[x_fiddle]

Well I picked up some HD580's today. Sonically I think they might be a great match for my ear preferences (and hopefully will continue to get better). Now I need to figure out what I should to purchase so I can "really, really" enjoy these more than straight unamped.

This is what I currently have to use...

Sources:

PCDP - Panasonic sx280... bleh no line-out
CDP - Sony CDP 261... has a headphone jack not sure of quality

Amps:

Vintage 1977 Onkyo A-55... decent condition not too noisy, recently cleaned pots

Cable:

Crappy radioshack or original boxed cables of components... nothing good or worthy


I now have about $150-200 ready to start the upgrade process to enhance these 580's more worthy to their full extent.

What do you guys think would be the best "sound" investment realizing that I will upgrade little by little.

$90 seemed too good of a deal to pass up, even considering lower impedance headphones.

 

[Duncan]

I wouldn't bother with an aftermarket cable yet...

So, i'll say an amplfier to go with the Sony CD Player...

Just my $0.02

 

[x_fiddle]

No i'm not thinking about Cardas aftermarket yet

When making reference to cables I meant the interconnects. Right now I just have cheap RCAs, might look towards higher quality oxygen-free though.

 

[elnero]

I think you'd probably notice the biggest difference with an amp. A Meta42 would probably be in your price range, I haven't heard one personally but supposedly they work great with the 580's. Expensive interconnects will add that last touch but I would put the money into the amp first. Then go for decent interconnects next.

 

[ooheadsoo]

I will have a 580 + meta42 in a week or two...if there is anything outstanding about the sound, I will post

I must say that it cost me a lot more than I planned on spending! I might have been better off with a pair of AT A900 *sigh* Well, we'll see how it goes

 

[ooheadsoo]

In the same spirit as the rest of this thread, which would you go for first? Aftermarket headphone cables or interconnects?

 

[x_fiddle]

The aftermarket HD580 replacement cable will make a bigger difference than getting good interconnects. Its just a good pair of RCA's will only cost around $30-50 while the aftermarket 580 replacement will be $100-150

I've heard clou's are ok but if you want "the best", the more expensve headroom offered cardas are the way to go.

That being said, do you think that old sony CDP will work as an ok source if I do purchase my amp as a few of you suggested.

 

[ooheadsoo]

Interconnects are expensive, man o_O The top of the line interconnects can run in the range of over $1000 for 0.5 meters. Yes, I believe that is roughly 1.5 feet

Obviously I'm not talking about run of the mill "RCA connectors" (which tells me nothing about the cabling of the interconnect you are referring to

) My current theory is that if the interconnect is poor, there is no point in upgrading the headphone cable because the signal will be distorted before it reaches the headphone cable in the first place. What are your thoughts?

 

[taoster]

If youre looking to upgrade slowly this is what i would recommend in order..

1. get a decent interconnect to replace the radioshack. ($35+)

2. get an dedicated amp, META42 or similar. ($200+)

(at this stage you should be able to hear the source.)

3. If you like what you hear, upgrade with an aftermarket HD600/580 cable. ($80+) If not, upgrade source!! ($$$)

Taoster

 

[bifcake]

I agree with the other posters. Get an amp first and then work it form there. I recommend Creek OBH-11. I paid $150 for mine at hcmaudio and I'm very happy with it. I haven't really heard Meta to make a recommendation, but a maxed out Meta would run you about $250-$270 and I wouldn't bother with a lesser meta anyway.

 

[ooheadsoo]

I believe I will be getting a mid echelon meta with some pretty good interconnects, so personally, I think I'm doing it about as well as I can. Upgrading my source (a soundblaster live 5.1) potentially affects a lot of things other than just my audio, so I've been really holding out on that until something REALLY good comes along that makes it worth all the hassle.

 

[ooheadsoo]

The reason I bring this up, is that when dealing with sound cards and mini to mini interconnects in the PC world, we poor saps usually go to Fry's or radio shack and pick up a $4 cable, or at best, we might get a Gold series cable at the shack. However, this cable is probably much worse than the stock senn headphone cable, so what is the point of upgrading something beyond the bottleneck? Ok, i admit my soundcard is a major bottleneck, but it affects too many things in my system for me to bother with right now