I’ve noticed that whenever a noob asks a “what headphone do you recommend” type of question, it’s usually (rightly) followed by a more experienced person asking the appropriate questions needing answers before any advice can be given (what type of music do you listen to, what type of environment, etc.). Nuance, and listening situational considerations matter. To that end, as I continue to learn about this hobby, my (latest) thinking is that if you’re desire is to build out a HiFi home listening station, once you’ve established a solid foundation of “the basics” in regards to core equipment (good quality music sources either analog or digital, and a solid DAC/AMP either combined or separate units), in 2020, it’s really around the wide range of various headphones at a wide spectrum of price, build quality and frequency range emphasis, that allows you to have the most impact in both maximizing, and changing up, your listening situation. And it’s fun.
Is that how others here think about headphones, and a reason you may have a collection of more than a few? Here’s where I’m coming from: right now I have a pair of Audeze LCD-X’s, plan to get the ZMF Verite’s at some point this year after hearing them a couple of times at events last year, and my thought at this point is that I’ll then have a planar magnetic, a dynamic. To me, they sound different enough that I could indeed stop right there. But down the line at some point I’d like to get a closed-back, and maybe (no rush) dive into an electro-stat. Tubes will definitely be in my future, partly because of the Verites, and I know that will take me down a rabbit hole, but let’s put that aside for now. Anyway, as I started thinking about “future purchases”, I caught myself and thought about this overall question.
If you’re desire is to have a collection of headphones that don’t overlap in sound production at least too much, and each gives you something different that justifies on some level adding it to your collection, do you think about it from the perspective I just shared (one planar, one dynamic, etc), or is there another methodology you use to build out your collection? To add, my answer to “what music do you like and listen to?” would be an emphatic “Yes!” I’m an amateur guitarist, and truly love and listen to all types of music. Also, I know that finding ONE set of cans that you like and serves your needs is a valid plan, too! Empty consumerism and GAS isn’t the religion I’m preaching here, but just trying to understand if more experienced folks have thought about this and possibly have a mapped out methodology of some kind that I haven’t considered, for having more than one (or five, or ten) set of headphones, and can articulate why they have what they have.
Is that how others here think about headphones, and a reason you may have a collection of more than a few? Here’s where I’m coming from: right now I have a pair of Audeze LCD-X’s, plan to get the ZMF Verite’s at some point this year after hearing them a couple of times at events last year, and my thought at this point is that I’ll then have a planar magnetic, a dynamic. To me, they sound different enough that I could indeed stop right there. But down the line at some point I’d like to get a closed-back, and maybe (no rush) dive into an electro-stat. Tubes will definitely be in my future, partly because of the Verites, and I know that will take me down a rabbit hole, but let’s put that aside for now. Anyway, as I started thinking about “future purchases”, I caught myself and thought about this overall question.
If you’re desire is to have a collection of headphones that don’t overlap in sound production at least too much, and each gives you something different that justifies on some level adding it to your collection, do you think about it from the perspective I just shared (one planar, one dynamic, etc), or is there another methodology you use to build out your collection? To add, my answer to “what music do you like and listen to?” would be an emphatic “Yes!” I’m an amateur guitarist, and truly love and listen to all types of music. Also, I know that finding ONE set of cans that you like and serves your needs is a valid plan, too! Empty consumerism and GAS isn’t the religion I’m preaching here, but just trying to understand if more experienced folks have thought about this and possibly have a mapped out methodology of some kind that I haven’t considered, for having more than one (or five, or ten) set of headphones, and can articulate why they have what they have.
