Rohly
New Head-Fier
Howdy! New member of the forum here, (long time lurker) and relatively new to the realm of high-fidelity audio. I've been blessed with a promotion at work so I've decided to finally treat myself to some really quality audio products.
I'm currently using a set of fidelio X2's running directly to a rickety philips MCM530 bookshelf stereo, which is hooked up to my computer via USB. The X2's are the best headphones I've ever owned, truthfully. I've had a couple low-end sennheiser cans and a set of Grado SR-80i's (which sadly disintegrated) but I've run them all on this same MCM350.
I've reached a point where I'm looking for a depth and immersion in audio that I just can't squeeze out of my setup. I really like embellished vocals and natural sounding instruments and the X2's (which lest be honest, are likely being held back by the mcm530 a great deal) are just not scratching that itch. So, time for an upgrade.
I've got a budget of around 1200$, and that's for cans, amp, and dac. In my own investigation of the forums here and various reviews, I've gravitated towards the hi-fi man HE-560, the STAX 3100, and at the higher end the Audeze LCD 2. As far as amp/dacs go, I've really only looked into an Aune S6 or the Aune x7s combined with an x5s.
I like to try new things so I've really leaned into the planar magnetic / electrostatic options available. Open-Backed headphones are a must for me!
If I can trouble any fellow head-if-er's more experienced than myself, I would love some recommendations, even outside of the pieces I've mentioned.
If it helps at all, the type of music I'm usually listening to is akin to Steve Reich, Snarky Puppy, Submotion Orchestra, Oneohtrix Point Never, Lorenzo Senni, Patricia Barber.... nothing particularly bass heavy but lots of vocals and natural instruments with the occasional smattering of synths.
I'm currently using a set of fidelio X2's running directly to a rickety philips MCM530 bookshelf stereo, which is hooked up to my computer via USB. The X2's are the best headphones I've ever owned, truthfully. I've had a couple low-end sennheiser cans and a set of Grado SR-80i's (which sadly disintegrated) but I've run them all on this same MCM350.
I've reached a point where I'm looking for a depth and immersion in audio that I just can't squeeze out of my setup. I really like embellished vocals and natural sounding instruments and the X2's (which lest be honest, are likely being held back by the mcm530 a great deal) are just not scratching that itch. So, time for an upgrade.
I've got a budget of around 1200$, and that's for cans, amp, and dac. In my own investigation of the forums here and various reviews, I've gravitated towards the hi-fi man HE-560, the STAX 3100, and at the higher end the Audeze LCD 2. As far as amp/dacs go, I've really only looked into an Aune S6 or the Aune x7s combined with an x5s.
I like to try new things so I've really leaned into the planar magnetic / electrostatic options available. Open-Backed headphones are a must for me!
If I can trouble any fellow head-if-er's more experienced than myself, I would love some recommendations, even outside of the pieces I've mentioned.
If it helps at all, the type of music I'm usually listening to is akin to Steve Reich, Snarky Puppy, Submotion Orchestra, Oneohtrix Point Never, Lorenzo Senni, Patricia Barber.... nothing particularly bass heavy but lots of vocals and natural instruments with the occasional smattering of synths.