Nachiket
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2011
- Posts
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Well, I know the title (or my question) may seem vague, so I will try to elaborate :
I assume (based on my reading so far on various forums/sites and some experience ) that the hi-fi world is a world of diminishing returns as we move up the price ladder. In other words, we increasingly have to pay more (and a hell lot more) for seemingly small improvements in quality of sound.
Also, the sound we get in a headphone is the result of a CHAIN of events and that chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Here is the chain as I understand it (I may have bypassed some steps, please correct me if I am grossly wrong anywhere) :
Recording -> Mixing -> Encoding (if compressed audio) -> Source/DAC -> Amp ->Headphones
We cannot control the "Recording -> Mixing" most of the times.
However, assuming that the encoding is 320 kbps CBR(which is the best available for mp3s bought on amazon etc.) and an amp+Dac in the sub-$ 200 category (like Headroom's total bit-head, or FiiO E11 etc. ) , there is only an 'X' amount of quality/level of detail that can be available to the headphones with this setup.
Obviously, cheap headphones (say <$30) may not be able to exploit the full potential (X) of our setup to any extent. As we move up the price ladder, the headphones will start bringing out the best in our current setup. After moving up sufficiently, there will come a point where upgrading headphones further will NOT bring about any detectable improvement in sound (other than the difference in the sound signature) . This is the point where our setup will be utilized to its fullest potential. Any further improvement in SQ can only be obtained by changing the source/bitrate/Amp/Dac.
I want to know :
1. If my understanding of there things is correct.
2. If YES, then what is the price range for headphones for which there will not be any detectable improvement in SQ for the given setup.
I feel this threshold will fall somewhere between 350 - 500 $, and I may be totally wrong
..
I ask this I cannot personally test/try any hi-end equipment as I live in India where most people have never even heard about an amp for speakers, let alone headphones
I assume (based on my reading so far on various forums/sites and some experience ) that the hi-fi world is a world of diminishing returns as we move up the price ladder. In other words, we increasingly have to pay more (and a hell lot more) for seemingly small improvements in quality of sound.
Also, the sound we get in a headphone is the result of a CHAIN of events and that chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Here is the chain as I understand it (I may have bypassed some steps, please correct me if I am grossly wrong anywhere) :
Recording -> Mixing -> Encoding (if compressed audio) -> Source/DAC -> Amp ->Headphones
We cannot control the "Recording -> Mixing" most of the times.
However, assuming that the encoding is 320 kbps CBR(which is the best available for mp3s bought on amazon etc.) and an amp+Dac in the sub-$ 200 category (like Headroom's total bit-head, or FiiO E11 etc. ) , there is only an 'X' amount of quality/level of detail that can be available to the headphones with this setup.
Obviously, cheap headphones (say <$30) may not be able to exploit the full potential (X) of our setup to any extent. As we move up the price ladder, the headphones will start bringing out the best in our current setup. After moving up sufficiently, there will come a point where upgrading headphones further will NOT bring about any detectable improvement in sound (other than the difference in the sound signature) . This is the point where our setup will be utilized to its fullest potential. Any further improvement in SQ can only be obtained by changing the source/bitrate/Amp/Dac.
I want to know :
1. If my understanding of there things is correct.
2. If YES, then what is the price range for headphones for which there will not be any detectable improvement in SQ for the given setup.
I feel this threshold will fall somewhere between 350 - 500 $, and I may be totally wrong
I ask this I cannot personally test/try any hi-end equipment as I live in India where most people have never even heard about an amp for speakers, let alone headphones