[normie610]

Haha sorry if I sounded sarcastic. It was a genuine question as I have no idea how much these setups cost

And it was a genuine answer

 

[Damz87]

The genuine answer is that a TOTL headphone setup is likely to be more expensive. With just a Chord DAVE (11k), Formula S/Powerman (7k) and an Abyss 1266 TC (starting at 5.5k), we are at triple your amount of 8k. And that's without any cables.

Who has anything iem related to bring us back on topic?

Thank you. That’s more what I was expecting price wise tbh. And $8k for an IEM setup would be at the very top end. Still curious to try out some headphones one day

 

[normie610]

Who has anything iem related to bring us back on topic?

Yep let’s get back to it. Although I believe Nick did venture into the headphone world and auditioned a few before he “retired” from this thread

 

[normie610]

Thank you. That’s more what I was expecting price wise tbh. And $8k for an IEM setup would be at the very top end. Still curious to try out some headphones one day

Do let us know when that day comes

I think I spent around $9-10k with Erlky, WM1Z, Norne cable. But of course you can still go higher with the Bird + Orpheus + DMP combo, and that I think is the very top end IEM setup.

 

[toaster]

The genuine answer is that a TOTL headphone setup is likely to be more expensive. With just a Chord DAVE (11k), Formula S/Powerman (7k) and an Abyss 1266 TC (starting at 5.5k), we are at triple your amount of 8k. And that's without any cables.

Who has anything iem related to bring us back on topic?

sure!

bird - $6,600
orphy - $5,000
dmp z1 - $10,0000

ultimately though, average or even great iem or headphone setups are available for much more reasonable prices.

 

[CL14715]

Ahh the rabbit hole lol… I’m pretty happy with where the sound is for IEM’s at the moment. After hearing Traillii, EVO and other flagships I don’t know realistically how much further they can push things to create another improvement in the experience. Headphones or large arrays are the next chapter.

 

[Scubadevils]

I'm exploring buds next thanks to @ian91 - trying out the Blur 266 mx150ohm, being built and will ship out soon... very curious to sample the other end of the $$$ scale and different configuration in terms of a bud.

 

[Scorpio1957]

Speaking about the rabbit hole has anybody heard or own these?

 

[Lumithium]

Since this is a portable audio thread, I might as well ask it here.

I am currently in the market looking for a new Music player, since my SP1000m has started to have issues, the biggest one being AK most likely messed up the DAC filters in the latest firmware update for SP1000 and SP1000m and made the sound overly warm and muddy.

I have a few currently at my list, Shanling M8, DX300, LPGT, and also N6ii TI but no demos I think since it is the last one available. I have no experience on R2R DACs so I have no idea the special sauce in these

 

[Lumithium]

Speaking about the rabbit hole has anybody heard or own these?

@LabelH

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

Thank you. That’s more what I was expecting price wise tbh. And $8k for an IEM setup would be at the very top end. Still curious to try out some headphones one day

Yeah, but what Mat didn't say is you don't need TOTL headphone system to beat a TOTL IEM system. You can get a Schiit Bifrost 2 R2R ladder DAC for $699 and a THX AAA789 transparent solid state amp for $320 and it will outperform nearly all TOTL DAPs or portable rigs.

You don't need a Susvara or Abyss AB 1266 Phi TC to outperform every IEM in the industry. A Hifiman HE1000SE that you can get for under $3000 is better than every IEM in the market by a significant margin.

A $2500 tube amp like a McIntosh MHA200 provides holographic imaging like no IEM has ever delivered.

Headphone systems just scale up from there.

Portability is a very expensive feature set.

 

[toaster]

Speaking about the rabbit hole has anybody heard or own these?

@MrLocoLuciano

 

[gLer]

Yeah, but what Mat didn't say is you don't need TOTL headphone system to beat a TOTL IEM system. You can get a Schiit Bifrost 2 R2R ladder DAC for $699 and a THX AAA789 transparent solid state amp for $320 and it will outperform nearly all TOTL DAPs or portable rigs.

You don't need a Susvara or Abyss AB 1266 Phi TC to outperform every IEM in the industry. A Hifiman HE1000SE that you can get for under $3000 is better than every IEM in the market by a significant margin.

A $2500 tube amp like a McIntosh MHA200 provides holographic imaging like no IEM has ever delivered.

Headphone systems just scale up from there.

Portability is a very expensive feature set.

I think a 1:1 comparison between IEMs and headphones is almost impossible. Been there, done that, prefer IEMs (by some margin). But that's a debate we can engage in for hours on end without resolution, so let's just say preference comes into play too, not just portability.

 

[aaf evo]

Why not have both? I probably won’t like headphone usage. If not then at least I can say I tried. If I do then well I’m going to need to find that street corner @Damz87 works on for extra income.

You can’t beat the convenience of IEMs though. Currently using A12t straight from my iPhone dongle and it’s just incredible.

 

[Frankie D]

But wouldn't people in headphone world spend "cable" money on fancy desktop tube amps? And those amps lead you down the path of another rabbit hole with crazy thick and equally expensive power supply cables?

Yeah, but what Mat didn't say is you don't need TOTL headphone system to beat a TOTL IEM system. You can get a Schiit Bifrost 2 R2R ladder DAC for $699 and a THX AAA789 transparent solid state amp for $320 and it will outperform nearly all TOTL DAPs or portable rigs.

You don't need a Susvara or Abyss AB 1266 Phi TC to outperform every IEM in the industry. A Hifiman HE1000SE that you can get for under $3000 is better than every IEM in the market by a significant margin.

A $2500 tube amp like a McIntosh MHA200 provides holographic imaging like no IEM has ever delivered.

Headphone systems just scale up from there.

Portability is a very expensive feature set.

Can that McIntosh MHA200 properly drive the Abyss and also IEM’s?