[west93600]

Hi guys,

I need your help in order to upgrade my headphone setup.

I have already this :

Grado ps 500 with g cush
Shure srh 1840
Beyerdynamic DT 990 pro 250 ohms
Beyerdynamic mmx 300

Beyerdynamic A1
Micromega myzik

Audioquest dragonfly (last version)

Right now i can't spend more than 2000 € for my setup.

According to you what is the best thing to upgrade to improve a lot my headphone setup ?

New headphone ? New amp ? New source ?

Thank you by advance for your help and i am really sorry for my bad english but i hope somebody could help me asap.

 

[manbear]

New headphone for sure. Maybe you should try some planars. 

 

[west93600]

So you don't think my source is the weakness of my setup ? I was pretty sure it was the case.

 

[SteveHiFi]

Maybe think about a hot DAC like a Chord Hugo - I'm saving up for mine..
 
Get some planars (as mentioned above), and a Hugo as well. Why not?

 

[manbear]

In my opinion, dollar for dollar, you're going to hear the most improvement with new headphones. Once you get a top-tier set of headphones, the source would be the next thing to upgrade. I don't know if any of your headphones right now (maybe the shures, probably not the others) are at the level where they're being held back by your source. 

EDIT: Plus, if you have 2000 euros to spend you could easily get both headphones and a new dac. Chord Hugo looks nice but it's way too expensive in my opinion. If you got something like a Hifiman HE-560 or LCD-X plus a $500-$1000 level dac, you'd be set. 

 

[west93600]

Thank you for your answer it mean a lot for me.

According to you the A1 is fine if i buy a new headphone like a LCD-X ?
What do you think about the A1 ?

 

[manbear]

I haven't heard the A1 so I don't really know. I'm just saying that headphones make the most difference in general. Since you don't have any top-tier headphones yet, I think it makes more sense to buy one before you spend a large amount of money on a DAC. I don't think a very expensive DAC will make much difference with your current headphones. 

 

[west93600]

What do you think about the vs Stax SR 507 and Audeze LCD-X ?

 

[manbear]

What do you think about the vs Stax SR 509 and Audeze LCD-X ?

Are you asking me? No clue other than that I'd rather have the LCD-X because it doesn't require me to buy a specialized electrostatic amp. 

 

[west93600]

I asking you and everybody who want help me.

 

[Music Alchemist]

If possible, go to shops or meets and audition electrostatic and planar magnetic headphones to see which sound signature you prefer.

 

[west93600]

Hi,

Sadly i can't listen Stax and Audeze headphone because i have no shop close to my home.

Do you know a great amp not to expensive for a Stax SR 507 ?

 

[Music Alchemist]

Hi,

Sadly i can't listen Stax and Audeze headphone because i have no shop close to my home.

Do you know a great amp not to expensive for a Stax SR 509 ?

 
If you want to test out a more affordable electrostatic system, you could get the STAX SRS-2170, which includes the SR-207 earspeakers and SRM-252S amplifier. MSRP is $790, but it's available brand new on Amazon for less than $600. If it's not your cup of tea, you can always return it.

 

[west93600]

Hi,

What seems better for you in term of sound quality between this :

- beyerdynamic a1 with grado ps 500 with g cush
- Stax SRS-2170
- Stax SRS-3170

For jazz, classical, opéra, vocal.

Thank you by advance.

 

[west93600]

Up please.