$1500 set up?

[Goat Boy]

If you had $1500 for a complete headphone set-up for your PC, what would your set-up be? The headphones are normally used for rock/classic rock and looking for a nice punchy set-up. I'm just wanting to see what everyone recommends and see if we get some clear winners chosen. Thanks to all who take the time to add to this topic.

 

[lairpost]

I would skip the PC and buy a mid-range DAP and a few sets of IEMs and/or HPs. Of course, most can still be used as a usb dac if you wish

 

[dunring]

Hifiman Edition XS, Topping A70 Pro, Topping E70 9028Pro DAC, Audiophilenjnja balanced XLR cables.
Cheapest is Tanchjim Ola, Dunu S&S tips, .78mm multikit cable, Fosi Audio DS2

I have them and great sound and value, especially nice with rock since bass on both isn't overdone.

 

[ch1525i]

I just set my brother-in-law up with a Schiit ModiMultiBit 2 (on last call $299), Schiit Vali 3 tube amp ($149), Meze 105Aer ($400) and a Elysian Pilgrim ($339 @ musicteck). He tried all my stuff and those were his favorite. Total spend about $1300 + some for tube rolling (always a rabbit hole).

Good luck and let us know what you go with!

 

[CharetteHugh]

If I had $1500, I’d probably grab a used Focal Clear OG, a Jotunheim 2, and a Modi+ or E30 II for the DAC. Super punchy, great detail, and perfect for rock. Guitars sound real nice on that setup. Still leaves you a bit of room for cables or maybe a stand too.

 

[PopZeus]

I'd probably have a setup similar to what I currently have:

• Singxer SU-2, or any comparable DDC or USB digital bridge
• Shanling EH2 or FiiO K11 R2R. Any great DAC/amp in budget will do, but I love R2R DACs, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• Sennheiser HD660s2 or FiiO FT1 Pro (with suede pad swap)

Unlike a lot of people, I think trying to put your entire budget into the headphone can be a mistake. My favorite headphones are not that expensive compared to other highly reviewed sub-$1000 cans. Personally I get more enjoyment out of squeezing every drop of performance from my $200-$600 headphones than I would from having merely acceptable amplification for a $1000 headphone that might be more technically impressive but I don't enjoy as much. If you happen to prefer the $1000 headphone to the $500 one, then you should absolutely get the $1000 one and hold off on the DDC.

 

[tigerars]

Hifiman Arya Stealth
Audeze LCD-X

xDuoo Tube AMP, TA-10 for example
or a solid state AMP from Fiio K7 or K9 AKM
The quality of AMP's bellow 300$ will not be extraordinary but good enough to power these headphones.
Latter on you could invest more in a good AMP since aforementioned headphones significantly scales up in terms of sonic performance once paired with a good AMP.

 

[MindBreak]

A new option on the block for the amp would be the Asgard X with the Mesh DAC module @ $549.
https://www.schiit.com/products/asgard-x
Arya Stealth while not the punchiest headphone on the block, it is indeed a good option as others have noted, and at $600 or less it is quite the value buy.

With those two it leaves you with some budget leftover to put towards a second pair of cans, or anything else you might want to get.

 

[ttys0]

I think I would get a ZMF Bokeh Open with an Apos Merlin DAC & Apos Gremlin amp.

 

[PopZeus]

If new Asgard is actually like a mini-Mjolnir, I would definitely recommend pairing it with an R2R DAC of some sort.

 

[Cabbages]

I'd probably go for an LCD-X aswell, maybe with a Magni Unity w/ DAC or something similar - should leave you with some cash to spare for accessories or maybe some IEMs