- Joined
- Feb 8, 2008
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(hopefully this is the right forum)
Alright, so at the most basic level I understand that the chain works like: music track/format --> player -->DAC/Amp (optional, can be part of previous step) --> headphones.
I feel like I totally have the headphones part down -- both what I own already and what I'm going to purchase. However, I'm also trying to figure out what my options are in the chain before that.
Right now I'm an Apple guy. I have an ipod for working out...an iPhone 5s...and then a MacBook Air both at home and at the office. I'm NOT looking to change anything at home or the office -- at work I just have my Air going into my Micca Origen into my desktop speakers. I just stream at ambient levels so don't need the best of the best.
What I'm curious about is how to get the best headphone listening either at home or during travel.
My iTunes library is about 5,000 songs so decent investment there. Of course it runs the gamut from old MP3s to modern AACs, with bit rate jumping from 192 to 256 to 320 depending on how/where I got it. I'm also a subscriber to Apple Music, and while they don't have hi-fidelity streaming now I understand their intent is to unveil it in 2016 sometime?
Anyhoo, what should I think about in regards to getting great sound into my headphones at home & portable?
*I'm not recommending that specific model -- I just saw it on MassDrop today, which prompted me to be curious about my options.
I'm sure I'm oversimplifying, but I don't want to get into the minutiae like replaceable cords/earpad mods/etc. I mostly want to understand what the best options for me are based on my current "ecosystem"...how I want to use it...etc.
Fire away! Thanks.
Alright, so at the most basic level I understand that the chain works like: music track/format --> player -->DAC/Amp (optional, can be part of previous step) --> headphones.
I feel like I totally have the headphones part down -- both what I own already and what I'm going to purchase. However, I'm also trying to figure out what my options are in the chain before that.
Right now I'm an Apple guy. I have an ipod for working out...an iPhone 5s...and then a MacBook Air both at home and at the office. I'm NOT looking to change anything at home or the office -- at work I just have my Air going into my Micca Origen into my desktop speakers. I just stream at ambient levels so don't need the best of the best.
What I'm curious about is how to get the best headphone listening either at home or during travel.
My iTunes library is about 5,000 songs so decent investment there. Of course it runs the gamut from old MP3s to modern AACs, with bit rate jumping from 192 to 256 to 320 depending on how/where I got it. I'm also a subscriber to Apple Music, and while they don't have hi-fidelity streaming now I understand their intent is to unveil it in 2016 sometime?
Anyhoo, what should I think about in regards to getting great sound into my headphones at home & portable?
- Keep Apple devices/subscriptions overall...get a portable DAC separate than the Micca...then into nice headphones?
- Keep Apple devices overall...cut the subscription and subscribe to Tidal instead...DAC...then into nice headphones?
- Keep your Apple but not longer buy from iTunes...purchase music from HDTracks...get app like Tune Shell to support FLACs...DAC...then into nice headphones?
- Keep Apple because it's already your computer/phone...but purchase dedicated music player (like Xuelin IHIFI770C* or something)...purchase music from HDTracks...then a DAC is not necessary if I'm understanding correctly...then into nice headphones?
*I'm not recommending that specific model -- I just saw it on MassDrop today, which prompted me to be curious about my options.
I'm sure I'm oversimplifying, but I don't want to get into the minutiae like replaceable cords/earpad mods/etc. I mostly want to understand what the best options for me are based on my current "ecosystem"...how I want to use it...etc.
Fire away! Thanks.
