[LFG530]

Hi,
 
I recently bought a pair of HD650 along with a Matrix Cube and the headphones were a huge improvement over what I had previously owned/listened to (wesc bag pipes, bose in-ears, bose qc 15, Beats Pro/Studio (in other words cheap stuff that's expensive)) for every type of music and every single sound.
 
However I found the audible difference made by the Matrix Cube was not close at all than the difference from two headphones (vs. coming from Imac>pa2v2>HD650). It made a nice difference but a subtle one.
 
From my current setup I really really like the way Jazz/Classical/Folk sounds, and Hip-Hop sounds pretty good too, but I'm not really satisfied about my HD650 with rock and punk music or anything that has many layers of guitar in it... I had the chance to try Grados RS2 ans SR325is since then and even if I found them a bit "piercing" (the highs are strong) I loved the sound with classic rock/ punk and low-fi stuff... 
 
Where I'm going with that is: will I see a significative difference (not necessarily for rock music but for all types)  if I choose to go with an external amp (looking at either Woo Audio 3 or M-stage...)  or am I better off buying a different pair of headphones to listen to different types of music?
 
(in case it's important: my musical preferences are something like 25% Hip-Hop, 25% Jazz, 15% Indie/folk, 20% Rock/Punk/Prog, 15% Classic)
 
Thanks. 

 

[tk3]

In my experience headphones won't change a lot by adding a different amp if you don't like the sound signature it has.
You will get more satisfactory results by buying another headphone that is more suited to those other genres.

 

[gelocks]

My .02 cents... get different headphones.
From my limited experience, I haven't noticed that big of a change with the same headphones on different amps...
 
On the other hand, I've read on different places that the HD650s "grow" with better (and I guess expensive) gear...
 
Still I would prefer a different sound signature by acquiring a different set of cans.
 
I had similar questions just a few weeks ago...
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/564610/is-it-my-ears-p-amp-differences
 
 
Good Luck!!

 

[LFG530]

Thanks a lot that previous thread helped, but you're still using a dac/amp combo that costs around 400$ and is rated for 600ohms headphones I'm wondering if that might have played a role in the comparaison with the Woo... And you touched something important, I love my senns and I also keep reading they need "serious amping" and they scale up well with high-end stuff... S
 
So I'd like to know if someone compared an integrated/portable amp (rated for 300ohms) with something like the Woo 3 with the hd650 and was blown away by the difference or will it still be a really subtle change even with these headphones...

 

[NA Blur]

I know the guys and gals at headroom first say upgrade your source and then your headphones / speakers.  They also mention that a high end DAC will almost make a poor source sound as good as a high end transport.  This has been my experience as well.
 
I was asking myself the same question: "Do I want a new amp or a new headphone?"  I ultimately settled on headphones and do not regret the choice.  If you go new headphones be sure to get something with a different sound signature than what you already own.  For me this was going from my nice AH-D2000's to a pair of DT990's.  They really compliment the D2000's from my m903.
 
For example:
The Doors - [Essential Rarities CD1 #07] I Will Never Be Untrue
Is just not the same with a closed can.

 

[LFG530]

I settled for a pair of pro 900 , I'll buy them next week, I think they'll be good with the 650. 

 

[NA Blur]

I think you will enjoy the light bass boost as well as a more up front sound.
 
Try this track out of both:
Preston Reed - [Metal #01] Blasting Cap