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What are the best bang for the buck on higher end headphones?

In the last year, after solidifying my main system I have moved on to establishing my headphone system which is in our home office/game room, as this system has grown I am now at the end of the game and have just pulled the trigger on a Dennis Had Inspire headphone amp from Moon Audio that will replace my Yamamoto HA-3 amp & will sell it as well as the extra headphones that my Hifiman XV2 have beat out, with that said I want to purchase one more set of cans to go with the XV2s and have my mind on the Hifiman HE1000v1, HE1000v2 or the Focal Utopia and have found really good deals on all these mentioned as demos from dealers. I am partial to the Hifiman house sound versus Audeze but is there some cans in this league that I am missing. Have not heard the Utopia but am willing to take a chance at the great price I have been offered. What say you?
tooblue
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,463 posts
 
It could be Raal Sr1a

https://forum.headphones.com/t/schiit-jotunheim-r-direct-drive-raal-sr1a-amplifier-official-thread/4094/24

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/raal-ribbon-headphones-srh1a.890603/page-105#post-15283862

I expect to audition it near future.
devilboy
1,172 posts
 
I had a couple of different Audeze headphones and they were all like cinder blocks on my head. Love the midrange and bass though! 

The HiFiman Arya has tremendously beautiful midrange, extremely sufficient, tight, low-end bass. They are also the most comfortable headphones I've ever had. And I am a Former hd800 owner.
tooblue OP
1,889 posts
 
@big_greg, thanks for the input and will add the Audeze 4 to my short list. @devilboy , the Arya have been on my radar since I read a review when they came out, they seemed to hit my hot buttons as well as my phones of choice have been the XV2s for a couple of years now. I am going to contact the dealer I bought them from who gave me 30% off as they were freshly released. Enjoy the music.
thieliste's avatar
thieliste
816 posts
 
I'm getting the Hifiman HE-1000se and the Chord Hugo TT2 in december.Should be a very nice rig.
tooblue OP
1,889 posts
 
@thieliste , the combo of HE1000se and Chord Hugo should be sweet, I just purchased a pair of the HE1000v2s here that are low hours and like new for a very good price to go with my Dennis Had Dragon Inspire amp that is breaking in nicely so should be set other than some tube rolling after I get acquainted with the set up. Enjoy the music 
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