It took me a few years & a lot of dollars to finally come to my own conclusions based on many expensive experiences and research. This Forum has been a tremendous help especially when I consider the fact that I just don't have the mental abilities for learning/ understanding the technical aspects of the audiophile world. It was the same with math in school. It's just not in my DNA. I'm turning 63 in a few days so it's like ol' Clint said in "Magnum Force" : "... man's got to know his limitations ..." & I know mine & accept them. My point ?
Since I'll never understand ohm, impedance, Hz, dB, etc. measurements &/ or how to calculate & apply them I have to rely strictly on my musical ear. I've now reached certain conclusions :
- I don't believe balanced output amps/ headphones are any better sounding than SE
- I believe that tube rolling with most tube amps is practically a waste of time & money (save a few nuanced/ subtle sound alternations)
- I believe (even though I can't explain or understand it's science) that amps w/ high impedance gives your headphones a more controlled & tight bass
- I don't believe in expensive headphone aftermarket cables anymore
- I don't believe all of the hype concerning outrageously expensive DACs any more
- I do believe that a little DAC chip costing no more than a few dollars & being part of a well built internal/ external DAC is all you need
- I don't believe that most outrageously expensive headphones are better than less costly ones; e.g. the HD600, properly amped is as good as the Utopia, IMHO
- I do believe that high impedance headphones like the HD650, HD600, HD800 have to be well amped to really shine; an ex member of Head-fi (who now writes on another social network & who's opinion I choose to rely on because he knows what he's talking about) said it best : "the HD650 is not veiled; the amps most audiophiles use w/ the HD650, are veiled.
- finally I prefer an SS amp to a tube amp; I like a musical, detailed, well balanced & non coloured amp with a fair amount of power in order to be able to drive my headphones
In conclusion: I'm not going to profess that I've reached my end game. I'm not professing any longer, but , I will say this : I've owned many high-end SS & tube amps (e.g. Eddie Current Zana Deux S & Headamp GS-X MKII as examples and a few more expensive amps); I've owned high-end Audeze, Utopia, Hifiman, etc. headphones also ... now I own a vintage Sansui AU-719 int amp, the Airist Audio Heron 5 headphone amp, a vintage Kenwood KA-8006 int amp & the JDS Labs Objective 2; headphone wise, I've owned, on & off since 2003 & now for the last two years the HD600 & HD650; my other headphones are the HD800 bought used, the PS1000 also bought used & the old AKG K340 & K240 Sextett (600 ohm).
I've had this set up for a while now & for the first time since I've started out in this hobby, I know, for a fact that, sound wise, this is as good as it's going to get & I'm finally content with my set up & it's sound quality.
The longing for the "geez I wonder how much better that one would be" ? is gone and has been for a while. Everything I've listed/ written in this post is based on experience. Mine.
*** I would like to ask members who may read my post & who want to challenge my points of view/ conclusions or correct me or argue, scoff at or the fact that I rely of the Subjective side of audio is ... *** PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MINE : I will not respond because that is not the point of my post. The point of my post is : it's been a long expensive learning audiophile road & I've pretty much reached the end of it based on these personal experiences/ conclusions which I've listed & it satistisfies me. I am not disputing or challenging members who have different opinions or conclusions or arguments. I respect everyone's opinions and choices.
I only wanted to contribute to the main topic of this thread about which I happen to agree.
