Hi there, this is my first post on this forum, i came here because i need some advice
Let me explain:
Finally i managed to save up some money for a good audio setup
I can spend around $1500 (even a little more if it's worth) for a pair of headphones, a headphone amp and a dac
And i need some suggestions
I like neutral and clean audio
Are you looking for a portable set-up or a home unit?
I'm no expert in the home set-up side but portable I can help with.
For neutral and clean sound if you want in ears I highly recommend the Shure SE846 ($1,000) with either the blue (neutral) or white (bright) filters. These are my personal favorite headphones I've ever listened to bar none. Now in terms of your dac the Astell and Kern AK100 (500ish) I haven't personally used this but I've heard numerous good things about plus it hold your music as well so that'll be two birds in one stone though you do sacrifice your amp. If you definitely want the amp and dac I've been looking into the Fiio X3 ($250) and it has really great reviews and ratings plus that's 250 bucks more in your pocket.
If you want over ear I really love the Beyerdynamic T5p (1400) everything else in my recommendation would be the same. But these are absolutely amazing completely clean bass with no decay the mids are exact and the high are unfiltered which is exactly what you'd expect from a reference class headphone to this degree.
Again I reiterate this is more of the mobile set-up which is what my profession entales I don't want to recommend anything to someone that I haven't been able to experience myself. So if it's a home or hard set-up you're looking for then hopefully this is at least an idea of brands to look into. Hope I helped best of luck to you in your search.