[RedSky0]

Quote:

Ok!
The OP ask for a complete system though (DAC, amplifier, headphone), so one may reach $10k with "just" $2k on the headphones...

Youuuuu know what I mean!

 

[bada bing]

Twisted Pear Buffalo II >> BHSE >> O2mkI & HE60  (just under $10k)
or
Twisted Pear Buffalo II >> DynaMite >> HD800 & K1000 (just over $5k)
 
To my ears, headphones make more difference and there is much more difference between models than anything you put upstream of them.  

 

[tk3]

I'm happy with what I have now, haven't felt the need to upgrade since a long time.
Although of course there are some things that I'd like to try out, like the recent FOTM items like the Audeze headphones etc, but not enough to want to buy them.
 
But if I did have 10k of cash that I was free to spend, I'd go for the MDR-R10, and split the remaining amount on a better chair and music.

 

[Bullseye]

I'd go something like this with all that cash to spend:
 
Source: a small silent netbook as the Samsung N210 with FLAC files (or MP3 V0 can't find any audible difference) and external silent HDD
 
Dynamic (ortho):

1. DEQ2496 as DAC
2. M^3 amplifier + Sigma11 PSU
3. Beyerdynamic T1 or Audeze LCD2 (maybe not this last one due to all the FOTM and hype surrounding it. The T1 looks more professional to me)

 
Electrostatic:
 

1. DEQ2496 as DAC
2. STAX SRM-323 amplifier
3. Omega 2 or Koss ESP-950

 
Portable:
 

1. Sansa Clip + (8Gb) + 32 GB card
2. AMB Mini 3 portable headphone amplifier
3. Westone ES5 or JH13

 
EDIT: Oh yeah, forgot to point out that for home usage if I get lets say an electrostatic system I wouldn't be spending the rest of the $10k on the dynamic system. One excludes the other.
 
EDIT2: The rest of the money, would be saved and used to expand my music collection.
 
If I had space to go for speakers, then I'd only get the portable system and spend the rest in some Adam A7 (maybe, or some not overly expensive speakers), a microphone for measurements, some materials for sorting out acoustics in the room and I'd be using DRC + ambiophonics equalizing. 

 

[Frank I]

I would go upgrade my 2 channel system. Bigger maggies and better amps. Back to tube for the front end.

 

[Caphead78]

VPI Aries 3 -- $3,000 at TTVJ
JMW 10.5i Tomearm -- $2,000 at TTVJ
Lyra Delos -- $1,500 at TTVJ
Dynavector P-75 MK2 Phono Stage -- $780 at TTVJ
Woo Audio 6 SE -- $1,050
Sennheiser HD800 -- $1,400
 
Total: ~9700

 

[francoamerican]

Weiss DAC2/Minerva firewire (used)  $2500
WA22 loaded $2500
HD800 or T1 - either with balanced rewire $1800
 
 

---

 
 
Couldn't really do it though.  My dream system today that I would like try and assemble - and I could actually swing (if spouse and new kitchen wasn't a factor!)
 
New,fancy mini  toslink cable $70 for macbook pro out
PS Audio Digital Link III (used) $450
Whiplash Millet $450
Grado HF-2 $425
 
 
 

---

 
 
But my current system is
 
macbook with Toslink adapter
Beresford TC 7510 $100 used
Darkvoice 336se with some basic NOS tubes $325
dt880/600 $250

 

[Townyj]

Id be happy with with something like this as my home rig.
 
Audio-gd NFB-1
Melos SHA-1
Grado PS-1
 
 
Portable wise...
 
Sony 32gig X1061
UM Miracle
 

 

[Region2]

Quote:

Twisted Pear Buffalo II >> BHSE >> O2mkI & HE60  (just under $10k)
or
Twisted Pear Buffalo II >> DynaMite >> HD800 & K1000 (just over $5k)
 
To my ears, headphones make more difference and there is much more difference between models than anything you put upstream of them.  

This is exactly what I've been aiming at.  I ordered all the TPA BII parts and just waiting for them to be shipped and talking to Kerry about building my own BH.  Building a B22.  I got the O2's but I need to get my hands on the K1000.  I'm interested in trying out the HE60/90 one day but I'd swap out the HD800 for the LCD-2 (want to have a FOTM in here 

)

 

[156219]

 
This is my dream rig:

Headphones:
 
 
Sennheiser HD 800
 
Audez'e LCD-2 
 
Beyerdynamic Tesla T1
 
Grado GS1000i
 
Amplifiers:
 
 
Audio-gd Phoenix
 
Leben CS-300X
 
Meier Audio Concerto
 
Red Wine Audio Isabella 
 
 
Dac:
 
Benchmark DAC1 DAC
 
 
Headphone cable:
 
APureSound V3

 

[Radio_head]

PWT ---->PWD with Bridge  --->Fully tricked out WA5 ----> apple ibuds

 

[monsieurguzel]

Haha!  Actually tried that on my system...and let me tell you...it no matter what you feed those ibuds..nothing helps.  If anything they hiss quite a lot coz of how sensitive they are

 
Quote:

PWT ---->PWD with Bridge  --->Fully tricked out WA5 ----> apple ibuds

 

[tvrboy]

I already have my "realistic dream" rig, but my "balls out" rig would be:
 
Some kind of transport
Ayre QB-1
Kevin Gilmore DIY T2
Stax Omega Mk. 1

 

[darknessproz]

Laptop -> Benchmark DAC1 -> (insert amp) -> UM Miracle + JH 3-A + Good speaker
 
rest of the money on cds.

 

[logwed]

Thankfully I don't think about such things... But I guess I'll give it a shot.