[killmurer]

Soo, fresh out of the university and with a new reasonably well paying job. 

 
Looking to buy a good quality headphone rig for $ 1500.
I thought this thread would help others too.
 
Right now I'm leaning towards
hp: LCD2
amp: O2
dac: ODAC (?)
music: Everything. No classical though.
 
Any other new/used rigs possible under the budget?
I'll be upgrading from a humble hd25. Can't wait 

 
Some of the suggestions compiled:
LCD2 + O2 + ODAC
HE-500 + NFB-10SE
HE-500 + Schiit Lyr + Bi frost
KOSS ESP-950
JVC DX700/(used)DX1000 + Fiio E10 + Apex Butte + Monoprice Interconnect
Sony Z1070 + Leckerton UHA-4 w/ OPA627 + JH16/JH13/JH11/T1/T5P
Signature Pro? + ???
T1 + nuclear reactor
LCD2 + Vioelectric V100
RS1i + MAD EAR+ HD
HD 650 + Woo WA2
HD 800 + dacport lx + m-stage matrix (or lovely cube) (USED)
HE-500 + EHHA Rev A Amp + ODAC

 

[steve2151]

How about the NFB-10SE and HE-500? You're looking at $700 for the headphones and another $650ish for the dac/amp if you get the remote and USB 24/192 support upgrades. 
 
This was my second all-in-one unit (first two being the Burson 160D and Audio GD NFB-12) and I originally paired it with a group of mid-fi headphones (Q701, HD 580, DT 990). Nowadays, I mainly use it with my HD 800 and HE-6. It has the power swing to drive the HE-6 without breaking a sweat and does a decent job on the HD 800. Audio GD can also install a -7db mod to low gain, letting you drive iems out of the unit as well.
 
Basically, if a headphone exists, this thing can drive it. Heck, if I stopped reading the summit-fi section, I'd lose the urge to upgrade.

 

[mac336]

HE-500 
Schiit Lyr
Schiit Bifrost
 
Done

 

[obobskivich]

Koss ESP/950 - $600~
Whatever you plug it into (CDP, turntable, soundcard, etc (it only needs a line level output)) - up to $900
Stand for ESP/950 headphone - $whatever is left (I use a banana stand, it cost $3) 
 
You could even get something ridiculous like the Omega stand for them, it's like $100 but there's enough left over in your hypothetical budget to include it. 
 
Assumes: 
 
You have AC power.
You listen inside in a quiet-ish room (they're open).
 

 

[WhiteCrow]

 
Quote:

HE-500 
Schiit Lyr
Schiit Bifrost
 
Done

This^^

Ahhh my Brethren!!!

 

[Sllow]

LCD2+O2+ODAC seems like a pretty good end-game rig for me. Lows that can impress you, mids that flat, highs that doesn't try to kill you. And all this beauty coupled with High Perfomance DAC+AMP. One possible problem - comfort would be an issue, LCD weights too much.

 

[chrislangley4253]

KSC75 and Sansa Clip+
 
But yeah, LCD2 and O2 and ODAC seems like a great idea. Also consider hifiman and maybe even a pair of magnums. The magnums are my favorite so far (haven't heard lcd2 or he500 though)

 

[SONIC BOOM]

 
Quote:

LCD2+O2+ODAC seems like a pretty good end-game rig for me. Lows that can impress you, mids that flat, highs that doesn't try to kill you. And all this beauty coupled with High Perfomance DAC+AMP. One possible problem - comfort would be an issue, LCD weights too much.

 
+1 if you think they are comfortable 

 

[RexAeterna]

KSC75 and Sansa Clip+

this right here is the best headphone rig money can buy. it'll put your hd25's to shame fo real.

 

[killmurer]

Comfort is the one thing I'm worried about.
I'm usually not a sucker for comfort but is the HE-500 waaay better in comfort?
The weight of the LCD2 is a turn off.
 
And how does an HD 700 rig compare to these two?
It seems it's not that picky about the source. 
And, thunderpants? Too much in back order? 

 

[chrislangley4253]

 
Quote:

Comfort is the one thing I'm worried about.
I'm usually not a sucker for comfort but is the HE-500 waaay better in comfort?
The weight of the LCD2 is a turn off.
 
And how does an HD 700 rig compare to these two?
It seems it's not that picky about the source. 
And, thunderpants? Too much in back order? 

 
Thunderpants use a subpar driver... I don't care how much makeup you throw on that pig, it's not going to become a flagship.. (i'm all for budget modding of the t50rp, just not for the all out thunderpants approach)
 
I should just stop commenting, I need to sleep anyways. 
 
Best of luck to you killmurer. Good amp and dac choice
 
 

 

[kn19h7]

 
Quote:

Comfort is the one thing I'm worried about.
I'm usually not a sucker for comfort but is the HE-500 waaay better in comfort?
The weight of the LCD2 is a turn off.
 
And how does an HD 700 rig compare to these two?
It seems it's not that picky about the source. 
And, thunderpants? Too much in back order? 

 

Both Hifiman and Audeze products are practically unusable to me due to their weights.
 
Personally I wouldn't put much hope on Thunderpants as the unmodded T50RP didn't sound too good to me..

 

[WhiteCrow]

 
Quote:

 
 

Both Hifiman and Audeze products are practically unusable to me due to their weights.
 
Personally I wouldn't put much hope on Thunderpants as the unmodded T50RP didn't sound too good to me..

Seriously? my HE-500 Weigh EXACTLY 1Pound 3.5 ounces. That's 9 ounces lighter than my bike helmet, How does the weight affect you? does it force your neck into an uncomfortable position? Wearing the HE-500 for 2 hours was just like wearing my Grados for 2 hours.

 

[obobskivich]

Okay well, Grados aren't exactly known as comfortable headphones either. 
 
Contrast the HE-500 to some other stuff:
 
Sony MDR-F1 - 200g
AKG K701 - 235g
Koss ESP/950 - 353g 
Denon AH-D5000 - 370g
 
Quote:

 
Seriously? my HE-500 Weigh EXACTLY 1Pound 3.5 ounces. That's 9 ounces lighter than my bike helmet, How does the weight affect you? does it force your neck into an uncomfortable position? Wearing the HE-500 for 2 hours was just like wearing my Grados for 2 hours.

 
It depends on what you're buying with the $1500. Truly excellent headphones don't need to cost that much (at least historically), but unfortunately, $300 is becoming "average" for quality headphones. 
 
 

 

[swbf2cheater]

JVC DX700 or used DX1000
Fiio E10
Apex Butte
Monoprice Interconnect