Question for Audiophiles

[billyjeff2]

I've never owned hi-end audio equipment, and since I live in a smallish,very old home (circa 1850) I don't want large speakers that wouldn't look good in my living room. So, I'm thinking about a system that would use just a good pair of headphones for listening. Any suggestions on how I could put together a nice systlem that did not have to include speakers and the normal componentry required for a speaker based system?
Thx

 

[GoldenMonkey]

All you'd really need is a source component (like a CD player or whatever), a good headphone amp (solid state or tubes?) and a good pair of phones.

This is a VERY deep rabbit hole you're plunging into, be careful. The audiophile market is even more insane and OCD than the shaving community, and if there's ever a maxim of "YMMV", it applies to audiophilia in spades. And we're talking people raving about why $11,000 power cable X is millions of times better than $9,000 power cable Y, based on a bunch of smoke and mirrors, pseudoscience, electrical theory, placebo effect, and "JUST BECAUSE IT IS, DAMMIT!"

For a great (and again, insane community) forum, check out www.head-fi.org, but I warned you...it gets expensive, lol.

For me, I went with the following, looking originally for nothing more than headphones that sounded better than my Sony DJ cans (prices are MSRP, more or less):
Sennheiser HD650 headphones - $600
APureSound 10' custom made headphone cable, with Furutech gold plug, rhodium plated Cardas connectors, and pure silver cabling - $380
I already had a nice Denon CD player as my source... - $400
Monarchy Audio upsampling DIP (digital interface processor...it upsamples and reclocks the digital output from the source to the DAC) - $300
Oritek Audio OMZ custom modified DAC - $590
Tributaries Reference Silver digital coax, x2 - $200
Custom made silver RCA cables with Eichmann Silver Bullet RCA plugs - $180
Furman PL-8 Series II power conditioner - $110
Parasound 12AWG power cables, x3 - $120
Woo Audio WA3+ OTL tube-based headphone amp - $500
NOS Tung-Sol 5988 power tube (and spare) - $200
NOS Tung-Sol 7236 power tube (mid 1960's) - $100
NOS Amperex ECC88/6DJ8 preamp tubes (1954 "Bugle Boys") - $150
NOS Siemens & Halske E88CC/6922 preamp tubes (mid 70's) - $100
NOS Siemens & Halske E188CC/7308 preamp (mid 70's) - $200
various other tubes off of Ebay - approx $100

So, yeah...it's a stupid, expensive, slippery slope of a hobby, escpecially if you go with a tube amp, lol...

 

[Dandaman]

I gave myself this as holiday gift:

http://www.headphone.com/packages/serious-audiophile-package.php

I substituted the K702 (w/ detachable cable) for the K701, and I've been working on "burning in" the cans (K702) for the last 10 days. At this point, I feel in general that the electronics are keepers, and the phones are pretty good but I can see where down the line I might want to experiment w/ something in the Senn, Grado, and/or Denon line. Might try a cable upgrade, but i'm just a little skeptical on these.

I'm playing bit for bit AIFF files out of iTunes and sending them thru the included DAC.

 

[shkorc]

All you'd really need is a source component (like a CD player or whatever), a good headphone amp (solid state or tubes?) and a good pair of phones.

This is a VERY deep rabbit hole you're plunging into, be careful. The audiophile market is even more insane and OCD than the shaving community, and if there's ever a maxim of "YMMV", it applies to audiophilia in spades.

+2 spot on

It had me for quite a while, luckily it never went further then an Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card, and a pair of Senheiser HD595 for me (I still kick myself in the arse not going for HD650... but there's still time ).

Check out the link GoldenMonkey gave you, tons and tons of useful info.

PS: GoldenMonkey, impressive collection. Boy, would I like to give that Woo amp a spin

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Those AKG phones take an insanely long time to burn in and get non-tinny sound with any perceptible bass, so keep at it for around 300-400 hours. When they are ripe though they sound SO sweet and accurate.

 

[strat1117]

You did well. The AKG's are great phones, better, IMHO than the Grados, which I always found a little too caramel-y (even the RS-2s). the Senns are great (I've been living happily with HD580's for years), but I believe that the current thinking is that the AKG's are where it's at.

Enjoy!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

+2 spot on

It had me for quite a while, luckily it never went further then an Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card, and a pair of Senheiser HD595 for me (I still kick myself in the arse not going for HD650... but there's still time ).

Check out the link GoldenMonkey gave you, tons and tons of useful info.

PS: GoldenMonkey, impressive collection. Boy, would I like to give that Woo amp a spin

The Woo is so awesome, lol...I love my amp. I had previously had a Little Dot MKV solid state amp, but the HD650's need way more juice than that amp supplied, and once i borrowed the Woo from my buddy to compare...well, it was no comparison.

Here's my "inventory, over at HF: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/members/golden-monkey/. It's been so long since I visited that site, I forgot all about a lot of gear I used to have, like the Denon D2000's! Those are some great phones too, but I'm a real Senn kind of guy, lol. And hey, those 595's are classics...nothing to sneer at at all!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

You did well. The AKG's are great phones, better, IMHO than the Grados, which I always found a little too caramel-y (even the RS-2s). the Senns are great (I've been living happily with HD580's for years), but I believe that the current thinking is that the AKG's are where it's at.

Enjoy!

See, this is where the YMMV thing becomes SO true, and equipment matching is crucial. The K701/702s are fantastic, but they have such a different presentation compared to Senns, or any of the top headphones, really (Denon, Ultrasone, Grado, etc.)...The AKG hallmark is clean, accurate, fast, forward, bright, etc. Senns are more laid back, warmer, wider soundstage, etc. It's apples and oranges, really, and comes down to preference. Also, they (AKGs vs. Sennheisers) have vastly different power requirements to drive them properly. The AKGs have lower impedance, and can sound great with either solid state or tube amplification, but for the high impedance HD650 to really sing, they need all that voltage that tube amplification delivers. I couldn't believe the difference in the Senns when I switched to tubes...pure heaven. I REALLY want to give the newer Sennheiser HD800's a spin .

 

[Dandaman]

Those AKG phones take an insanely long time to burn in and get non-tinny sound with any perceptible bass, so keep at it for around 300-400 hours. When they are ripe though they sound SO sweet and accurate.

I've reached about 280 hrs and it it does sound pretty good on the right material. But just like shaving tools, I love to experiment and have all the various experiences. I just wish it were easier to drive a couple miles and sample various cans - but good audio shops are not as numerous as McDonalds.

You did well. The AKG's are great phones, better, IMHO than the Grados, which I always found a little too caramel-y (even the RS-2s). the Senns are great (I've been living happily with HD580's for years), but I believe that the current thinking is that the AKG's are where it's at.

Enjoy!

I've been reading over at Headfi.org and it seems a lot of stuff goes in and out of favor. I guess I'll have to take this a bit more slowly than collecting DE razors/creams/soaps due to the cost. But I'm pretty curious as to the brands I mentioned and would also like to sample tube amps.

TO THE ORIGINAL POSTER:

I keep reading that it is definitely possible to get very decent sound for much less w/ cans than with a normal room set-up with speakers. I'd read up on Headfi.org for a bit before pulling out the wallet.

 

[strat1117]

I've been reading over at Headfi.org and it seems a lot of stuff goes in and out of favor. I guess I'll have to take this a bit more slowly than collecting DE razors/creams/soaps due to the cost. But I'm pretty curious as to the brands I mentioned and would also like to sample tube amps.

I use nothing but tubes in my big rig, but for headphone listening I have just an iRiver MP3/Cd player, a Creek OBH headphone amp on my nightstand and the HD 580's. It has kept me happy for many moons. The Grados never quite did it for me (I tried SR60's, SR225's and RS-2's). I also have a pair of Sennheiser HD497's for walkin' around the neighborhood. I think these are discontinued now, but they are the tops for a smaller (not small), relatively inexpensive on ear headphone for use without an amp (I loathe in the ear cans, even the really good ones -- I just can't get used to the way they feel).

Like GoldenMonkey said from the get go -- this is a very slippery slope. It's easy to spend lots of money, very fast. I spent mine on my main system, which is the centerpiece of my den (entertainment, not shave ), and took it easy on the headphone system which gets used primarily in bed, while SWMBO watches Desperate Housewives, etc.

Enjoy!

 

[billyjeff2]

Yikes! This is getting complicated real fast! Thx for the advice, gents...

 

[SiBurning]

For a great (and again, insane community) forum, check out www.head-fi.org, but I warned you...it gets expensive, lol.

Welcome to head-fi. Sorry about your wallet.

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Welcome to head-fi. Sorry about your wallet.

LOL, yeah, no kiddin'! Haven't heard that in a while...

 

[ProphetNoir]

This is a VERY deep rabbit hole you're plunging into, be careful. The audiophile market is even more insane and OCD than the shaving community, and if there's ever a maxim of "YMMV", it applies to audiophilia in spades. And we're talking people raving about why $11,000 power cable X is millions of times better than $9,000 power cable Y, based on a bunch of smoke and mirrors, pseudoscience, electrical theory, placebo effect, and "JUST BECAUSE IT IS, DAMMIT!"

For a great (and again, insane community) forum, check out www.head-fi.org, but I warned you...it gets expensive, lol.

So, yeah...it's a stupid, expensive, slippery slope of a hobby, escpecially if you go with a tube amp, lol...

You want take this bit of information seriously, very seriously.

Good luck.

 

[airplanedoc]

I know several people with the Bose acustic wave radios/cd player. Many in similar circumstances to yours. Its all in one, I am not sure if you can use headphones, but I would guess that is a option. I am certianly no expert, but they sound great to me, both for just one person listening, or when there was a small party.

 

[xillion]

Stax electrostats are considered to be some of the best.

 

[Kenno]

I've never owned hi-end audio equipment, and since I live in a smallish,very old home (circa 1850) I don't want large speakers that wouldn't look good in my living room. So, I'm thinking about a system that would use just a good pair of headphones for listening. Any suggestions on how I could put together a nice systlem that did not have to include speakers and the normal componentry required for a speaker based system?
Thx

They do make little speakers that look and sound great. B&W make great small speakers as do KEF and Klipsch. These speakers would be unobtrusive and stylish. Go to a proper hi-fi store and check em out. Plus you get surround sound for when you wanna watch movies. Far better option than headphones and you could be up and running with amp/receiver, blu ray and speakers for $1000-2000. Then you could get some phones and just plug em in to your amp/receiver. Hey, the also make beautiful floorstanding speakers that would enhance the look of any livingroom, they're are some beautiful large speakers out there! If you can afford it go for the large speakers 100% and you'll have a live performance or be in the middle of any movie you play in your own livingroom!

If you still want headphones/earbuds I reckon Yuin make great stuff that doesn't cost much. PK1/2 and 3 sound awesome, better than even most of the high end headphones. PK1 need and amp and are out of this world, heck I'd even take my PK3's with me Ipod over a lot of stuff! The Yuins have a balanced sound that doesn't emphasize one piece of the audio spectrum over another. All music sounds good threw em. Plus you can carry these around anywhere.

I'd still go with the first option.

 

[Townyj]

Head-Fi cost me in the vacinity of 6,000AUD+ over a span of 8+ months. That includes buying and selling headphones with lose's etc... I am glad i moved onto something like B&B which cost's mildly less in some ways.

After everything i went through i ended with a fairly nice setup, nothing like some of those guys have. I hardly use mine anymore

I would recommend searching around if you want some info... some good places to start would be...

http://www.stereo.net.au
www.head-fi.org

There is alot of info out there to be had... get searching my friend!!

If you want a laugh check out my profile... the stuff i went through over my stay at head-fi...
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/members/townyj/


I plan on hitting up a nice pair of floor stander's sometime in the future... After i buy a house!!!

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Oh, I forgot to mention...check www.audioasylum.com for good deals on used equipment. It helps to have your choices narrowed down to specific items first, since searching through a million sale threads can be a pain, but...

I find it interesting that many people are involved in both or have gravitated to shaving items from audiophilia, lol. my wife has a term for us, and a theory behind this...but more on htat later...I have stuff to do.

 

[closer]

They do make little speakers that look and sound great. B&W make great small speakers as do KEF and Klipsch. These speakers would be unobtrusive and stylish. Go to a proper hi-fi store and check em out. Plus you get surround sound for when you wanna watch movies. Far better option than headphones and you could be up and running with amp/receiver, blu ray and speakers for $1000-2000. Then you could get some phones and just plug em in to your amp/receiver.

I would second this option, with the caveat that it depends on the space. Smaller speakers will have a harder time filling a larger living room with adequate db levels for movies, but bookshelves can do quite nicely. If you can hide the wiring behind walls or under carpets/baseboard, you can have a pretty clean installation. Speaker shopping is very subjective, though, so be prepared to spend hours listening, and as has been pointed out, you *will* end up stretching your budget.

One other option that has not been pointed out yet, is to get one of those iphone docks. While the audiophiles may frown on this, its a very convenient and practical options for space-contrained situations.

At its price point though, nothing will approach the sound quality and power from the headphone/amp combos.

You really should define a budget first.