[Asr]

Do you guys think headphones like the K701, HD650, AD2000, etc, are high-end enough to scale with a $2K-$4K CDP, if everything is balanced? (As in source, ICs, amp, headphones.) I'm starting to have thoughts that I'm wasting my time and effort on a balanced system with these headphones...am I crazy? I mean I know balanced operation improves sound on something you already like, and I do like these headphones, but are they hi-fi enough to go with a CDP in that range? Or do you need stuff like the R10, L3000, HP-1000, K1000 etc to blow the doors off?

In other words, I'm looking for reassurance that these headphones will scale up enough if say, I went for something like the Meridian G08.

 

[Morph201]

I don't see why HD650s would be an issue..

Otherwise, do like everyone else and try it, ONLY YOU will know if it blows the doors off for YOU!
If it doesn't satisfy, move on up....

 

[humanflyz]

Shouldn't be a problem, although if you are going to shell out that kind of money for a true high-end source, you might as well get a true high-end headphone.

 

[Icarium]

Yeah. They scale well. Heard the esoteric/good cabling/sds-xlr/my ruditor amp with balanced HD650s and they definitely sound next level compared to a DAC1/HD650 set up. Not a big fan of the G08 though its very warm and forgiving. When I spend money its for detail ;p

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icarium /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah. They scale well. Heard the esoteric/good cabling/sds-xlr/my ruditor amp with balanced HD650s and they definitely sound next level compared to a DAC1/HD650 set up. Not a big fan of the G08 though its very warm and forgiving. When I spend money its for detail ;p

Don't say that.

 

[Asr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanflyz /img/forum/go_quote.gif Shouldn't be a problem, although if you are going to shell out that kind of money for a true high-end source, you might as well get a true high-end headphone.

Nooo, that's exactly what my wallet doesn't want to hear!

What other high-end cans are there apart from the ones I mentioned, and are actually in production? I don't want to get an out-of-production can...

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nooo, that's exactly what my wallet doesn't want to hear! What other high-end cans are there apart from the ones I mentioned, and are actually in production? I don't want to get an out-of-production can...

Without going electrostatic?

Grado GS-1000, Audio Technica W5000, Precide Ergo AMT, TakeT H2, JVC Victor DX1000 to name a few.

 

[Icarium]

Edition 9 baby.

 

[khbaur330162]

ASR - Have you heard some of the headphones you mentioned in your original post? (i.e. L3000, HP1000) I wouldn't say they are in "another league" than some of the headphones you already have. They're just another flavor that costs a whole lot more than most. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with your rig once it's completed, even if you don't have a headphone super-power in that growing stable of yours.

That said, when people spit out their opinion on the order in which you should buy your audio gear, headphones usually come first. :/

 

[vcoheda]

my next big purchase will be a balanced cdp. i am considering:

- meridian G08
- Azure 840C
- Mcintosh MCD201
- Ayre Cx-7e
- Esoteric SA10

If you're going balanced, you got to do it right.

 

[feckn_eejit]

According to original retail price, I am currently enjoying $7295 worth of balanced source (transport and DAC) and $6500 worth of fully balanced amplification through $530 headphones... yet for some reason I still can't justify ponying up for a pair of Stax SR-007s. So... I say go for it!

It always boggles my mind when people buy incredible speakers and hook them up to gear which isn't up to par. The good transducers will just show off the problems with upstream electronics. Go with a source you like the sound of, then each upgrade downstream will get you closer to the best your source can dish out

 

[granodemostasa]

While i totally agree with humanflyz, i also have to say that no current production cans are at the level of the great cans of old. (GS1K? what, are you kidding me? Edition 9? where did the sound stage go? W5000... can't even hold it's own against the HD650, not to mention the L3K.)

the meridian i think is a fine CD player, if you want something very smooth, forgiving and delicate sounding. but for me it doesn't squeeze the resolution and precision out of the CD the way an esoteric or wadia CDP would.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I had my socks blown off by some $8k+ sources, when using amps which cost a quarter of that (or less), and headphones which cost as little as 4-5% of that, so I'd certainly say that a high-end source is worth it. And if you happen to find an elite headphone you enjoy more, it will only be heightened further. But considering how plenty of folks use the HD650 (for instance) in their end-all systems, there's no reason it (or the like) shouldn't suffice.

Especially if all you're worried about them scaling with is the G08. Heh, go give the 808 a listen

 

[twsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you guys think headphones like the K701, HD650, AD2000, etc, are high-end enough to scale with a $2K-$4K CDP, if everything is balanced? (As in source, ICs, amp, headphones.) I'm starting to have thoughts that I'm wasting my time and effort on a balanced system with these headphones...am I crazy? I mean I know balanced operation improves sound on something you already like, and I do like these headphones, but are they hi-fi enough to go with a CDP in that range? Or do you need stuff like the R10, L3000, HP-1000, K1000 etc to blow the doors off? In other words, I'm looking for reassurance that these headphones will scale up enough if say, I went for something like the Meridian G08.

I believe you seemed to be fairly impressed by the sound of your balanced K701s when reviewing the GS-X with a couple of (non-balanced) Arcam CDPs, and even wondered whether you could do better with an even higher-end CDP. I think the amp and source do make a very significant contribution and if you already have a well-designed headphone to begin with, it will sound even better. I don't see any reason why any of the K701/HD650/etc phones would not scale well with a $2-4K CDP. Of course you could try the "higher end" phones too, and just maybe you would prefer them - but I certainly wouldn't worry about it right now. Some of these phones would also need to be re-wired for balanced or may be out of production altogether. I would personally stick with in-production phones with a good track record in balanced operation.

 

[velogreg]

I have personally spent some quality time with balanced 701s and HD650s and they sounded fantastic. I have also spent some time woth L3000s and K1000s and they also sounded fantastic, but as Khbaur330162 stated for the extra dough you get a different flavor, and flavor of headphone sound is subjective. Iron_Dreamer said it well when he stated that the source is very important and will have a very high cost benefit factor.
I would place better source first importance, hps second.