[jp_zer0]

150-200$ used would be cool. I rather closed all things being equal.

I do not want anything that comes close to being muddy. I like my mids and highs. Kind of like a full-size equivalent of the hifiman RE0.

I'm looking at the Shure 440/840, AKG K240/K271 and Alessandro MS1 for now.

 

[Raez]

You're doing it wrong, you're doing it wrong!

 

[jp_zer0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raez /img/forum/go_quote.gif You're doing it wrong, you're doing it wrong!

huh?

 

[Cosmonaut]

If I'm understanding him, he's talking about the fact you're trying to match your headphones to an amp, rather than the other way around. I could be wrong, though.

 

[Raez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmonaut /img/forum/go_quote.gif If I'm understanding him, he's talking about the fact you're trying to match your headphones to an amp, rather than the other way around. I could be wrong, though.

Hehe, sorry, couldn't resist. Yeah, you're right.

I just can't figure out why you'd want to match headphones to an amp, especially a cheap one like that? Find a CAN that sounds good to you, then find your amp. BTW, amps amplify the signal GOING TO YOUR CANS.

 

[jp_zer0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmonaut /img/forum/go_quote.gif If I'm understanding him, he's talking about the fact you're trying to match your headphones to an amp, rather than the other way around. I could be wrong, though.

That's what I'm thinking. I just don't see how it's a big deal. I just wanna have the HF2 around to power my headphone collection. Multiple cans will connect to it so the EF2 is more fundamental to the system.

 

[jp_zer0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raez /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hehe, sorry, couldn't resist. Yeah, you're right. I just can't figure out why you'd want to match headphones to an amp, especially a cheap one like that? Find a CAN that sounds good to you, then find your amp. BTW, amps amplify the signal GOING TO YOUR CANS.

It's pretty much the only full-size dac/amp that I can afford so my hands are tied at this point. Not at liberty to try any cans before I buy them either, the shops around here lack horribly in variety and don't let you try them on.

 

[Raez]

Ehhh, ney. I can think of one example off the top of my head, which is the Maverick Audio D1, gaining popularity day by day. You need to do more research man, way more options than you think, ESPECIALLY USED. You're asking the wrong question.

 

[jp_zer0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raez /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ehhh, ney. I can think of one example off the top of my head, which is the Maverick Audio D1, gaining popularity day by day. You need to do more research man, way more options than you think, ESPECIALLY USED. You're asking the wrong question.

Does it affect my headphone choice that much if I go for the maverick instead of the EF2?

I'm not trying to match per se, just making sure my amp can drive the cans I'm about to buy. Matching is icing on the cake.

 

[roker]

Figure out the sound you want, your total budget, then buy the appropriate equipment to match it. I don't think there's anything wrong with having an amp in mind first, just make that the headphones that match it are the sound you're looking for.

 

[Ham Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp_zer0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do not want anything that comes close to being muddy. I like my mids and highs. Kind of like a full-size equivalent of the hifiman RE0.

You may want to rethink or re-research the EF2. I have only listened to the EF2 at a meet. My impression was that the EF2 was giving the tube sound at the expense of detail and clarity. That's another way of saying it was a bit muddy. That could also be a factor of the particular tube used (it wasn't the stock tube). I listened to it with my stock Denon D2000, a modified Denon D2000, and my HD600. I didn't like what it did to my D2000 cause it blurred the details that I knew were in the recording. I especially didn't like what it did to my HD600. The HD600 were more lifeless than normal. I much prefer the sound I get from my solid-state x-head amp. The x-head lets the details through and also drives the HD600 better with more kick.

 

[foaming at the ears]

I understand your situation, jp_zero, and I also think roker and raez are looking out for your best interest as opposed to criticizing you. Let's say that the sound you want (whatever that sound may be) are best produced by headphones A, B, and C, and the EF2 can adequately amp D, E, F, G, H, I, ...., Z, or basically every headphone that you're not "interested" in. Then you're kind of in a rut. This is unlikely, but such a scenario could involve you liking only an ortho's sound signature, in which case the EF2 may be inadequate and, therefore, a mistake.

But realistically, FWIR, the EF2 can amp a large number of headphones out there, so you're likely not to be completely screwed in your decision to go with the EF2 "blindly". HeadphoneAddict has written a review on the EF2, along with many other posters, so there are certainly headphone synergies to be read about (perhaps more so in the Amps section than this one). Unfortunately I can't give you any insight on the EF2 or any of the headphones that you're curious about (so to you this is probably a useless post)... in any case, best of luck in your solicitations for info!

 

[Cosmonaut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ham Sandwich /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may want to rethink or re-research the EF2. I have only listened to the EF2 at a meet. My impression was that the EF2 was giving the tube sound at the expense of detail and clarity. That's another way of saying it was a bit muddy. That could also be a factor of the particular tube used (it wasn't the stock tube). I listened to it with my stock Denon D2000, a modified Denon D2000, and my HD600. I didn't like what it did to my D2000 cause it blurred the details that I knew were in the recording. I especially didn't like what it did to my HD600. The HD600 were more lifeless than normal. I much prefer the sound I get from my solid-state x-head amp. The x-head lets the details through and also drives the HD600 better with more kick.

that's useful knowledge because i have a pair of modded d2000's coming and was considering my dac/amp options for ~200 dollars. now that that's out of the question do you know if the maverick, emerald, or something completely different would work well with them?

 

[somestranger26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ham Sandwich /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may want to rethink or re-research the EF2. I have only listened to the EF2 at a meet. My impression was that the EF2 was giving the tube sound at the expense of detail and clarity. That's another way of saying it was a bit muddy. That could also be a factor of the particular tube used (it wasn't the stock tube). I listened to it with my stock Denon D2000, a modified Denon D2000, and my HD600. I didn't like what it did to my D2000 cause it blurred the details that I knew were in the recording. I especially didn't like what it did to my HD600. The HD600 were more lifeless than normal. I much prefer the sound I get from my solid-state x-head amp. The x-head lets the details through and also drives the HD600 better with more kick.

Tubes do sound like a possible culprit here. I bought my friend a pair of CV4010 for his EF2 and he couldn't stop telling me how improved the detail in particular improved. I did find the EF-2 a bit veiled out of the PRO 900 but still thought it had plenty of detail. This veil was only present when using the built-in DAC though, and it may have needed further burn-in.

 

[jp_zer0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ham Sandwich /img/forum/go_quote.gif You may want to rethink or re-research the EF2. I have only listened to the EF2 at a meet. My impression was that the EF2 was giving the tube sound at the expense of detail and clarity. That's another way of saying it was a bit muddy. That could also be a factor of the particular tube used (it wasn't the stock tube). I listened to it with my stock Denon D2000, a modified Denon D2000, and my HD600. I didn't like what it did to my D2000 cause it blurred the details that I knew were in the recording. I especially didn't like what it did to my HD600. The HD600 were more lifeless than normal. I much prefer the sound I get from my solid-state x-head amp. The x-head lets the details through and also drives the HD600 better with more kick.

x-head AV123 doesn't have a DAC though. It's gonna be at least 100$ more expensive than what I'm looking at.
Quote:

Originally Posted by foaming at the ears /img/forum/go_quote.gif I understand your situation, jp_zero, and I also think roker and raez are looking out for your best interest as opposed to criticizing you. Let's say that the sound you want (whatever that sound may be) are best produced by headphones A, B, and C, and the EF2 can adequately amp D, E, F, G, H, I, ...., Z, or basically every headphone that you're not "interested" in. Then you're kind of in a rut. This is unlikely, but such a scenario could involve you liking only an ortho's sound signature, in which case the EF2 may be inadequate and, therefore, a mistake. But realistically, FWIR, the EF2 can amp a large number of headphones out there, so you're likely not to be completely screwed in your decision to go with the EF2 "blindly". HeadphoneAddict has written a review on the EF2, along with many other posters, so there are certainly headphone synergies to be read about (perhaps more so in the Amps section than this one). Unfortunately I can't give you any insight on the EF2 or any of the headphones that you're curious about (so to you this is probably a useless post)... in any case, best of luck in your solicitations for info!

Thanks, I don't mind the criticism at all though. Just that I had received more paternalism than arguments.

I had an eye on the orthos but the cheap ones either don't look comfortable or have anemic bass. (I don't know much about them, so feel free to recommend any.) The newer models like the HE-5 are way outta my price range and the vintage Yamahas need a lot of modding and a pretty ridiculous amp. Not something I'm all too comfortable with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by somestranger26 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Tubes do sound like a possible culprit here. I bought my friend a pair of CV4010 for his EF2 and he couldn't stop telling me how improved the detail in particular improved. I did find the EF-2 a bit veiled out of the PRO 900 but still thought it had plenty of detail. This veil was only present when using the built-in DAC though, and it may have needed further burn-in.

Well I come from on-board sound.

I can always upgrade the DAC later right.