Stuff Jones

However if you've invested in good electronics at the beginning, you're controlling for that variable and cost and can just discover and indulge your SQ tastes via headphone upgrading.

A practical example. If you're starting off in HPs with a ~3k budget, which option would you go for:

a) DNA Starlett + Schiit BF2 + HD6XX
b) Schiit Modi MB + Asgard + ZMF Verite

For me, option a) is much more appealing. You've got an amp and DAC that will do any headphone justice as your taste evolves and budget grows.

@Stuff Jones your option a is built upon the premise that HD6XX (or the HD6xx family) is a competent transducer. With a 3K USD budget I'd rather have a used pair of HD800SDR, get a competent sub-1200, SBAF-approved amp, and a used Gungnir MB. You have a combination electronics that is a.) not far away from Starlett+BF2, and b). maybe even more versatile.

For a simple field recording setup, I recommend a wearable binaural mic into a cheapo recorder. Simple, effective, sounds great, cheap. I use Soundmann OKM + Yamaha Pocketrak PR7. Full setup under $300 and sounds great! I've worked on hundreds of production sound gigs though I wouldn't consider myself a music industry insider.

Would this produce something that you wouldn't mind listening to on a decent system?

I mean, it's binaural, not multitracked - no real ability to do extensive DSP afterwards, and headphones only. But aside from that, it sounds amazing! Full bandwidth, all of the spatial cues remain intact. Possibly a bit diffusive if you're sitting far from the performers but that's just a matter of where you're located while you're wearing the mic.

... yeah definitely not something I'd know about yet, hah!

But really, open baffle designs are less sexy? I'm gushing over the pair @Serious is working on and I don't even do speakers (yet) :))

Are the SQ advantages of open baffle vs closed equivalent to open headphones vs closed headphones?

Not everyone has the room for them. Same with planar speakers.

Interesting that our hearing can detect such a brief low level (-40 dBFS) crackle riding on a -15dBFS cycle.

@atomicbob Just the occasional crackle on rapid volume volume increases. This track has it a few times. For example when he cries "ohhhh" at about 0:39-0:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6B7QzSF3oQ

Heard that same crackle on the "Ohhh/Whoa" at 2:24 on You gonna Need My Help too.

Glad it's Muddy's powerful voice and not my gear at fault.

Preparing a visual analysis to post in the next few days on this topic.

For me, HD580>HD650>HD600. Basically because I'd rather have a little too much midbass (HD650) than a little too much upper mid (HD600), but OG 580 is more or less right in the middle of both of those two things.

Doesn't the HD580 use the same driver as the HD600? If my ears are correct (that's a big if), the HD650 is a superior driver, tuning preferences aside.

Yes, but for whatever reason (maybe just the baffle/housing or worn pads) it sounds smack in the middle. Also some of the older drivers sound a bit smoother on the top end so maybe it's just unit variation from what I've heard (new 650s and 2002 580s, and late 00-s 600s)

@ChaChaRealSmooth - I would be curious on your short comparison of the mids on those three HPs. They were my three finalists, and the Senns cost and OG reputation won out. Still intrigued by the Auteurs. As I mentioned, the Clear's supposed wonky timbre eventually disqualified them for me.

All 3 have great layering and resolve in the mids. Difference is mainly in timbre. Auteur can be a bit rich, Clear a bit lean, and HD650 is very neutral (leans toward thick-sounding though). Personally I like the Auteur.

KISS mod will only make them overall better / more balanced across the range and you will love them even more. I've been tempted to spend thousands and tried quite a few headphones in the 2k - 3k range but nothing is really a clear upgrade.

If it sounds right, it's probably fine. I can't imagine any damage beyond a blown fuse would have happened, but even then you'd be able to tell.

.

?

I will say that this HeadAmp Gilmore Lite MK2 is making them surprisingly punchy and dynamic, considering their reputation. And treble is more extended than I expected - just could use more presence.

@Stuff Jones some find the KISS find too bright while others find the stock version perfect. I think it's a safer move for massdrop to keep the tuning the same as the original HD650.

I think they did propose but Sennheiser didn't want to mess with their ongoing production line plus their usual "we know it best" attitude. They've had a target FR researched internally for a long time so I can understand not wanting to belittle it. At least all these Japanese hp companies with good tech but bad tuning are seemingly very willing to let the community help out

And pull a reverse Purr1n with the cost of an initial setup going DAC > amp > HPs?!

Doesn't seem like a bad idea to me. Think of it as investing in a source that won't shame downstream components while saving up for headphones that better suits your fancy and, later, an amp to do it justice.

But only if you think/know it'll be something you'll work on down the line.

I have a Modi 3 and Bitfrost 2 on the way. Lets see which I keep. I do like the idea of having one component of a system that gets me ~90% of the way to TOTL - and that can work for HPs and a two channel system both.

Speaking of that, any reason why the Gilmore wouldn't make a decent preamp?

If I was listening at my desk/couch/bed and didn't need isolation and weight is not an issue, open-back HPs anyday over IEMs.

Next foolish help-me-live-my- life question. I've got the GO V2A - should I get the MD Senn 6xx for 220 or the ZMF Aeolus for 1200? Context: I love the JVC FD01 for their tactility, balance and tonal rightiousness.

I might consider the HD-600. If you prefer neutral.

@Kunlun After my first foray into planars I am understanding this more. The HD650 may not have the technicalities of many headphones, but it conveys emotion better than most of them, maybe all of them.

Is this also why vinyl lovers love vinyl?

Vinyl can have great clarity, detail, and separation.

That full stop is epic. It is good you appreciate proper punctuation. Now stop it ;).

How many dimensions does that dot have?

Why not "This space for sale"?

one might think a simple dot (.) might do the trick

I'm a purist though! Let me try a space.

It would require going back in time, to a period roughly nine months before you were born, and, somehow, making sure that your parents did something else.

SBAF is a bit picky with how you're typing it in the address bar for some strange reason. I've only ever experienced that issue with Chrome, but saving my login for https AND http protocol versions of the site fixed it for me, so give that a shot.

Open this address: chrome://net-internals/#hsts

Type "superbestaudiofriends.org" to the "Add HSTS/PKP domain" section, and place a checkmark on "Include subdomains for STS", then click Add. Close browser and see if that fixes it.

Everyone has this problem and has been mentioned several times