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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
thorty40
149 posts
 
You might like to check out the Berning Micro Z for a good headphone amp. Its dynamics and musicality are both superb. It uses a couple 6sn7's for output tubes, which are some of my favorite tubes just by virtue of sonics.

Good luck,
Chris
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
You will get a variety of opinions about the Grado vs. Sennheiser HD600 headphones, but I will quickly crawl out on a limb here and state that the HD600's are the best headphones I've heard except for the Stax Lambda, which cost a LOT more money. I've owned a number of headphones over the years, including several Koss models, Stax SR-80 electrets, a Grado, and 3 models of Sennheiser. I think that Stereophile picked the HD600 as one of the components of the year in 1998 or so, and I think they were a deserving choice.
krell1's avatar
krell1
250 posts
 
You should search some of the comments on www.head-fi.org. I am using a Headroom MOHR, Theta Cobalt, CD-3400, Etymotic ER-4S or HD-600 (best of both). I used to use Grado 325's, but now choose the 600's with the Red Jaspis cable. BTW that system for around $1500 invested is a great value, good luck.
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.
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