Need best bang for buck advice

[jeremy6044]

Hi, I'm not new here, since I have been reading and learning for quite a while...but I think it's time for me to pull the trigger and try to build a good system (which i've been avoiding since i don't know what to get.) I have around $500 I want to spend, and this is my current audio listening habit...either:

laptop analog > t-amp > b&w bookshelf speakers

or

laptop analog/ipod > ety er6i (which i don't like too much because i find them too analytical and not warm enough for my tastes)

so i'm wondering if i should buy either...

1. a headphone dac/amp combo (like ibasso d1 or the pico) and some good phones (like the k701, grado 225, or something in that price range)

2. save more (and wait more) for a used benchmark d1 or lavry da-10 to improve my speakers and use for headphones, and spend less on the cans. (in which case, i would get something in the price range of the grado sr-80s)

i listen to a lot of female vocals and prefer a very musical, warm sound. but of course, i wouldn't want anything too colored or losing detail, which is why i got the b&w speakers to begin with.

if you have any advice on what you think i should do, please let me know...i really want to make a good decision even though i'm not able to audition equipment beforehand.

 

[brainsalad]

In overall sound makeup. I am of the belief 95% of the what-you-are-hearing is comprised of speakers (or headphones) and source. I have been in this industry many, many years and 5% of the influence on what you are hearing is made up in cables, amps, dacs. Many will disagree with me but take $200 and see what it does for your sound if you invest it in speakers. After that take another $1000 and spend it on a Dac or Amp or Cables and tell me what made the biggest difference.

 

[jrosenth]

Get a pico or something similar and the SR-225 or akg 701 or the like - that will sound better than skimping on the headphones (by going with something like the SR-80) and going with a better dac combo.

That said, there are significant audible differences between amps and dac, try using a headroom total bithead with some good cans and swap it out for an even relatively modest PPA and monica NOS dac and see if you don't notice an immediate difference.

 

[jrosenth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainsalad /img/forum/go_quote.gif In overall sound makeup. I am of the belief 95% of the what-you-are-hearing is comprised of speakers (or headphones) and source. I have been in this industry many, many years and 5% of the influence on what you are hearing is made up in cables, amps, dacs. Many will disagree with me but take $200 and see what it does for your sound if you invest it in speakers. After that take another $1000 and spend it on a Dac or Amp or Cables and tell me what made the biggest difference.

I haven't been in the industry many, many years (nor I am sure if that would be a good thing) but I can hear much more than a 5% difference by switching out amps and dacs with with even the AKG 701.

 

[brainsalad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrosenth /img/forum/go_quote.gif I haven't been in the industry many, many years (nor I am sure if that would be a good thing) but I can hear much more than a 5% difference by switching out amps and dacs with with even the AKG 701.

Like I said, many will disagree and that's what makes the world go round.

 

[jrosenth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brainsalad /img/forum/go_quote.gif Like I said, many will disagree and that's what makes the world go round.

Fair enough.

Honestly I'm very surprised though.

I know it's tough to quantify percentages of improvement but you don't really mean that you only hear minimal (5%) differences with hooking the 701 up to an Ibasso combo as to a something like a raptor or beta 22 and nice dac do you?

 

[brainsalad]

Maybe I was over stating and it's really hard to quantify differences, real or not. I also believe that this (audio in general) is about enjoying the hobby. I was just trying to make a statement that if you have a crappy source (mp3's) and Bose headphones, I don't care what kind of DAC or AMP you put in the path, it won't make anywhere near the difference as FLAC and K701's. (or similar non-lossy and high end cans).

Check out my comments toward the end of this thread. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/iba...cstasy-285637/

BTW. not to cause a disagreement, or to offend, or even a debate, my bible is the 10 Biggest Lies In Audio by the Audio Critic.

 

[jrosenth]

I totally understand what you're saying - source and cans.

I've found that in the headphone world, once you get source and cans, and you can get good cans for a couple/few hundred dollars, you can get significant improvements moving up to even a moderate amp and dac, for just a couple/few hundreds more bucks.

Compared to the money you can throw at various things that don't make significant improvements, I wouldn't want to minimize the effects of the dollars you throw at and amp and dac.

 

[brainsalad]

Absolutely

 

[jeremy6044]

i listen to mp3s between 192-320 bit rate. would any of this equipment (dac, amp or cans) be too good for my music? will the noise from the compression be annoying?

 

[Capunk]

I "used" to have iBasso D1, and driving D2000 from it.
I was never listen to lossless music before, and most of my mp3s 128kbps - 192kbps, but I still enjoy the way I listening at that time.

But since I own higher level equipments, my listening habit starting to change, from winamp to Foobar 2K, Kmixer to ASIO, mp3s to ALAC/FLAC, starting to looking after IC's , etc etc.
Now this hobby for some reason like... commanding me.

All I want to say, just enjoy what you have.

 

[Penchum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy6044 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi, I'm not new here, since I have been reading and learning for quite a while...but I think it's time for me to pull the trigger and try to build a good system (which i've been avoiding since i don't know what to get.) I have around $500 I want to spend, and this is my current audio listening habit...either: laptop analog > t-amp > b&w bookshelf speakers or laptop analog/ipod > ety er6i (which i don't like too much because i find them too analytical and not warm enough for my tastes) so i'm wondering if i should buy either... 1. a headphone dac/amp combo (like ibasso d1 or the pico) and some good phones (like the k701, grado 225, or something in that price range) 2. save more (and wait more) for a used benchmark d1 or lavry da-10 to improve my speakers and use for headphones, and spend less on the cans. (in which case, i would get something in the price range of the grado sr-80s) i listen to a lot of female vocals and prefer a very musical, warm sound. but of course, i wouldn't want anything too colored or losing detail, which is why i got the b&w speakers to begin with. if you have any advice on what you think i should do, please let me know...i really want to make a good decision even though i'm not able to audition equipment beforehand.

Is it your intent to stay portable, or are you ready and willing to look at desktop only items? Do you think portable equipment that has the possibility of being dual usage (portable/desktop) is what you are after? You seem to mention some portable items first, then think you might wait some time and get some desktop items. Clearly establishing your goals will help you plan, and it will help us to help you!

 

[billybob_jcv]

Not an answer to your question - but how does the t-amp do driving your B&W speakers? I was under the impression that most of the B&Ws were not very efficient and would need more power than a t-amp could deliver.

 

[jeremy6044]

The T-amp has no problem driving the B&W's in my experience.

Regarding what I'm looking for, it's really the best bang for the buck. I'm not really looking for a portable system, but I do hear from time to time on these boards that somebody's portable system rivals his home system. So if a portable one is recommended for cheaper and has as good quality sound, I'd consider that along with home systems. (As for waiting...that's only if I wanted to get something to drive speakers...seems like those dac/amp's are much more expensive than ones that just drive cans.)

 

[saisunil]

Audio Engine 5 amplified speakers are great. I heard them at the HE show last year - I was really impressed. It was least expensive equipment and made better sound than some more expensive room. Look for used or deals if want to save some bucks. Connect it to you laptop of line out of iPod - you will not be dissappointed
Audioengine - Powered stereo speakers for your home and office. Custom built for iPod and other MP3 audio players.


Headphone route is totally different. It all depends on where you listen to music.

Senn 595 are excellent headphones - for about $200 or less. There are plenty of good amps around $200 - Ray Samuels makes a couple of them. Pico is getting a lot of press - you could connect it to you laptop. If you listen to rock Grados are good.

Blue Jeans Cables and Signal Cables are great bang for the buck - in general.

If you are looking for a source modded ipod from Red Wine Audio is another way - that gets pricey

Good Luck