Good Headphone and Headphone Amp Combinations???

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone.

I thought I'd start a thread to see if we can get a good list of headphone and Headphone Amplifier combinations.

It seems hard to get any real definitive advice in this Department even with reviews for the most part it tells you about the headphones or the Headphone Amps under scrutiny but doesn't make much mention of what they were used with!!!!

Most Frustrating for me and I'm sure for many of us.

I'd also be very glad of the What Hifi Reviewers thoughts on this and Headfi dealers, the reputable kind of course 🙂

Many thanks in advance for your input.

James

 

[idc]

With the difficulties of auditioning better headphones, I ended up reading user signatures on a dedicated headphone forum and saw Musical Fidelity amps were used a lot with AKG headphones. The owner of MF also has a preference for AKG. So do I now.

Both companies major on detail and clarity and you can really listen into the muci and the individual instruments.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the thread jack. I've just got my Sennheiser HD650's which are awesome, but my piano can't run them without wacking the volume right up. Thhinking of getting the Music Fidelity amp, but there's also the cheaper Fiio option. Anyone have any experiance of these, especially with Sennheiser?

Thanks, Cookie

 

[quadpatch]

I guess you mean the Fiio E11 rather than E7 or E17 and only using their amp section? I am not sure even that one is quite worthy of the HD650 from what I have read but it's all relative really, it will give you enough volume at least. How much would you spend? I am currently enjoying the Epiphany Acoustics EHP-02, well it's actually the version with a DAC but the amp section is the same. The amp-only one is a bit of a bargain @ £100, even more so than the Fiios.

 

[Anonymous]

I've tried out My Nephews Fii0 E7 and is it's a great little amp for the Money.

But I agree with quadpatch with the type of Headphones your intending to listen with you're realy going to need something a little better to hear them at there best.

I think that your choice of amp may have to be more influenced buy your choice in Music also.

Which Musial Fidelity Amp were you considering?

I think the Acoustics EHP-02D sounds like it may be a good bet and if you want to splash out a little more for the Slee Novo I don't think you'll regret it

 

[Anonymous]

Reply Quote[/list]#1quadpatch OfflineJoined: 28/03/2011Posts: 287AKG K550 Graham Slee Novo
Hey James, Since writing that stuff about the K550 I have tried several more times to get on with it's sound signature. I have tried many different DAC/amp combos and I have felt a tiny bit of improvement at times but mostly they still feel really hollow and veiled from a complete lack of low end. I am sat here with the Denon AH-D7000 right now and absolutely loving the sound! I am using them with the Epiphany Acoustics EHP-02D which is so warm its on the edge of being overpowering with the Denon's bass but, everything else about this combo is really amazing! If you wanted a bit less emphasis from the bass but beautiful detail I can highly recommend the Yulong D100 mkII. I did try the M1 HPA with the Denons once in a shop and I was not blown away by it but I am still of the impression that shop testing is no very useful.

The Denon D7000s seem to show up the source quite a lot (read: they like expensive DAC/amps). They sound rather dull with the Fiios and even the Audinst, which are lovely budget DACs. I think your Slee Novo could be fine with the Denons, especially running off that Cyrus DACX so worth trying that first.

Oh and another word of warning: None of the high-end headphone isolate well. The Denon keeps sound in quite well but you can hear everything around you pretty well so they are not good for an office and they certainly don't feel like they want to be taken outside.
__________________

DAC/amps: Fiio E7 ● Fiio E17 ● Audinst MX1 ● iBasso D7 ● Yulong D100II ● Epiphany EHP-02D

Headphones: Denon D7000 ● AKG Q701 ● VModa M80 ● AKG K550

TopReply Flag As Offensive Quote[/list]#2jamesym OnlineJoined: 26/02/2009Posts: 30RE: AKG K550 Graham Slee Novo
Thanks for all the info quadpatch that's all been very helpful and i'll have a look at your suggestions cheers.

Quick update on the m50s's. I've got 10 more hours on them now and they are realy starting to come in to there own!.

The harshness at volume is nearly all but gone, another few hours I think should see that off.

The over all balnce is realy great, quite phenominal infact for the price.

That Bass weight and Dynamics are great and so is the detail, although first of all your not realy aware of it strangely but when you've listened for a few tracks towards the end of the running in period you realy notice everything gels so well over the whole dynamic range anf I could even hear things the AKG K550 didn't relay.

I would not hesitate in buying these again especially for the money, they are such a bargin it's a joke.

And if I was personaly going the closed back route wouldn't bother with any thing else in between these and the Denon AHD7000's.

The Audio Technica M50s's also work realy well with the grahman Slee Novo I have. That is another product I couldn't recommended enough and I think with the PSU1 bupgrade I might get away with it with the Denons too.....

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks idc for your comments.

As you've suggested if both companies (AKG & Musical Fidelity) major on detail and clarity do you think the bottom end on these amps may suffer from lack of Dynamics and Bass heft?

And has anyone else heard the Musical Fidelity M1 HPA and with what headphones.

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

Ps Found this artical on Tech Radar I think is worth a read. Sorry whathifi :/

I realy would like to hear a review on this product from you!

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/amplifiers/musical-fidelity-m1-hpa-720752/review

 

[quadpatch]

Are you considering getting the M1-HPA? If so have you considered the Audiolab M-DAC? I found that much more interesting.

 

[Anonymous]

i ALREADY HAVE A CYRUS DACX+ SO REALY JUST WANT TO SPEND AL MY PENNIES ON A STRAIGHT HEADPHONE AMP 🙂

 

[dalethorn]

Maybe add this item to your list. http://bursonaudio.com/Burson_Soloist.html

 

[Anonymous]

Only a small reply for the minute as Ive only just joined and still getting my bearings lol.

Head Fi is still something Im only just getting into,

But as of now, From the gear that I have currently, I would like to say that the Sennheiser HD25 1 II's with the Project Headbox II make a superb sub £350 Headphone/Amp system. I didnt intend the combo as I bought the headbox over five years ago and only got the HD25's a few months back.

Im using my iMac/Audirvana with Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 as a source ( playing FLAC/Lossless only )

And Im so far really impressed with what Im getting out of it.

Tight controlled bass, Gentle Mids & Crisp, Detailed treble that isnt too harsh or too bright.

Hope this little bit helps 🙂

 

[idc]

Thanks idc for your comments.

As you've suggested if both companies (AKG & Musical Fidelity) major on detail and clarity do you think the bottom end on these amps may suffer from lack of Dynamics and Bass heft?

And has anyone else heard the Musical Fidelity M1 HPA and with what headphones.

Cheers

If there is BASS oomph in the original recording, it is reproduced as it should be with the MF/AKG combination.

 

[JoshCohenMorgan]

I know these are pricey but the beyerdyanamic T1/A1 combo is supposed to be fantastic, although off amazon your looking at 1500 for both of them! With your system though I'm sure they would sound fantastic, especially through your Cyrus DAC X+ which would match them well! Here's the whathifi review for them

http://www.whathifi.com/review/beyerdynamic-t1

 

[Anonymous]

OO think i'm short on penis fpr that one josh 🙂

What do people think of the Little Dot MKIII headphone amp?????

 

[darrenconnor4]

I have the LDMKIII which I use mostly with my 701s and I must say I live it. I haven't heard my AKGs with a good solid state amp so couldn't compare the two but have used my headbox 2 and to be honestl they're not even in the same league. The clarity of the 701s mixed with the warm valve sounds from the LD make for a truly fantastic combination.

 

[Anonymous]

I've now bought an upgrade for My Graham Slee Novo in the form of a Slee Solo.

So I'm on the hunt for heaphones yet again.

Considering AKG Q701's, Sennheiser HD650's, Sennheiser HD6oo's, as a starting point.

As always I want it all and am looking for tonal balance, accuracy, fun etc... and plenty of Bass weight.

Comments gladly received as always

James

 

[dalethorn]

I've now bought an upgrade for My Graham Slee Novo in the form of a Slee Solo. So I'm on the hunt for heaphones yet again. Considering AKG Q701's, Sennheiser HD650's, Sennheiser HD6oo's, as a starting point. As always I want it all and am looking for tonal balance, accuracy, fun etc... and plenty of Bass weight. Comments gladly received as always

James

The Senn 600 series is bland, like a HD800 without the sparkle and detail. When I think of bass weight with good overall sound and details, under £1000, I think of the Philips L1 and ATH M50. The M50 is somewhat colored compared to the Philips, but easy to get used to and has an unusually satisfying bass. The L1 by default has a significantly emphasized bass which some people like, but many say it obscures the midrange detail somewhat. But with simple bass reduction, the L1 becomes an amazing thing: Very neutral like the best Sennheisers, but with better sound - better bass and a high end that sounds less veiled. You expect with bass reduction that you'd get bass rolloff. Not with the L1.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

i'm currently using the audio technica m50's and I do like them bit want to up the quality with something else.

I've looked at the l1's and 2 things put me off

A.) the genral thought is that the bass hinders the lower mids and upper bass to much losing detail and splurging these ranges together on some tracks and

B.) I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to tone controls and don't have any on My kit.

Running through a Cyrus DACX into the Solo.

Do you know anything of the AKG Q701'a?

or maybe the Denon ah d7000's

Cheers

 

[dalethorn]

Hi, i'm currently using the audio technica m50's and I do like them bit want to up the quality with something else. I've looked at the l1's and 2 things put me off. A.) the genral thought is that the bass hinders the lower mids and upper bass to much losing detail and splurging these ranges together on some tracks and B.) I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to tone controls and don't have any on My kit. Running through a Cyrus DACX into the Solo. Do you know anything of the AKG Q701'a? or maybe the Denon ah d7000's. Cheers

I would say try to get a *new* production Audeze LCD2 (do avoid the old) - it's a much better deal than the LCD3, nearly as good, will satisfy your requirements. The Denon is OK, but just marginally better than the M50. The 701 series - not enough bass to satisfy.

On the other points, the reason the comments were made about the L1 bass obscuring detail etc. is exactly what I've been saying. I'd like to note that up to a year and some ago I was also a purist, and when I discovered how dramatically better a *simple* non-destructive EQ could make a *few* headphones (just a few, not many), I finally relented and saved myself continued years of disappointment trying to track down the near-perfect solution. Not even the near-perfect solution really exists, although if you're willing to up your ante to the LCD2 (don't be tempted by a used LCD2, read the reports at Innerfidelity), you'll get much closer.

 

[Anonymous]

The Audeze lcd-2's cert6ainly look impressive, do you know of any reviews I could read up on them?

My other alternative and slighlty better in price was the Audio Technica ATH w1000x.

What do ou think of those.

Cheers

 

[quadpatch]

http://www.headfonia.com/improved-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2/

I really want some of these but they are open back, not that the D7000 (or any other high end headphones) isolate very well anyway to be honest.

 

[dalethorn]

The Audeze lcd-2's certainly look impressive, do you know of any reviews I could read up on them? My other alternative and slighlty better in price was the Audio Technica ATH w1000x. What do you think of those. Cheers.

A conventional dynamic headphone is a world apart from the orthos - you'd just have to hear the difference. The best coverage on the newer LCD2 is at Innerfidelity - just scroll down 3 articles to the LCD2/3 article.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes they do look nice but just a bit out of my price range for a minute especially as in my position I cant audition before I buy....

It seems difficult now to get the Denon 7000's from a reputable dealer in this Country unless you want to pay a premium price!

American dealers also have put up there prices and alot will not ship to the UK unless it's a rediculous pandp cost.

So I have gone for the Audio Technica w1000x partly because of the great reviews and being closed back which is better for my home enviroment and partly because I got them for a realy keen price of £389 from Amazon uk,

as they started out a £659 I'm thinking I've got a bit of a bargin here!!!

 

[eggontoast]

The Audio Technica ATH-W1000X are an acquired taste to say the least. IMO they are not a contender for high end headphones, they have a upper mid boost which makes them a bit grating after a while. They are OK ish for classical but that's about it. The seller on Amazon Marketplace is based in Hong Kong, so good luck with that purchase. I hope you don't get charged import duty and that they are legitimate Audio Technica headphones, they certainly won't have any warranty.