Where's my money for audio gear best spent?

[wakeride74]

Ok, sine this covers headphones, cables and sources I'm posting here in the lounge. I'm having a hard time deciding what to spend the small chunk of cash I have on.

Here’s the deal – I’ve recently returned my DAC1 USB in favor of a less expensive source path. This would be for use with my PC as a source feeding some sort of USB to S/PDIF or USB DAC > Lisa XP > PS-1 or D5000. The refund of the DAC1 USB could fund a nice DAC and a cable upgrade for my D5000. Option B is to use the funds for a UE-11 purchase.

The reason I’m on the fence is I’ve talked to a couple headfiers who’s opinions I trust and the UE-11 sounds like a damn killer and a fairly significant upgrade from my ES2’s (which I still love). I do probably about 70-80% of my listening at work and most of that is with the ES2’s, once in a while I’ll bring the Denon’s.

As much as I love my PS-1’s I just don’t listen that much at home. It’s a hard question because it requires the sacrifice of some needed gear for quality home listening but it could also make a huge difference in my listening enjoyment at work and during the majority of time that I listen to music.

If I got the UE-11’s the Pico I have on order would likely do the source duty at home and I’m confident it could given what I heard using it as a DAC at the last meet.

So what would you do where you in my boots?

 

[Quaddy]

personal pref. if you know in the longer term you are gonna be able to snag all the parts you want, then fret not, but if its a case of just one piece for a long time...its hard, personally, i would get 'sourcey' first then canny later

but personal pref...other posters will post the reverse i am sure, but i like to have a nice player i can get used to, get my teeth into and get all my music on. then start to hear the difference as i connect nice bitso-kitso after that

 

[AuroraProject]

Source first here.

 

[rxc]

The AH-D5000 doesn't really need recabling.

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxc /img/forum/go_quote.gif The AH-D5000 doesn't really need recabling.

Have you heard both side by side? I have and there is a difference well worth paying for.

I know source is important which is why I want to invest in a good one. My issue is again that the source would be for home listening only and I do most of my listening at work via iPod > Lisa XP > ES2. So while the source is definitly a worthy investment it will see less use than anything I buy to be used while at work simply because of where I do most of my listening.

 

[Quaddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rxc /img/forum/go_quote.gif The AH-D5000 doesn't really need recabling.

things always need recabling...

 

[grawk]

option 3: bourbon

 

[Edwood]

UE10 + Pico +Tiny Laptop = Transportable Bliss.

 

[wakeride74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif UE10 + Pico +Tiny Laptop = Transportable Bliss.

I don't think the UE-10 would fit my tastes from what I've heard but the UE-11 has me very interested! I'm waiting for my Pico... too bad Justin won't make that in a stand alone DAC with some RCA outs.

 

[JMcMasterJ]

I would get the UE-11. You will probably want to upgrade your home rig again in the future, but the UE-11 will get more usage. I'm really glad I bought the UE-10's because they do get a lot of use. My home rig might keep changing, but I will always have the UE-10's. Also, they have been my reference for neutrality, which is what I've been trying to get in a home rig. I would love to own the UE-11, but I don't think I can justify owning two custom IEMs.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Why was "Buy a nice used Stax" not an option?

Laz

 

[terance]

i voted UE11's, but i've changed my mind!!!

 

[vcoheda]

well. to me there is a difference between where you do the majority of your listening and where you do your audio, head-fi, critical and or chill out/relax (me)time listening.

i listen to music all day while i work (generally), but it is low bit rate and through either budget earbuds or desktop speakers. why. because i am working. the music is background music. i am not really even listening to it. it's just there, so there is no silence. when i go home, that is where i do my real listening, and that is where i invested my money.

so that is my answer. you should put your money and effort to building a system in the place where you do your quality - not quantity - listening.

 

[guzziguy]

Darn, I was looking for the "on stuff for guzziguy" choice and it wasn't in the poll. How can I vote?

 

[bhd812]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif option 3: bourbon

i was going to submit ecstasy and coke, but that's just me...

since that option was not available in the poll I choose ue11's, after all one day if you come up on some ecstasy you can twirl the ue11's around like glow sticks! let's call that thinking "long term upgrade"