CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Soapbox => Topic started by: LFF on November 03, 2014, 04:23:30 AM
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I want get some of the members who have been around for a while to write up "good rigs" at different price points $500, $1000, $2000, etc.
Here is my Entry:
ENTRY LEVEL!
Sansa Clip+ (http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Clip-Player-Blue/dp/B002MAPSC6) ($30)
Koss PortaPro (http://www.amazon.com/Koss-PortaPro-Headphones-with-Case/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414987721&sr=1-4&keywords=koss+ksc75) ($40)
Good solid beginners rig!
GOOD RIGS FOR UNDER $200
Sansa Clip+ (http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Clip-Player-Blue/dp/B002MAPSC6) ($30)
Brainwavz B2 (http://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-B2-Noise-Isolating-Earphones/dp/B00DU481S6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414987213&sr=1-1&keywords=brainwavz+b2) ($160)
This might seem like a lackluster "rig" but trust me - it sounds better than most top-tier crap being pushed on other sites.
$500
Schiit Magni (http://schiit.com/products/magni) ($99)
Schiit Modi (http://schiit.com/products/modi) ($99)
Psyt Cables (http://schiit.com/products/pyst-cables) ($20)
Sennheiser HD598 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A8CW2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687682&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00004SY4H&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09EPTKR7VVXYH7FDAA66) ($205)
$1000
Schiit Valhalla 2 (http://schiit.com/products/valhalla-2) ($349)
Schiit Bifrost (http://schiit.com/products/bifrost) ($349)
Sennheiser HD598 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042A8CW2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687682&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00004SY4H&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=09EPTKR7VVXYH7FDAA66) ($205)
$2000
Schiit Mjolnir ($749)
Schiit Gungnir ($749)
Sennheiser HD600 ($350)
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Yeah, what the subject said. This idea is to recommend setups with components that synergize well. I've found that well put together systems with good synergy outperform random stuff thrown together.
$822 Slightly euphonic neutral system
Vali $129
Wyrd $99
Modi $99
Paradox $495 or HD600 $400
The approach here is to spend the most money on the headphone. At the entry to the mid-level, spending serious money on amps and DACs doesn't go very far. In my opinion, you are better off with a decent headphone what will scale in the future. The Paradox is neutralish, the only blemish is a slight emphasis around 10kHz. Fortunately, a bump in this area doesn't sound bad to me. It adds definition and raises tape noise a bit. Sometimes percussion can be sizzly. But it doesn't make vocals any more sibilant.
I chose the Vali because it will take the edge off the treble, add some smoothness, and also a little bloom. The Vali's output Z is slightly high at 6.5 ohms, but being a hybrid with SS output, it doesn't have a problem driving the Paradox. The bloom and slightly higher output Z soften the Paradox's very neutral character. The Vali is also incredibly resolving for its price. This complements the Paradox resolving capabilities. Anaxilus wasn't kidding when he said Vali betters most $1000 amps. I don't disagree.
The Modi was selected because it was cheap. There are two areas which can be improved with Modi depending upon quality of your computer's USB port. The Modi can sound thin and lack precision. This is where the Wyrd comes in. The Wyrd completely addresses both issues by supplying better quality power (better bass extension, more impact) and reclocking the data stream (tighter more precise sound). Wyrd+Modi is the best $200 DAC I have heard yet. Buy the Wyrd and return it if it doesn't do shit for you.
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I've been hanging out on the chinese iem threads on HF lately and I feel like a lot of the best values can be had there.
Here's a couple of iem based setups that work for a desktop setup too. I actually have these iems and they're great. Sorry I don't have a lot of dacs so I just included the one I have.
$117 setup
hifimediy uae23 usb dac $42
topping nx1 portable amp $40
Ttpod t1-e iem - bassy $35
$166 setup
hifimediy uae23 usb dac $42
fiio e11k portable amp $59
Havi B3 pro 1 iem neutralish $65
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Hard for me to recommend either the ODAC or the Modi but if I pick either, an ODAC(second hand perhaps) would be my choice till I manage to get one on the Wyrd. I have not lived with a Gungnir 2 aside from multiple sessions at a quiet shop with one and schiit gear. I also found the Val 2 to have the least amount of compromises which I can live with compared to a BH Crack. Never really managed to get down with the Vali and a good DAC at the back so no comments on that.
I would love to recommend other DACs under $1k but there are really I have not heard many good ones, other cheaper choices(not hear) would be the one gunner reviewed(Emotiva Stealth DC-2 $474 MSRP) or AMB lab's Gamma 2(not heard either). The idea of this rig is that the user could swap around DACs without the amp being a choke point while having the HD800 close to its best without spending 3 to 4 times the amount on possibly crappier amps.
This rig is for the beginning HD800 user.
$2598 MSRP
Gungnir $749(Feel free to swap this to your DAC of choice)
Valhalla 2 $349
HD800 $1500
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$100 neutralish portable "rig"
Your mobile phone
RE400 modulor modded
$525 beginner's classical rig. (I don't swear by this combo . . . yet.)
GO 450 $200
Monoprice cable $5
Vali $120
used K501 ~$200
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Interesting. I was using the Gungnir with the Vali and the 800 and thought the combo was very good. You are knocking off $230 to boot on the amp. But then I have not heard the Val 2. Another rig that I am using for the 800 (early days though) is as follows:
Bifrost Uber + Wyrd --- $ 448
Project Ember - $ 380
HD 800 -- approx. $ 1500
Total $ 2,328.
Update: Forget this combo that I proposed yesterday. The Ember to my ears does not pair well with the HD 800. The highs have become a little unbearable. It is not like this with the Vali or the BH Crack (w/ speedball). The Ember seems to like the orthos better. Having said that, if one were to substitute LCD 3 (used) for the 800, it would still be a reasonable combo under $2,500.
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My recommendations are not much different from what’s already been mentioned by LFF, Marv, and Claritas. But I thought I’d throw in my two cents in. Used prices for most things because I'm a cheap:
Sub $50
Clip + ($30)
Koss KSC-75 ($9.99)
Parts Express Headband (< $5)
What LFF said. I went with the KSC-75 over the Portapro because of the cost savings. (I also like the sound of the KSC-75 a bit better.) Rockbox the Clip and Quarter & Kramer the Koss.
$300
Galaxy Note 2 (Bad ESN, Used. $100-150)
Micro-to-Mini USB-OTG Cable ($10)
ODAC (Used, $100)
Cmoy BB ($35)
V-Moda M-80 (Used, $60-80)
This recommendation is a bit odd…but here’s the logic behind it. The Note 2, via USB-OTG, supplies impressively clean power to the ODAC. ODAC sounded far better off of my Note 2 than my Retina MBP prior to getting a Wyrd. The cost of a Note 2 isn’t that much more expensive than a Wyrd – and you get a useful, full-featured portable source.
From there, I just recommended a budget Cmoy and a M-80 because they are cheap and sound decent. You could substitute any budget amp or budget headphone though, really. The Vsonic GR07 Classic is like…$80 at LendMeUrEars right now. It would probably do nicely too if you don’t mind a bit of sibilance and a brighter sig.
This whole setup costs about $300 bucks. It’s portable. It doesn’t even require that you own a computer. It fits well on a nightstand. You can dual lock it into a stack and carry it in a camera bag. People will mistake it for a bomb on public transit. (I liked this setup even more with a decent pair of DT1350's and a UHA-6.MKII. The Leckerton costs almost as much as the whole rig though, and the DT1350's are over 2x the price of the V-Modas or VSonics.)
$500
Geek Out 450 (Used, $150)
HD600 (Sale, $300)
Exactly the ~$500 rig that I’d use. (Drop the Wyrd if you already have clean power and can’t hear an audible benefit.) The HD600 runs well out of the GO (even though it's amp section is its weak point).
$800
Wyrd ($99)
Geek Out 450 (Used, $150)
Leckerton UHA 6S.MKII (ADA4627-1B, Used, $200)
HD600 (Sale, $300) or Paradox (Used, $300-400)
The Vali and Modi are both cheaper than the GO450/Leckerton and are probably better budget picks. (They might straight up sound better too, but I haven’t heard the Wyrd + Modi combo or the Vali. I hope to do so soon. I plan on buying a Vali in the beginning of December.) That being said, I really like this setup. It works well with portable headphones/IEM’s too; the 6S adds a bit of extra versatility.
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I'd cut the Wyrd and get a used HD600 newer revision over an older 580 on the sub $500 rig.
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I'd like to second Marv's setup and provide a few of my own. Sorry Uncola, but I can't recommend any of the hifimediy dacs. They sound flat and dead to me. As for the hd580... it's tough to say sometimes buying such an old headphone off of ebay and such. You could get a good pair or you can get a shitty one. Best to stick with a used hd600 or a new one.
~$1200-$1600 portable setup - The GO 450 can do decent on its own but the leckerton is better than the GO's amp section. The setup is much more portable without the leckerton however. Wyrd is optional, and reduces portability factor.
GO 450 ($200)
Wyrd ($100)
Ultimate Ears Reference Monitors ($1000 or $800 with meet discount)
UHA-6s mkii w/ ADA4627-1b ($290)
~$800 - Transportable and musical. The GO 1000 adds some nice body to the hd600 sound and has nice clarity even with its added warmth. The 450 would probably work too but I've never tried it myself. Wyrd is optional, and reduces portability factor.
GO 1000 ($300)
Wyrd ($100)
HD600 ($400)
~$2600 - My current setup. I bought most of my things at either a discounted price or used (I paid around $2150 total for this setup). The gungnir and the virtue one.3 have a great synergy with each other for orthos like the he-560. The gungnir has great dynamics, bass body and tone, non-harsh treble, and excellent vocals/mids. The Wyrd does its usual voodoo magic. The virtue one.3 is a solid state but provides tons of power for orthos and has great tonality with clarity and smooths out the treble of the energetic gungnir. The he-560 you guys probably already know about, but the latest jerg mods takes them to another level.
HE-560 ($900)
Virtue ONE.3 w/ 130w PSU ($639)
Gungnir Gen 2 USB ($850)
Wyrd ($100)
Modding materials ($40)
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I'd cut the Wyrd and get a used HD600 newer revision over an older 580 on the sub $500 rig.
As for the hd580... it's tough to say sometimes buying such an old headphone off of ebay and such. You could get a good pair or you can get a shitty one. Best to stick with a used hd600 or a new one.
I went back and forth on that, and I think you're both right. BuySonic had the HD600 for $279 bucks the other day...there really isn't any reason to go used on that. (Plus, even if you get a good deal on a used HD580, you often have the replace the pads...and then I like to swap out the grills and cable...no cost savings there really.)
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If I was to shop for a rig around $300-500, I think I'd be spending almost all that budget just on the headphones + basic amplification. I just don't think an upgraded source makes that much of a difference at this price point, as long as it wasn't noisy or fucked up somehow.
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Entry level $6000 :&
Schiit Yggdrasil $2400
Schiit Ragnarok $1700
Sennheiser HD800 $1500
Balanced cable + misc ICs $400
My rig come Q1 2015.
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I noted quite a few of you GO450 guys are running Wyrd? Should I give that a try before I ship to Luis? I found the GO450 (straight out of USB) fatiguing after longer listening sessions with Paradox. With Sony Z7, it was a great match tho.
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Sub-$60 ... (euphoric)
Sansa Clip+ (or Zip... which ever is cheapest at the time) => $35
KSC75 => $15
Parts Express Headband (includes cheapo 1/4" adapter) => $5
Sub-$60 ... (basshead delight)
Sansa Clip+ (or Zip... which ever is cheapest at the time) => $35
HD202 => $22
Sub-$200
Sansa Clip+ => $35
HD558 => $120/new | $85/refurbished
Sub-$500 ... (measurements freak)
Focusrite 2i2 => $150 (~$100 on sale)
HD600 => $300 on sale
Sub-$600... (audio purist)
Leckerton UHA-6S MKII => $280
HD600 => $300 on sale
Anythingz above that (IMO, YMMV and so on) will proly need some first hand experience to fine tune to one's personal tastes.
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I noted quite a few of you GO450 guys are running Wyrd? Should I give that a try before I ship to Luis? I found the GO450 (straight out of USB) fatiguing after longer listening sessions with Paradox. With Sony Z7, it was a great match tho.
Change filters by pressing the appropriate volume button once. Are you using the HO? I think the Paradox would do better with the 1000 or another amp. I think the T50RP drivers like some ballz. I thought the 450 sounded worse with the Wyrd. Then again I don't like crushing DAC tehcnicalities in favor of warm syrup. YMMV.
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The High Z Out was better with Paradox. Just tried that.
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The High Z Out was better with Paradox. Just tried that.
Yup, BALLZ!!
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I'm down with Maxvla $6k setup, but I'm going to try LCD-3F instead of HD 800 first.
I got it from RazorDog for $1500 so it's about the same price. Plus the balanced cable comes with it...
Until Yggdrasil is out, though, probably this:
$4500 ortho setup:
Ragnarok: $1699
Gungnir: $849
LCD-3F: $1949
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Dunno why I put $1800 on Rag. Moved the difference to cable budget (now $400).
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Dunno why I put $1800 on Rag. Moved the difference to cable budget (now $400).
It's actually over $1800 after CA sales tax...if that applies. Otherwise, the pricing seems really fair for how much the amp does.
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Anythingz above that (IMO, YMMV and so on) will proly need some first hand experience to fine tune to one's personal tastes.
That statement deserves more than the Karma point I gave you. Very wise opinion that matches my own experience.
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Sub-$600... (audio purist)
Leckerton UHA-6S MKII => $280
HD600 => $300 on sale
That might be one for me, especially as I now have the HD600 (sadly, not at sale price). I was looking at Leckerton sometime back but didn't buy. My one what-people-say reservation is that Lekerton amp seems hightly rated, but Leckerton DAC section not so much?
PS... currently ODAC or Audiofire2 -> ifi iCAN -> HD600
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That might be one for me, especially as I now have the HD600 (sadly, not at sale price). I was looking at Leckerton sometime back but didn't buy. My one what-people-say reservation is that Lekerton amp seems hightly rated, but Leckerton DAC section not so much?
PS... currently ODAC or Audiofire2 -> ifi iCAN -> HD600
The DAC section on the Leckerton is ok. It's not bad at all but there are much better options. I know the Geek Out as a DAC + Leckerton as an AMP = PURE WIN. Kills the Hugo and then takes an elephant dump on the Hugo while tea bagging it.
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I wish there was a facility to thank for an individual post!
Hey ho, I guess I just have type... Thanks for that! ;D
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I noted quite a few of you GO450 guys are running Wyrd? Should I give that a try before I ship to Luis? I found the GO450 (straight out of USB) fatiguing after longer listening sessions with Paradox. With Sony Z7, it was a great match tho.
I'm only running the GO off of Wyrd only because the 2012 rMBP has significant problems with it's System Management Controller. When the SMC acts up, which it does frequently and in completely novel ways, the USB power goes to shit. The Wyrd fixes that. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't use it either.
Re: Fatigue with GO & Paradox, Anax covered all that.
The DAC section on the Leckerton is ok. It's not bad at all but there are much better options. I know the Geek Out as a DAC + Leckerton as an AMP = PURE WIN. Kills the Hugo and then takes an elephant dump on the Hugo while tea bagging it.
Fuck, I almost spit coffee all over my keyboard. I'm sure it could handle that - Fisher-Price toys are built tough.
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I would get more creative for $2000 as the used market affords all kinds of possibilities:
Zana Deux
HD650
Eastern Electric MiniMax
Or
HE6
Vintage Marantz (2270/2275)
W4S Dac 1 or whatever current $500-$700 DAC's are respected nowadays
*spend the next x amount of months saving for a decent converter (AP2)
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I'm only running the GO off of Wyrd only because the 2012 rMBP has significant problems with it's System Management Controller. When the SMC acts up, which it does frequently and in completely novel ways, the USB power goes to shit. The Wyrd fixes that.
Good point!
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W4S Dac 1 or whatever current $500-$700 DAC's are respected nowadays
Good suggestions. Used Gungnirs go around the $600-650ish range last I checked. I haven't heard one before but my Bifrost is the best $300ish DAC I've heard (haven't heard the Peachtree DAC-iT), so if the Gungnir is anything like the Bifrost, it'll be a solid purchase in its price tier.
HE6 isn't popular around these parts, but the Trends TA-10.2SE does a phenomenal job driving it and is in the low $200s. If I only had $1k for a headphone and amp rig, I'd get a used HE6 and Trends TA-10.2SE and be done with it.
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The dac*it X is only $300 direct from peachtree audio. I think it can compete very well with the bifrost considering that it already comes with with USB. I had the original dac*it back when I started with the hobby but its been too long for me to comment on its sound.
Does anyone here actually own a Trends TA-10.2SE? Sounds like it could be a good budget amp for the he-560 as well, at just $200. It's less than 1/2 the cost of a virtue one.3 with the stock psu so I wonder how it performs in comparison.
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A good friend of mine owns the Trends and I've heard it with both the HE6 and speakers and it's an awesome little amp. Comparable to a good vintage receiver.
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Good suggestions. Used Gungnirs go around the $600-650ish range last I checked. I haven't heard one before but my Bifrost is the best $300ish DAC I've heard (haven't heard the Peachtree DAC-iT), so if the Gungnir is anything like the Bifrost, it'll be a solid purchase in its price tier.
HE6 isn't popular around these parts, but the Trends TA-10.2SE does a phenomenal job driving it and is in the low $200s. If I only had $1k for a headphone and amp rig, I'd get a used HE6 and Trends TA-10.2SE and be done with it.
I haven't heard the Trends, but certainly the HE6 is a funny animal and I can see why it is no beloved around these parts. I've never heard my unit sound as good as from the vintage Marantz. Since mine took a shit I've tried all kinds of combinations (rigs far, far in excess of 2k), but to this day cannot get it right. Unless my expectations were lower then, I look back upon the Marantz/HE6 combo with great fondness.
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I love my HE6, though I think my LCD3 with Fazor is even better. There are things the HE6 does better than the LCD3F though and vice versa.
I use a First Watt J2 with my HE6 which works great, though I had to experiment with preamping to soften the etch. There was a bit of etch at the higher frequencies going directly from DAC -> Amp (Berkeley Alpha to First Watt J2) which was distracting with cymbals, high-pitched vocals, and brass.
My dream is to hear a First Watt SIT-1 with the HE-6 and LCD3F but the Leviathan has inhaled my audio budget for the year.
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You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'm new here but your comments make me feel like I'm on the right track. I've been listening to KSC75's on an old PortaPro headband plugged into a Leckerton fed lossless files from an iPod. It sounds bloody amazing. I can't believe I've all but abandoned my NAD HP50's for $20 headphones, but every time I compare the two I like the Koss' better. Am I nuts?
Reading your posts here, it seems the next reasonable step up might be a pair of 600's. But then I read Tyll's glowing review of the Fidelio X2's... Hmmm.
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I would get the 600s, but I'm proly biased.
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HD600 really scales well and gains with tubes. I'm guessing X2 will be more like PMx in having limited scaling potential. So that might be a consideration.
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Thanks Claritas and ultrabike. Ultrabike, your recommendations post was particularly encouraging. The Focusrite 2i2 was an interesting one on your list I thought. Cool that you're looking beyond "conventional" headphone components.
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The 2i2 is a usb powered system, so it won't deliver a large voltage swing like other systems that operate from an AC plug. However, it can drive the HD600s past 100 dB SPL w/o any issues, and it does a decent job SQ wise. On top of that it has a pretty capable DAC implementation (differential outputs I think), so can drive active speakers. Independent headphone and line-out volume control. Also has decent mic pre-amps and line inputs... It's a decent audio interface for the price.
If all one needs is a DAC and an amp, then the Leckerton is proly a better option which I would recommend due to how practical and well implemented I found it to be.
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I'm fascinated by the inclusion of the HD558 on the Pyrate Leaderboard. I picked one up for around $100 and haven't been sure whether I should keep it or not so haven't opened it. Can the Clip+ manage to run this well? I'm not seeing a whole lot on Changstar regarding the <300 dap or dac/amp options, except for the GO450. I'm having the same problem running the ER4S portable.
I abandoned my ipod but budgety alternatives have been harder to find than I thought.
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Clip+ will do absolutely fine with HD558. Open it up now. Unless you have something better around. The Clip+ should be on the Leaderboard if it isn't already. Install Rockbox on it if you can for extra functionality.
If you want more power for portable, UHA-6 is one of the best portable amps; but try straight out of Clip+ first.
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The clip can drive it.
The HD558 is a decent headphone and tonally close to HD600 etc but NOT equal in sound quality.
It hangs just below it.
A budget 'replacement' for the clip is the FiiO X1.
Don't put it in your pocket or briefcase along with a cell-phone though.
The X1 is highly sensitive for those things.
All FiiO players are a bit 'buggy' but they are constantly improving the firmware (which is easy to upgrade).
Fun player that beats the Sansa's in a few areas except size and ease of operation.
A real budget portable rig = FiiO X1 + Koss KSC75/PortaPro
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The focusrite also serves as his instrumentation tool.
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A rig that i like more every day now is BMC Puredac + HD800.
I do feel guilty liking the sound of it, knowing it is Sabre (9016) inside, although tonally it sounds more like some AD1955 dac.
Good technical side is its all discrete output devices and a pretty good analog vol control.
Also the balanced hp amp in it is 95% the same sound to HD800 as HDVA600, shockingly similar actually. (discrete, but i'm suspecting similar topology, current on demand design)
So for people who need decent dac + decent preamp + decent hp amp, it looks to be good value.
HD800 + BMC = ~3000$ (new)
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A rig that i like more every day now is BMC Puredac + HD800.
I do feel guilty liking the sound of it, knowing it is Sabre (9016) inside, although tonally it sounds more like some AD1955 dac.
Good technical side is its all discrete output devices and a pretty good analog vol control.
Also the balanced hp amp in it is 95% the same sound to HD800 as HDVA600, shockingly similar actually. (discrete, but i'm suspecting similar topology, current on demand design)
So for people who need decent dac + decent preamp + decent hp amp, it looks to be good value.
HD800 + BMC = ~3000$ (new)
Thks for the Input. i was thinking about this Dac/amp/preamp combo for my living room. Aidee on HF seems to like it a bit too. But it's a bit expensive here so I wait to have the oppotunity to find a used one (220V/EU) .
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The DAC section on the Leckerton is ok. It's not bad at all but there are much better options. I know the Geek Out as a DAC + Leckerton as an AMP = PURE WIN. Kills the Hugo and then takes an elephant dump on the Hugo while tea bagging it.
using the geek 450 + Piccolo amp + uerm right now and I am digging it.
since this forum is about the good rigs can anyone help me with ideas for a turntable rig?
right now I am throwing around the idea of getting an u-turn orbit ($229) + shiit magni + airmotive 5s? anyone got any opinions about the best (neutral please) intro vinyl rig + powered speakers?
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Best sub $2k rig:
*dac-bifrost uber $420
*hd800 $1050-sale price
*amp Fisher 500c-technically this is a freebie for me since I bought it for speakers, but it happens to be one of the best hd800 amp I've ever heard. Price will vary based on condition and demand but they are still out there. Let's call it $520
total=$1990
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*amp Fisher 500c-technically this is a freebie for me since I bought it for speakers, but it happens to be one of the best hd800 amp I've ever heard. Price will vary based on condition and demand but they are still out there. Let's call it $520
It also happens to be the best HE-6 amp I've heard. Pretty damn great.
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It also happens to be the best HE-6 amp I've heard. Pretty damn great.
He-6 with the 500c on a speaker tap cable=mind blown. IMO ymmv :=)
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Maybe someone can help me. Do interconnects matter or make a difference in the sound? I just have blue jeans cables and i'm curious if its worth it to spend money on them.
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I just have blue jeans cables ...
In my very un-audiophool view, Blue Jeans cables are far from cheap, so I am not sure about the "just!"
The reason that I bought Blue Jeans, for a recent re-cable, is that they are well made, and the company goes to the trouble of telling me the electrical specifications (would be good if I understood, of course) and why they use the materials they use and all that. There is not a trace of quenching in virgin piss or any other pseudo science, superstition or marketing-man excreta. This make me inclined to believe them when they say that their cables are simply transparent, which, in my view, is what an audio cable should be.
I'm not saying that interconnects can't or don't make a difference: I'm saying that they shouldn't. Wire is not a component for tuning a system. If it doesn't suit the room or the ears, an EQ, room treatment, or different equipment is the answer: not wire!
So let us not say "just Blue Jeans..." Let's shout it from the rooftops! :)p7
(Yeah... I'm a bit of a Blue Jeans evangelist, but no, I get nothing out of my enthusiastic posts, not even free postage :)p18 )
(My sig applies here too :& )
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$500 rig:
K7xxx - $199
Modi, Mani 2 U editions - $300
Alternatively, use the line out from the PC/Mac,
save $ on the DAC
and buy Valhalla 2 + K7xxx or 2nd hand HD600
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Yeah, what the subject said. This idea is to recommend setups with components that synergize well. I've found that well put together systems with good synergy outperform random stuff thrown together.
$822 Slightly euphonic neutral system
Vali $129
Wyrd $99
Modi $99
Paradox $495 or HD600 $400
Would you say that the above synergy would hold with the HD650 in place of the HD600? Or does that change the recommendations?
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It'll still hold. 600/650 are interchangeable in my mind based on which suits your needs and tastes better.