[AquaGeneral]

I currently own Sennheiser HD 700, paired with a silly Asus Xonar Essence One. The Xonar Essence One definitely beats my PC's motherboard audio chipsets, but leaves a very lot to be desired - primarily with how aggressive and bright the sound is skewed.

I am looking to buy a new headphone amp/DAC in about a year from now. I will likely upgrade to Sennheiser HD 800S in a couple of years from now, but I know for sure the greatest limitation is my amp/DAC.

I am currently most interested in the Sennheiser HDV 820 since it matches with Sennhieser headphones very well from what I've heard. I will likely continue to stick with Sennheiser headphones, primarily just because they sound good and I like the design of them more than other brands. I am concerned however with if I decide to change heaphone brands years from now, will the Sennheiser HDV 820 be the greatest choice?

Also, what are some other great DAC/amp and headphone pairings that cost around $4500 total? I primarily listen to pop, rock, modern opera, and R&B.

 

[PaganDL]

Hi AquaGeneral,

I suggest looking at USB computer interfaces to start then go from there, some to consider in no particular order are as follows :

Lexicon Alpha
Focusrite Scarlett Series

In terms of straight amp without a DAC which is worth considering is the RNHP by Rupert Neve Designs.

Honestly, all you can do is demo different gear & headphones as much as possible with a quality source to see what you not only like but enjoy, no one can tell you otherwise.

Hope you have a great day !

 

[AquaGeneral]

Hi AquaGeneral,

I suggest looking at USB computer interfaces to start then go from there, some to consider in no particular order are as follows :

Lexicon Alpha
Focusrite Scarlett Series

In terms of straight amp without a DAC which is worth considering is the RNHP by Rupert Neve Designs.

Honestly, all you can do is demo different gear & headphones as much as possible with a quality source to see what you not only like but enjoy, no one can tell you otherwise.

Hope you have a great day !

Thanks for the input PaganDL!

I guess those options you recommended are a good idea for no longer having to put up with my Xonar One Essence's harshness - however I do feel like I should just save up instead of buying anything inbetween. Though I will definetely keep this in mind for now on.

As silly as it sounds I didn't really think about actually going out to hi-fi shops, etc to demo gear.

My day's going very well already thanks

 

[PurpleAngel]

I currently own Sennheiser HD 700, paired with a silly Asus Xonar Essence One. The Xonar Essence One definitely beats my PC's motherboard audio chipsets, but leaves a very lot to be desired - primarily with how aggressive and bright the sound is skewed.
I am looking to buy a new headphone amp/DAC in about a year from now. I will likely upgrade to Sennheiser HD 800S in a couple of years from now, but I know for sure the greatest limitation is my amp/DAC.
I am currently most interested in the Sennheiser HDV 820 since it matches with Sennheiser headphones very well from what I've heard. I will likely continue to stick with Sennheiser headphones, primarily just because they sound good and I like the design of them more than other brands. I am concerned however with if I decide to change headphone brands years from now, will the Sennheiser HDV 820 be the greatest choice?
Also, what are some other great DAC/amp and headphone pairings that cost around $4500 total? I primarily listen to pop, rock, modern opera, and R&B.

Just to make sure it's an Essence One issue and not a PC issue.
With the Essence One, have you tried the USB and optical and coaxial connections?
Maybe try planing music files with Foobar2000 (w/WASAPI installed)?

Check out the audio-GD DAC/amps..
http://www.audio-gd.com/Products-EN.htm

 

[AquaGeneral]

Just to make sure it's an Essence One issue and not a PC issue.
With the Essence One, have you tried the USB and optical and coaxial connections?
Maybe try planing music files with Foobar2000 (w/WASAPI installed)?

Check out the audio-GD DAC/amps..
http://www.audio-gd.com/Products-EN.htm

Yes I have been using the Essence One primarily with fooobar2000 with the ASIO "bit-perfect" plugin and the problem seems to be just as prevalent. Just then I tested between monitor TOSLINK output, USB (with and without the ASIO driver) and the TOSLINK cable directly in my motherboard and I am not able to notice any true difference.

It's a good thing you got me to test this once again though - thanks!

 

[AquaGeneral]

Just then I did an unusual comparison, my Asus Xonar Essnce One versus my iPhone X with my Sennheiser HD700. There were definetely things I liked more about the sound coming from the iPhone X over my full-on desktop DAC + amp! For what the iPhone X lacked in detail was ostensibly made up for with the softer, less ragged/sharp sound. I also remember the case being similar to using my motherboard's built-in audio chipset output thing.

 

[PaganDL]

Thanks for the input PaganDL!

I guess those options you recommended are a good idea for no longer having to put up with my Xonar One Essence's harshness - however I do feel like I should just save up instead of buying anything inbetween. Though I will definetely keep this in mind for now on.

As silly as it sounds I didn't really think about actually going out to hi-fi shops, etc to demo gear.

My day's going very well already thanks

Hi @AquaGeneral,

Just curious, what is there in between about a computer interface, which is essentially a very good external & portable (if necessary) soundcard for outputing good audio.
All I stated was start with a computer interface & go from there, the rest is obviously up to you.
Most of the time, pro gear like this is unavailable for demo anyway though as a general rule, demo what you can anyway otherwise you're never going to know what's suitable for you.

Hope you have a great day !

 

[Redcarmoose]

Of course I have to recommend one system truly love. The photograph shows the TA-ZH1ES DAC/Amp. Add to that the Sony Z1R headphone and the Sony MUC-B20SB1 Kimber cable and........Sony 1A DAP.

I recommend this system due to it’s ease of use and flexibility. Going on a trip take your Z1R, Kimber cable and 1A DAP. You have all your music in one place. The DAC/Amp can be used as a preamp out to a poweramp speaker set up, or line out to a preamp. It accepts input of SPDIF Toslink optical or digital RCA. Also accepts analog RCA in. Has 4.4 balanced out, 4 pin XLR balanced, 3.5mm X 2 balanced and single 3.5mm single ended, as well as 1/4 inch.

The encoder accepts any DSD also has analog DSD upscale as well as digital DSD upscale for any file quality. I listen to 320kbps upscaled to DSD all day long.

The system will be over $1000 more than you want to spend, but hay?.......This is Head-Fi.

Get yourself a chance to hear the combo as it does all your musical genres perfect; even Opera. The Z1R is going to have a pretty much diametrically opposed signature to the HD800S, but I really like a system with authority and dynamics. It’s not going to beat the HD800S in imaging or soundstage, but overall there is an indescribable tone, like listening to speakers in a room.

But be aware the reason I added the DAP is you may find the DAP sounds better than USB from your computer. Though if you wanted to get the DAP later you will find the computer sounds fantastic and you will come right at budget. Cheers!


Edit:
Note picture shows Sony Z7 not Z1R and 1Z DAP not 1A.

A far as future-proof, nothing is. If you like 16bit-44.1kHz then that’s going to be around for awhile. Probibly the best feature about the TA DAC/Amp is the assortment of outputs, allowing you to always have a way to go with whatever headphone you buy in the future. Also the amp is dead quiet if you choose to use IEMs in the future.