Upgrade path for headphones and dac/amp

[HMF]

Hello,

I’m trying to figure out a path forward from my current setup and could use some advice.

Currently I run Focal Elegias with Dekoni fenestrated pads powered by a Monolith 124459 (THX ASA 788). I EQ with Oratory’s recommended EQ via Peace, with some little tweaks for a bit more bass.

Before this I ran a set of BeyerDynamic T90’s with a Scarlett 2i2 into a Bottlehead Crack + Speedball I had built.

I had moved off of the Bottlehead Crack to the Monolith dac/amp as I wanted to get away from the tubes and change things up, and at the time the Monolith seemed like the best thing there was in that $500 price range. I also had my T90s essentially fall apart, and I wanted to go closer backs as we had kids and it seemed to make sense.

At this point I want to move back to open backs and am open to changing up my dac/amp as well, but am confused, or unsure, about upgrades. For the dac/amp would moving to something like a Topping DX3+ pro actually be an upgrade? Or a JDS stack? Or another stack? I figure there must be tech upgrades since I bought my Monolith but am not sure if I should be going down that road or not.

As for the headphones, I am having a hard time narrowing things down. I’ve thought of grabbing some HD600s, or 650s, or 660s2, or Meze 109 Pros, or Audeze LCD-2Cs, or… I mean the list goes on and on and on. I use these only with desktop and so I’ll be EQing for sure. Trying to figure out what’s actually worth upgrading to from my Elegias is… difficult. And where I live there isn’t a lot of opportunity to go and test out a bunch of stuff.

For price range, I’d like to stay somewhere under $500 for dac/amp and under $1000 for the phones.

Also, I’d be using them for gaming, all kinds of games, not just tac FPS or anything like that. Though I do appreciate good soundstage and being able to pinpoint directionality of noise when in those types of games. I also listen to lots of music, mostly via Apple music. Music is all over the place, but I like bass!

If anyone could help get me pointed in the right direction it’d be much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[Dunring]

Your amplifier clips in high gain with over a 2.1v DAC so here's what I'd do
SMSL SU-1 is a terrific DAC and matches your existing and very affordable. $65
Thieaudio Ghost is on a huge sale $53 and they trade blows with the Sennheiser hd600/650. I have a pair and they did a great job on them.
AliExpress has a big summer sale with coupons and major discounts on both. It ends Tuesday and you could steal both and do a really nice upgrade. The Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X is another I really like for music and gaming, and I use a Hifiman HE5XX as a daily driver for both. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[HMF]

Your amplifier clips in high gain with over a 2.1v DAC so here's what I'd do
SMSL SU-1 is a terrific DAC and matches your existing and very affordable. $65
Thieaudio Ghost is on a huge sale $53 and they trade blows with the Sennheiser hd600/650. I have a pair and they did a great job on them.
AliExpress has a big summer sale with coupons and major discounts on both. It ends Tuesday and you could steal both and do a really nice upgrade. The Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X is another I really like for music and gaming, and I use a Hifiman HE5XX as a daily driver for both. Can't go wrong with either.

Ah interesting. I’ll look into that DAC. I’d just be using my Monolith as an amp then eh?

I’ll check out the Thieaudio offering as well. Hadn’t seen those previously. Also I see Hifiman has some good deals on refurbished Aryas at the moment. Perhaps I’ll snag one. I’ve wanted to check out Hifiman for some time.

Thanks!

 

[Dunring]

Ah interesting. I’ll look into that DAC. I’d just be using my Monolith as an amp then eh?

I’ll check out the Thieaudio offering as well. Hadn’t seen those previously. Also I see Hifiman has some good deals on refurbished Aryas at the moment. Perhaps I’ll snag one. I’ve wanted to check out Hifiman for some time.

Thanks!

The Arya Stealth is the one to get, the original one has a shouty rise in female vocals fixed in the stealth version. The Drop HE5xx is neutral and the best value (I use one every day and EQ isn't required). The Deva Pro wired is technically better than the HE5xx when you equalize them, but the He5xx is better out of the box. I've got the 68ohm and 50ohm versions of the He6se, the newer 50 ohm drivers sound better in the volume matched blind test we did last week. I've had practically the entire Hifiman lineup, and stick with the He5xx for daily use.