Need help on upgrade, DAC/Amp or Headphones?

[triggerc]

So here's my dilemma, I currently have a pair of Shure E4C and Grado SR60, and I will mostly listen to progressive metal and classical music on my iPod Touch and my PC. The PC outputs through a Razer Barracuda AC-1 sound card and I will most likely setup ASIO on it soon. I have a $250 upgrade budget, would I be better off with a DAC like the Onkyo SE-U55X, an headphone amp like the C&C Box, or better headphones like the HD-595? I would like to max out the budget as much as possible +/- 10%.

Thanks in advance.

 

[natural_nut]

How about the Denon D2000?

 

[triggerc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural_nut /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about the Denon D2000?

Aren't they a little out of my price range? Right now headphones wise I'm actively considering the HD-595, ATH-A900, and the SR-225, but I will look into the D2000 as well. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[mew1838]

Take HD595 off your list.

 

[triggerc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mew1838 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Take HD595 off your list.

Care to explain in further detail? I have heard that they are very good even un-amped.

 

[outbreak123]

If you love rock, don't get the HD595. I highly recommend Audio Technica A900 or AD900, depends on what you need. A900 is good for gaming, AD900 is better for music. And thats all are my opinion.

 

[marillion64]

Quote:

Originally Posted by outbreak123 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you love rock, don't get the HD595. I highly recommend Audio Technica A900 or AD900, depends on what you need. A900 is good for gaming, AD900 is better for music. And thats all are my opinion.

Agree, but also Grado 225 is not bad for Rock..

 

[warpdriver]

Get the best headphones you can afford and then find the amp that works well with them.

I'd suggest the Denon D2000. It suits rock very well and will be a huge improvement over what you have now. It can be had for less than $250. And then you can add the amp later when budget allows but it's still very good unamped.

 

[outbreak123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marillion64 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Agree, but also Grado 225 is not bad for Rock..

of course grado rocks for rock!

but he still want's to listen to classical which Grado isn't really good at IMO, A900/AD900 is more allaround but... Grado is much more better for rock/metal.

 

[synaesthetic]

I prefer Audio-Technica to Grado for rock. Those Grado highs are a bit fatiguing. =/

 

[tfarney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggerc /img/forum/go_quote.gif So here's my dilemma, I currently have a pair of Shure E4C and Grado SR60, and I will mostly listen to progressive metal and classical music on my iPod Touch and my PC. The PC outputs through a Razer Barracuda AC-1 sound card and I will most likely setup ASIO on it soon. I have a $250 upgrade budget, would I be better off with a DAC like the Onkyo SE-U55X, an headphone amp like the C&C Box, or better headphones like the HD-595? I would like to max out the budget as much as possible +/- 10%. Thanks in advance.

Other than to say that "progressive metal" is a contradiction of terms

, I'd personally begin by askin myself a question: How is the sound straight out of your PC now, through your Grados? If it is pretty quiet you can probably go straight to some efficient headphones (how you determine what is efficient is one of the great mysteries of life, but...) with pretty good results. If it's noisy, I'd clean up first with a DAC, and upgrade headphones when you get some more money.

By the way, I like rock through my Senn HD580s, and the 595s are reportedly more "front row" and "in your face," whatever all of that means. The notion that your headphones should be tailored to a style of music strikes me as a bit silly. The production of the recordings should be tailored to the style of music. Your equipment should endeavor to reproduce that production and provide an opportunity to tweak to your personal taste. In the studio, when the guy with the acoustic guitar walks out the back door and the guy with the Kramer and the Marshall stack walks in the front, they do not run out and buy new monitors.

MHO. YMMV.

Tim

 

[feverfive]

Quote:

Originally Posted by warpdriver /img/forum/go_quote.gif Get the best headphones you can afford and then find the amp that works well with them. I'd suggest the Denon D2000. It suits rock very well and will be a huge improvement over what you have now. It can be had for less than $250. And then you can add the amp later when budget allows but it's still very good unamped.

Man, where can you get new D2000 for <$250? I TRIED to order from ANTOnline via their Amazon storefront a week ago for only $209, but they canceled my order for some reason & no explanation (their CS sucks BTW)...since then, I haven't been able to find them for much less than the $349 list price... I JUST (meaning only a few minutes ago) bit the bullet & ordered direct from Amazon for $327...not happy about what ANTOnline did to me...that was one sweet price.

 

[triggerc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfarney /img/forum/go_quote.gif Other than to say that "progressive metal" is a contradiction of terms , I'd personally begin by askin myself a question: How is the sound straight out of your PC now, through your Grados? If it is pretty quiet you can probably go straight to some efficient headphones (how you determine what is efficient is one of the great mysteries of life, but...) with pretty good results. If it's noisy, I'd clean up first with a DAC, and upgrade headphones when you get some more money.

My headphones are connected directly to the sound card right now, and the sound is pretty clean (I guess that EMI shielding on the sound card does help). So the general consensus right now is that I should either get the AD900 or the D2000, and upgrade to DAC and Amp later? I guess the next question would be which one will benefit more from amplifying and will benefit me more in the long run?

I realized that I need to find a good store to try them out, but I don't think there are any such stores around State College, PA...

 

[mew1838]

AD900 and D2000 are really different phones IMO. You should try and get a listen to at least one of them. AD900s are sold at Guitar Centers.

 

[warpdriver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by feverfive /img/forum/go_quote.gif Man, where can you get new D2000 for <$250? I TRIED to order from ANTOnline via their Amazon storefront a week ago for only $209, but they canceled my order for some reason & no explanation (their CS sucks BTW)...since then, I haven't been able to find them for much less than the $349 list price... I JUST (meaning only a few minutes ago) bit the bullet & ordered direct from Amazon for $327...not happy about what ANTOnline did to me...that was one sweet price.

I got my $209 one from Antonline...so it *is* possible. You should have waited.....Amazon had it for $221 just last week also, the price at Amazon seems to fluctuate a lot