[mralexosborn]

Let me preface this post with this: My birthday is coming up.
 
Now $300 is stretching it but it is achievable since it is toward my first REAL headphone setup. $200 would be best but once again $300 is doable.
 
I listen to most everything around the spectrum. I want tight bass and breath taking treble. (I am thinking the MS1)
I also need a DAC due to my crappy onboard soundcard. I was thinking the uDac-2.
 
Is the uDac a good enough DAC that I could pair it with a good amp later and enjoy high(er) end 'phones like the HD650 or K702?
 
Please help, I just want to decide what I want!
 
Once again, $200 is ideal, but $300 is (barely) doable.

 

[TheWuss]

yeah.  even if you step up amps, the dac section of the udac should still serve you well with all the mid-range headphones.
the MS1 and udac sounds like a nice kit.
the grado SR225i would be a small step up from there, and slightly different sound to the MS1.
do a search for those headphones as well and see what you can find out...
 
happy birthday in advance!

 

[mralexosborn]

I was thinking no to the SR225 because supposedly the MS1 has similar sound signature (laid back version of other Grado's) but it is twice as much. The MS1 look promising because it has the Grado sound for rock but is good with other genre's as well.

 

[mythless]

Hrmmm, maybe the some denon or audio technica might suit your fancy.  Amd, for some odd reason I have an odd notion to ultrasone atm, haha been listening to my O-Ones too much, need to switch to the bulky denons!

 

[mralexosborn]

Quote:

Hrmmm, maybe the some denon or audio technica might suit your fancy.  Amd, for some odd reason I have an odd notion to ultrasone atm, haha been listening to my O-Ones too much, need to switch to the bulky denons!

I love the ambiguity!

 

[pokey9000]

Start with the phones themselves and try some out before you make any purchases.  Go to a meetup.  Call up local pro audio shops and ask about selection and if you can try in-store.  The truth is that for all of the people around here that insist that one model or another is the ultimate end-all-be-all headphone, all that matters is what sounds good to you playing your music.  Also don't forget comfort.  You don't want to drop $300 on a setup that you don't want to use for more than a few minutes at a time.
 
Asus Xonar PCI/PCIe cards are typically a good value since even the cheaper ones have an impressive SNR.  I snagged a Xonar DX a few weeks back for $60 after rebate.  The onboard DAC and amp is good enough to tide you over until you're ready to drop a few hundred on each, and it has SP/DIF out for when you're ready to upgrade to a discrete DAC & amp.  The Dolby Headphone and EAX emulation are a nice touch too if you ever plan to play games.
 

 

[mralexosborn]

Well, I don't want a soundcard. They cost more than a DAC for about the same quality, I use speakers out of my optical port already, so no use.
I have only ONE decent HiFi shop, and he only sells Grado's and he is 50 miles out. 
So I am screwed. 

 

[mralexosborn]

HELP ME PLEEZ!

 

[mythless]

lol, well what type of music do you listen too?

 

[mralexosborn]

I listen most anything but would love something that is best with Metallica and Nirvana type of music. I will get other headphones for electronic and rap later. I would rather have an army of specialists.

 

[KneelJung]

I agree with Wuss that would be a nice setup. I have a uDAC and a pair of SR60's that sound really good together. I just got done auditioning a pair of SR225's from headroom but reluctantly sent them back. Not because I didnt like them, they sounded a lot better than my 60's. that I like a lot too; but in the end even though they sounded better (noticeably better), they still sounded too much the same. So I'm waiting on some Denon d2000's now.
 
I've never heard the MS1's but from everything I've read about them they are a step up from the 60's and have replaced the 225's as the bang for your buck Grado; and the amp section of the uDAC 2 is supposed to be better than the uDAC's. So by my estimation if you go with what your thinking you would have a rig similar to mine but better, on the lower side of what your willing to spend; and like I said I like my set up now, even though I'm spending some money on new phones.

 

[mralexosborn]

So if I add an amp with a uDac the DAC won't hold my system back?

 

[mralexosborn]

!~@QR#$WUY^THB

 

[baka1969]

MS1 and the iBasso D2+ Boa = a nice setup.

 

[mythless]

If you can buy used, here is what you do and optical out on your computer somewhere.  Get the sparrow and and buy the O-Ones or any ultrasone (used from the forum), they are awesome for metal, just need a heck of a burn in time.  If you don't have an optical out the udac or whatever goodies you can find on the forum.  But, for metal O-Ones or Ultrasone, especially if you like to hear the guitars.