coastal1
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 12, 2015
- Posts
- 290
- Likes
- 27
New to headphones. Started w/ Sennheiser HD650 for $300. I've listened to them some with friend's FiiO E12, as well as as the iFi iCAN, and through my Onkyo home stereo A/V receiver. I really like the HD650 (though don't have much to compare them to except a few in-store listens).
From reading the Sennheiser impressions thread, it seems like there are a lot of people that swear by the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball amp, and a general consensus that they thrive on tube amps. I don't want to build that and seems like I could get it for ~$500+ new assembled from reputable source or save a couple hundred bucks and get it used. DAC would obviously be extra.
I'm not at all opposed to go this route, but as a hp newb I thought the headphones would be the most important part of the equation and thus the most expensive. I realize the HD650 can sound very good w/ a cheaper amp/DAC combo, but I think I will end up spending more in the long run if I go with a cheaper amp/DAC to start and then ultimately get the Crack anyways.
Is there a 'normal' or recommended allocation of budget between headphones, amp, and DAC? Would I be better served by returning the HD650 and buying more expensive hp (possibly lower impedence) and less expensive amp?
From reading the Sennheiser impressions thread, it seems like there are a lot of people that swear by the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball amp, and a general consensus that they thrive on tube amps. I don't want to build that and seems like I could get it for ~$500+ new assembled from reputable source or save a couple hundred bucks and get it used. DAC would obviously be extra.
I'm not at all opposed to go this route, but as a hp newb I thought the headphones would be the most important part of the equation and thus the most expensive. I realize the HD650 can sound very good w/ a cheaper amp/DAC combo, but I think I will end up spending more in the long run if I go with a cheaper amp/DAC to start and then ultimately get the Crack anyways.
Is there a 'normal' or recommended allocation of budget between headphones, amp, and DAC? Would I be better served by returning the HD650 and buying more expensive hp (possibly lower impedence) and less expensive amp?