[auvgeek]

So my Bose QC15s (gift from my parents) died recently, so it's time to buy something with better sound and less marketing hype. I'm not an audiophile (yet), but I figured I might as well go with high quality stuff. I have a quiet office to myself so portability and noise isolation are of lower importance. I listen to music pretty much all day, every day while doing research so comfort is important. I mainly listen to alternative/indie/folk rock (The National, Modest Mouse, Bob Dylan, etc) and classical (Rachmaninov, Chopin, Mozart, etc). Vocal clarity for male and female singers is important; don't care much about heavy bass. I'm listening on a 2012 Macbook Pro playing regular mp3s, so nothing fancy on that side (yet). Also: I probably won't upgrade any of this stuff for 4 years or so until I finish grad school and get a real job so the ability to upgrade easily isn't a big deal, while durability is.
 
My priorities (in descending order): sound quality, comfort & durability (tie), noise isolation, portability. Budget: total cost under $500; prefer closer to $300.
 
The top headphone contenders are:
 
DT880 Pro 250 ohm for $209.
HP150 for $200. (Don't know much about this one yet)
HD600 ($299 used).
Crankphones ($120 w. crank amp)
Audio Technica ATH-AD900X for $200.
 
I've read a bunch of comparisons between the HD600 and the DT880 and I'm pretty set on the DT880 250 ohm for $209 used. I've heard the 600 ohm version doesn't offer *too* much difference, especially since I don't have a whole bunch of experience with careful listening yet. Is there anything else I should consider in this price range? Little concerned about building the Crackphones (though building the amp seems doable). Just read a recco for the HP150. Can anyone compare these two the HD600 or DT880?
 
I'm also planning to go with a DAC and amp because consensus seems like they're worth the money. Perhaps I should just purchase an amp first and see how it goes before dropping $100 on a Schiit DAC? Anyway, options I'm considering are:
 
FiiO E10K DAC/amp ($75)
Schiit Vali amp + Shiit Modi DAC ($220)
Crack amp + Schiit Modi DAC ($380)
 
Other things I should definitely look at? The Schiit stuff seems like a great value with a middle-of-the-road price, but I'm wondering how much quality it provides over the E10 for ~$150 more. I have read that pairing this stuff together can be important, so let me know if anything of these combos don't work well together.
 
Packages under $500:
Audio Technica ATH-AD900X + no DAC/amp = $200 (PurpleAngel recommendation)
DT880+E10 = $285
DT880 + Schiit DAC/amp = $429.
Crack phones & amp + Schiit DAC = $500
 
What would you guys recommend I purchase and why?
 
[Note: I originally posted this in the headphones forum because I don't read real good. Decided to start a separate thread in the correct forum with additional questions about DACs and amps. Sorry for the confusion.]

 

[JoeDoe]

DT880 with the Schitt stack. You could even pick up the 600 ohm version used for even more refined sound and be set for life.

 

[appsmarsterx]

may be this is just me, well I didn't find 600ohm version more refined than 250ohm pro or premium apart from driveability. 250 premium/600  versions have less headband clamping force. that's it. 

 

[JoeDoe]

There's a review that I largely agree with.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/717385/shoot-out-beyer-dt880-600-premium-vs-250-pro-on-a-woo-audio-wa3/0_30

Bear in mind, that quality amplification is going to make a huge difference here

 

[JoeDoe]

With regards to the OP, you certainly would be happy with either version.

 

[auvgeek]

Thanks for the replies! Where I'm looking, the 600 ohm version is substantially more expensive (at least, right now). Seems like it's probably not worth the extra $$. Thanks for the excellent link. I've read a number of less-detailed posts/reviews saying similar things.
 
How would this compare to the Schitt stack for about the same price? http://www.head-fi.org/t/729790/audio-gd-compass-dac-amp-combo. I read in the HP150 thread that a used Audio-GD (NFB 11.32 or NFB 15.32) or Yulong D100 would be better than a new Schitt stack for the same price...

 

[PurpleAngel]

I've read a bunch of comparisons between the HD600 and the DT880 and I'm pretty set on the DT880 250 ohm for $209 used. I've heard the 600 ohm version doesn't offer *too* much difference, especially since I don't have a whole bunch of experience with careful listening yet.

 
I own both the DT880 Pro 250-Ohm and Premium 600-Ohm, it not a big difference.
The only reason I got the Premium 600-Ohm was it was used from a fellow Head-Fier who sold it to me for a really good price.

 

[cel4145]

How would this compare to the Schitt stack for ~ the same price? http://www.head-fi.org/t/729790/audio-gd-compass-dac-amp-combo. I read in the HP150 thread that a used Audio-GD (NFB 11.32 or NFB 15.32) or Yulong D100 would be better than a new Schitt stack for the same price.

Having recently converted from an ODAC (similar to Modi) + Schiit Asgard 2 to an NFB-11, I would definitely encourage you to go with the NFB-15 or NFB-11 over the Schiit stack because they have extra digital inputs and a pre-amp output. Plus more power should you ever decide to get headphones that can use it.

 

[auvgeek]

So...any idea on the difference between the Compass DAC/amp and the NFB-11? Sorry I need so much hand holding; just not sure about all this stuff yet.
 
Also: you ^^ own the HP150 and said in a recent thread you also have experience with the DT880. Can you offer any comparison or input on those two cans?

 

[auvgeek]

Just jumped on a pair of open-box DT880 for $169 on eBay. Seemed like a decent deal, and the seller has a 30 day return policy if I just absolutely hate them. Yeah, I probably could have found a better deal, but oh well. Still curious how they compare to the HP150.
 
Now I need to find a good amp/DAC...

 

[rsgladwin85]

Just to throw you a completely other set idea in a similar price range, you could try something similar to what I have.
 
AKG Q701 at about $195
AKG K702 at about $220
 
And for an Amp / Dac

Emotiva XDA-2 at about $220, which covers your DAC, with several inputs (6) altogether I believe, Amp, which works well with my K712 Pro's which are very similar to the models I listed, and also includes Pre amps, both RCA and Balanced.  

 

[auvgeek]

Hmm...haven't heard of that DAC/amp combo. I'll to look into it.
 
Currently trying to evaluate the aforementioned OG Compass for $200 against a barely-used Yulong D100 II for $300 or a O2+ODAC for $215.

 

[cel4145]

Also: you ^^ own the HP150 and said in a recent thread you also have experience with the DT880. Can you offer any comparison or input on those two cans?

It has been around a year or so since I listened to the DT880s. I didn't care for the treble spike, and in recollection, the DT880 seemed to have slightly rolled off sub bass compared to what I'm hearing with the HP150, which is slightly emphasized.