[Martyn]

Hi,

I am new to high quality headphones and headphone amplifiers and would greatly appreciate any advice on the following:

Following positive reviews of the Rega Ear I have decided to purchase this amplifier for use with my PC. I listen to popular, rap and occasionally classical music via CD or mp3.

I am having difficulty choosing between Grado SR 125 (£129), Grado SR 225 (£169) or Sennheiser HD 600 (£120). I have found that Hi-Fi dealers tend to promote the brand that they currently have in stock.

Which headphone would produce the optimum sound quality for my musical preferences when used with the Rega Ear connected to a PC with high quality cables? I have very briefly auditioned the Grado SR 125 with the Rega Ear connected to a Rega Jupiter CD player and found the sound quality to be well balanced and not overwhelmed with bass. The Grados were light and comfortable but the ear pads seemed flimsy. Has anyone auditioned the Sennheiser HD 600 with the Rega Ear? If so, I would like some comments.

Is there likely to be a noticeable improvement in sound quality over my existing Sennheiser HD 497 connected directly to the sound card?

Budget is an issue; I would like to spend less than £260 in total. Unfortunately, this means that I cannot afford the newly released Musical Fidelity X-Can V3. The Sennheiser HD 600s are currently cheap as I am informed that the HD 650s will be released in the UK in October.

In the future I hope to purchase a superior source. I appreciate that a PC soundcard and mp3s are not ideal.

Apologies in advance if this discussion has taken place before.

Many thanks,


Martyn

 

[tom hankins]

I've used the Senn. Hd600 and the Grado RS-1 and MS2's with my Rega ear and the amp worked well with all three. I liked the HD600 more than either of the Grados, but that was more about the headphones than the amp. At the prices you showed I think the HD600 would be a better deal than the Grado 125, or 225.

 

[Beagle]

I like all my headphones with the Ear. HD600 works well because 1) the Ear has sufficient gain, and 2) the Ear does not dip in the upper midrange and 'fills out' the HD600 nicely. Also, the Ear has clean and tidy bass. HD600 tends to sound a bit foggy or indistinct in the bottom and the Ear helps with this.

 

[Carlos3]

The Rega Ear was voiced to the Sennheiser HD 600/580.