AMP/DAC for AKG and Sennheiser cans

[recycledcans]

I am new to the audiophile arena and need some advice/recommendations on an amp/dac for my AKG K7xx (Q701) and potentially HD8xx when that comes out.

From my understanding, OTL tube amps or "warmer" amp/dac combos are best for the HD800s, but I'm looking to stick with solid state and have narrowed it down to either the more appropriately-priced THX technology (i.e. $250 Drop 789, $150 Drop AAA One, or $300 Monolith 887) with a cheap $100-200 DAC, or non-THX such as slightly higher-priced Topping's stacked offerings ($580 A50s, $760 A30Pro, or $650 DX7 Pro) or Schiit's stacked offerings ($400 Jotunheim 2+$200 Modius DAC).

My use case is 75% 4K movies, 25% music (EDM, instrumentals). Which setup will provide me with the best synergies with those two cans, while offering the best value right before the concept of diminishing value kicks in?

 

[Helicopter]

OTL amp can be like a fixed tone control for high impedance headphones, and DV336SE is a good match for HD6XX, but you are way better off with proper parametric equalization, and you are probably better off with a graphic equalizer or tone control too.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Have you looked at the EX5?

 

[Foulchet]

I have an AKG 712 Pro and a Sennheiser 560S and to be perfectly honest my front-panel jack (with high-end motherboard) is perfectly enough. Even an iPhone is OK, maybe a tiny bit short for the AKG (I'm not even sure, the dfference is not that big). From what I tested, diminishing value kicks very early to the point that even a budget dac/amp is not of great value for headphones (in my opinion of course) unless you need it (i.e. if you lack power). So the best choice is to take into account the subjective value (aesthetics, etc.) and required features.

Considering tube amps, I have one and I do not consider it really "warmer". It has more of a "reverberating" really subtle (nothing really big) effect (on lower impedance setting, it is really close to an SS amp though).

 

[recycledcans]

I'll have to look into OTL amps, but I think I'll get that as my secondary. I see.. maybe I'll just go with a Focal Clear. Looks like it' sonly $940 on headphones.com as an open box item. An EX5 is a top contender! Probably more in line with what I'm actually looking for/need. I'll try to spend less than $400 for amp/dac.