Equus
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2007
- Posts
- 1,554
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- 16
Looking for help on making an informed decision for a new office setup using my DAP. Did a search, but couldn't find anything that really quite perfectly fit with what I want and what I already have. I’ve been using AT A700’s for the past year and a half or so (purchased when I first began lurking around here), ferrying them between work and home via my car. Been mostly happy with them, though a little unimpressed sometimes with the mid-range. My job is shifting a little, so I will be commuting via bus three days a week, so I wanted to take the opportunity to try something new that I would leave at the office, while continuing to use the A700s when I commute via car to the other site…or it might end up vice versa if I like the new setup significantly more. I have a small file cabinet in the office that I can lock it in, so portability won’t be much of a factor.
Source is a Cowon D2, and my music tends to be eclectic. Recently it’s been mostly soundtracks or J-Pop, but I’ll occasionally throw in classical, alternative, industrial, folk, and rock. If I’m feeling nostalgic, Hawaiian music is in the mix too.
My perceived needs:
•Closed design - I’m sharing the office with my boss, and it’s located in a slightly walled of area near other cubicles. Doesn’t need to totally block everything out, but some attenuation would be good and I don’t want too much sound to leak out either.
•Circumaural – I wear glasses, and don’t want something that’ll put too much pressure on my ears.
•Comfort – It’s a desk job that I do mainly, so I’ll sometimes have the headphones on for several hours during the day. Mostly depends on if my coworkers are driving me up the wall.
•Budget somewhere around $500 for headphone and amp (if needed).
Currently, I’m leaning toward a setup with a 2Move amp and AKG K271’s, though the somewhat mixed impressions on the K271’s bass makes me somewhat hesitant. The positives I’ve read that still have me leaning toward it are comfort, build quality, and good mids (though maybe I’m putting a little more stock on that than I otherwise might because of my experiences with the A700’s…heh). The alternative may be the Denon D2000’s, but the questions about build quality on those have me currently ranking the K271’s higher.
The 2Move sounds like it’s a good price/performance ratio winner that may end up just hanging out with my D2 whether I’m commuting by bus or car. Not certain how necessary an amp will be really (besides the A700’s, I use UM1’s when I need to go portable), but it sounds like it has some good synergy with the D2.
So I’m looking for advice, comments, suggestions…anything really. Am I out of my mind and should consider some other combos? Pick up something cheaper? Find a new hobby?
Source is a Cowon D2, and my music tends to be eclectic. Recently it’s been mostly soundtracks or J-Pop, but I’ll occasionally throw in classical, alternative, industrial, folk, and rock. If I’m feeling nostalgic, Hawaiian music is in the mix too.
My perceived needs:
•Closed design - I’m sharing the office with my boss, and it’s located in a slightly walled of area near other cubicles. Doesn’t need to totally block everything out, but some attenuation would be good and I don’t want too much sound to leak out either.
•Circumaural – I wear glasses, and don’t want something that’ll put too much pressure on my ears.
•Comfort – It’s a desk job that I do mainly, so I’ll sometimes have the headphones on for several hours during the day. Mostly depends on if my coworkers are driving me up the wall.
•Budget somewhere around $500 for headphone and amp (if needed).
Currently, I’m leaning toward a setup with a 2Move amp and AKG K271’s, though the somewhat mixed impressions on the K271’s bass makes me somewhat hesitant. The positives I’ve read that still have me leaning toward it are comfort, build quality, and good mids (though maybe I’m putting a little more stock on that than I otherwise might because of my experiences with the A700’s…heh). The alternative may be the Denon D2000’s, but the questions about build quality on those have me currently ranking the K271’s higher.
The 2Move sounds like it’s a good price/performance ratio winner that may end up just hanging out with my D2 whether I’m commuting by bus or car. Not certain how necessary an amp will be really (besides the A700’s, I use UM1’s when I need to go portable), but it sounds like it has some good synergy with the D2.
So I’m looking for advice, comments, suggestions…anything really. Am I out of my mind and should consider some other combos? Pick up something cheaper? Find a new hobby?
