Headphone and amp advice.

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Jonty2547
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Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Jonty2547 »

I’m currently using Sennheiser HD558 which to be honest are lacking in pretty much all departments and even my Turtle Beach gaming headset wins hands down in comparison.
Sources are either through a MF X-cans, bushmaster DAC or what sounds best to me is direct into my Sony X555ES CD player, which i’ve only recently started using again as either my phono 1 or PL71 has such a hum problem its impossible to listen to.
Mind you, that is a blessing in disguise as i’d forgotten what a superb bit of kit it is!
My budget is around the £300 mark for the headphones and similar for the amp.
Any advice gratefully received.

Edit

Musical tastes are The cure, Stone Roses, The Smiths to Naughty by nature, Public enemy to Roxy music to Sade, to Ian dury etc etc.
Not even sure if such a product exsists that caters for that lot, but if it does, do tell.
TT- Thorens TD160B MKII with SME 3009, SL1210 and PL-71. Amps-NVA P50sa/A40's & Phono 1. CDP- Sony X555ES. Speakers-B&W 705 with LS1.
Headphone system Bushmaster II, Capella amp, Pi 3B+ with Hifiberry Digi+ Pro & Nighthawk cans.

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

NVA AP10h

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savvypaul
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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by savvypaul »

I'm using AP10h with one extra power supply and a pair of Grado SR225e - I reckon they are a great match.

I sold my Audeze LCD-2 because I found the Grados more involving. The Audezes I had are now around £1000. The Grados can be picked up for around £200. They seem like a bargain, to me. Worth hearing. anyway.
I am in the hi-fi trade
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https://nvahifi.co.uk/

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CN211276
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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by CN211276 »

I have Grado SR 325e. Think I paid around £350 for them. Compared them with a few at around the same price before buying and preferred them by some way. They leak sound and are no good in a noisy environment. Use them at home and in the garden with a Chord Mojo.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Fretless »

Audioquest NightOwl Carbon headphones

Currently retailing for around 350 pounds in the UK. Closed-back phones with amazing SQ, slightly punchier than the open NightHawk. Wonderful comfort.

And look (hard) at the inexpensive Schitt MAGNI-3 headphone amp. Super sound and great VFM.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

Have you compared it with the AP10h

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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Fretless »

If I had an AP10H, I could. :grin:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Dr Bunsen Honeydew »

Do you want one, I know you well enough to trust you with a loan as long as you pay all the costs.

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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by Fretless »

Thanks for the extremely tempting offer, Doc.
I'll have to ponder ....

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Headphone and amp advice.

Unread post by _D_S_J_R_ »

I use my Sennheiser HD25SP's (the pauper version of this famous model) practically every day and enjoy the music via them hugely. You lot with better ears may find them a bit ott though... Another shout for the Grado 325 (I think that's the one at £350 or so). the £1k or so reference models were bland in comparison, but then, blandness is called refinement by many, so whatever floats yer canoe.
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way...The time has gone, The song is over, Thought I'd something more to say...

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