What is your preferred sound signature? Also your headphone and Amp? Without knowing these any suggestions would be futile
The sound I prefer, I think, can be described as analytical, with a hint of warmth.
The music I listed to the most is Orchestral and Opera and also the likes of Ren Harvieu, Norah Jones, Eric Clapton.
Every now and then, I also listen to punchy electronics or even metal, but I'd rather fine-tune my hifi setup to classics than tehno and metal.
The best headphones I've listened to are: HD800s, the HEDD headphone (the one I listened to was a pre-prod prototype) and Fostex TH900 Mk2. I have yet to find a planar or especially electrostat that I like, though Audeze LCD-4 came really close.
The best DACs / amps I've listened to are:
1) The best system by a mile that I've ever listened to: Hugo TT 2 + M-scaler + Fostex TH900 Mk2. It was like an angel whispering in my ear. Right next to it, there was the Dave. I unplugged the TH900 from the TT and plugged them into the Dave and it was not nearly as magical. Btw, I dound the sound of the Dave similar to that of dCS
Bartók - smooth as silk, pure as a baby's tear but not engaging.
2) the HEDD headphone (a pre-prod prototype) with Hugo 2. Also tried it Mytek Brooklyn, which was close but not as good as the Hugo 2 to my ear. That headphone is a game changer, a miracle.
3) The HD800s with Chord Mojo. The two together get on like house on fire, despite the HD800s being picky about its amplification. I bought my Mojo the day after listening to this combination. But my Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart is just not on the same level as the HD800s.
I will buy an HD800s soon.
