Suggestions Welcomed and First Post after years of lurking

[Dv8er]

Hello everyone! I've been using this forum/site as my main research hub for the last 2-3 years or so. I finally decided to break the ice and post a bit about me as well as ask a couple of questions.
 
The short on me: I hail from Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). I love sound, but never considered myself an audiophile. I think that I am progressing that way as I start to notice things like sibilance and the feeling of sound staging more and more. I listen to all types of music and have enjoyed swapping out headphones to listen to particular types. I don't have any local friends who are even nearly as interesting in quality sound products as I am. They'd never dream of spending more than $100 on a set of headphones unless they were Beats or Bose - shame. I'm a web developer, so I get to listen to music nearly all day. I have a setup at work and a separate setup at home (not a fan of transporting things back and forth all the time, except my laptop). I'm recently married and have 1 month old twin boys (which means my budget is less than it could have been a year ago, lol).
 
My Current Equipment:
 
Amp/DACs:

1. FiiO E11K - so far been used primarily on DT 770 250ohm
   Been happy with it for the 770, but recently feeling there is some sibilance that could be addressed
   Edit: re-arranged my setup for 770 and found a lose connection was causing some issues
2. FiiO Q1 - primarily on Fidelio X2
   Neutral opinion of this, because my opinion so far of the X2's is that they're just alright (maybe its my setup)
3. Schiit Fulla 2 - just got this, testing with HE-400i
   Too early to tell, but there's something about this pairing that leaves me feeling there "could" be more
   Edit: had been powering direct without going through PC. Once I hooked it up to PC - amazing difference!

 
Headphones:

1. Sennheiser HD 555 - first pair of "good" headphones a few years back, modded to remove the pads
   Loved these until I got the 770, and still love them for classical music especially
2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (250 ohm)
   Certain songs sound wonderful, and others don't. They've been my EDM favorite so far. I've got a lot of enjoyment from owning these for over a year now.
3. Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium (250 ohm)
   Just got these, haven't done much with them. Got them super cheap from a friend
4. Philips Fidelio X2
   There's something about these that I don't like. They feel fatigueing and unexciting to me. Not bad per se, but not great either
5. Hifiman HE-400i
   Just got these, and so far loving them. Great instrument clarity, and in short puts a smile on my face. I feel like the bass is lacking a bit on some tracks. Wondering if that's just me coming from listening a lot to the DT 770, or if that's a bad amp/dac pairing. Getting use to it, but interested to see what a premium amp/dac would do.

 
IEM:

1. Etymotic Research HF5
   Haven't listened to them in a little while now, but don't remember being very impressed by them. They sound decent, but nothing to brag about. I'll give them another go before trying on the LZ A4 I have on the way, at least for a reference.
2. LZ A4 (Massdrop, on order)
   Anxious to get these and try them out. Ordered based on reviews primarily found here on Head-Fi.
3. Klipsch S4
   Meh should sum it up. They're okay, and they're an easy listen (no harshness anywhere), but there's nothing particularly satisfying about them.

 
Sources / Software:

1. primary is XPS 15 (I disabled their sound modification software, hated it, so its coming out neutral)
2. IEMs typically through Galaxy S7
3. almost entirely using Spotify on its highest (extreme, if you can call it that) setting
4. just got a Tidal account so I can try out some real lossless, but haven't got that far yet

 
My Questions and/or Plans that I'd like input on:
 
There are a few headphones and equipment that I have my eye on. A couple of them are simply because they're available for what I feel like will be a limited time. The headphones below are "wants" and certainly not needs. I haven't even fully broke in my new HE-400i nor DT 880 yet. I do however feel that I am in need of a better Amp/DAC. I am completely open to any input and thoughts. 
 
A note on budget: I don't have a ton of money to throw at this. I do plan my purchases carefully (at least I think I do), and always try to make it very worth it. While I "can" spend $500 on an amp/dac, I'd only do it if there's a great benefit and it will be my amp/dac for years to come. I have newborns and a wife, after all.
 

• Amp/DAC
  1. Grace m9xx on Massdrop - I feel that I could use a better Amp/DAC, and I feel like this particular one would give me a lot of future-proofing compared to some other options.
  2. Creative Sound Blaster X7 - as with the Grace, it seems to be very capable and get generally very good reviews. This one in particular would be used at home where I do occasionally play some PC games. The virtual surround is appealing to me, but not a requirement.
  3. Schiit Valhalla - Would love to dive into tube amps at some point. This one seems to be well reviewed most constantly, and seems to be more flexible than other tube amps in its output impedance.
  4. Bottlehead Crack - The DIY aspect of this is appealing, but somehow I feel in my gut that I'd rather start with the Valhalla.
• Headphones
  1. Beyerdynamic T90 Limited - I'm really interested in these because I have so far loved Beyerdynamic, because they probably won't be available for a long time, and because they can be found sub-$300. They get a lot of praise for being 95% of what the T1 is at a fraction of the cost.
  2. Sennheiser HD 6xx or HD 650 - Yes, I understand that many prefer the HD 600. However, from what I've read I think I'd be interested in the HD 650 as a complement to what I have, and I'm interested in trying out and playing with the darker sound signature these supposedly have.
  3. AKG k7xx - I have a mild interest in these, but lean more towards not expecting to hear much from them that I can't hear from what I already have. The price just makes them an easier buy I guess.
• Other Equipment
  1. ​​So far all I have done is plug headphones into an Amp/DAC that I plug into my laptop or phone. Am I missing anything that would provide me with a noticeable leap in sound versus this method?
  2. I haven't gotten into trying to "upgrade" AUX / power cables. If you feel like I'm missing out, share your thoughts.

 
 
This got a lot longer than I had intended at first. For anyone that actually reads the whole thing - I owe ya one. Hopefully I can provide something back to the community as I grow in audiophilic experience.
 
 
Thanks guys

 

[VNandor]

If you found the DT770 to be sibilant, I think you can cross out the T90. I wouldn't spend more money on a dac/amp combo than on the headphones but that's just me.

 

[Monsterzero]

IMO(and many others) you will be hard pressed to find a substantial improvement in SQ from what you already own at that price point.Pretty much you will be doing several side-grades,as opposed to an actual upgrade. Im not saying $$$=better 100% of the time,but this hobby leans heavily in that direction.

If you are interested in buying used headphones,you can probably grab a pair of HE-500s or HE-560s in the 400-500.00 range,as to me those are the "next level" in SQ over what you already own.

If youre wanting to explore a darker sound a used pre fazor LCD-2 (pre fazor are discontinued) can be had for around 600.00 ,in fact just sold a pair for 600.00 myself.A cheaper option would be the Audioquest Nighthawks,but I havent heard them myself so YMMV.

For new headphones the two I have heard that really floored me at CanJam NYC were the Mr.Speakers AEON and both the new ZMF headphones,Atticus and Eikon....However all three are above your price point.

Whichever you decide to get make sure your amp(s) are up to the chore. 

 

[Dv8er]

  IMO(and many others) you will be hard pressed to find a substantial improvement in SQ from what you already own at that price point.Pretty much you will be doing several side-grades,as opposed to an actual upgrade. Im not saying $$$=better 100% of the time,but this hobby leans heavily in that direction.

If you are interested in buying used headphones,you can probably grab a pair of HE-500s or HE-560s in the 400-500.00 range,as to me those are the "next level" in SQ over what you already own.

If youre wanting to explore a darker sound a used pre fazor LCD-2 (pre fazor are discontinued) can be had for around 600.00 ,in fact just sold a pair for 600.00 myself.A cheaper option would be the Audioquest Nighthawks,but I havent heard them myself so YMMV.

For new headphones the two I have heard that really floored me at CanJam NYC were the Mr.Speakers AEON and both the new ZMF headphones,Atticus and Eikon....However all three are above your price point.

Whichever you decide to get make sure your amp(s) are up to the chore. 

 
That's what I was afraid of . Another couple headphones I was interested in hearing were OPPO-PM3 and V-Moda M100. Maybe I just need to find a local group so I can try more without having to buy/sell as much.
 
After plugging the Fulla 2 into PC finally and listening to HE-400i again - wow. Feels like a true step up from previous 770 + Q1 combo. This will at least keep me entertained for some time.
 
 
VNandor: That is my only hesitation with the T90. I love the 770, and after your post I checked my setup and discovered I had a lose connection. That fixed the slight hiss I was getting recently. Something about the T90 draws me, but that could very well just be that I think it is pretty.
 
 
With the amp, I was just thinking that if I got something like the Grace m9xx or Chord Mojo that I'd have something that I could use as a solid reference going forward until the true hifi level. I think my 2017 cap for spending on more equipment would top at another $1k, but sometimes purchases happen, and wallets cry.

 

[Monsterzero]

   
That's what I was afraid of . Another couple headphones I was interested in hearing were OPPO-PM3 and V-Moda M100. Maybe I just need to find a local group so I can try more without having to buy/sell as much.
 
After plugging the Fulla 2 into PC finally and listening to HE-400i again - wow. Feels like a true step up from previous 770 + Q1 combo. This will at least keep me entertained for some time.
 
 
VNandor: That is my only hesitation with the T90. I love the 770, and after your post I checked my setup and discovered I had a lose connection. That fixed the slight hiss I was getting recently. Something about the T90 draws me, but that could very well just be that I think it is pretty.
 
 
With the amp, I was just thinking that if I got something like the Grace m9xx or Chord Mojo that I'd have something that I could use as a solid reference going forward until the true hifi level. I think my 2017 cap for spending on more equipment would top at another $1k, but sometimes purchases happen, and wallets cry.

I have owned the Beyer DT770 250ohm,DT990 600ohm and T1,and finally realized I do not like the Beyer sound.Of course that is my personal tastes and others will pop in shortly to tell you the T90 is the end game headphone of alltime,but again thats subjective.Beyers are too bright up top and too thin in the mids and bottom for me and my musical tastes.

I havent heard the Oppo but the M100 is again a sidegrade at best.

 

[Dv8er]

 
I have owned the Beyer DT770 250ohm,DT990 600ohm and T1,and finally realized I do not like the Beyer sound.Of course that is my personal tastes and others will pop in shortly to tell you the T90 is the end game headphone of alltime,but again thats subjective.Beyers are too bright up top and too thin in the mids and bottom for me and my musical tastes.

I havent heard the Oppo but the M100 is again a sidegrade at best.

 
Yeah, seems to be the general feeling on the Beyers. I agree their top is a bit harsh, but there are some songs I feel pair well with them (primarily Europop/tech/house stuff). A lot of the "programming" house/tech-style music I listen to is probably too heavy on the bass as is, and maybe the Beyer's dynamic is why they sound good to me with those. But they do leave something to be desired with rock / pop / Euro-industrial music. I'll eventually probably do a separate post for this, but I'd really love to find a perfect pairing for stuff like Assemblage 23, VNV Nation, Covenant, and the like. Had an old Sony pair that I absolutely loved for this music, but its been so long I have no idea what model they were. Listening to Greed from Assemblage 23 on the 770's as I write this and yeah, this song is exactly what you said - harsh top and thin bottle.
 
I'm okay with a couple of sidegrades if they are a different sound style. I figure I'll end up selling a few down the road once I settle in a bit better. That's one of the reasons I don't want to pull the trigger on the higher end stuff - might decide later I want to go a different route. I'm going to keep an eye out for the LCD-2. I wonder how the TH-X00 would compare.

 

[Monsterzero]

   
Yeah, seems to be the general feeling on the Beyers. I agree their top is a bit harsh, but there are some songs I feel pair well with them (primarily Europop/tech/house stuff). A lot of the "programming" house/tech-style music I listen to is probably too heavy on the bass as is, and maybe the Beyer's dynamic is why they sound good to me with those. But they do leave something to be desired with rock / pop / Euro-industrial music. I'll eventually probably do a separate post for this, but I'd really love to find a perfect pairing for stuff like Assemblage 23, VNV Nation, Covenant, and the like. Had an old Sony pair that I absolutely loved for this music, but its been so long I have no idea what model they were. Listening to Greed from Assemblage 23 on the 770's as I write this and yeah, this song is exactly what you said - harsh top and thin bottle.
 
I'm okay with a couple of sidegrades if they are a different sound style. I figure I'll end up selling a few down the road once I settle in a bit better. That's one of the reasons I don't want to pull the trigger on the higher end stuff - might decide later I want to go a different route. I'm going to keep an eye out for the LCD-2. I wonder how the TH-X00 would compare.

Im going to admit to not knowing a single band you just mentioned,guess my age is showing

The Audeze LCD-2 PF digs way down. The extension is awesome,you will hear/feel rumble you didnt even know was there.They dont thump so much as they rumble.The mids are IMO decent,not great.The highs are rolled off for a relaxed gooey sound.I used mine for deep/goa trance,psybient,blues and older/bright recordings.They might come off as lifeless if your ears are used to Beyers. I sold my pair to fund the ZMF Atticus that I mentioned in my first post...which to my ears have almost the same quality bass as LCD-2s,but with much better(forward) mids...not to mention theyre gorgeous,and ZMF owner Zach is a cool guy!

 

[Dv8er]

  Im going to admit to not knowing a single band you just mentioned,guess my age is showing

The Audeze LCD-2 PF digs way down. The extension is awesome,you will hear/feel rumble you didnt even know was there.They dont thump so much as they rumble.The mids are IMO decent,not great.The highs are rolled off for a relaxed gooey sound.I used mine for deep/goa trance,psybient,blues and older/bright recordings.They might come off as lifeless if your ears are used to Beyers. I sold my pair to fund the ZMF Atticus that I mentioned in my first post...which to my ears have almost the same quality bass as LCD-2s,but with much better(forward) mids...not to mention theyre gorgeous,and ZMF owner Zach is a cool guy!

 
 
lol - to be fair, I don't really know anyone that listens to these bands. I think they're a lot more popular in Germany than in US, but even then I assume they're more underground. Somehow VNV came on my radar many years ago on a programming music list and I've been hooked on the genre ever since.
 
From your sig it looks like you're powering right out of a receiver? I have a Harmon/Kardon that's been shelved for a bit I used to power out of. Perhaps I should bring it back to life and compare how it sounds against the Fulla 2. And I'll have to see what I can do about getting a listen in on the LCD-2 and something from ZMF. Just found out there is a hifi audio shop or 2 here in Vegas, and will have to go see what they carry.
 
Sounds like the worst case is that if I pull trigger on one of those and don't love it, should be easy to get 80%+ back for it (buying it used to begin with). 

 

[Monsterzero]

   
 
lol - to be fair, I don't really know anyone that listens to these bands. I think they're a lot more popular in Germany than in US, but even then I assume they're more underground. Somehow VNV came on my radar many years ago on a programming music list and I've been hooked on the genre ever since.
 
From your sig it looks like you're powering right out of a receiver? I have a Harmon/Kardon that's been shelved for a bit I used to power out of. Perhaps I should bring it back to life and compare how it sounds against the Fulla 2. And I'll have to see what I can do about getting a listen in on the LCD-2 and something from ZMF. Just found out there is a hifi audio shop or 2 here in Vegas, and will have to go see what they carry.
 
Sounds like the worst case is that if I pull trigger on one of those and don't love it, should be easy to get 80%+ back for it (buying it used to begin with). 

How old is your HK? New-ish receivers are decent for high impedance headphones,not great....horrid for low impedance headphones,too much bass bloat.
My receivers are vintage(1960s-70s).Back then they used an in-line resistor in between the main amp for headphones,as opposed to newer stuff that uses a separate amp just for headphones.

I have a 1000.00 NAD 7.1 receiver for my home theater and my headphones sound decent,but not good,whereas my Sansui 881 that I picked up for 110.00 totally blows it out of the water for headphones.Theres an entire group of us here on Head-Fi who use vintage receivers as headphone amps.

 http://www.head-fi.org/t/537704/calling-all-vintage-integrated-receiver-owners/16905#post_13317517

RE: The Audeze and ZMFs

You wont be able to audition pre-fazor LCD-2s,theyve been replaced with Fazor "technology",which I dont like....more energy up top,loss on the bottom end.

ZMF is currently 6-8 weeks behind filling back orders...theyre all hand made and I wouldnt expect to see them in stores until summer time at the earliest,and even then your shop would have to carry them.

 

[Dv8er]

  How old is your HK? New-ish receivers are decent for high impedance headphones,not great....horrid for low impedance headphones,too much bass bloat.
My receivers are vintage(1960s-70s).Back then they used an in-line resistor in between the main amp for headphones,as opposed to newer stuff that uses a separate amp just for headphones.

I have a 1000.00 NAD 7.1 receiver for my home theater and my headphones sound decent,but not good,whereas my Sansui 881 that I picked up for 110.00 totally blows it out of the water for headphones.Theres an entire group of us here on Head-Fi who use vintage receivers as headphone amps.

 http://www.head-fi.org/t/537704/calling-all-vintage-integrated-receiver-owners/16905#post_13317517

RE: The Audeze and ZMFs

You wont be able to audition pre-fazor LCD-2s,theyve been replaced with Fazor "technology",which I dont like....more energy up top,loss on the bottom end.

ZMF is currently 6-8 weeks behind filling back orders...theyre all hand made and I wouldnt expect to see them in stores until summer time at the earliest,and even then your shop would have to carry them.

 
Oh sure, completely tease me 

 
Good to know on the LCD-2 PF vs F! I'll keep that in mind.
 
I'll check specs on my H/K when I get home and see what's what. Very interesting about the vintage receivers... Another rabbit hole I will be happily diving into.

 

[Monsterzero]

   
Oh sure, completely tease me 

 
Good to know on the LCD-2 PF vs F! I'll keep that in mind.
 
I'll check specs on my H/K when I get home and see what's what. Very interesting about the vintage receivers... Another rabbit hole I will be happily diving into.

Yeah,TBH I wish someone had told me about vintage receivers when I first jumped into this hobby,it wouldve saved me a lot of $ and time and frustration.

Vintage gear prices have skyrocketed recently but you can still get a good 40-60WPC receiver in the 300.00 range.The monster receivers,100+wpc,can set you back thousands of dollars tho...

You will also need to be DIY handy or have a vintage repair place nearby as 50 year old gear needs to be repaired occasionally.I bought my Sansui 5000a off of EBay for 56.00 and it arrived DOA...powered up but no sound.Took it over to my repair guy and 90.00 dollars later its running my computer set-up...handles both headphones and desktop speakers too.

Vintage gear can drive all high ohm headphones as well as planars,which like + voltage.I have the HE-6,which is,by far, the hardest headphone in the world to drive and for those I hook them up directly to the speaker taps of my 881.There are dedicated headphone amps out there that can drive the HE-6,but they cost thousands of dollars.
All my other headphones sound superb straight from the headphone jack.

For low impedance headphones I use a 99.00 Schiit Magni Uber 2,which suffices for me as I dont own many easy to drive headphones and they dont get much headtime anyways.