Who has an end game setup?

[Currawong]

I'm pretty much satisfied with what I have. If I get bored, the tubes for the Studio Six are very cheap, so I can just hit eBay for something different.

 

[Sorrodje]

[...]

 
 
Happy to read you again

.

 

[icebear]

I haven't voted as I have the HD800 only since beginning of this year and I am still working on the set up.
 
Source: Krell CD-DSP /  MBP w. Audirvana Plus
DAC : e20 Mk III exasound
Amp : on waiting list for GS-X MkII
HP   : HD800
 
I have not experimented a lot (i.e. not at all...) with other DAC's, as I am absolutely happy with the "little" e20.
Driving the HD800 currently directly off the DAC, it's somewhat difficult to imagine what the amp will be able to improve on to of that. I'll listen and I'll hear ... sometime in summer, maybe .

 

[verber]

My audio end game system tend to last 6-10 years though my speakers and power amp are both more than 20 years old now.  I revisit my end-game system when there is a major life change,  when something breaks, or there is a major technology change (like switching from CDs to computer playback).  I typically will replace the component the broke or whose technology has changes and take a bit of time to assess my existing system against the current products.  I typically upgrade whatever components have made significant gains for "reasonable" sums of money.
 
Around 2 years ago life situation changes and it was time to get back to good headphones.  I really thought my end-game was going to be KGSSHV + SR-009.  That was the best sounding system for my ears... but I use headphones  in a variety of locations and the KGSSHV isn't the worlds most portable amp, and trying a hacked cable with the Koss e90 just didn't do the SR-009 justice.
 
Then I listened to the HD800 driven by the GS-X mk2 and decided that it was darn close to the SR-009, and that combination was going to be significantly cheaper, more comfortable (I find the HD800 the most comfortable headphones I have worn, especially when it's warm), and more [size=11.80555534362793px]versatile[/size] since it's possible to get decent sound out of the HD800 with a good quality portable amplifier. For the last 14 months I have stayed with the same thing, Lavry DA11 -> GS-X mk2 -> HD800.  No plans to change the GS-X mk2 or the HD800. I was using a DragonFly DAC -> PicoPower when out of my living room which changed last fall to a HiFi-M8.  The HiFi-M8 was not an improvement in SQ but is less hassle for me day to day.  My headphone and speaker rigs just separated due to house rearrangement so I am likely going to get a second DAC.  In a perfect world I would find a portable DAC/amp which sounded as good or better than the DA11/GS-Xmk2 since I would love my mobile use to sound as good as my living room system... but that's darn unlikely. [The Chord Hugo didn't do it.]  So I will have to be content with the HiFi-M8 for portable use.  Will check out a few DACs, but my plan of record unless I find a DAC I like significantly more than the DA11 is to up keeping the DA11 with the headphone system, and purchase a used DA10 for my speaker system.
 
--Mark

 

[Magick Man]

I don't think in terms of "End Game". Beyond a certain point, price isn't a clear indicator, in fact it's tends to muddy the waters, and new things are fun to try. Different flavors for different moods, and all that stuff.

(OMG! Obobs sighting!)

 

[ericfarrell85]

  My audio end game system tend to last 6-10 years though my speakers and power amp are both more than 20 years old now.  I revisit my end-game system when there is a major life change,  when something breaks, or there is a major technology change (like switching from CDs to computer playback).  I typically will replace the component the broke or whose technology has changes and take a bit of time to assess my existing system against the current products.  I typically upgrade whatever components have made significant gains for "reasonable" sums of money.
 
Around 2 years ago life situation changes and it was time to get back to good headphones.  I really thought my end-game was going to be KGSSHV + SR-009.  That was the best sounding system for my ears... but I use headphones  in a variety of locations and the KGSSHV isn't the worlds most portable amp, and trying a hacked cable with the Koss e90 just didn't do the SR-009 justice.
 
Then I listened to the HD800 driven by the GS-X mk2 and decided that it was darn close to the SR-009, and that combination was going to be significantly cheaper, more comfortable (I find the HD800 the most comfortable headphones I have worn, especially when it's warm), and more [size=11.80555534362793px]versatile[/size] since it's possible to get decent sound out of the HD800 with a good quality portable amplifier. For the last 14 months I have stayed with the same thing, Lavry DA11 -> GS-X mk2 -> HD800.  No plans to change the GS-X mk2 or the HD800. I was using a DragonFly DAC -> PicoPower when out of my living room which changed last fall to a HiFi-M8.  The HiFi-M8 was not an improvement in SQ but is less hassle for me day to day.  My headphone and speaker rigs just separated due to house rearrangement so I am likely going to get a second DAC.  In a perfect world I would find a portable DAC/amp which sounded as good or better than the DA11/GS-Xmk2 since I would love my mobile use to sound as good as my living room system... but that's darn unlikely. [The Chord Hugo didn't do it.]  So I will have to be content with the HiFi-M8 for portable use.  Will check out a few DACs, but my plan of record unless I find a DAC I like significantly more than the DA11 is to up keeping the DA11 with the headphone system, and purchase a used DA10 for my speaker system.
 
--Mark

Mark, 
 
Any thoughts of looking past the DA11? I preferred both the Master 7 (by a fair margin) and the Lampizator (by a wide margin) to the DA11 I heard. Therein may lie the significance you mentioned. 

 

[verber]

  Mark, 
 
Any thoughts of looking past the DA11? I preferred both the Master 7 (by a fair margin) and the Lampizator (by a wide margin) to the DA11 I heard. Therein may lie the significance you mentioned. 

 
My short list based on reviews I trust are gd master 7, PS Audio PWD2, nad m51,  anedio d2, and M2Tech Young DAC. I have considered  Benchmark DAC2 HGC,  but I so disliked the DAC1 I am not sure I want to bother trying the DAC2.  Lampizator isn't on my list because even used they are beyond what I am prepared to spend (which I would like to keep below ~$2k, $2.5k my max).
 
In the past I seem to have been less discriminating than some people when it came to DACs.  Yes, there are some DACs I really hate, but several top end DACs didn't make me sit up and go "Wow" when compared to the DA10/11 which I think is very well balanced.  So there is a chance I will end up deciding nothing makes me happy enough that I am willing to spend near the top of my budget, and I will go with a second DA10/DA11 or maybe Schiit Gungnir (haven't heard yet but it sounds like I might like it).  I haven't completely eliminated the Chord Hugo from consideration (I really appreciate the portability), but would want to listen to it for an extended time to do an in-depth comparison to the DA-11.
 
--Mark

 

[billybob_jcv]

I guess my take-away after reading all 38 pages is that end-game should mean "where are you content enough to leave well enough alone and just buy music" or when you aren't constantly asking "but what if..." or "if I added..." or "if I changed..." etc and just leave things as they are. Or put another way, when everytime you sit down to listen you want to play the "how does this sound..." game, or when new music is just as exciting as new gear used to be (even after months, or years). Or when you realize that your other cans are getting almost no usage, or when new/other cans (or gear in general) hold no interest for you. And based on that criteria, I think I've been there for a while (at least a year) with the ESP/950 and W5000 (and no I haven't gone about much "amp rolling" with these - when I first got them I tried them on probably half a dozen different amp/source setups and found that I honestly don't notice much, if any, difference so I just gave up and went with the HP out on my TEAC D/A because it's (deadly) quiet and the volume control has a smooth action (and it reduces clutter/complexity substantially)). I could honestly live with either all by itself if I had to, and consider myself fortunate to have both available.

I would agree with the post (not going to be able to find the page again ) that posited that it's kind of a bitter-sweet resolution - the "magic" of new gear and discovery is kind of gone, but on the other hand; there's a lot of great music out there to play around with!

I voted for "other" in the poll.

Welcome back!

 

[Magick Man]

Welcome back!

Careful, you don't know where he's been!

 

[GeneraI]

Too rich for my blood.

 

[Crashem]

Setting up close to end game now. Just got back into headphones and some how now at let's not F around.

Have:
LCD X
Chord Hugo
WA7
PS Audio PWD MKI: trying to decide if I should upgrade to MKII or DirectStream
OPPO for es9018 dac/transport

Getting in next month or so:
SR-009
Trying to decide between KGSSHV or headamp KGSS for immediate SS solution
EC 2a3 MKIV with RCAs and eml solids
Another DAC: if I go PWD MKII, then maybe go all out for a Lamp or MSB analouge

It comes when it comes:
BHSE

Might be worth a USB to XX convertor as well.

 

[purk]

Setting up close to end game now. Just got back into headphones and some how now at let's not F around.

Have:
LCD X
Chord Hugo
WA7
PS Audio PWD MKI: trying to decide if I should upgrade to MKII or DirectStream
OPPO for es9018 dac/transport

Getting in next month or so:
SR-009
Trying to decide between KGSSHV or headamp KGSS for immediate SS solution
EC 2a3 MKIV with RCAs and eml solids
Another DAC: if I go PWD MKII, then maybe go all out for a Lamp or MSB analouge

It comes when it comes:
BHSE

Might be worth a USB to XX convertor as well.

Go with the KGSSHV.  It is a really nice amp and pair really well with the SR009.

 

[zachchen1996]

  Go with the KGSSHV.  It is a really nice amp and pair really well with the SR009.

 
What's the cheapest way to purchase a KGSSHV? (diy isn't an option)

 

[MacedonianHero]

  Go with the KGSSHV.  It is a really nice amp and pair really well with the SR009.

Agreed...I previously owned a HeadAmp built KGSS and the KGSSHV is totally worth the upgrade. IMO, its the best SS Stax amp out there.

 

[Crashem]

  Agreed...I previously owned a HeadAmp built KGSS and the KGSSHV is totally worth the upgrade. IMO, its the best SS Stax amp out there.

ARRGGHH You guys are killing me. The HeadAmp KGSS is quite a bit cheaper, but then again I am going end game here.  Planning on keeping whatever amp even after I get my BHSE as you can't beat SS amps for immediate listening pleasure.  Decisions decisions decisions