[TripBitShooter]

^my next purchases should be the iBasso D-Zero MK2 and probably a Grado SR125e or AKG K612 Pro

 

[BillsonChang007]

My next target is SS desktop amplifier.

YKYAAW you start thinking of your next purchase when you just got a new gear just last month.

 

[TripBitShooter]

I just purchased mine 2 weeks ago. But then and again, this is probably because I have a detailed audio gear list

 

[TripBitShooter]

YKYAAW u see a guy testing a Sennheiser HD 800 in the local HiFi shop with a fiio X1 stack (HS6 stacking kit with FiiO E11k amp) and upon hearing the shrilly, distortion laden music coming from the HD 800, feel like telling him to stop torturing them.

 

[TRapz]

YKYAAW you forget your headphones at home and it ruins your day (not quite, but the bus ride and study hall right now are pretty boring)

 

[justaname]

YKYAAW u see a guy testing a Sennheiser HD 800 in the local HiFi shop with a fiio X1 stack (HS6 stacking kit with FiiO E11k amp) and upon hearing the shrilly, distortion laden music coming from the HD 800, feel like telling him to stop torturing them.

This is what I don't like about audio stores. I would rather get it from some place with a hassle free return policy and do the testing at home.

 

[razor5cl]

YKYAAW you forget your headphones at home and it ruins your day (not quite, but the bus ride and study hall right now are pretty boring)

I've done this a few times and it genuinely does ruin my day, train rides are boring without music for me. I feel like a part of me is missing without some IEMs.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I'd rather not carry that while on the go. The non-audiophiles are most likely going to think the headphone cost only $54.95 and its a vintage that no one actually cares thought.

 
Since they are open-back (not to mention very expensive), I think it's hilarious that they even say things like this:
 

Travelers who enjoy high quality music at home can now have it to go. Add a high quality portable headphone amplifier and bring your favorite music with you. Abyss is the finest portable music system money can buy.

 
I would never even take them outside the house! (Though it is cool that you can still drive them with portable gear.)

 

[DonutDeflector]

YKYAAW you know you are getting an HD 518 for Christmas and think of the new headphone smell.

 

[TRapz]

YKYAAW you know you are getting an HD 518 for Christmas and think of the new headphone smell.

I didn't know new headphones had a smell... I'll have to test that one sometime. Hopefully I'll get the HD558s I asked for, the AT-LP60USB Turntable I asked for, and the Shure SE215 and FiiO X1 in the spring with Christmas money. Probably a Schiit Fulla too. 
 
YKYAAW the only things you plan to buy are audio-related

 

[Music Alchemist]

YKYAAW you announce a new headphone package on Head-Fi!

 

[TRapz]

  YKYAAW you announce a new headphone package on Head-Fi!

You know you're not a hardcore audiophile when there are parts of this forum that scare you/your wallet (Summit-Fi)

 

[TripBitShooter]

This is what I don't like about audio stores. I would rather get it from some place with a hassle free return policy and do the testing at home.

maybe I phrased it wrongly. The fiio stack was the person's own, so I wanted to point out his mistake to him. That local HiFi shop only staffs audiophiles anyway.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  You know you're not a hardcore audiophile when there are parts of this forum that scare you/your wallet (Summit-Fi)

 
YKYAAW you add up the cost of the first "dream system" you want to buy...
 

Spoiler: >> only click if you really want to know <<

headphones
Abyss AB-1266
$5,495
 
headphone amplifier
Schiit Audio Ragnarok
$1,699
 
DAC
Schiit Audio Yggdrasil
$2,299
 
virtual surround sound audio processor
Smyth Research Realiser A8
$2,910
 
headphone cable
Stefan AudioArt Endorphin
~$1,400
12 feet, balanced, 4-pin XLR connector with ebony wood shell, ebony wood splitter

 
...and it's nearly $14,000!

 
(And that's without adding controversial things like a dedicated music server, high-end interconnect and power cables, power management, and vibration control.)
 
Having such a lofty goal will serve as inspiration to get work done, though.

 

[TRapz]

   
YKYAAW you add up the cost of the first "dream system" you want to buy...
 

Spoiler: >> only click if you really want to know <<

headphones
Abyss AB-1266
$5,495
 
headphone amplifier
Schiit Audio Ragnarok
$1,699
 
DAC
Schiit Audio Yggdrasil
$2,299
 
virtual surround sound audio processor
Smyth Research Realiser A8
$2,910
 
headphone cable
Stefan AudioArt Endorphin
~$1,400
12 feet, balanced, 4-pin XLR connector with ebony wood shell, ebony wood splitter

 
...and it's nearly $14,000!

 
(And that's without adding controversial things like a dedicated music server, high-end interconnect and power cables, power management, and vibration control.)
 
Having such a lofty goal will serve as inspiration to get work done, though.

I'll be honest, I don't want more than ~$1.5k worth of audio things. After trying the Stax 009, I realized that I could get 90% of the enjoyment from something 10x less costly. My end-game setup would be something like:
 
HE-400i - $500
Schiit Asgard 2 - $250
Schiit Bifrost - $350
FiiO X5 - $350
2 128GB MicroSD Cards - $200
=
$1,550
 
I would be 200% satisfied with this setup. I care about the quality of my music, and I'm on Head-Fi every single day, but I don't think I'd be willing to spend $10,000 for that extra 10% of perfect; I listen to music, not the headphones. It's much easier to listen to the music with a great system and it feels more personal when you hear it as though it's being performed there for you. I'm not one to pick out each and every small flaw in my music, though I do prefer to not have any flaws. A good balance of SQ and price is what I'd prefer myself.