getting orthos which the Crack will not do well with. There's nothing quite like having built something yourself. Plus, you'll have a few options to roll tubes. I love the Crack with the HD600/650 and high-Z Beyers.

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Thank you sir. I have an excess of 12AU7's anyhow LOL. I've even started buying a few 6080 tubes from eBay in anticipation of a tube rolling frenzy
 
The only other quandry is the next DAC... I am unsure if I could really hear the improvement of a Bifrost Uber, over a Modi. That's not a negative commentary on the gear, it's simply the practical consequences of being an Old Guy with Old Ears. I am fairly sure I could hear the improvement in the amp. So the Crack isn't in question. But on the DAC, I'm just not sure I want to spend the money, if I can't hear the difference.
 
I am so puzzled about this that I am considering waiting for the next local meet, just to see if I can make a comparison somehow. I'd spend the money on the Bifrost, if I knew I could hear the difference. But I know my hearing cuts out after 14 kHz (based on sine wave test tones generated by Passmark SoundCheck, played on my best setup). So if my hearing is that limited, why spend the money? Buying a second Modi may be the best bet.
 
Curiously, I can still hear low frequencies quite well (20 Hz and slightly below).

Gosh I never want to lose my hearing having damaged senses of any kind just terrifies me. I'm sorry about your lossUmustBkiddin

Thats what happens when you get older. A test... Im 45 and I can only hear up to 12khz http://youtu.be/AXhRmv1mrs4

elwappo99 said:

   
Definitely what I was thinking. 
 
 
The AKG K701 series isn't really what I would call a high sensitivity headphone.

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yeah i said it backwards. meant to say that this amp would be good for low sensitivity (AKG K701, planars, etc) and bad for high sensitivity (grado, denon, etc)

Dat 20Hz rumble on X10's... Hey It cut out at 10KHz for me, is it just my IEM?
http://youtu.be/MMu6nPeIDOY
Or the video? Or my E7? Or my IPhone?

http://youtu.be/fwrbFj9r10Y
Sound all te way down the spectrum. Woo fr X10's.

ultrabike said:

  If you are worried about the output impedance, I measured the Vali's output impedance to about < 6.4 ohms. So while not exactly complying with the 1/8 rule, it might still work with your W1000x. But dunno. Have not even heard the W1000x.

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How did you manage to measure one already? 
 

tdockweiler said:

  IMO an amp sounds best when it doesn't change how the headphone is supposed to sound. Just improve what's already there.

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In that case there would be no point in even considering tubes. Solid state always outperforms vacuum tubes at the same price point when it comes to strict technical accuracy. The appeal of tubes is that it "improves" the sound through euphonic distortions.
 

schroeder77 said:

  How does anyone feel about the Duet 2 with Senn 650s from a mac? I have it, it's the best I've ever had since I'm new to all this, I'm curious if I'm doing the cans justice. I was told that Apogee's DAC quality is excellent; would I hear a significant difference out of the 650s with certain other combos?

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The Apogee is very good, the main complaint being that it's a bit on the harsh and bright side, but that makes it well suited to the HD650s which have laid back treble. It's very expensive just to use as a DAC+amp though, if you don't use it as an interface for recording music.

He brought his measuring rig to canjam obviously.   

sony slave said:

  Maybe you're right. I think that the 840s may not actually change between different amps. I'll see, when I go and buy the Magni and pair it up with the bi-frost in a couple of weeks.

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I get a little bit of a ground loop hum with my 840 Magni pairing, up to around 10 o'clock on the pot, and that hum is not evident on the 325s or even the 280s. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this.

FWIW,  this Isolation device
http://www.jkaudio.com/pureformer.htm
 
removed both ground loop hum and slight usb fuzz when placed in between my BiFrost Uber + Lyr!
 
another reviewer on amazon said it did the same for his Modi+Lyr combo.
YMMV

blueangel2323 said:

   
How did you manage to measure one already? 

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I have it on loan
 
Quote:

blueangel2323 said:

   
In that case there would be no point in even considering tubes. Solid state always outperforms vacuum tubes at the same price point when it comes to strict technical accuracy. The appeal of tubes is that it "improves" the sound through euphonic distortions.

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Probably depends on the metric and test conditions. Also note that one may build a class A tube and a class A SS. Then you have to consider hybrids, such as the Vali.

mcullinan said:

  Thats what happens when you get older. A test... Im 45 and I can only hear up to 12khz http://youtu.be/AXhRmv1mrs4

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I'm 30 and can only hear to 12khz also... too many concerts, loud car system, loud headphones, and guns for quite a few years. One time I had to take a one hour UH60 helo ride with no hearing protection... I'm pretty sure that took it's toll as much as all of the long term stuff has.

Ive been to my share of loud shows, have a loud car system, sub, amps, loud home system...  no guns tho.... but many shows with my ear smack up against a stack of 12 foot speakers. Id say my hearing is still good though... I listen more at moderate levels now... or at least i try too.

dubstep girl said:

   
yeah i said it backwards. meant to say that this amp would be good for low sensitivity (AKG K701, planars, etc) and bad for high sensitivity (grado, denon, etc)

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Figured as much.