Dac + Headphone Amp + Headphones - which ones?

[BachMusic]

Hi all

I'm new to this forum, and would like to ask your opinion on the following:

I have a decent hi-fi system, but am looking to find a good headphone listening solution for my office.

As I have a while to travel to get to the shops and test the different possibilities myself, I would like to hear some opinions to narrow down the choices.

The files are exclusively Apple Lossless from a Macbook Air, and I listen mostly to classical music.

Having read extensively on this and other forums, I am considering the following, which would also be in budget range:

NAD D 1050 with Grado SR 225i. This would click in at the equivalent of around 550-600 £ in my country.

Some people speak highly of the Pro-Ject Head Box DS, but there isn't a lot of reviews out there.

I owned a pair of Grado 80 before, that died during travel, and I really liked the sound, but I am definately open to Beyer or Sennheiser or whichever is best for classical listening in the price range. If I wait a while I could concievably afford the Grado SR 325is, which some say is a huge step up, but I haven't had a chance to listen for myself.

By the way, it's for in door listening (Grados have a high leak, I remember), when commuting I make do with an iPod and some cheap in-ears.

Any thoughts?

 

[dalethorn]

My suggestion for those on a tight budget but who have a Macbook is to invest your entire budget into a good headphone and put off the DAC/amp until later. A good headphone costing your entire budget plus the Macbook sound will far exceed the quality of a lesser headphone and a DAC/amp that uses the rest of the budget.

If you should agree with this or anyone else agrees, then the next thing would be to talk about your headphone preferences, for balance, fit, looks, whatever. If you don't have enough experience to be sure of those things, then it will require more research.

 

[BachMusic]

Yeah makes sense, I have been thinking about Grado SR 225i (or SR 325 if the budget allows) or AKG 712, will have to listen to both - but as far as I understand, one would need an at least decent amp to even drive that class of headphpones?

 

[quadpatch]

Your budget easily reaches to something like the Sennheiser HD600, which I love. You could fit a small amp in there to drive them reasonably well for now, bt you can throw tons of money at ampng those headphones to great effect!

Following Dalethorn's recommendation you could fit the Grado PS-500 into your budget and live with those running directly out of your equipment until you can get an amp for them later on. Actually I haven't heard those, but Dalethorn likes them. I've heard the bigger brother (PS-1000) and they are insanely good. Very different to the SR series (much better IMO). The only down side to this is that UK prices on Grado are insanely bad compared to the US!

You could almost reach to something like the Hifiman HE-500 with the budget you mention, although they do kinda NEED amping (more so than most). These are possibly my favourite headphones at any level though so it would technically be money well spent .

 

[BachMusic]

Will definately look into the different headphones first , and then decide DAC/Amp after, depending on what's left in the budget and what suits my headphone of choice. Some of the more "rich" and deep sounding amps like NAD might go well with the clarity of a Grado, for example.

Thank's for the suggestions on headphones, will check some off them out when I get a chance to listen.

 

[Anonymous]

Do report back BachMusic, and welcome to the forum.