So, what can I get for ~$500? (USD lawl)

[aerether]

My source is a computer with an Audigy 2 ZS. No amp or DAC or any of that, sadly.

And if I get some replies, this will be my last new thread for a while, I guess.

Again, budget is approximately $500. Less is preferred.
My choices seem to be:
1) Beyerdynamic DT880 with Meier Audio Porta Corda MkIII USB (a bit over but seems to be a tried and true combo)
2) DT770 with similarly priced amp
3) Denon AH-D5000 (but lack of amp troubles me)
4) Denon AH-D2000 (second most cost effective solution, amp is not a necessity with this headphone I think)
5) Senn HD650 + appropriate amp (everyone loves senns?)
6) Audio Technica ATH-AD2000 (aren't most AT phones known for their high efficiency and not NEEDING an amp as opposed to some other phones?)(also, slight comfort issue, which I am not clear on)
7) Audio Technica ATH-A900, with A1000 pads (most cost effective, but what's this I hear about honky mids?)
8) Alessandro MS-2 (everyone loves alessandro, but I'm wondering about its effectiveness across a broad variety of genres)

I listen to:
rock
electronica
a smatter of almost everything in between.

So an "all-rounder" setup would be nice. ATH-AD2k's or Denon's seem to be the top contenders, but what am I overlooking/missing?

Help would be very much appreciated in this matter.

 

[milkpowder]

Grado RS-2! I just received mine today and still going through the new toy syndrome

I haven't picked up my HE60 once since getting the Grados... I've even played some opera through them (Mozart Magic Flute)

The greatest drawback is the massive spike in the upper midrange at 2.5kHz. As a result, I've had to resort to some EQ (yes, iTunes EQ, but I also EQ in foobar). Otherwise, they're decent allrounders.

EDIT: OK, I lied. I did pick up my HE60 on a few occasions just for comparisons. I'm on rock mode right now and the RS-2 >> HE60. New toy syndrome is great!

 

[M0T0XGUY]

What about Darth Beyers? You can get a decent pair for 500 dollars if you avoid the plug covers and get a slightly less expensive wood.

 

[wakeride74]

For what you listen to I'd go with a DT770 and Bithead or a similar setup. Denon AH-D5000 easily bests the DT770 (I know because I just sold my 770's for the D5k) but I have no idea how they would sound with your source unamped.

 

[ex0du5]

From what I've been reading, the Denon AH-D2000 seem to match your needs.

However, I must say that any decent headphones that I've plugged into my Audigy 2 ZS sound terrible. My iPod far outdoes the Audigy 2 ZS in terms of music playback. I think it's a lack of amplification maybe? When I plug my Denon AH-D550 in there, I feel like my ears are getting sucked out of my head, really uncomfortable feeling. Not so through my iPod though. Be warned. Maybe someone else has some info on this?

 

[milkpowder]

Hmm... Audigy 2 ZS isn't that bad. May not be the best, but certainly not the end of the world. I heard the Omega 2 using the A2ZS and it sounded great.

 

[ex0du5]

Probably just didn't go well with my phones.

But then again, don't electrostatics take very little power to drive?

 

[aerether]

Recommendations for the DT770's abound, and even the Darthed versions-
how bassy are they? Are they gonna overwhelm my head with pure bass quantity and drown out everything else? (my AKG K81's have TOO MUCH BASS and I think the KSC75 overdoes it more times than I would like as well)

Also, are these phones (everything recommended) on the musical or analytical side?

 

[milkpowder]

Quite the contrary. My amp has a bias voltage of 580v and iirc voltage swing of 300V. I listened through an amp. Plugging in an electrostatic headphone into a normal headphone jack is not possible due to the different plug design and working principle.

The DT770 is bassy, but not overwhelmingly so. The mids and treble are still there in healthy "quantities". I actually found them to be pretty pleasant-sounding.

 

[Mrvile]

All I'm going to say is that you probably want an amp/DAC. I have the Audigy2 ZS and I can definitely tell a difference between straight out of the soundcard and through my CDP -> amp.

 

[aerether]

So I can get:
1) a Total BitHead DAC/amp ($150)
2) and either Denon AH-D2000 or DT770's, both of which will probably be Darth'd in the distant future.

Is this a good plan of attack? Please comment.

 

[uraflit]

sounds good to me.

gotta warn u about the dt770's bass tho.

 

[D1g1talV3n0m]

I would recommend doing this...

Buy a 770 from Larry for 145$ and have him Darth the unit in a base level wood with 2 meters of cable which is 250$. That's 395$ Buy a MisterX XP amp and ask him to build it for the Darth's. That should run you around 100$ maybe a little more. There is your 500$ budget.

If you could swing the 75$ I recommend the upgrade to the Blackmax cabling.

The way I see it is get a great set of cans first and foremost. Amps make a difference but they aren't going to make your stock 770's sound like Darth's.

I ran a MisterX amp with my Darth's and I enjoyed it. It was a fun amp and did a good job for it's price.

Hope I was able to help.

 

[aerether]

Quote:

Originally Posted by D1g1talV3n0m /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would recommend doing this... Buy a 770 from Larry for 145$ and have him Darth the unit in a base level wood with 2 meters of cable which is 250$. That's 395$ Buy a MisterX XP amp and ask him to build it for the Darth's. That should run you around 100$ maybe a little more. There is your 500$ budget. If you could swing the 75$ I recommend the upgrade to the Blackmax cabling. The way I see it is get a great set of cans first and foremost. Amps make a difference but they aren't going to make your stock 770's sound like Darth's. I ran a MisterX amp with my Darth's and I enjoyed it. It was a fun amp and did a good job for it's price. Hope I was able to help.

Of course, Darthing the 770's would entail waiting untold ages (8+ weeks) While they are very pretty indeed I'm not sure if I could wait that long :x
Also I feel like I'd kick myself later for not getting some of the best. looking. wood. evar the first time around (cocobolo/bloodwood) and the Blackmax cabling, which is an easy $100+ increase.

And I'm not sure if I'd entirely enjoy 770's bass levels (even if they DO sound very nice regardless; are they worse than AKG K81DJ's in the BOOM WOW I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING ELSE factor?)

Perhaps later I can go the full nine yards for a V3 Open Darth Beyer with all the stops pulled out.

Thanks very much for your consideration in your reply though

 

[pinkfloyd4ever]

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmm... Audigy 2 ZS isn't that bad. May not be the best, but certainly not the end of the world. I heard the Omega 2 using the A2ZS and it sounded great.

Do cotdt's mod

go back to the original post to see the whole story...I'm still working on figuring out which is the power filter cap, but from what everyone who's done it says, the op-amp switch & the ERS paper make quite a difference on their own