project86
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
- Posts
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Hi all
Just plowed through this long thread. I am interested in getting a complete headphone setup as a "replacement" for my Naim/Neat stereo setup. I just find myself listening to music much more while sitting at my PC desk so it would make sense to invest more into headphone gear.
So I am basically almost starting from scratch. I have a Hegel USB/DAC and a DT770 Pro so practically anything I get will be better than this.
Sadly it's a confusing experience reading forums and filtering out good information. I've spent this whole week doing this. One product could get all the hype in one thread and then the next thread it's the worst ever. It's really annoying and makes it very difficult for head-fi newcomers like me.
Anyway...I'm sorry for the whining.
The reason I am here is that I am interested in Violectric, but of course I am still on the fence due to conflicting opinions. I do have a positive impression of Violectric regardless. Their products look solidly built with a no nonsense approach.
I have a couple of options.
1. V281 with USB DAC and get the V850 later
2. V200 + V850
I have an AKG 7XX on the way from massdrop. This is more meant as a temporary headset and maybe getting a HD800S. HE-400i also looks interesting.
I am open to any suggestions and advice for both electronics and headphones. It's getting quite boring sitting on the fence so I would be very grateful if someone could push me over.
I'd say focus on your headphone search first and foremost. The new amp/DAC part is important but nowhere near as much as the difference made from finding the right headphone.
Also have you considered the other Violectric models? Not that I would talk anyone out of the wonderful V281, but there's also the V280 for $650 less. That's a significant difference and depending on which headphone you settle on the V280 might be plenty for your needs.
The integrated DAC options are certainly good if not great. For $300 the XMOS version is very competitive with what you'd get spending similar money on a CD player (think NAD, Cambridge, and Marantz in the sub-$500 class). That said, it isn't on the same level as the amp and will definitely hold you back.
Personally I might be inclined to go V280 plus a high bang-for-buck DAC such as the Grace m9XX or Resonessence Labs Concero. I'd look at used as well, those can sometimes be had for not much more than the $300 Violectric DAC add-on price.