Who has an end game setup?

[Takeanidea]

Thanks for sharing that with us. Is the th900 a closed phone that doesn't leak sound even at high volume? What are your favourite sacd's?
What did you try prior to the 900s?

 

[mrtim6]

Hi Takeanidea
Yes TH900 is closed - it does however leak sound
Favourite SACDS I own very few - wish you were here, DSOTM, Dire straits anniversary
Prior to TH900

Tried
HD800/700/650/momentums
Ultrasone Ed10/Ed 8
Grado RS2
Beyerdynamic MMX300
AKG702
Many more I cannot remember

 

[screwdriver]

after a lot of thinking - im trying to build not an end game but maybe a 3 year - 5 year system ( i dont have to upgrade for the said time )
LCD-3 and HD800 cans for me - Alo studio six amp , and late this year ill try to do source /dac( i have to do the naim and berendsen cd players for now.

 

[Takeanidea]

Excellent choice of Pink Floyd and Dire Straits mrtim6. I would like you to tell us what you prefer about the fostex as I've never heard them before.
I managed to break a pair of the x10i lou reed edition which is a shame. I was trying to customise them with a mould because I bought them damaged. Oh well, it gave me an excuse to get the x11i.

 

[Takeanidea]

We're up to 115 votes on the poll! Apologies for any ommission of your current favourite headphone on it. I've been thinking about the endgame a lot in terms of the time and money spent.
Is an endgame a bitter sweet experience when you consider all of the time and money spent? Is it not quite so bad because you were able to sell as you upgraded for decent money? Has consumerism won or has the endgamer? Or are we collectors and not consumers?
I feel I can bring these questions to the fellow end gamers now. I have had the Sennheiser HD800's for over a year now and have tried T1 LCD2 Rev2 and 3 Stax phones whilst on a quest to outdo the Sennheiser. I realised several months ago the HD800's were the sound signature I'd been looking for and I sold the rest.
It's been only 3 months with them as the only full size phones so another 9 months to go before I feel I can truly say I've stopped.
I have way too many iems and replaced the klipsch x10i only 2 weeks ago with the x11i but I am happy with what I have and don't see the point of selling on stuff I'm still happy to listen to occasionally when I know I'd only get a fraction of their value.
In reality the only iems I need are my IE800s. They are not endgame yet as I've had them 3 months and they need customs on them because they slip out of my ears.

 

[dc-k]

We're up to 115 votes on the poll! Apologies for any ommission of your current favourite headphone on it. I've been thinking about the endgame a lot in terms of the time and money spent.
Is an endgame a bitter sweet experience when you consider all of the time and money spent? Is it not quite so bad because you were able to sell as you upgraded for decent money? Has consumerism won or has the endgamer? Or are we collectors and not consumers?
 

I'm really glad you posted this thread, nice and thought provoking. I'm happy to report that my setup hasn't changed in the five weeks since I posted it to this forum, although I do have an Uber upgrade for my BiFrost on the way...

 

[Takeanidea]

Well you're almost there dc-k. Thanks for your kind comments.
I wanted there to be a place for people that have completed their journey to tell their story. Headfi shouldn't be about what kit is better than other kit , it should be about people sharing their experiences and preferences and ourselves looking on and seeing whether that draws any parellels with our own search.
The more info the end gamers can give us about what they were loooking for what theyve tried what they like listening to how old their ears are, anything really, the more help it will be for the rest of us.

 

[Oregonian]

I think one of the lessons I've learned here is even when you think you have an end game setup, there still may be room for improvements. Case in point - my vintage Pioneer Spec system was "done" a while back but when I was feeding it by my iPod touch directly the sound didn't compare with the CD player or vinyl, so I started learning more about improving digital sources.

Now I feed the system via a laptop connected to a NuForce uDac2 for iTunes, Pandora and Spotify and the improvement is startling. Live and learn........

 

[Takeanidea]

Oregonian,
Beautful. Not minimalist for sure. But beautiful.
Well done. Hope you take it to your local headfi meets. We could learn a lot from that set up
Trev

 

[Happy Camper]

I think one of the lessons I've learned here is even when you think you have an end game setup, there still may be room for improvements. Case in point - my vintage Pioneer Spec system was "done" a while back but when I was feeding it by my iPod touch directly the sound didn't compare with the CD player or vinyl, so I started learning more about improving digital sources.

Now I feed the system via a laptop connected to a NuForce uDac2 for iTunes, Pandora and Spotify and the improvement is startling. Live and learn........

This rig is begging for an HE-6. :veryevil:

 

[Oregonian]

This rig is begging for an HE-6. :veryevil:

That has crossed my mind a time or two........

 

[Androb]

I think this counts?
 

 

[dc-k]

  I think this counts?
 

I think the lager needs upgrading...

 

[Androb]

  I think the lager needs upgrading...

Idd but got a such a small amount of different beers to chose from in the local store and the ones I usually get was sold out ((

 

[dc-k]

  Idd but got a such a small amount of different beers to chose from in the local store and the ones I usually get was sold out ((

and if you're in Sweden, I'm guessing the end game audio kit is not that much more expensive than the alcohol...