Hi, new to the forums but a mid range hi fi owner. It's a bit lengthy this post but wanted to give you the most background to help your informed suggestions.
Here's the dilemma, I'm not flush for cash but I am rather spoilt in audio terms in that I have worked in broadcasting for years. Expensive tastes but lemonade salary as the saying goes. So while I may spend my day monitoring on Rogers LS3/5a monitors, Spendors and the like - and headphones such as Beyer Dynamic DT150's, Sony MDR-7605 - my home audio set up is considerably more compromised...
I've got an Arcam A65+ amp, just about to upgrade my Marantz CD52 SE to an Arcam CD192 or FMJ36 and a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's (cos they were small and cheap enough to temporarily replace my Rogers LS6a's with until we got a bigger house). CD upgrade is needed as the Marantz is dying after 17 years of service. I like my audio neutral (hence Arcam as a choice) but current headphones monitoring is a pair of Sennheiser HD25's (primarily used for audio monitoring on location recordings or OB work). Reliable and clean cans but for me just don't provide the soundstage or depth that I'm looking for in relaxed listening at home (on headphones as new baby just about to arrive!).
I can't justify buying a seperate headphones amp (it's another ugly box, according to the other half) unless it's slimline and nigh on invisible.
So, Sennheiser HD650's appeal as do these Grados that everyone talks up so much. I've not had chance to audition and nor will I really get chance. It's a gamble but that's the way it is at the moment.
Can anyone suggest whether these HD650's really need a headphone amp and so would I be wasting money?
Is there anything that is actually a serious upgrade to my HD25's (both comfort and audio) without the need for a headphone amp? Or should I just give up and get one of these Graham slee thingies?
Your thoughts would be incredibly gratefully received.
Eddie.
Here's the dilemma, I'm not flush for cash but I am rather spoilt in audio terms in that I have worked in broadcasting for years. Expensive tastes but lemonade salary as the saying goes. So while I may spend my day monitoring on Rogers LS3/5a monitors, Spendors and the like - and headphones such as Beyer Dynamic DT150's, Sony MDR-7605 - my home audio set up is considerably more compromised...
I've got an Arcam A65+ amp, just about to upgrade my Marantz CD52 SE to an Arcam CD192 or FMJ36 and a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1's (cos they were small and cheap enough to temporarily replace my Rogers LS6a's with until we got a bigger house). CD upgrade is needed as the Marantz is dying after 17 years of service. I like my audio neutral (hence Arcam as a choice) but current headphones monitoring is a pair of Sennheiser HD25's (primarily used for audio monitoring on location recordings or OB work). Reliable and clean cans but for me just don't provide the soundstage or depth that I'm looking for in relaxed listening at home (on headphones as new baby just about to arrive!).
I can't justify buying a seperate headphones amp (it's another ugly box, according to the other half) unless it's slimline and nigh on invisible.
So, Sennheiser HD650's appeal as do these Grados that everyone talks up so much. I've not had chance to audition and nor will I really get chance. It's a gamble but that's the way it is at the moment.
Can anyone suggest whether these HD650's really need a headphone amp and so would I be wasting money?
Is there anything that is actually a serious upgrade to my HD25's (both comfort and audio) without the need for a headphone amp? Or should I just give up and get one of these Graham slee thingies?
Your thoughts would be incredibly gratefully received.
Eddie.