Isak
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2010
- Posts
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I got my first set of real headphones last year, the Grado SR 325i, and am really happy with them. I know they're accused of being slightly 'harsh' in the heigh notes but I feel this has gotten better after using them for a while and, not the least, with using them with a good source. I'm thinking I'll use the SPDIF on the audigy and sometimes the USB imput with my laptop. Which brings me to my problem as my current setup (the Audigy 2 ZS in my desktop) is very far from doing them justice.
They sound great, however, on my dad's setup wich is an Arcam CD 23 - > Atoll IN 100 (which he uses to drive a set of Magneplans).
I listen to a wide variety rhythmic music, paul simon, tom waits, lots of older jazz (billie holiday, duke ellington, sarah vaughan, ella fitzgerald) and I appreciate the warmth and presence of the bass in the grados while the heighs can still sometimes become uncomfortable (though often I think it’s as much from the old recordings).
So I obviously need a proper source for them. I would prefer to go on using my computer as a source (I use EAC-ripped FLACs) for now, but I’d like to be able to use my DAC with other sources as well (a future ipod, squeezebox, CD or whatever I end up with). I’d prefer a solution that integrates DAC and amp but it’s not imperative.
I've browsed around a bit on this forum and from this have my eyes on the NUFORCE Icon HDP. From what I understand I get both a good DAC and Amp from this and it seems to me I might even use this as the starting point if I want to build a lower end ‘full’ stereo at a later point as well (I’m convinced I’ll continue using headphones as my primary source for personal listening however). My main doubt is that I’ve read that the SR 325Is do well with tube amplification; should I rather go for something like the little dot tube-amps and add a DAC to those? –which DAC in that case?
At some point I’ll probably go for some higher end headphones (I’m thinking Grado RS or GS since I love the sound and would like the softer tones of the wooden cans), will they need a higher grade source?