Jul 26, 2019 at 4:02 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9

zikmir

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So i have two pairs of headphones, ATH-M50x and HD598. I know this may sound noobish but i prefer the M50x over the HD598 even though i can feel and hear more clearly and better overall instruments in the HD598.

My music choice changes in different times of years, some times i listen to music that has lots of beats/bass and some times old songs from ABBA and George Michael which sound amazing on HD 598.

I am using Fiio e10k and so far i don't hate my setup. As i said i use mostly M50x since i just love the bass and love to crank the volume to max. HD598 just miss that so they stay inside the case for most part of it.

Now i would like to know what i can buy for my next pair? Lets say i want it to be clear and amazing like the HD598 but with that extra bass like the M50x. I am willing to go lets say $500-$600 and also $300 for a new full amp/dac.

I looked some amps like Valhalla 2 with Modi but i think that will kill my entier budget since Valhalla 2 it self is $300+. So all in all lets say my max budget for Christmas is $1000 for headphones and amp/dac, whats the ideal combo i can get?

I did look up HD600, 800 and some others but i would have no clue how they would sound like from bass perspective e.t.c. Also im guessing i would prefer closed instead of open back? I know M50x are closed and maybe the bass is more cause of it? I wont be picky if they are closed/open since i will be using them at home.

Thanks.
 
Jul 26, 2019 at 4:54 AM Post #2 of 9
Jul 26, 2019 at 5:27 AM Post #3 of 9
I might look a a Campfire Cascade with your preferences. I would hang on to the FiiO amp you have initially and upgrade to a DAC/amp once you have a better idea what you think the strengths of the Cascade are to you.
 
Jul 26, 2019 at 5:57 AM Post #6 of 9
Theyre not 10k, they retail around 800$ from the manufacturer in USD. But campfire is sold out, so you'll either have two choices now.

1) wait for next batch
Or
2) pay whatever price someone is listing them as in either a new or used condition.
 
Jul 26, 2019 at 6:10 AM Post #7 of 9
There is not going to be an ideal combo in general. But with 1000$ at your disposal you could surely find a headphone and amp/dac that will be an improvement on your current setup. I own the HD600 though and they would most likely not have enough bass for you. Others will probably have better advice on headphones but would it be worth it to try something planar like an LCD2? Maybe used?
 
Jul 27, 2019 at 7:11 PM Post #8 of 9
I have an interesting suggestion for you. Some of it will depend on where you live. I live in the USA so the prices are reflective of that. I too love my bass but also value clarity, mids and treble too. I have found an amazing set up that will cost you about $1000 USD.

Starting with the headphone - Monoprice Monolith M565 - a very under the radar headphone on Head-fi. It is open-backed (although it comes in closed back as well) and is planar magnetic. You can get it on eBay for $130. A screaming deal. I put ZMF ovals on over the stock pads, which are quite small and would be on-ear for most people. The ZMF pads are lambskin and cost $50. I also use a Blue Dragon cable from Moon Audio that cost $210. This seems ridiculously expensive considering the cost of the headphones, but it makes a remarkable difference in sound quality and is worth every penny in my opinion.

The amp I use is the Emotiva BasX A-100 with the jumpers installed. Cost is $250. This is similar in power to vintage receivers and therefore can drive any headphone out there with authority. The DAC I use is a Topping D50 which just went on Drop (formerly MassDrop) for $200 with an updated version. And my final piece of gear is the Schiit Loki which is a tone control that is great for tweaking headphones that are almost where you want them to be sound wise but aren't quite there. The cost is $150.

The total cost for this setup is $990. If you live in a country other than the US, than these prices won't be accurate. This setup has blown my mind in terms of the tonal quality of every aspect of the sound signature. The bass is deep and rumbly. The mids are forward and beautiful. The treble is sparkly with a slight bump on the Loki but isn't harsh or sibilant. The imaging is spectacular. The soundstage is impressive. I listen for 2-3 hours every night and each time I take the headphones off reluctantly and can't believe how amazing and engaging the sound is.

It is probably useful to note that I listen primarily to EDM - House, Dance, Techno. I do listen to some acoustic and pop as well. All sounds amazing with this setup. Hopefully this helps you on your journey of chasing the dragon.
 
Jul 28, 2019 at 11:31 PM Post #9 of 9
Open back to the cheap - Massdrop Sennheiser 58X
Closed back on the cheap - Massdrop Meze 99 Noir.
Both amazingly killer cans for the price. I can't help with more expensive headphones. Haven't gone over 3 bills.... Yet
 

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