Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)

phillip88 · « **Reply #100 on:** March 16, 2013, 06:07:40 AM »

May I ask (as I have no prior knowledge on the high-end expensive DAC before), is that a big gap between Concero and also X-Sabre (or Gungnir) in terms of SQ? I'll use USB primarily to stream music from my laptop. Wonder what's the best setup? Or is there other choice? I plan to get the DAC + Amp done around 1.5k. Currently eyeing the WA6 as the choice amp since it is cheaper than WA6SE. No prior high-end SS amp knowledge too.

My idea is to go for HD800, but that will leave me not much resource to fund the other part of the gear. I just don't wish to mistreat HD800 with poor setup.

Maxvla · « **Reply #101 on:** March 17, 2013, 05:05:26 AM »

Quote from: phillip88 on March 16, 2013, 06:07:40 AM

May I ask (as I have no prior knowledge on the high-end expensive DAC before), is that a big gap between Concero and also X-Sabre (or Gungnir) in terms of SQ? I'll use USB primarily to stream music from my laptop. Wonder what's the best setup? Or is there other choice? I plan to get the DAC + Amp done around 1.5k. Currently eyeing the WA6 as the choice amp since it is cheaper than WA6SE. No prior high-end SS amp knowledge too.

My idea is to go for HD800, but that will leave me not much resource to fund the other part of the gear. I just don't wish to mistreat HD800 with poor setup.

Tubes + Unbalanced: Concero + CSP2+ + HD800

Tubes + Balanced: Nothing affordable, if you must, Little Dot MKVIIISE may be up to the task and would be not much over budget with the X-Sabre.

SS + Balanced: X-Sabre + BHA-1/Mjolnir + HD800

SS + Unbalanced: Concero + Soloist + HD800

Heard both and can recommend either path. Not sure what you could use in SS at lower price point, perhaps a Burson Soloist? I've heard none of their gear, but I am somewhat biased against it for whatever reason. Unless you are going for DSD, there's little reason to spend for the X-Sabre on an unbalanced system. The ONLY reason the Concero could be a bad pick is if your amp won't be able to handle a 1.2V input signal well. The CSP2+ has no problems with this. I thought the Mjolnir was good at it's price point, but it doesn't really excite me so it's hard to recommend despite it being worthy. Would stretch the budget a bit as then you would want to for sure go X-Sabre for balanced output, but it's not over by as much as the BHA-1 combo.

AstralStorm · « **Reply #102 on:** March 17, 2013, 04:24:52 PM »

Hey, is there any electrostat combo better than best case modded HD800 with a good tube amp? Or will be relatively soon?
I'm considering the next large investment in a few months.

Marvey · « **Reply #103 on:** March 17, 2013, 04:33:49 PM »

It depends on what you are looking for.

There are compromises with the stats just as with the HD800s. The good thing is that there are more choices with stat amps now. And this really helps people find gear and assemble systems which suits their preferences.

I appreciate the STAX headphones and how the 009 gets out of the way, but ultimately I'm not a big fan of the STAX sound. And the best STAX IMO, the 007mk1 is OOP.

FWIW, I only ditched the HD800 / ECBA because of the T2/007 or Electra/Jade. (I sold the T2 back to blubluss since I'm going back to speakers.)

shipsupt · « **Reply #104 on:** March 17, 2013, 05:14:42 PM »

I'm obviously very invested in the stat sound now, but a good HD-800 rig, or even the modest one I had before I started breaking down my dynamic stuff, is pretty hard to beat especially if you dig their sound.

I had clear goals in mind for what I was looking for and understood exactly what I was going to gain and give up by making this move. I made small, slow, explorations into stats to see if it was where I wanted to go before I made any major moves. I auditioned the major gear that I'm investing in before I made decision on it. I think I'm putting together a system that's better, but I am sure that not everyone would agree.

With the yen struggling the 009 is pretty attractive, but there are some great OOP options to consider hunting for. Just don't expect them to come easy or cheap.

So, to answer your question directly and quit beating around the bush, I think the 007 MKI / BHSE combination will be better than the best case HD800 rig. That's going on my time with the 007's and several sessions with the combination. I'll only know for sure when my BHSE arrives and I can spend serious time with it at home. I am sure that this view would not be shared by all because they are ultimately looking for something different.

I couldn't have put it better than @purrin did, it depends on what you are looking for.

Marvey · « **Reply #105 on:** March 17, 2013, 05:22:18 PM »

All bets would be off for me if Sennheiser made an HD650 without the veil and with the super hi-resolution of the HD800.

olor1n · « **Reply #106 on:** March 20, 2013, 08:42:53 AM »

Quote from: purrin on March 17, 2013, 05:22:18 PM

All bets would be off for me if Sennheiser made an HD650 without the veil and with the super hi-resolution of the HD800.

How do we make this happen?

Armaegis · « **Reply #107 on:** March 21, 2013, 02:41:15 AM »

Possible with modding?

Bmullock · « **Reply #108 on:** March 22, 2013, 09:25:14 AM »

I have bought an Aune T1 for which I need a decent pair of headphones for home use only. Listen to rock, jazz, pop and some classical. I guess you could say anything which is well recorded.

MuppetFace · « **Reply #109 on:** March 22, 2013, 09:47:55 AM »

Hello Bmullock, and welcome to Changstar. I merged your new thread with our official advice thread, since this is where we like to keep questions like this.

Also when you have some time, please introduce yourself:

http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,302.0.html

Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)

phillip88

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Maxvla

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

AstralStorm

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Marvey

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

shipsupt

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Marvey

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

olor1n

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Armaegis

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Bmullock

Recommendation of reasonably priced headphones

MuppetFace

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

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Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)

Bmullock