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In Reply to: RE: Best headphone set up? posted by ruxtonvet on May 13, 2015 at 15:37:07
I'm currently using my D100 Mk2 DAC, Donald North Audio Sonett, and Audeze LCD-X.
Many headphone amps didn't really do it for me but Donald North's stuff sounded absolutely wonderful to me. Lots of clarity and none of the haze or distortion I heard with most solid state stuff, but accurate and neutral without the flavoring found in many tube amps.
Between the LCD-3 and LCD-X, I have chosen the X because it provides a better overall frequency response. But the 3 has better transient response, so it's a bit of a trade-off.
IMO, fully balanced is worth the expense in electronics for the sonic improvement, and balanced cables can be worth it for connecting your headphones to your amp because it reduces crosstalk and rejects interference.
Follow Ups:
I own the DNA Sonett also. I agree with your overall assessment of it's sound quality.
I'm curious, though. Does the Sonett provide you with enough gain when driving the "difficult" Audeze planars?
I don't blast my volume with listening to headphones, so it's good for me. I usually never turn it up above 4. In terms of ability to control the headphones, rather than reach suitable volumes, I haven't noticed any issues like I have with some other headphone/amp combinations.
However I've had people over who turn it all the way up to 10 and still want more...I sort of wonder if their hearing is super damaged.
I have the feeling that I might listen to music a bit louder than you do, too.My AKG K-701s usually sound best to me at six or seven on the volume knob, while my Sennheiser HD650s usually only need a four or a five. This works well with good quality, dynamically uncompressed recordings.
With poor quality, "loud", and dynamically compressed recordings the above settings get shoved down a notch or two. OTOH, my phono preamp does not provide as much gain as my digital sources do and so the volume level usually gets turned up a notch when I'm playing vinyl.
So, the ideal volume setting often depends on the state of the recording, at least for for me.
I have the original dual XLR balanced version of the Sonett.
Edits: 07/24/15 07/24/15
I have not heard these two matched up together but the Violectric head amp is one of the very best sounding amps made today...regardless of price! And they work really good with all types of headphones too.
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