I was about to upgrade to HD600, but now the HE-400 is $299. What do I do?

[StanD]

  Thanks for the info StanD.  That is super helpful.
 
RE: price range.  Well, I don't really have limits.  I could (wife not withstanding) drop a few grand and be done with it.  However, where's the fun in that!  I'd much rather work my way up the food chain, building, matching, learning.  So, if all these parts are stepping stones then bang-for-the-buck is the factor.  
 
We'll find the marriage-price-ceiling soon enough.

Piss her off and you won't be needing headphones if she......
If you're willing to part with more moolah, look into the Hifiman HE-560's or the new Oppo PM-1 cans. In any case you can't go wrong with the venerable HD600's.
Good luck with the boss.

 

[SteveSound]

HE-560 is the direction I'm heading.  I think those are the cat's PJs.  Now I'll have to dream about the PM-1s too (gee thanks).   ~$1,000 is probably my personal upper limit anyway.
 
However, I don't think I'll appreciate that level yet.   Gotta sneak up on it.

 

[davidsh]

Vintage Stax!
That's appreciable

 

[StanD]

  HE-560 is the direction I'm heading.  I think those are the cat's PJs.  Now I'll have to dream about the PM-1s too (gee thanks).   ~$1,000 is probably my personal upper limit anyway.
 
However, I don't think I'll appreciate that level yet.   Gotta sneak up on it.

Don't sell yourself short. 

 One's ears learn quickly when motivated.

 

[StanD]

Vintage Stax!
That's appreciable

You must be a divorce lawyer that's looking for some work. 

 

[Makiah S]

  The HE-400 isn't an oddball in that it's a low impedance planar, it's an oddball in its soundsiagnture, which is to say it's very linear from bass to midrange, recessed in the upper midrange/lower treble, and a good bit above neutral in the upper treble.  It's a signature that you'll either love or hate.  The HD600 is far more neutral and a safer bet for a blind upgrade, plus the crack+600/650 pairing is well-known. 

Yeap, the HE 400 is very love or hate... I wasn't a fan of it my self sadly. Ironically I enjoyed the HE 4 much more but... well the HE 4 needs a little more power than the HD 600 does... so there's that but if you liked the EF3 and HE 300 sound signiture... I hate to through this out there, but you might really like the DT 880 and Schiit Vali combo, or you could try building one of the Millet Hybrid Tubes, I had one that I liked with the DT 880
 
Still... you've already head the HD 600 so I might stick with that path, sadly I like the polar oppisite sound signiture as you do lol, I like "sterile headphones and amps" sterile using the words of others, others who feel the HD 600 is the oppisite of "sterile" 
 
Ehm, but if you can get a pair of HE 400's to demo or to be able to return that might be a way to go, still the HD 600 might be a safer bet 

 

[SteveSound]

  Yeap, the HE 400 is very love or hate... I wasn't a fan of it my self sadly. Ironically I enjoyed the HE 4 much more but... well the HE 4 needs a little more power than the HD 600 does... so there's that but if you liked the EF3 and HE 300 sound signiture... I hate to through this out there, but you might really like the DT 880 and Schiit Vali combo, or you could try building one of the Millet Hybrid Tubes, I had one that I liked with the DT 880
 
Still... you've already head the HD 600 so I might stick with that path, sadly I like the polar oppisite sound signiture as you do lol, I like "sterile headphones and amps" sterile using the words of others, others who feel the HD 600 is the oppisite of "sterile" 
 
Ehm, but if you can get a pair of HE 400's to demo or to be able to return that might be a way to go, still the HD 600 might be a safer bet 

OK full disclosure.  I'm reaching the the mid-point of my 50's. So, I kinda need a brighter headphone.  I mod'ed the HE-300.  Simply removing the felt caused too much sound reflection or something.  So I replaced with a combo of wool fabrics to make it juuust right.
 
That brings me to the DT 880.  I read it is substantially brighter than the HD 600.   That is really high on my 'Next Purchase' list.  Also, the Millet minimax looks fun to build.
 
So, if you really like the DT880/Millet Hybrid combo - that could be my next system.
 
Hmmm....

 

[Makiah S]

  OK full disclosure.  I'm reaching the the mid-point of my 50's. So, I kinda need a brighter headphone.  I mod'ed the HE-300.  Simply removing the felt caused too much sound reflection or something.  So I replaced with a combo of wool fabrics to make it juuust right.
 
That brings me to the DT 880.  I read it is substantially brighter than the HD 600.   That is really high on my 'Next Purchase' list.  Also, the Millet minimax looks fun to build.
 
So, if you really like the DT880/Millet Hybrid combo - that could be my next system.
 
Hmmm....

Ahh mid 50's yea you might be like me. I'm actually very young, only 20 years old but I just really like bright r headphones, and my hearing is fine honestly 
 
But to be COMPLETELY honest. I REALLY like how the Beyer DT 880 600 Ohm sounds with the Schiit Vali... I had a few of the $200 or so DIY Hybrid Tubes, but the Vali was my favorite of all, so if you get the DT 880 and build your self a Hybrid Tube, be sure it can take a lot of different tubes, as I prefer Solid States amps but the DT 880 sounds GREAT with tubes, so you might want to try Tube Rolling as I found it made a pretty big differanace in the sound of the Hybrid Tube
 
I like a RCA Clear Top Tube with my DT 880, don't remember which one but. I think you'd have fun with the DT 880 and a DIY Millet Hybrid, but if you where going to buy the Bottle Head Crack build your self, try to get a Millet Hybrid for around the same price or rather teh same build quality. Again the Schiit Vali was imo one of the best sounding Tubes I've listened to, from the Mirco Tubes used in it to the overall circuit design it sounded very awesome, a lot better than many of the $200 assembled tubes I listed before it, so do your self a favor and find a simple hybrid to build but try to make it a decently nice one! Skimp out and build a "budget tube" and it might well dissapoint you
 
but what ever you do, do what's within your monetary and time budgets, and go visit the DT 880 Thread, there are some Tube nuts there who  not only build there own amps but some crazy dudes who modded there dt 880s a good bit. I think you'll enjoy the DT 880 sound, as well as playing with tubes! 

 

[davidsh]

Guess I could recommend a schiit load of different headphones

 

[SteveSound]

Guess I could recommend a schiit load of different headphones

Thanks everybody.  Decision made.  I will be going with a standard configuration: HD600 and Millet Hybrid kit.
 
Later I'll move on to an pure tube amp and some planar cans.
 
Ya all gave lots of food for thought and fodder for the research mill.  Thanks.
 
PS. Davidsh if you really are a divorce lawyer send me paperwork.  Might as well get that started.

 

[zanderwebb]

  Thanks everybody.  Decision made.  I will be going with a standard configuration: HD600 and Millet Hybrid kit.
 
Later I'll move on to an pure tube amp and some planar cans.
 
Ya all gave lots of food for thought and fodder for the research mill.  Thanks.
 
PS. Davidsh if you really are a divorce lawyer send me paperwork.  Might as well get that started.

Ohhhhhh Schiit!!! haha sorry guys, couldnt pass up an opportunity like that..
sorry to interrupt, you guys can continue listening to ur thousands of dollars headphone setups now.

 

[Solrighal]

If its not too late you could bite the bullet and buy a pair of HD 650's. Pair them with a Crack and upgrade it with SpeedBall & S.E.X. and there's your growth path right there. That's what I'm aiming for.

I'm 49 and also suffer some loss at the top frequencies. I bought a pair of Q701's specifically to counter this but they just sounded shrill to me. The HD 650's have been little short of a revelation for me.

 

[StanD]

If its not too late you could bite the bullet and buy a pair of HD 650's. Pair them with a Crack and upgrade it with SpeedBall & S.E.X. and there's your growth path right there. That's what I'm aiming for.

I'm 49 and also suffer some loss at the top frequencies. I bought a pair of Q701's specifically to counter this but they just sounded shrill to me. The HD 650's have been little short of a revelation for me.

I have a feeling that the HD600's might have served the purpose a little better. DId you ever get to try them?

 

[davidsh]

 
Thanks everybody.  Decision made.  I will be going with a standard configuration: HD600 and Millet Hybrid kit.

Later I'll move on to an pure tube amp and some planar cans.

Ya all gave lots of food for thought and fodder for the research mill.  Thanks.

PS. Davidsh if you really are a divorce lawyer send me paperwork.  Might as well get that started.

Ohhhhhh Schiit!!! haha sorry guys, couldnt pass up an opportunity like that..
sorry to interrupt, you guys can continue listening to ur thousands of dollars headphone setups now.

No multi-thousand dollar setups yet, am still working him
//evil laughter

 

[Solrighal]

I have a feeling that the HD600's might have served the purpose a little better. DId you ever get to try them?

No, jumped straight from the Q's to the 650's and haven't looked back. I love their sound even using my O2.