[Kaluminati]

What would you all suggest be my next upgrade? Not anything crazy expensive. I was thinking a cable upgrade for the 650s? Or maybe a better DAC, although this one is very nice for having got it at $50 =D. Any suggestions welcome!

ps. my soundcard is an x-fi.

 

[facelvega]

why not try a headphone with a different sound signature? Otherwise, I guess it ought to be the DAC next, as you say. Does the number cruncher really sound better than the X-fi analog outs?

 

[Kaluminati]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif why not try a headphone with a different sound signature? Otherwise, I guess it ought to be the DAC next, as you say. Does the number cruncher really sound better than the X-fi analog outs?

I just got these cans, and I'm stickin with them; I love them

. I'd say it does sound slightly better than the analog outs yes.

 

[HFat]

Listen to your wise forum elders (although not every single one is wise!).
Your headphone is nice, yes. But others are nicer in other ways... it's not about better but about different. You'll never know what you're missing until you've tried.

But my advice isn't to sink more money into gear really... better use another precious commodity - your time - to broaden your musical horizons.

 

[terance]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Listen to your wise forum elders (although not every single one is wise!). Your headphone is nice, yes. But others are nicer in other ways... it's not about better but about different. You'll never know what you're missing until you've tried. But my advice isn't to sink more money into gear really... better use another precious commodity - your time - to broaden your musical horizons.

agreed

listen to all your music, and buy a bunch of new cds

 

[jbloudg20]

New CD's!

 

[tomb]

I'll buck the trend here, I guess: the PIMETA is not up to the capability of the Senn's. The Senn's take a prodigious amount of power production to really shine. They are best served by something with a powerful discrete output stage that slews lots of volts and is back by a powerful power supply. Something like the M3 or a DB-equipped Millett on a TREAD or STEPS is probably minimum. A Dyna-series or Amb's B22 would be even better.

I have the Millett's, an M3, and the PIMETA's. Grado's sound glorious with the PIMETA's, but there's no point in even connecting the Senn's after you've heard them through a powerful Millett/DB or better. The PIMETA will blow any CMoy away and run rings around even a PINT, but there's a power supply ceiling and output stage bias limit that it just can't overcome.

You've got a set of $300-$500 headphones, there. They will soak up that much amplifier investment and more and still come back saying, "Feed Me!" The nice thing is that you are rewarded more for it.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Your headphone is nice, yes. But others are nicer in other ways... it's not about better but about different. You'll never know what you're missing until you've tried. But my advice isn't to sink more money into gear really... better use another precious commodity - your time - to broaden your musical horizons.

hear, hear. Like HFat, I'm not saying get rid of your Senns, I'm saying add another pair that can cover other ground. But there's no rush, you can get a lot of good listening out of this rig as it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomb /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll buck the trend here, I guess: the PIMETA is not up to the capability of the Senn's.

This is interesting. I haven't tried a PIMETA, so I can't say.

 

[Kaluminati]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif hear, hear. Like HFat, I'm not saying get rid of your Senns, I'm saying add another pair that can cover other ground. But there's no rush, you can get a lot of good listening out of this rig as it is. This is interesting. I haven't tried a PIMETA, so I can't say.

Honestly I'm not the type who would like to have multiple cans. One is good enough for me, as I really only listen to a certain type of music. If I had 2, I'd most likely never listen to the other pair (which is happening right now) because I like one more than the other. I'm not a collector.

All in all, thanks for the suggestions!

 

[kramer5150]

IMHO you've hit the first point of diminishing returns. Sure theres room for improvement, but how much $$$ are you willing to sacrifice? Skip Senn cable upgrades, not worth the $$$ investment.

Just enjoy the tunes. Save your $$$.

$50 won't buy you much. Maybe some OP amps? But if youre already happy with the sound of your rig, even that could be a waste of $$$.

For $50... Diana Krall - Live in Paris, Dire straits - Brothers in Arms, Clapton unplugged. All are stellar recordings that sound huge on Senns.

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaluminati /img/forum/go_quote.gif Honestly I'm not the type who would like to have multiple cans. One is good enough for me, as I really only listen to a certain type of music. If I had 2, I'd most likely never listen to the other pair (which is happening right now) because I like one more than the other. I'm not a collector. All in all, thanks for the suggestions!

I don't like the idea of multiple headphones either, but the point is to help you find the sound that is just right for you. What you're hearing right now may sound perfect, but that may just be because you haven't heard anything else (Why do you think all those iPod users don't complain about their iPod earbuds?).

Everyone's tastes differ, that's why it's important to listen to as many headphones as possible before just settling down on the first one you hear.