NA Blur Send PM

Occupation:

Design and test lasers for the scientific and industrial sectors, make positive change

Interests:

Music, Gaming, Golf, Hiking, Photography, Movies, Playing Flutes

Headphone Inventory:

* Marks an excellent and highly recommended headphone for general listening

Audeze LCD-2 Rev 1
AKG K712 Pro ( replaced by the HE-400i )
AKG Q701
Audio Technica: ATH-M50
Audio Technica: ATH-R70x
Beyerdynamic DT990 ( 250 Ohm )
Bowers and Wilkins P5
*Brainwavz B150
Brainwavz HM2
Brainwavz Jive IEM
Brainwavz KIDWAVZ KV100
Brainwavz M1 IEM
Brainwavz M2 IEM
Brainwavz Omega IEM
*Brainwavz S3 IEM
Brainwavz S5 IEM
*Denon: AH-D2000
Edifier P293 IEM
Etymotic Research ER6i
GlenVela KZ ATE IEM
Grado Labs: SR-225i, RS-1i
*JH Audio JH 10 x3 Pro ( Custom IEM )
Klipsch Image S4i
Maximo iMetal iM590
MEElectronics CX21 IEM
Monster TurbinePro Copper
*noontec ZORO II HD
*noontec ZORO II Wireless
Philips Cityscape Downtown
Philips: SBC HP910 ( sold )
Sennheiser: *HD-650, HD-555, EH-150, EH-250, EH-350
Shure SRH1540
Telos Acoustics Fujisan

Headphones I am very familiar with:
HiFiMAN HE-300,*HE-400i, HE-500

Gaming Headsets:
Logitech G430
*Razer Blackshark
Turtle Beach X12

Current Setup:
Amp: Headroom's Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp using balanced TRS to XLR cables
DAC: Grace Design m903 running in balanced mode
Source: Low compression mp3 / AAC ( 198 kbps or better ) via Foobar2000
Headphones: HiFiMAN HE-400i, and JH Audio 10 x3 Pro

Looking for sound quality improvement?
1.) Better source material ( well recorded music )
2.) Better headphone ( go from the Koss Porta Pro and end near the LCD-3 )
3.) Better DAC ( especially if you do computer listening )
4.) Better Amp ( some amps deliver less noise and a cleaner low end while extending the treble )
5.) Lastly let your brain filter have time to understand the new sound signature

Need a budget IEM? Look here:

$28
VSonic GR99

$36
VSonic GR02 Bass Edition

$40
VSonic VC02

$44
Astrotec AM-90

$45
$Brainwavz M1

$45
Xears Nature N3i
Bass Heavy

$65 ( $85 with Comply T-400 Foam Tips )
ViSang R03 / Brainwavz M2

$75
MEElectronics A151

Things I have learned:

There is no perfect headphone.
Asking "What is the best headphone for..." is subjective so expect many answers possibly disagreeing.
Using the words " noob" and " lurker" only make you look stupid.
Objective measurements tell at least half the story.
Price has little to do with performance.
In business...money is king.
Comparing headphones all day takes the fun out of listening to music.
For most of us headphone listening is more of a hobby so enjoy it!

'Hey, what was your first headphone? Answer: Koss Nova Pro circa 1980.

Secret advice. Always ground your quarter before putting into the MS Pac-Man machine

Headphone Amp Inventory:

Beyerdynamic A20
Headroom Total BitHead ( Sold, outdated by current technology )
Headroom Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp ( BUDA )
Grace Design m903 reference headphone amplifier / DAC ( running USB 2.0 )
Music Hall 25.3
Pro-Ject Box E USB DAC
Pro-Ject Box S USB DAC
Schiit Bifrost 4490 DAC
SMSL SD793II DAC / amp
SMSL VA2 amp
SMSL M8 DAC
Topping AX-2 DAC/amp

Cable Inventory:

PBJ Kimber Cables ( RCA )
Seismic Audio XLR to TRS Patch Cables

Other Audio Equipment:

EQUALIZER: JVC SEA-10, CLASS D AMPS: Pioneer SA-8100, TEAC_AG10D, SPEAKERS: Vintage Polk Audio 5A Monitors, Wharfdale Diamond 10.2 Bookshelf Speakers, SMSL Linear Power Supply for the VA2 and M8

Audio-Related Tweaks:

Denon Replacement Parts

http://www.head-fi.org/t/607330/how-to-repair-your-denon-d-2000-d-5000-and-d-7000-headphones-if-your-cup-has-fallen-off-the-gimbal

Music Preferences:

Ali Farka Toure, Ani DiFranco, Beck, Benni Chawes, Cake, Emiliana Torrini, Glenn Zervas, Karsh Kale, Patrica Barber, Slaid Cleaves, Yoshida Brothers

Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Blues, Electronic, World, Classical

Need something new to check out? Try Pedrito Martinez's Volando Voy from the Rumba de la Isla Album