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Need new headphone setup.

I have a speaker oriented system that is very satisfying to me. But because of a need to maintain domestic tranquility I’m looking to go to a less noisy alternative: i..e. headphones.
I want to spend a total of about $1000. So, nothing too fancy. Not the equivalent of my much more expensive speaker system.
What do I need to assemble a headphone system independent of my regular system which is accessible from my listening chair and side table?
I plan on solely streaming. My present system contains a WiFi streamer.
Can that be incorporated, or do I need a new streamer?
I understand that I need a headphone preamp along with the cans.
I know my budget is not too high, but can I get something relatively decent at it?

Currently, I listen though cheap ear buds and stream through an iPad.

128x128rvpiano
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,499 posts
 

The fact remains that most all earspeakers sound fine if you make them your own with a top shelf source. I don't have $325 into the present Koss 30i's pushed by an Xduoo 20 tube amp and it sounds super.

And I own Quad and Stax open cans🙃(better.)  My Focals sound great until A/B ing. You won't have any preferences until you start.

 

rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,422 posts
 

Well, I pulled the trigger.

ordered the

Sennheiser HD 600,

Dragonfly Cobalt DAC

Lavricable adapter

Thanks everybody for your help

 

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liamowen
193 posts
 

Hey, wait a minute.  You didn't give me enough time.😊

I have ideas, opinions, thoughts.  These take time to contemplate and compose.  You can't ask us early in the morning on a Tuesday and then tell us later that day you have made your decision and ordered your new gear.  That violates sub-section 4, article b(8) of the audiophile code of conduct.

 

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liamowen
193 posts
 

And, you should have bought Grado's.

ghdprentice
6,380 posts
 

The Sennheiser HD 6oo should be a good choice. Putting together a good sounding headphone system is like putting together a great sounding speaker oriented system. It takes time and money, but you must start somewhere.

It took me over fifteen years to put together a great headphone system (click on my user ID to see it). To do what you want, you need a headphone amp… or head amp. This is frequently the real key as it provides the power to really bring your headphone to life. Then you need to work up to a good DAC. I have tried some of those little DACs… never did anything for me. Ultimately I got a really good DAC, raised my system to the next level. Finally, I addressed the streamer… I tried all sorts of iPods, iPhones, and iPads and finally when they with a real streamer, an Aurender N100. IPads work, but at some point they get in the way of good sound. Also, to get magic. I needed power conditioning and good interconnects.

I think you made a good start with the headphones, but I would have put additional funds into a good tube headphone amp… Woo. I have had 3 Woo headphone amps, they are natural sounding and provide a good amount of power.

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