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184.189.220.214
Is there a clear king-of-the-hill in this range? I don't need wireless.
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How do you like your new K812s? Please post your impressions!
I would consider Ergo AMT earspeakers.
JB
Some of the ugliest headphones I've ever seen. But hey, for anyone who wants to try "earspeakers"...I've heard that the Ergo 2 sounds pretty good too, and for a lot less money than the Ergo AMT.
Edits: 06/26/14
I don't disagree but they sound very, very good...
I haven't heard the Ergo 2 but like you, I've heard it's extremely good too for a fraction of the price (and is equally ugly).
Edits: 06/26/14 06/26/14
For Proton only, you want high impedance and sensitivity. I prefer the HD650 on mine, but i only use it that way on travel. I have (or had) the HD800 (didn't like it), Audeze LCD-2 (needs more current), and the HD650 running that way to compare.
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
I have a pair of AKG K812 inbound. They are supposed to be really easy to drive. People are talking about how good they sound even on a smartphone and how little they benefit from an amp compared to being connected straight to a good source:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/685339/akg-k812-pro
I'd be curious to know what you think of them, please post a review.
Will do. I've read some mixed reviews but they seem like the right choice for my application and some people swear by them.
Every headphone gets mixed reviews but synergy is everything. We won't know until you try them. The K812s would seem to be a pretty good match for your source.
... is personal comfort. What good does it do to have the very best sounding headphones if you cannot stand wearing them for extended periods of time?If possible, try a few pairs on before buying - and this is especially true if you are thinking about buying a pair of closed-back or "sealed" headphones because heat buildup within the earcups is a common complaint. The most comfortable headphones are usually the lightweight ones and some of the best sounding headphones (Audeze!) are not very lightweight. Actually, "earspeakers" (such as the discontinued AKG K-1000) are the most comfortable of all because they do not touch or encircle the ears and because they do not weigh heavily on top of the skull. Try a few pairs on, get "touchy-feely" before you plonk down the cash.
Edits: 06/21/14 06/23/14
Senn HD800s should be on the list. While very heavy, they are the most comfortable headphones I've used, and I can use them for hours. Their sound, fed by a Bottlhead Crack, is outstanding - maybe not quite at the level of the best electrostats, but *very* close. BTW, there is a Crack on ebay right now. A plus for the Crack is that there is plenty of room to add a Corda Crossfeed circuit.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
... are there because "they were too uncomfortable", that's for sure.
Edits: 06/21/14
Well, here is a list on the HeadRoom site. They list what they sell, and do not list any vintage cans.
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
Ther might be several "Kings" out there for you. Kingship might depend on which hill(s) you want to rule...Some suggestions:
A good used pair of Stax 009s, remembering that they won't sound their best without a top notch, expensive amp such as the "Blue Hawaii".
A good used pair of AKG K1000s. There was a minty pair of AKG K-1000s for sale over at Audiogon yesterday (selling for top dollar, of course), but sadly, they are gone today. They need a decent 10 - 20 watt loudspeaker amp.
Audeze LCD-X, LCD XC, or LCD-3, with the caveat that these are heavy cans. If you don't like the feeling of weight and mass atop your cranium, these may not be the best choice for you.
There certainly are others to consider but these would be my top picks if money was not a concern.
Edits: 06/20/14 06/20/14 06/20/14 06/21/14 06/21/14 06/21/14
'A good used pair of Stax 009s, remembering that they won't sound their best without a top notch, expensive amp such as the "Blue Hawaii".'That statement is far more true for Stax Omega II than SR009, which is way easier to drive than OII. I own both Omega II and SR009, and yes something like Blue Hawaii SE would be needed to "properly" drive the OII, but SR009's amplification challenge is not about heroic voltage and current requirements but copacetic matching in the tonal and frequency response realm IME.
Edits: 10/19/14
Thanks for the clarifications, although I'm not sure that I would want to spend less than $4000 - $5000 on a top notch amp like the Blue Hawaii when the headphones themselves cost upwards of $5000. It would seem shameful to do otherwise with such wonderful headphones...I usually try to spend at least as much on amplification as I do on speakers or headphones, as it usually does make a noticeable difference. Sure, I might save $2000 or more by buying an inferior amp or a Chinese one but I prefer to not go down that road whenever possible.
Edits: 10/20/14 10/20/14 10/20/14
Still love the HD800's driven by the Bottlehead Crack. But there are lots of competing products these days so listen.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
I'm sure that there are lots of headphones and amps that I could fall in love with. I've heard some pretty good ones in my own system and in systems close to where I live but I'd really like to attend more of the Can Jams. Too bad that the Denver area is over 500 miles away from me, I really hate driving that far.
I should have mentioned that I'll be connecting these headphones to a Wavelength Proton USB DAC. It has a 1/8" output jack and volume control.
It sounds like the Audeze LCD-X or LCD-3 might be the way to go? Should they be OK connected to the Proton?
I have no idea how the Audeze headphones would sound with your Wavelength DAC.
Your best bet might be to post this question over at Headfi where it seems that the headgeeks have tried most everything...
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