General Headphone Advice

Suppose I should have posted this here. Can't figure out how to delete my other post.

So I tried the Nighthawks last week at Axpona out of my iPhone 6 and now have a pair on the way (used market prices are very good for these headphones) and I had a couple questions.

1. How well do y'all think these scale?

2. I'm looking for an amplifier that would compliment these well for around $400. I'm thinking a bright/clinical amp would work well for these. Anyone have any ideas on that front?

Thanks!

 

I'm not interested in those headphones, thanks though. I have heard the Nighthawks and loved them I'm just looking for an amp to compliment them. I like a very warm/bass heavy sound but I figured a detailed amp would go well with them - I just don't know much about amps really.

 

Good luck. If the transducer component is incapable of producing details (aka being resolving), no amp will be the salvation.

 

Modi 2 Uber / Magni 2 Uber combo should work!

 

Thank you! I have had the Magni/Modi1 in the past so I was hoping to do a bigger upgrade. I will keep these in mind though.

Since so many people seem to be getting stuck on the fact that I am getting Nighthawks, let me rephrase the question. What is a good detailed and brightish amp for around $400? I will be using the Modi2u as a DAC.

 

I really don't think you'll do any better than what you've got. Personally I'd save the money.

 

Just got my Project polaris, this amp sounds amazing! So much customization too! But I'm still toying around with it.

 

I have an HD650 and HD800. Since getting the 650, the 800 has had practically no head time, so I'm going to sell it soon. I just can't stand its wonky treble response and its artificial sound compared to the 650.

Is there anything that's a clear upgrade over the 650? I want to maintain the easy-to-listen to nature of the 650 while improving some of the technicalities (detail, soundstage) and bass extension.

 

You can also mod the HD650 and HD800, it would be an upgrade.

 

I've already tried modding and EQ'ing the HD800. It helps, but not enough.

 

What does the rest of your signal chain look like? There might be low-hanging upgrade fruit there. Ex: full write pending, but I found that @Hands' Transient USB --> SPDIF converter pushed the soundstage an additional 2 to 3" further out from my head on some tracks vs. USB direct into my Gungnir Multibit. It also made the bass slightly better.

 

Yggdrasil and Mjolnir.

 

@evanft have u tried the resonator mod for your hd800? i'm hearing great things about it and im thinking of picking up an hd800 again to try it lol

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...nt-resonator-summary-and-interest-check.1558/

 

Just to let you guys know i already have my HD800, the crack does a good job with it the gustard h10 not so good, but now its going to take some months for me to be able to afford a new amp.

Those are the reason i cant use them with my gustard, sucked. The crack does a good job though, so good i hope i will be able to afford a good xlr tube amp for the hd800 in th future ( i need a SS first). Keep in mind i have the 600 not the 650 though.

 

This summarizes how I feel so well. I don't even think about doing anything to the hd650 while listening to it.

 

That's pretty similar in how I feel about my HD800 vs my HD600. The 800 is clearly the better phone it terms of pure technicality (and I do love it for that), but the HD600 has a tonality that I will never part with.

 

I bought Stratocaster's modified HD600. The sound is so balanced overall that it is almost an end-game headphone.

Thing is, I know there are manufacturers out there like Pioneer who can go beyond. The Pioneer Monitor 10 was and still is amazing and a lighter version with more durable driver technology would be enough to keep me happy. People often complain about discomfort, try that heavy beast with 1970-ties indestructibility and you start training your neck.

Since my finances are improving I plan on building a basic audio system with a spare HD600 until this 1000-Dollars/Euros-plus trend for good sound settles a bit. I detest how marketing has unhealthily influenced the audio hobby. (If a KSC75 can sound as good as it sounds, why the hiked up prices?)

Agreed on sound stage. A good speaker set-up is enough.

 

What mods does your HD600 have? Mine has the Dynamat, are there any more mods worth exploring for the HD600?

 

Some dampening behind the driver to decrease the (already slight) mid-bass bump if I am correct. My HD600 sounds so flat that music without soul sounds lifeless. Yes I like that kind of "flat."