Headphones

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Do your headphones REALLY perform much better with more expensive DAC/AMP? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by FrankieWilde11@alien.top to c/headphones@hi-fi.community

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I have the Sennheiser HD600, Neumann NDH-30, Audeze LCD-X.

I use these with my SSL2 hp out, and with Qudelix 5K.

I spoke to someone about my impressions and his first question was: which dac/amp? and when I told, he just winked.

So my question is: is the difference this obvious with a more expensive dac/amp combo? Should I spend another 6-800 euro to get one? Do your headphones open up/perform that much better?

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[–] crityouallday@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

In my experience absolutely but amp/dac upgrades on my existing gear would be a 2x cost of dac and amp.

I currently use a $4000 r2r dac, and ive identified and tried my amp with two absolutely better dacs that i want to upgrade to but cant afford yet. The Weiss 502 dac or the Lampizator big 7.

My amp currently is $6000 and the Viva Egoista 845(12k and above) I was able to demo at a meet trounces it handily.

Not in the path of upgrading for now ive kind of settled but curiosity can hurt wallets thats for sure.

Alternatively a good audio buddy of mine into Stax has been eyeing on upgrading from his headamp blue hawaii to a Custom T2 or Grand Cayman and is looking to sacrifice a lot in order to do so.