Any idea which headphones I’d like?

As with speakers, the headphone and amp pairing is critical. As much as folks will try to help, choose a starting point (headphone amp + headphones) and figure it out for yourself.

Attend a can jam if possible.

I personally find "professional" reviews of headphones to be far better done than those of speakers. Comparisons with different amplification are included as are comparative notes to other headphones.

Stating your sound signature preferences / goals as well as your budget for the chain will help.

Putting together a headphone system is every much as challenging as a two channel system although it can be less expensive. You can see my main system and headphone system by clicking on my ID.

Major players include Focal, Sennheiser, Hifiman, Audeze, Beyerdynamic, Abyss, Denon… but there are dozens of brands..


What they sound like is strongly dependent on what electronics you use to feed them. All components matter: streamer, DAC, and amp (let me repeat… streamer… my system didn’t get good until I got a dedicated high end streamer). Focal are great sounding and pretty easy to drive. I would start there. Beyerdynamic may be the most musical.. I love my T1’s. But can be hard to drive to get full dynamics. The Sennheiser flagship 820s are outstanding but need really good natural sounding electronics or they can sound trebly. The electrostatics usually sound best using an amp made for them. If you are into rock  high end Denon can be good but need massive current to get bass under control.

If I were starting again I would start with something Focal… Clear. Then build your system around them. Almost all of us have several sets of headphones so these would remain relevant in any collection. You asked given your preference for speakers… my guess would be high end Beyerdynamic.


I actually listen to my Sennheiser 820s the most, but not until I bought a $5K 300B amp to power them, with the equipment I have behind them they sound remarkably similar to my Focal Utopias… my feeling is when feed a really high current natural signal, really high end headphones start sounding similar because the are converging on the best possible quality reproduction. My preference for the Sennheiser, I think is that they are full open back compared with the Focal… more open sound stag.

Welcome to a brave new world.  What’s your budget, assuming with decent ‘phones you’ll need an amp/DAC as well?

All, thank you for your input.

I do have a budget, $12k.  I could slide it to $13k.  I have owned the Focal Clear’s and ran them on a Moon product.  I only really used it when I was sitting at my desk working, never for serious listening.  If there were a Can Jam coming soon, I would.  But, I’m trying to make some ill-advised spending decisions…#dadlife.  I can’t let this money sit, it’ll get re-budgeted to a Disney trip.  So yeah, I’m looking to ya’ll to help me make some poor financial choices.

This is what I’ve researched and am sort of sitting at:
Violectric V280
HiFiman HE1000 v2
DenaFips Pontus

I kept my Shunyata power cabling and my Nordost QX4/Qbase setup.  I still need a USB cable, was thinking the Curious cable and I also need a set of interconnects…open to suggestions on those as well.

As a dedicated music streamer, I’m using an Aurender.

Also, do any of you use power conditioning for your rigs?  I did research, heavily, the Woo Audio stuff, I just can’t commit to a tube system.  I’ve got kids, and lets face it, I’m here because I will justify spending $1200 on tubes, just as easily as spending $50 on them.

@ghdprentice is that a Woo Audio tube setup, by chance?  I was looking at the WA22, and WA5LE.  I’ve owned tube pres, and it takes some time and coin to get the right tubes.  Those 300B’s, everyone says you really need to have the WE’s as a baseline and reference, because they’re the gold standard.

How have you approached getting your tubes dialed into your preferences?