Best headphones/amps? Recommendations?

joeinid

joeinid

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I’m possibly thinking about getting a new pair headphones. These are so foreign to me. The choices seem bewildering.

My wants are sweet and musical. Have not decided about tube vs solid state amp with the headphones.

What do you use?
 
"Best" is in the ears of the beholder, as with all things audio.

The following are considered among the contenders for state of the art, with more arriving all the time, like the Stellia mentioned by Mike:

Headphones:
RAAL Requisite SR-1a
Stax 009; 009s; 007 MkII
Warwick Sonoma; Aperio
HiFi Man Shangri La, Shangri La Jr, Susvara
Abyss 1266 Phi TC
Meze Empyrean
Focal Utopia, Clear
Sennheiser HD800; 800S; 820
ZMF Verite

Amps:
Apex Pinnacle
Blue Hawaii SE
EAR HP-4
Benchmark AHB (depending on the headphones)
LTA Z10E
Headamp GS-X Mk II
Simaudio 430 HA
Stax SRM-T8000
Woo Audio WES; WA5; WA33; WA234 (mono)
 
VT Skier said:
"Best" is in the ears of the beholder, as with all things audio.

The following are considered among the contenders for state of the art, with more arriving all the time, like the Stellia mentioned by Mike:

Headphones:
RAAL Requisite SR-1a
Stax 009; 009s; 007 MkII
Warwick Sonoma; Aperio
HiFi Man Shangri La, Shangri La Jr, Susvara
Abyss 1266 Phi TC
Meze Empyrean
Focal Utopia, Clear
Sennheiser HD800; 800S; 820
ZMF Verite

Amps:
Apex Pinnacle
Blue Hawaii SE
EAR HP-4
Benchmark AHB (depending on the headphones)
LTA Z10E
Headamp GS-X Mk II
Simaudio 430 HA
Stax SRM-T8000
Woo Audio WES; WA5; WA33; WA234 (mono)
Click to expand...

Excellent List,
I highlighted what I've owned if you need any feedback on those.....
 
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=7
01.jpg
 
annapolis Raider said:
Excellent List,
I highlighted what I've owned if you need any feedback on those.....
Click to expand...

That’s awesome. I’m still in research mode. I’ve traditionally hated to wear headphones but it’s becoming more relevant as time goes on. Also having a somewhat portable system might be a wonderful luxury.
 
Mr Speakers ar fairly unique in the ability to present a large sound/and stage. I think they sound great as well. They really do sound like you are wearing a set of actual speakers. The hands down winner in that department.

I also like Audeze and Hifiman.

My pick for overall value, performance per dollar is the Janzen electrostatic. I'd have to do a side by side with the more expensive Audeze and Hifiman but the Janzen are only targeted to be about $1500.00. He was showing a set but I don't think they are ready for mass production yet. What I heard was excellent.
 
joeinid said:
That’s awesome. I’m still in research mode. I’ve traditionally hated to wear headphones but it’s becoming more relevant as time goes on. Also having a somewhat portable system might be a wonderful luxury.
Click to expand...

I can't stand headphones and I own 5 pair (a necessary evil on occasion)and have heard a ton from $100 to $3000 and I still can't do it. At best I am good for one album side, but normally I'm ripping them off my head after 10 minutes.
 
That’s what I’m afraid of too. I’ll have to start listening to my old pair of Sennheiser HD650 (?) and see how it goes.
 
Joe

I have tried many pair over the years and could never stick with them for more than a half hour. A better alternative if you need to use them for some reason might be in-ear phones. Much more comfortable and less expensive.
 
I can wear comfortable headphones for a long time,, however, for some reason when I wear headphones my body thinks it's time to go to sleep :)

I used to wear headphones and listen to the tracks while I made cassettes for friends and family.
 
I’ve seen molded in ear speakers. That might be an option.


Jack said:
Joe

I have tried many pair over the years and could never stick with them for more than a half hour. A better alternative if you need to use them for some reason might be in-ear phones. Much more comfortable and less expensive.
Click to expand...
 
I really enjoy my Audeze LCD-XC headphones with the Deckard. I highly recommend Audeze. That Luxman amp looks awesome. If you're still looking at a new dac maybe the one you get will have a nice headphone amp (Chord Dave, DCS, etc...).
 
Mr Peabody said:
Mr Speakers ar fairly unique in the ability to present a large sound/and stage. I think they sound great as well. They really do sound like you are wearing a set of actual speakers. The hands down winner in that department.

I also like Audeze and Hifiman.

My pick for overall value, performance per dollar is the Janzen electrostatic. I'd have to do a side by side with the more expensive Audeze and Hifiman but the Janzen are only targeted to be about $1500.00. He was showing a set but I don't think they are ready for mass production yet. What I heard was excellent.
Click to expand...

I like Mr Speaker because of the weight factor and comfort. And they do perform nicely.
 
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