PhoxHound
100+ Head-Fier
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This is a hypothetical thread as at the moment I'm in no position to be spending lots of money on new parts, but the curiosity is killing me. Apologies, but I have to ask.
At some undetermined point in time I intend to make a purchase which will be the absolute last purchase; one with which I can be satisfied for a very long time. Note that this does not mean the absolute best rig possible, but one that I will likely never need to improve on (I'm only a moderately discerning listener). I listen to the following:
Techno (dance/trance) and hard techno (hardstyle/jumpstyle)
Drum and Bass
Hard rock
Alternative
Classical (mostly Chopin/Rachmaninoff/Schubert)
So yeah, my tastes are all over the place, but I do love bass. As far as sound signatures go, I tend to prefer warm over bright since I have headphones on pretty much all the time when at home, and up front to laid back as I usually listen at lower volumes.
Also, since these will come with me to college, it is highly preferable that they are closed, or at least have minimal leakage; something like Grados would not be good as apparently they leak like a broken pipe.
As long as the total price remains under $500 US, I will consider it. The source equipment I have is as follows:
Creative Xmod
Denon DRA-835R
Sansa Fuze 8GB
I am willing to buy a new amp, but not an expensive full size one. Here's what I have been considering as far as actual stuff goes.
Headphones:
Denon D2000 [~220$]
I've heard these can sound slow and thus a bit muddled, but I'm nervous to markl mod them (and I'd rather not shell out the dough to have it done, sorry markl).
Audio-Technica ESW9 [250-350$]
I heard these have good bass, which is very unusual for a wooden phone (particularly from AT). Also, as portables, will they be comfortable for long sessions?
Ultrasone Pro 750 [350-450$]
I've heard a lot of great things about these, but I have no way to audition an Ultrasone to test their signature (which I've heard is very much love it or hate it).
IEMs:
Shure SE530 [450$]
How comfortable are these, and are they OK both with and without amplification?
LiveWires [249$ + impressions]
How do these sound in comparison to, say, the FreQ SuperFreQ?
Amps:
Travagan's Red [190$]
I heard this was a great amp for the price.
Practical Devices XM4 [120$]
Again, heard great things about this one. How would it pair with say, the ESW9 or the SuperFreQ?
Combos:
Denon D2000 and Travagan's Red [~420$]
Audio-Technica ESW9 and Practical Devices XM4 [~400$]
I'm thinking of the XM4 so I could use this as a portable rig.
LiveWires and Practical Devices XM4 [360$ + impressions]
Do the LiveWires really improve with amplification, or can I bypass it?
Portability is a plus but it really doesn't matter that much.
TL;DR if you will, but my curiosity got the better of me and I just REALLY wanted to ask.
At some undetermined point in time I intend to make a purchase which will be the absolute last purchase; one with which I can be satisfied for a very long time. Note that this does not mean the absolute best rig possible, but one that I will likely never need to improve on (I'm only a moderately discerning listener). I listen to the following:
Techno (dance/trance) and hard techno (hardstyle/jumpstyle)
Drum and Bass
Hard rock
Alternative
Classical (mostly Chopin/Rachmaninoff/Schubert)
So yeah, my tastes are all over the place, but I do love bass. As far as sound signatures go, I tend to prefer warm over bright since I have headphones on pretty much all the time when at home, and up front to laid back as I usually listen at lower volumes.
Also, since these will come with me to college, it is highly preferable that they are closed, or at least have minimal leakage; something like Grados would not be good as apparently they leak like a broken pipe.
As long as the total price remains under $500 US, I will consider it. The source equipment I have is as follows:
Creative Xmod
Denon DRA-835R
Sansa Fuze 8GB
I am willing to buy a new amp, but not an expensive full size one. Here's what I have been considering as far as actual stuff goes.
Headphones:
Denon D2000 [~220$]
I've heard these can sound slow and thus a bit muddled, but I'm nervous to markl mod them (and I'd rather not shell out the dough to have it done, sorry markl).
Audio-Technica ESW9 [250-350$]
I heard these have good bass, which is very unusual for a wooden phone (particularly from AT). Also, as portables, will they be comfortable for long sessions?
Ultrasone Pro 750 [350-450$]
I've heard a lot of great things about these, but I have no way to audition an Ultrasone to test their signature (which I've heard is very much love it or hate it).
IEMs:
Shure SE530 [450$]
How comfortable are these, and are they OK both with and without amplification?
LiveWires [249$ + impressions]
How do these sound in comparison to, say, the FreQ SuperFreQ?
Amps:
Travagan's Red [190$]
I heard this was a great amp for the price.
Practical Devices XM4 [120$]
Again, heard great things about this one. How would it pair with say, the ESW9 or the SuperFreQ?
Combos:
Denon D2000 and Travagan's Red [~420$]
Audio-Technica ESW9 and Practical Devices XM4 [~400$]
I'm thinking of the XM4 so I could use this as a portable rig.
LiveWires and Practical Devices XM4 [360$ + impressions]
Do the LiveWires really improve with amplification, or can I bypass it?
Portability is a plus but it really doesn't matter that much.
TL;DR if you will, but my curiosity got the better of me and I just REALLY wanted to ask.
