Starting off in head-fi

[dave_k]

I recently sold my CD player, amp and floorstanders because the space I had them in was too small to do them justice. I now have only the radio in my signature for music in my bedroom, or my netbook.

I'd like to put together a reasonable headphone set up that doesn't take up too much space. I'm unsure what to use as a source for this (my netbook is running Linux's Rhythmbox music player which I'm not terribly impressed by. Is there a better program?). I have a bunch of CDs and still like this format though.

What equipment should I be considering?

Any suggestions welcomed!

Thanks,

Dave

 

[chebby]

A Beresford TC-7520 DAC (it is also a good quality headphone amp) and a USB lead to your netbook.

(It also has an optical digital and a Co-ax digital connection if you want to connect your PS3 or DVD/BD player or whatever.)

A pair of Grado SR60i headphones.

The Beresford DAC/headphone amp is £139.99 + VAT (or about £160) and you buy direct from their website.

The Grado headphones should cost about £90

 

[idc]

If you have a netbook, I would use that as your source, or else you will need to buy another CDP and get a suitable amp and you are almost back where you started.

Google music manager programme and look through reviews and options. Well known ones are itunes, foobar2000 and Media Monkey.

If you import your CDs onto the netbook get a small hard drive for backups. If you import using a lossless format you retain all of the CDs info on the netbook.

Then you want a DAC/amp. You can get DACs with an headphone amp such as the Beresford. Or amps with a DAC such as from Firestone audio. Or both separately. But combined will be compact. If you also consider portable amp/DACs then they star at about £100 and check out iBasso, Nuforce and RSA.

As for headphones, do you want closed backed, open backed, on ear , around ear, bass emphasis, neutrality or something you can also take out and about with you?

 

[dave_k]

Thanks for the suggestions. It seems to that the Grados are almost the default choice for starting with headphones, although I have nothing against trying ebay for some vintage ones but I've no idea where to start.

Probably my preference would be for over the ear ones with an open back.

I like quite a warm sound...

 

[Anonymous]

head-fi.org is also a good source for advice on all things that has to do with headphones and source gear. Lots of user-reviews on brands and models that whathifi doesnt/hasnt covered so you can use the site as a complement to what-hifi

 

[idc]

The Grados are on ear. You can use either a bowl or a pad, both made out of foam which get mixed reviews for comfort. Of the headphones I know, the general house sound of Grado is dynamic and attacking, AKG detailed with a full midrange and Sennheiser a bit of both, but IMO I find them a bit 'dull'. If you go to Head-fi someone will recommend the Audio Technica ATH M50, it is the flavour of the month there.

How much bass do you want and can you give more of idea to what warm is. What music do you listen to?

 

[dave_k]

My music is largely rock, jazz and classical and easy listening.

I loved the sound of my Sansui and Missions, which probably tended to being a bit bass heavy (could cut it a bit) but it was oh so listenable. I don't like it too clinical, but nice midrange with a punchy bass and definitely not a harsh or overly prominent treble.

I think I will use my netbook as the source, so ought I to buy an amp first and add a dac, or go for a combined dac/amp?

Also is it possible to get a dac/headphone amp that could also run a pair of active or powered speakers as well, or should I focus on just a headphone amp?

Thanks again.

 

[idc]

The Beresford DAC recommended by Chebby has phono outs, so would run active speakers and your headphones. You music taste and like of a bit of bass and not too bright suggests Sennheiser headphones, like the HD595.

 

[dave_k]

The Senheiser sound does appeal, but I checked out the AKG website last night and am completely sold on those looks. I'm really tempted to buy them on that basis alone and then try and find a suitable amp that will make them sound the way I want them to. Although to begin with I think I'd just plug straight into my netbook (Gotta start somewhere).

 

[idc]

Loads of choices then with AKGs starting from £20. If you were prepared to go second hand, the choice gets very big indeed. I have both the K280 Parabolic which has two drivers for each ear (ebay cost £20 to £70 as new with its box) and the K340 electrostatic/dynamic hybrid (ebay cost £50 to £150, condition variable). Both have the detail AKG as renouned for, but avoid the dryness and clinical sound that some of the models are criticised for. Of the new ones available, the closed backed generally have more bass than the open backed, but less soundstage.

 

[dave_k]

What would be a good headphone amp (with or without a DAC) tp match AKG k142HD, or thw 242HD?

I think I'd like to start with new kit...

 

[idc]

Start here clicky and either the V-CAN or new M1. If you would consider second hand then any of the X-CAN range can be found on ebay. They are built like tanks, can be upgraded and with loads of midrange and detail, suit the AKGs.

 

[dave_k]

Thanks IDC, although at the minute I'm being torn between a headphone set-up and one of these

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/Products/LUMIX+Digital+Cameras/Stylish+Compact/DMC-LX5/Overview/5435432/index.html

 

[idc]

In that case how about a FiiO E7 amp/DAc for £57 off Amazon and the AKG K44 headphones for about £20-£25 off various sites. Or the FiiO E5 amp at £14 (great price on Amazon) and the AKGs.

And the camera.....

 

[dave_k]

I do like your thinking IDC...

I think i'll buy a reasonable pair of 'phones to start with, just to see how i get on with them as I've never owned any decent ones before (just ipod ones really (for a shuffle I lost)).

I'll wait until dpreview have reviewed the camera... If i can!

 

[dave_k]

Quick question: what is 'supra aural' and 'circum aural'?

Thanks.

 

[idc]

Supra is on ear, circum is around ear.

 

[dave_k]

That's what I thought, thanks.

 

[dave_k]

Just raided Amazon for a pair of AKG K240 MkIIs...

Hopefully I'll have them next week. (The camera can wait!)

 

[idc]

And I just missed out on some mint boxed vintage AKG K180s as my internet connection went down at the auctions end

I would have got them by 20p.

 

[dave_k]

How many pairs can you listen to at once?

 

[idc]

I am on holiday at the moment, so have had most mornings and some afternoons free. Today has been the K340 and now the K140 as they leak less noise. Yesterday was the K280s the whole day. Tomorrow, I have not decided yet, but I did dust my other collection, so maybe one of them.

 

[dave_k]

Well, that is the life!

Are you a bit of an AKG fan?

 

[idc]

Yes the AKG house sound is my preferred. They tend to have a flat frequency response with no bass boost emphasis nor high tizzy treble. The sound is quite forward, because of the midrange emphasis and it is wonderfully detailed. I like separation between instruments and to follow each one at different listens. But within that general house sound there are variables primarily caused by the different construction, open, closed, semi-closed, two drivers, one driver, electrostatic hybrid, on ear etc etc. Eventually I will get these

the K1000 ear speakers. They are no longer made and now go for about £1000 for average (though that tends to be good working order anyway) condition. They were recommended to me by the owner of Musical Fidelity as the best sound you can get out of my amp.

 

[dave_k]

They look like sone kind of 'brain wave extraction machine'!

I kind of want a pair now though...