Hello!
I work a desk job and spend 8-9 hours a day at work. I spend around 5 of those hours listening to rock, pop, techno and very occasionally rap. I'd like to get some feedback on my set up and some feedback on the items on my shortlist. I've done a bit of reading here, which has been very helpful, but I think I reached a point that I'd like to just get some input. Forgive the long-ish post, but I'm hoping to give as much information as necessary right out the gate.
My current stuff...
Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-M50x. I have no complaints about the sound, it's mostly that after a couple hours it's a bit uncomfortable. I think it's the shallow padding.
DAC/AMP: Creative Sound Blaster E1. I bought this as an impulse purchase when I got the ATH-M50x. When I was younger, I was blown away by the Sound Blaster sound cards for computers, so I assumed that their external DAC/AMP would be solid. It's fine, but it's portable and I use it on my desk. I'd like to have something a bit sturdier. It's really annoying to have the DAC/AMP go flying across my desk when I move around while wear my headphones. I have tried to figure out a place to anchor the thing, but every solution looks really tacky. I'd like to maintain a "professional-looking" environment.
When I'm not at the office, I have Klipsch R6i in-ear headphones that I use while walking on a treadmill. I can't imagine myself using those for anything but when I walk, since I have cauliflower ear, which makes any IEM uncomfortable after an hour or so. When I insist on having some peace and quiet, I have the Bose QuietComfort 15. I like the noise cancelling it gives, but I think they sound inferior to the ATH-M50x.
Headphones requirements: Must be closed back, over-ear. No desire for active noise cancelling. Aiming for sound as good or better as the ATH-M50x, but more comfortable. Removable cable is a plus. Would prefer to stay under $500, but I'm willing to push to $750 for the right item.
My shortlist for headphones:
Oppo PM-3
Sennheiser HD 630VB
MrSpeakers Alpha Dog
Audeze EL-8 Closed-back
Beyerdynamic T 70
DAC/AMP requirements: I'd like this to be my last purchase of this kind for 3-5 years, and maintain some flexibility in what headphones I might get in the future. I can see myself buying a new pair of headphones every year, and being happy about it. If I am buying this type of gear very often, I won't be as happy. So, obviously I'd like something that'll last for both my evolving headphone uses and normal wear and tear.
My shortlist for DAC/AMP gear:
Emotiva Stealth DC-1
Oppo HA-1
Creative Sound Blaster X7 (normal edition)
Marantz HD-DAC1
Schiit Asgard 2 / Bifrost
I very much look forward to hearing your feedback
Left to my own devices, I think I'd end up test driving the Oppo PM-3 and the Sennheiser HD 630VB and using the one I liked more. I'd get the Marantz HD-DAC1, since I have their surround receivers and I'm quite happy with them.
Thanks!
Tom
I work a desk job and spend 8-9 hours a day at work. I spend around 5 of those hours listening to rock, pop, techno and very occasionally rap. I'd like to get some feedback on my set up and some feedback on the items on my shortlist. I've done a bit of reading here, which has been very helpful, but I think I reached a point that I'd like to just get some input. Forgive the long-ish post, but I'm hoping to give as much information as necessary right out the gate.
My current stuff...
Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-M50x. I have no complaints about the sound, it's mostly that after a couple hours it's a bit uncomfortable. I think it's the shallow padding.
DAC/AMP: Creative Sound Blaster E1. I bought this as an impulse purchase when I got the ATH-M50x. When I was younger, I was blown away by the Sound Blaster sound cards for computers, so I assumed that their external DAC/AMP would be solid. It's fine, but it's portable and I use it on my desk. I'd like to have something a bit sturdier. It's really annoying to have the DAC/AMP go flying across my desk when I move around while wear my headphones. I have tried to figure out a place to anchor the thing, but every solution looks really tacky. I'd like to maintain a "professional-looking" environment.
When I'm not at the office, I have Klipsch R6i in-ear headphones that I use while walking on a treadmill. I can't imagine myself using those for anything but when I walk, since I have cauliflower ear, which makes any IEM uncomfortable after an hour or so. When I insist on having some peace and quiet, I have the Bose QuietComfort 15. I like the noise cancelling it gives, but I think they sound inferior to the ATH-M50x.
Headphones requirements: Must be closed back, over-ear. No desire for active noise cancelling. Aiming for sound as good or better as the ATH-M50x, but more comfortable. Removable cable is a plus. Would prefer to stay under $500, but I'm willing to push to $750 for the right item.
My shortlist for headphones:
Oppo PM-3
Sennheiser HD 630VB
MrSpeakers Alpha Dog
Audeze EL-8 Closed-back
Beyerdynamic T 70
DAC/AMP requirements: I'd like this to be my last purchase of this kind for 3-5 years, and maintain some flexibility in what headphones I might get in the future. I can see myself buying a new pair of headphones every year, and being happy about it. If I am buying this type of gear very often, I won't be as happy. So, obviously I'd like something that'll last for both my evolving headphone uses and normal wear and tear.
My shortlist for DAC/AMP gear:
Emotiva Stealth DC-1
Oppo HA-1
Creative Sound Blaster X7 (normal edition)
Marantz HD-DAC1
Schiit Asgard 2 / Bifrost
I very much look forward to hearing your feedback
Left to my own devices, I think I'd end up test driving the Oppo PM-3 and the Sennheiser HD 630VB and using the one I liked more. I'd get the Marantz HD-DAC1, since I have their surround receivers and I'm quite happy with them.
Thanks!
Tom