[supermannick]

hey guys,
 
just recently joined the forum and hope you guys could help me out.
 
i was thinking to upgrade to a good pair of cans under $1000, but i dont want to spend more than i need...
I use mainly with my laptop and iPod (planning to get a digital audio player ) with the Fiio E17
listening to a bit of everything really... good base would be nice..
 
and i have been looking around and currently down to these choices
 
Denon D7100 - on discount at the moment around $700
 
Beyer T1 and T90
 
Hifiman HE 600 and HE 6
 
Audeze LCD-2
 
Also it would be great if anyone could recomend a good portable digital audio player...
 
many thanks for the help.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
Based on what your source is and what you're looking for, the D7100 would be it.
 
Alternatively, the Mr Speaker Mad Dog or Hifiman HE-400.
 
Those other headphones need quite a bit more than what you have source-wise, so your cost goes up quite a bit (like +$500 easily for a decent DAC/AMP setup for the rest, especially the Orthos).
 
Very best,

 

[supermannick]

mal,
 
what other DAC/AMP setup do u recommend ?

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

mal,
 
what other DAC/AMP setup do u recommend ?

 
Heya,
 
If you go to a high end Ortho, I can't recommend enough how good a speaker amp is with them (HE500, HE6, LCD2). Headphone amps work, but a speaker amp takes the orthos to a different world, better sound staging, better, deeper, controlled bass, the mids are essentially perfect. It's just a different experience, and a better one in my opinion at least. Speaker amps also cost less than headphone amps. You just get a balanced cable made with speaker taps to use with the speaker amps and you're good to go.
 
I recommend the Maverick TubeMagic D2 (tube-dac) with an Emotiva mini-x A-100 speaker amp. It's a budget friendly high powered setup that will power any ortho to it's limits.
 
Read more here.

Very best,