Thx

That's one helluva combo for your 'first pieces of gear.'

Even as an "objectivist", there is a minimum quality and engineering necessary for everything to level out. I figured if I hit 85-90% then I should be quite happy with the sound. I've never been the type to sell off gear and I must find upgrades compelling. I truly expect to be listening to the Gumby and Liquid Carbon 10+ years from now. Might have another set of headphones, but only due to wear and tear.

-That leaves the HD650 & HE-560.  The 560 is my choice for orthos.. the 650 my choice for dynamics.  I want to only keep one pair (but my desire for strengths of each of the two technologies is proving tough for me to decide between either.. and I've owned both these phones no less than three times and heard them off excellent rigs.. so I'm quite familiar with their abilities).

I would buy and keep both rather then keep going in the cycle; 3 cycles!

If I go the ortho route, I plan for the rig you've mentioned to be my last rig for the foreseeable future.  The Gumby is already decided upon.  The LC is what I plan to pair with an ortho.. but it sounds like it could sound very good with the 650, as well (even though I prefer tubes with the 650).

From all the impressions, Liquid Carbon seems to be well received and  seems to work well with both headphones. Of course, I'm biased. I think 1 good DAC and 1 good Amp with enough power is good for me. On the other hand, cans are where you get major differences in color, so having more than 1 set of cans seems appropriate to me.

I've ordered all the parts to make balanced cables for my HE560 and balanced XLR interconnects between a Gumby & Carbon. I plan on running all balanced. Cables from source...I know I can't make a TOSLINK, and I'm afraid that any USB 2.0 cable I make won't be USB 2.0, so those I'm buying from Blue Jeans.

You just sold me on the Mj2 Anax. Cheers.

Same - ordered the MJ2 from A2A ($1649 AUD, LOL, but what can you do...)

Seeing as I'm using expensive dynamics and orthos, I need something that can do it all. The hybrid Mojo2 looks like it's the one. I got both the LISST and 6BZ7 tubes, but I get the feeling that I'll primarily be sticking with the 6BZ7's, even for the orthos.

Very nice. I wonder how the Mjolnir 2 (balanced) will stack up to the Valhalla 2 with the HD800s and HD650s. Since the Sennheisers prefer voltage to current, would it be a pretty close toss-up? Would the Val2 still be better? I know that for planars the Mjolnir 2 will likely leap right over the Val2, but the performance potentiality is less clear to me with high Z dynamics, even when running balanced through the Mjo2.

Very nice. I wonder how the Mjolnir 2 (balanced) will stack up to the Valhalla 2 with the HD800s and HD650s. Since the Sennheisers prefer voltage to current, would it be a pretty close toss-up? Would the Val2 still be better? I know that for planars the Mjolnir 2 will likely leap right over the Val2, but the performance potentiality is less clear to me with high Z dynamics, even when running balanced through the Mjo2.

A lot of people have been wondering about just this very thing. (I think Hands was the first one who asked about it almost immediately after the SchiitShow.) 

There's about a 95% chance that I'll pick up a Mojo2 at the end of the month when I send in my Gungnir in for the multibit upgrade. If I do, I'll make sure to compare it to the Val 2 directly with the HD800 and HD650.

Also maybe new thread?

And yep, if a mod could split this off into a Mojo2 discussion thread - or Mojo2/Liquid Carbon comparison thread, that would rock.