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Headphones and amp questions

I am contemplating getting a set of headphones and headphone amp, again.

In the past when I considered this, the Senn 600's and the Grado RS-2's seem to be the leaders in my research, as well as some AKG's.

First question, the Senn's are open back and can be easily heard by others from what I have read, is this true? Are the Grado's quieter than the Senn's in this respect?

I don't know anything about headphome amps, I was thinking about the Musical Fidelity X-can, is this a good choice?

Will it hinder the music much if I get a long extension for the headphones? I would like to sit, comfortably, a good 14ish feet away.

Any and all opinions will be appreciated.
brianmgrarcom
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Like Sd above, the Senn. 600s are the best 'phones I've heard too.

In my above post, I should have mentioned that the Headroom Supreme amp makes an excellent headphone amp for home use too-- as well as for travel. Great versatility, and it's small. Good Luck. Craig
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
In my previous post, I should have also have stated that the Sennheiser HD600's can be purchased new for $300 (I think that was the price quoted in a recent ad by Headroom). Given their excellent sound quality, that makes the HD600's a real bargain as well.
twl
3,251 posts
 
I second Thorty40 on the Berning MicroZOTL for the headphone amp. It is superb.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Actually, you can do as I did and buy new from a poster here on Agon for about $240.00. They came thru just fine and I'm very happy with them. My other recent phones were Stax Lambda Pro Jr.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I use the X-Cans v.2 with the HD600's, and can recommend the combo. The MF amp won out over an Antique Sound Labs MG Head DT during my in-home auditioning as being more dynamic, extended, and neutral, if a little more "in-your-ear" up-front in presentation. I chose it because I value the more accurate, less colored sound. (Both of these tubed amps did a better job than the output jack on a CD player.) When I previously auditioned the RS-2's on a McCormack Micro headphone amp, I found the Grado's much less comfortable, and too bass-heavy and slower-sounding. Some might call them tonally "richer", and I can sympathize because the Senn's do tend toward detail over fullness, but I favor their overall balance and resolution. I am thinking of trying out the new Cardas replacement cordset for the 600's, which is a standard 3 meters in length, but haven't used an extension.
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