[betula]

Well said betula. Many times I have made cuts to other areas, and waited for months to buy soundgear whose budget was way above my monthly income. There comes a point where in the pursuit of constant upgrades, we lose the main reason we started this hobby, which is to simply enjoy music.

Today I ordered the AudioGd R2R 11, to accompany my Lcd 2 classics, which are a few days away from arriving. This headphone, dac/amp combo will be endgame for me, budget wise, as I am already stretching the situation! Now this waiting period is the worst!

Endgame does not exist my friend. It is a notion we use to justify our present purchases due to our lack of knowledge in higher-end gear.

 

[kospan]

I agree on the part that we use the term endgame to justify our purchases. Regarding higher end gear, I know of their existence, and have occasionally taken a taste of their greatness, although, I would need to hit the jackpot to own them.

 

[betula]

I agree on the part that we use the term endgame to justify our purchases. Regarding higher end gear, I know of their existence, and have occasionally taken a taste of their greatness, although, I would need to hit the jackpot to own them.

£100K gear over a £10K gear might just be a 10% objective improvement for most listeners. Worth is very relative was my main point.

 

[probert10]

Betula, let us know what you think of the RME/789/LCD2C combo. I love the 789, but I have no experience with high end DACs or amps, so I'm curious about you're take.

 

[betula]

Betula, let us know what you think of the RME/789/LCD2C combo. I love the 789, but I have no experience with high end DACs or amps, so I'm curious about you're take.

I will, but headphones make the biggest difference. I think 50% of your investment should be in headphones and 25-25% in DAC/amps as a general rule. Personal preference can heavily bend this rule though.

 

[Slim1970]

I am sharing this as fellow audio enthusiasts might learn something from the story:

I have basically overspent on audio in the last year and after realising it now I am in heavy downgrading phase (at least for now). I enjoyed my beautiful combo of the Hugo TT2 and Empyrean for 10 entire months. After auditioning the TT2/MScaler/Empyrean (£8000) I was mesmerised. I wanted to have it. I was coming from Qutest/CMA600i/LCD2C at the time. I preferred the TT2/MScaler combo with the Empyrean versus other flagship headphones I auditioned the same time like the HD800S, HE1000V2, ZMF Verite and Auteur or LCD4.

An £8000 combo with the MScaler was definitely out of my budget so I decided to save up for the TT2/Empyrean combo at least which was already a huge financial stretch for me back then. An unreasonably huge stretch if I am honest.

So I decided to go downgrade route and be more reasonable with my spending in life. Life is not just headphones, isn't it?

Now I am rocking the LCD2C again (old time favourite) this time with the RME-ADI2 DAC. I was unable to keep completely still though and ordered a THX-789 arriving in a week. Couldn't resist that price ($300) and everyone is saying the RME is held back by its amp section. We shall see.
Even this trio cost less than third of my previous (half)dream combo. This is a difficult game to find your perfect position in the triangle of personal budget, level of audio addiction and value for money. I might not be at my ideal spot in the triangle yet, but I am getting there.

Luckily the buyer of my TT2 will bring along his Arya (and Susvara and LCD3) so we are going to have a small private CanJam in a few days. The Arya has been on my radar since its release but have never heard it. (I did own the Edition XV2 though and auditioned the HE1000V2).

I am pretty sure I will stick with the RME for now (and the THX-789 if I like it enough). But The bug is already biting me from the inside to consider the Arya or simply purchase a secondhand Final D8000. The D8000 seems to have the perfect bass (according to reviews) which is my main focus in my audio addiction. (Yeah, I know Abyss... But that's more than twice the price of a secondhand D8000.)

For now my downgrading project led me to RME-ADI2 with LCD2C and THX-789 arriving next week.

In a few days I will have a chance to try the Arya finally, and even if I go total crazy again and get a secondhand D8000 my combo of the RME-ADI2/THX-789/D8000 (£3100) would still cost half the price of my previous TT2/Empy pairing (£6300). If I choose the Arya, even less (£2100). If I choose to stick with the LCD2C, even less than that (£1700).

Whether the sound improvements really worth it for you depends on a lot of factors. Budget most of all. I have heard somewhere, that your audio equipment shouldn't cost more than fifth of your saved money on your bank account. I think it is a pretty good guideline.
Most high-end audio equipment aim to represent sound as lifelike as possible. If you mostly listen to EDM you might be happy with good mid-fi equipment. High-end to my experience is really about lifelike vocals and instruments. You might not want to spend another £$€ 5000 for a 20% improvement in realism when you mainly listen to electronic ambient on your £2K system. Food for thought. We all are on a journey.

Yes, the TT2 with Empy sounds much more lifelike and much more spacious than the 2C out of the RME. But it comes down to my previously mentioned triangle. Budget: can you really afford it without a second thought? How important music listening really is in your life? Are you getting the most out of your money for your personal needs?

It is all about discovery. Reviews and threads are only helpful to a certain extent. You must try it yourself! You must fail and admit. You must go ahead. All audio journeys are personal. But we all are pursuing the same mirage of perfect sound that doesn't exist. It is a pursue for the best sound. Forget the goal and focus on the journey is my advice.

You've had some great gear. This hobby IS all about finding what sounds good to you. It is no doubt a journey and new head-fiers just getting into headphones should take note. I've spent I don't know how much on gear. Only to turn right around and sell it or trade it in for the next best thing. To then conclude that the next best thing is only different not necessarily better.

The headphones in my collection are the summation of my journey. As I've owned or heard just about all of them. I like what you've said about getting the headphones first as that is the way I've done it. Finding the right amp and DAC to get the best out them is the second part of the journey. It's just as difficult finding just one amp or just one DAC that gives you the best synergy with enough drive to get the most out of all your headphones. This is why I have multiple amp, DACs, and headphones in different price points. As there is definitely no such thing as end game unfortuantely....

 

[drews]

Betula, let us know what you think of the RME/789/LCD2C combo. I love the 789, but I have no experience with high end DACs or amps, so I'm curious about you're take.

I think he'll enjoy it...

 

[Tuneslover]

I ran cables out of the THX AAA 789's pre-outs into the inputs on my Lake People G109S and man the 109S never sounded so good.

 

[probert10]

I think he'll enjoy it...

Sick! Hockey guy too!

 

[probert10]

You've had some great gear. This hobby IS all about finding what sounds good to you. It is no doubt a journey and new head-fiers just getting into headphones should take note. I've spent I don't know how much on gear. Only to turn right around and sell it or trade it in for the next best thing. To then conclude that the next best thing is only different not necessarily better.

The headphones in my collection are the summation of my journey. As I've owned or heard just about all of them. I like what you've said about getting the headphones first as that is the way I've done it. Finding the right amp and DAC to get the best out them is the second part of the journey. It's just as difficult finding just one amp or just one DAC that gives you the best synergy with enough drive to get the most out of all your headphones. This is why I have multiple amp, DACs, and headphones in different price points. As there is definitely no such thing as end game unfortuantely....

You my friend have and have had some serious gear, impressive! I just looked up your headphone rankings, which was really insightful! Glad to hear you enjoy your HP-3, I have a pair on the way.

 

[jmills8]

I am sharing this as fellow audio enthusiasts might learn something from the story:

I have basically overspent on audio in the last year and after realising it now I am in heavy downgrading phase (at least for now). I enjoyed my beautiful combo of the Hugo TT2 and Empyrean for 10 entire months. After auditioning the TT2/MScaler/Empyrean (£8000) I was mesmerised. I wanted to have it. I was coming from Qutest/CMA600i/LCD2C at the time. I preferred the TT2/MScaler combo with the Empyrean versus other flagship headphones I auditioned the same time like the HD800S, HE1000V2, ZMF Verite and Auteur or LCD4.

An £8000 combo with the MScaler was definitely out of my budget so I decided to save up for the TT2/Empyrean combo at least which was already a huge financial stretch for me back then. An unreasonably huge stretch if I am honest.

So I decided to go downgrade route and be more reasonable with my spending in life. Life is not just headphones, isn't it?

Now I am rocking the LCD2C again (old time favourite) this time with the RME-ADI2 DAC. I was unable to keep completely still though and ordered a THX-789 arriving in a week. Couldn't resist that price ($300) and everyone is saying the RME is held back by its amp section. We shall see.
Even this trio cost less than third of my previous (half)dream combo. This is a difficult game to find your perfect position in the triangle of personal budget, level of audio addiction and value for money. I might not be at my ideal spot in the triangle yet, but I am getting there.

Luckily the buyer of my TT2 will bring along his Arya (and Susvara and LCD3) so we are going to have a small private CanJam in a few days. The Arya has been on my radar since its release but have never heard it. (I did own the Edition XV2 though and auditioned the HE1000V2).

I am pretty sure I will stick with the RME for now (and the THX-789 if I like it enough). But The bug is already biting me from the inside to consider the Arya or simply purchase a secondhand Final D8000. The D8000 seems to have the perfect bass (according to reviews) which is my main focus in my audio addiction. (Yeah, I know Abyss... But that's more than twice the price of a secondhand D8000.)

For now my downgrading project led me to RME-ADI2 with LCD2C and THX-789 arriving next week.

In a few days I will have a chance to try the Arya finally, and even if I go total crazy again and get a secondhand D8000 my combo of the RME-ADI2/THX-789/D8000 (£3100) would still cost half the price of my previous TT2/Empy pairing (£6300). If I choose the Arya, even less (£2100). If I choose to stick with the LCD2C, even less than that (£1700).

Whether the sound improvements really worth it for you depends on a lot of factors. Budget most of all. I have heard somewhere, that your audio equipment shouldn't cost more than fifth of your saved money on your bank account. I think it is a pretty good guideline.
Most high-end audio equipment aim to represent sound as lifelike as possible. If you mostly listen to EDM you might be happy with good mid-fi equipment. High-end to my experience is really about lifelike vocals and instruments. You might not want to spend another £$€ 5000 for a 20% improvement in realism when you mainly listen to electronic ambient on your £2K system. Food for thought. We all are on a journey.

Yes, the TT2 with Empy sounds much more lifelike and much more spacious than the 2C out of the RME. But it comes down to my previously mentioned triangle. Budget: can you really afford it without a second thought? How important music listening really is in your life? Are you getting the most out of your money for your personal needs?

It is all about discovery. Reviews and threads are only helpful to a certain extent. You must try it yourself! You must fail and admit. You must go ahead. All audio journeys are personal. But we all are pursuing the same mirage of perfect sound that doesn't exist. It is a pursue for the best sound. Forget the goal and focus on the journey is my advice.

So instead of spending big lumps at a time you making this hobby stretch by spending small amounts so in the long run the same was spent but one lasted longer ?

 

[Slim1970]

You my friend have and have had some serious gear, impressive! I just looked up your headphone rankings, which was really insightful! Glad to hear you enjoy your HP-3, I have a pair on the way.

Thanks, the HP-3's are one of my favorite headphones.

 

[betula]

So instead of spending big lumps at a time you making this hobby stretch by spending small amounts so in the long run the same was spent but one lasted longer ?

This hobby is about buying and selling. New headphones and amps will always appear that we want to try. Some are more expensive some are less.
Looking back at our last 5 years of audio spending would probably be a huge amount for all of us. Minimising loss is the best we can do.
Also, I don't consider it as 'loss'; loss (if any) to me is more like 'renting fee'.

 

[jmills8]

This hobby is about buying and selling. New headphones and amps will always appear that we want to try. Some are more expensive some are less.
Looking back at our last 5 years of audio spending would probably be a huge amount for all of us. Minimising loss is the best we can do.
Also, I don't consider it as 'loss'; loss (if any) to me is more like 'renting fee'.

Agree 10K rent per yr.

 

[der luda]

Endgame does not exist my friend. It is a notion we use to justify our present purchases due to our lack of knowledge in higher-end gear.

nice statement and she has her justification.

However, if you go about your hobby for more than 20..30 years, the purchases are well considered and they last longer