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Same "but" I like to use the better cables none the less. It looks better and just makes me feel better.
I use my headphones in different rooms, I am a minimalist. I keep the signal pathway simple.
As I mentioned earlier I very seldom use headphones so I don't have a major investment in top of the line ones. Still, I own 5 or 6. The ones on my radar are the Focal Stellia but I doubt I'll pull the trigger.
My main Headphone amp is the Oppo HA 1. https://www.oppodigital.com/headphone-amplifier-ha-1/
I am a sold state guy and don't use EQ either. I am a purist, minimalist.
I almost got myself a tube headphone amp simply because they look so cool. I just anymore audio equipment. Of course, that has never stopped me before.
I have some funny stories in this regard. Heck, even my audio guy told me I did not need the power amps I bough. I told him, it was not a need, it was a want. Audio can be like that, at least for me.
I did that for a long time but I have kinda settled in now.
99.9% of my listening is with floor standing speakers.
Is your audio hobby mostly confided to Headphones?
But I'm telling ya', in terms of pure aesthetics nothing compares to the glow of tubes in a darkened room!
Ah, he's already bought!
Oh well, some additional 'food for thought' maybe . . .
(still think CS might be a good contributor)
Well that was a lot of work and deserves commendation regardless.
No doubt tubes look cool. A few years back I almost bought a headphone amp just because the tubs looked so cool.
I have much audio, I have nothing tube.
But balanced? Are you running balanced cans? That's something I have yet to broach.
With a speaker system, I can correct for the speaker and most importantly - the room!
There's ways to rectify that! <-- see what I did here?
I am a purist and minimal.
Because of this thread I have broken out my headphones. I was right, I have 5 pair.
I also strted to shop headphones again. (I so don't need them)
I was thinking of Electrostatics or another Planer Magnetic. So now it's the Focal I mentioned, now at the back of the line, Audeze LCD 3 or Stax SR-007 MK2.
You mentioned in one of your posts that you felt power was important. How so?
Then, if you have minute, look at the STAX headphone, just how much power do they need? What is the most reasonably price amp that could power them in your opinion?
How about the Audeze ? They claim these too need power but I have no issues no matter where I plug in my HiFI Man and they are also Planer Magnetic.
Tell me about music, you enjoy Jordi Savall? Best concert I ever saw was he at Carnegie Hall.
I'll try not to go into this too deeply, because it eventually devolves into a philosophical discussion.
But your transducers, whether they be speaker cones, or headphone drivers, are atrociously coloured & inaccurate! Take a look at the frequency & amplitude plots of your speakers & cans. You'll be shocked, literally shocked, if you've never looked at these plots!
I can see the quest for the mythical 'straight wire with gain'
I have never had electrostatics or planers. My cans are all conventional drivers, though planers are on my list to try.
you can't necessarily adequately evaluate the amps, especially headphone amps, by reading the specs. You just have to listen to them.
I could not agree more. In my younger days I bought, enjoyed then sold my Stax 009s which I now deeply regret. However, I was later lucky to get an Oppo PM-1 and PM-3 (love them both!) and wish Oppo hadn't exited the hifi space given their clear talent for it. PMs have for me an amazing soundscape that's awesome for electronic music IMO.My relatively cheap HE-500's may be my favorite. (planer magnetic) You do need to get a pair of planer/magnetics.
I could not agree more. In my younger days I bought, enjoyed then sold my Stax 009s which I now deeply regret. However, I was later lucky to get an Oppo PM-1 and PM-3 (love them both!) and wish Oppo hadn't exited the hifi space given their clear talent for it. PMs have for me an amazing soundscape that's awesome for electronic music IMO.
I bought the UDP-205 when they were taking orders for the final production run and have zero regrets. I use it as my source, DAC and headphone amp for my Senn HD650 and HD700 ever since my old Benchmark DAC1 died. I wish I had gotten a HA-1 - how is it?That was heartbreaking.
I have several of their products. I love the OPPO HA 1 and still use the the HD 105. I was gonna buy the 205 but because they were going away, I did not.
I bought the UDP-205 when they were taking orders for the final production run and have zero regrets.
I wish I had gotten a HA-1 how is it?
Did you get them yet?After doing the research, I found that the main players in this price class are the Sony WH1000XM4, Bowers & Wilkins PX7, Sennheiser Momentum 3, and the Bose NC 700.
The Sennheiser is reported to have frustratingly little play time, which would be a problem for me because I'd need a bare minimum of 8 hours, and the Bose is outside my spending comfort zone. Between the Sony and the B&W, the latter has the better build quality, but Sony has better sound and comfort.
Finally, the Sony's were a whopping $72 off if I ordered them from Walmart, which I did, so that seems to settle that.
I still want to know what @Chomsky says, though.
Unfortunately, crappily mastered 1980s electronic fare (think New Order and the like) is my main interest, and it most definitely does not bring out the best in any of my audio gear
Hah! Looks like I've been preaching to the choir!I have been an audio enthusiast for 50 years, I have learned a bit. I simply like picking other's brains on the subject.
You know Alan Markoff? (he did the sound for Woodstock 1969) He designed my main system in my office we have had discussions like this.
It is as appealing to me aesthetically as it is in it's audio excellence. I said previous, I use better cables with no expectation of enhanced sound. Simple clean lines mean much outside of audio expectations.
When you buy a good pair of speakers why would you then want to color that sound? Do not misunderstand, I respect anyone's preferences in how they prefer their music to sound or how they care to color it but what is color?
My relatively cheap HE-500's may be my favorite. (planer magnetic) You do need to get a pair of planer/magnetics.
I am a straight numbers guy. With all the money I have spent, (and I have more invested in my audio than any other possession less my home) I always look to 3 things, functionality (for my needs), numbers and aesthetics. I do not even audition equipment anymore.
*numbers added1] Listening is flawed as hearing memory is but a few seconds 2] Then you have the problem of listening level matched. 3] To further complicate your method are room influences on the music.
Thanks for the reply, I could talk audio all day (in fact, I often do) although we are a bit on different pages. I guess that is why I am interested in what you have to say, I can't lean from people who are the same as I.
I'd love even more discussing music. Anything you share I'll appreciate, consume and offer my perspective.
Peace
Unfortunately, crappily mastered 1980s electronic fare (think New Order and the like) is my main interest, and it most definitely does not bring out the best in any of my audio gearBut, for more critical listening, classical (mostly solo pianists but orchestral as well).
3] To further complicate your method are room influences on the music.
I need new headphones as well. cordless is nice but not mandatory, same thing for me cranking out Youtube rock videos at nightAfter doing the research, I found that the main players in this price class are the Sony WH1000XM4, Bowers & Wilkins PX7, Sennheiser Momentum 3, and the Bose NC 700.
The Sennheiser is reported to have frustratingly little play time, which would be a problem for me because I'd need a bare minimum of 8 hours, and the Bose is outside my spending comfort zone. Between the Sony and the B&W, the latter has the better build quality, but Sony has better sound and comfort.
Finally, the Sony's were a whopping $72 off if I ordered them from Walmart, which I did, so that seems to settle that.
I still want to know what @Chomsky says, though.
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