Kodhifi
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2013
- Posts
- 585
- Likes
- 105
I admittedly realize this may not be the best thread to ask this given people's love for the HD650 in this thread, but wondering if there is a 'normal' or recommended allocation of $1k+ budget b/w headphones, amp, and DAC.
New to headphones. Started w/ Sennheiser HD650 for $300. I've listened to them some with friend's FiiO E12, as well as as the iFi iDSD Micro, and through my Onkyo home stereo A/V receiver. I really like the HD650 (though don't have much to compare them to except a few in-store listens).
From reading this thread, a lot of people obviously swear by the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball amp, and a general consensus that the HD650 thrives on tube amps. I don't want to build the Crack and seems like I could get it for ~$500+ new assembled from reputable source or save a couple hundred bucks and get it used. DAC would obviously be extra.
I'm not at all opposed to go this route, but as a hp newb I thought the headphones would be the most important part of the equation and thus the most expensive. I realize the HD650 can sound very good w/ a cheaper amp/DAC combo, but I think I will end up spending more in the long run if I go with a cheaper amp/DAC to start and then ultimately get the Crack anyways.
Is there a 'normal' or recommended allocation of budget between headphones, amp, and DAC? Would I be better served by returning the HD650 and buying more expensive hp (possibly lower impedence) and less expensive amp? Or should I just be happy that the HD650 punches above its $300 price tag and go with an amp + dac combo that will likely cost 3x the cost of the headphones?
I approach purchasing decisions based on a min max philosophy, I want the most bang for my buck. If that means a $500 amplifier so be it. Sometimes it means a $250 DAC instead of a $500 DAC though. Or $300 HD650's instead of $1500 headphones.
I can tell you from experience that the headphone matters most, followed closely by the amplifier and ideally you want those two to work well together and have a synergy. The DAC is probably the least important for good sound.
I don't know what else you have in your collection but if we're only talking about 650's, then you should consider OTL tube amps. They excel at delivering power to higher impedance headphones like the 650 (but fail hard on orthodynamics due to their low impedance and high power demands).
Amongst tube amps, the tubes are the #1 thing that is affecting the sound. Tube amplifiers are incredibly simple devices, you hook a transformer up to power the tube, feed the tube an input signal to modulate the grid, and this produces an amplified modulated output on one of the triodes which then feeds another, larger, tube and repeats the process, then it goes to the headphone (in an OTL). The only other thing that will affect the quality of the audio in the OTL tube amps are the capacitors used for the tubes. As long as they are reliable well known capacitors, you're golden. I would expect the bottlehead to sound about as good as any other tube amp, provided the same components were used. The other variable is how good their power supplies are and if they are delivering clean and steady power to the amp.