Greetings!
Long time on-and-off lurker, but I seem to have found the headphone passion again...
My first stereo (1972) was a cheapo all-in-one Panasonic (pre-Technics) unit, but when I bought my first cans, they were the best I could scrape up the funds for: Koss Pro-4AAs. The stereo changed a lot over the years, but the 'phones didn't until the mid-80's when I bought a pair of Stax Lambda Pros. The stereo has changed a lot more over the following years (and multiplied), but the main 'phones stayed the same. I just didn't see any reason to change them. Until recently.
After lots (years) of procrastination I finally got my main system set up so I could start digitizing my LP collection. I was using a pair of Grado SR-80s for the editing, but once in a while I'd want to listen to a whole song and the Grados weren't cutting it. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on new 'phones, so I tried the Audioquest Nighthawks, but after living with the Stax and Grados for so long, I just couldn't get into them.
So I started reading up on how to improve on the Lambdas. I have been using the SRD-7 Pro Adapter, which has its issues, but you can pretty much hook any amp in the world up to it. I usually use a dedicated amp just for the headphones, and my current amp is a Nuforce IA-7v3. Anyway, after doing lots of searches and reading, I talked myself into saving up for a new set of Lambdas - the SR-L700s. Then, once I had the 700s I could save up for a true headphone amp and be in headphone nirvana...
Unfortunately (for my pocketbook, anyway), I recently ran into a deal on an essentially new system of SR-L700s and SRM-007tII. AAAaaahhhhhh... OK - now I'm done upgrading...
Except, since I'm essentially moving my entire analog music collection to my server, I still need a good set of 'phones for editing, etc. Since I just happen to have a Nuforce IA-7v3/Stax SRD-7 Pro/Stax Lambda Pro setup just sitting around, I thought I'd integrate it with my main computer and make a bitchin' desk system.
Which is why I'm here on Head-Fi today. I need a DAC to feed the IA7v3 and need to learn a lot more about DACs. I'm leaning toward something (REALLY) cheap [Topping/Schiit/SMSL], but if my recent headphone-buying experience is any guide, I'm gonna be in (more) trouble with my lovely wife...
Hi, Everybody! My name is Jeff and I'm an Audiophile...