Quote:
i like the shures enough that i don't want to part with them
This wan't the impression I got, but it's obviously your call and your business not mine.
The thing is trying just this headphone alone with no amp/dac, doesn't make one experienced enough to make statements about the 'entire' headphone world. I never make statements on the 'headphone' world, as I consider myself not experienced enough. For example, I haven't had a go at all (apart from a few hours with a hd600 and hd595) with open cans- they leak too much.
IM NOT BLAMING YOU, AS IT PLAGUES HEADFI.
I mean there exists so many different headphone markets, like;
- earbud
- universal iem
- custom iem
- full size over ear closed
- half sized (portable) on ear closed
- full sized open
- half sized open.
And even sub- categories within these markets. Like with full sized open, you can have different types of driver technology- dynamic, orthodynamic, electrostatic,.....
After one has experience with these headphones markets, then experience with different amps/dacs/sources comes into question. Once you've answered this then you can make sweeping statements about the headphone world, with substance.
For example; I've come across too many headfiers that barely know acknowledge the difference between on ear and over ear closed headphones. They think the difference is physical and doesn't affect sound. And if a small ultra portable doesn't match up to the beasty denon d2k, then it's crap. It's just an example of a recent head-fi trend, and it needs to die quickly.