2. misc-audio
  3. 1236532528

Thinking of moving to a Headphone system, thoughts

Ok, times are rough, money is tight. I love my system, but am kind tired of lugging it around with me...so far I have moved my system from Nebraska to Texas and then again to Michigan. I am now thinking of moving to a more urban setting such as Philadelphia or NYC...really, I would be happy to keep this system for ever, but need to start making "tough choices"

I was wondering if anyone else out there has done something similar? What type of products would I be looking at to keep the same type of listening experience? I think that I would probably keep my DAC and use it as part of my system, but I don't know...any input would help!

Thanks,
bearotti
bearotti OP
160 posts
 
Elevick, I think you just touched on the root of the problem...I will miss having speakers if I decide to go this route...I know for sure that I enjoy "feeling" the music, and the 3d soundstage much better than one that is created in my head...I hear and have read today that some of the highest fidelity systems, Stax 404II, AKG K1000, Stax Omega, actually begin to get the soundstage outside of your head. I would be very interested to hear some of these headphones and make my own opinion, but all are too expensive to justify purchasing new.
blackstonejd
152 posts
 
The new Sennheiser HD800 would probably fit the bill nicely, but they are expensive.

I think the best budget system would be Computer/Laptop-->Asynchronous USB DAC-->Headphone Amp-->Sennheiser HD650 or HD 800.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Some headphones have physical sound "crosstalk" between channels to provide 3d imaging. In normal speaker reproduction sound gets from right speaker to your left ear with delay. There are computer sound cards drivers that can imitate this delay creating 3d image. It also can be done in hardware but I don't know of commercial units available.
hanaleimike
125 posts
 
I have owned a few nice top end headphones, and my favorite was the Grado gs-1000, but even with a great amp they can't touch a speaker system in so many areas. If I were in your shoes I would go for some monitors and a subwoofer and listen at lower levels, and get some headphones for when you want to turn it up a bit.
djembeplay
169 posts
 
I just moved from a nice headphone system to a speaker system. I had recabled AKG K701s powered by a Little Dot MKV, fed my an audio mirror D2 DAC.

Ya, they sounded good I suppose... a little harsh on the highs and lacking in bass though.

Now, once I moved to my speaker system... I was (and still am) blown away. Much greater sense of space and precise, accurate placement... much more balanced through the entire range.

My system now consists of Green Mountain Audio Continuum 1's, a modified Yamaha M-40, and again the Audio Mirror D2 DAC.

It's also great to not be tethered to a cord and to be able to share the music experience with others.

I'm in the speaker camp again now :).

So, I have a pristine pair of AKG K701s for sale if your interested. They are recabled with 5ft APureSound V3 cable, terminated with a Furutech FP-704 1/4" jack.

You can see pics here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs-akg-k701-w-apsv3-furutech-pristine-408388/

Take care.
More to discover