Hello all..have been reading a lot and have been a member of various audio forums, but have been very comfortable reading posts here, as they are mostly backed by tests and experience. i have learned a lot.
First of all, i would like to humbly say that i have owned some headphones, but not really expensive ones and this may be my biggest headphone buy, thats why im respectfully seeking advice from the good people from ASR (like solderdude and amir) been reading a lot of your posts lately.
I have had also set up my car audio in the past mainly using focal speakers and Alpine HU, meaning to say i love good audio : )
but admittedly i have been out of the scene for quite some time and are just doing some reading lately and would like to upgrade my current listening setup
some headphones/iem i have owned in the past:
vmoda m100 ( nice bass but too much for me and lacks clarity for me)
ath m50x (there's something about the treble that i dont like, lacks finesse?)
superlux 668b (too lean for me/harsh) - gave to my son to use for his games
HD600 ( sold them not because i dont like - luv them but i was in an audio hiatus that time - still kicking myself)
d770 250ohm (accidentally broke trying to remove some lint on the driver membrane)
ATH ws55 (too bassy - gave them as a gift to a friend)
soundmagic e10 9gave to a friend - lacks detail for me)
headphones/iem current:
- status audio CB1 ( my daily driver (home)- these are cheap but i love the sound - detailed highs but grainy - prominent mids and tight bass if im describing them correctly - the sound is meaty) im sorry im not an audiophile - i just love good headphones and love listening music of all genres
- HD58x - My daily driver (open/home) i love the sound, what can i say? way better than the CB1
- MDR 7506 - love the detail but thin and lean for me - i use them to monitor dialogues and for voice over recording - great for speech - but not for music listening - fo me that is - i dont enjoy listening to music in them as much i enjoy with the CB1 - too analytical if the term is correct)
- sony MH1c - but i dont use them as often anymore
- Philips SHE3590 EQed - seldom used
- WF100xm3 EQed- in ear - for travelling - i like the noise cancelling and portability
- Shure SE535 - my main iem - owned them for ~3 years - i like the meaty sound - great mids but im getting bored with the rolled off highs - it lacks sparkle for me
i also have owned in the past:
Oppo HA 2SE - sold them ( i regretted it)
Topping NX1a
Littledot 1+ with rolled tubes - sold them when i sold my hd600
audioquest dragonfly black - gave to a friend
my current source set up:
im currently using Denon DA300USB connected to my MAudio AV40 monitors
Sony BDP S380 as CD player connected to the Denon
Liquid spark connected to hifime ess9023 as DAC- for headpone music listening connected to the laptop
Im planning to buy a pair of good upgrade headphone: my choices as i can get them here (Europe) for the same price - ~ 500 euros - some are used and also in your experience if they are worth the price they are asking for (Diminishing returns)
Ether CX - used almost new
Neumann NDH20 - brand new
Focal Elegia - brand new
meze 99 classic - ~ 300
For IEM im planning to get: Ety ER4Xr or ER4SR -
If you could kindly give me some buying advice?
among the headphones which should i get? I love detailed non piercing highs/prominent mids/tight clean bass - meaty non lean sounding - is this neutral? sorry for the lack of knowledge on audiophile terms
I also would like to upgrade my dac: thinking of getting of Topping D10 or KTB to pair with my liquid spark - should i also change my amp? to 789?
Will the Ety be an upgrade to my Se535? if yes ER4XR or ER4SR?
im currently listening for travel with my samsung S9 - spotify premium though i also have a sandisk clip zip as DAP
to summarize:
which headphone should i buy?
Should i buy the Ety if i want an upgrade from my SE535?
which dac should i buy?
should i upgrade my headphone amp?
i apologize for the long post.. any help would be greatly appreciated... im excited to read your replies
cheers,
marv
First of all, i would like to humbly say that i have owned some headphones, but not really expensive ones and this may be my biggest headphone buy, thats why im respectfully seeking advice from the good people from ASR (like solderdude and amir) been reading a lot of your posts lately.
I have had also set up my car audio in the past mainly using focal speakers and Alpine HU, meaning to say i love good audio : )
but admittedly i have been out of the scene for quite some time and are just doing some reading lately and would like to upgrade my current listening setup
some headphones/iem i have owned in the past:
vmoda m100 ( nice bass but too much for me and lacks clarity for me)
ath m50x (there's something about the treble that i dont like, lacks finesse?)
superlux 668b (too lean for me/harsh) - gave to my son to use for his games
HD600 ( sold them not because i dont like - luv them but i was in an audio hiatus that time - still kicking myself)
d770 250ohm (accidentally broke trying to remove some lint on the driver membrane)
ATH ws55 (too bassy - gave them as a gift to a friend)
soundmagic e10 9gave to a friend - lacks detail for me)
headphones/iem current:
- status audio CB1 ( my daily driver (home)- these are cheap but i love the sound - detailed highs but grainy - prominent mids and tight bass if im describing them correctly - the sound is meaty) im sorry im not an audiophile - i just love good headphones and love listening music of all genres
- HD58x - My daily driver (open/home) i love the sound, what can i say? way better than the CB1
- MDR 7506 - love the detail but thin and lean for me - i use them to monitor dialogues and for voice over recording - great for speech - but not for music listening - fo me that is - i dont enjoy listening to music in them as much i enjoy with the CB1 - too analytical if the term is correct)
- sony MH1c - but i dont use them as often anymore
- Philips SHE3590 EQed - seldom used
- WF100xm3 EQed- in ear - for travelling - i like the noise cancelling and portability
- Shure SE535 - my main iem - owned them for ~3 years - i like the meaty sound - great mids but im getting bored with the rolled off highs - it lacks sparkle for me
i also have owned in the past:
Oppo HA 2SE - sold them ( i regretted it)
Topping NX1a
Littledot 1+ with rolled tubes - sold them when i sold my hd600
audioquest dragonfly black - gave to a friend
my current source set up:
im currently using Denon DA300USB connected to my MAudio AV40 monitors
Sony BDP S380 as CD player connected to the Denon
Liquid spark connected to hifime ess9023 as DAC- for headpone music listening connected to the laptop
Im planning to buy a pair of good upgrade headphone: my choices as i can get them here (Europe) for the same price - ~ 500 euros - some are used and also in your experience if they are worth the price they are asking for (Diminishing returns)
Ether CX - used almost new
Neumann NDH20 - brand new
Focal Elegia - brand new
meze 99 classic - ~ 300
For IEM im planning to get: Ety ER4Xr or ER4SR -
If you could kindly give me some buying advice?
among the headphones which should i get? I love detailed non piercing highs/prominent mids/tight clean bass - meaty non lean sounding - is this neutral? sorry for the lack of knowledge on audiophile terms
I also would like to upgrade my dac: thinking of getting of Topping D10 or KTB to pair with my liquid spark - should i also change my amp? to 789?
Will the Ety be an upgrade to my Se535? if yes ER4XR or ER4SR?
im currently listening for travel with my samsung S9 - spotify premium though i also have a sandisk clip zip as DAP
to summarize:
which headphone should i buy?
Should i buy the Ety if i want an upgrade from my SE535?
which dac should i buy?
should i upgrade my headphone amp?
i apologize for the long post.. any help would be greatly appreciated... im excited to read your replies
cheers,
marv
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