I’ll start:
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 600, Hifiman Arya V2, Letshuoer S12, Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, Sennheiser IE 600
Interface: JDS Labs Atom+ Dac and Amp stack, Qudelix-5K
Looking forward to the stuff ya’ll use!
I am wearing my Beyer Dynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm right now. Sound great, but almost more importantly, they are comfy on my fat head.
Focusrite Sapphire Pro40 into my Mac
Elektron Octatrack and Digitakt, with Moog Minitaur, Yamaha Reface CP, Zoia and Softsynths on Ipad for my dawless rig.
Awesome, I’m thinking of moving from Windows to Mac in the future, is installing and using an external dac/amp just a plug and play situation, or should I read up on how audio works on MacOS?
I’m going to sound dumb asking this, but i promise i’m just bad with lingo. What do you mean by dac/amp? Like your interface?
If so, yes, it’s completely plug n play. NONE of the nonsense with audio drivers you get in Windows. The only thing you have to think about is 32 v 64 bit right now. The M1, M2 macs have made that something you have to think about. For example, i’m on an outdated version of OSX because all my plugins and my interface are old (all still very functional). If i updated to an M1 Mac, i’d not be able to use any of it.
Yeah I did mean my dac/amp, and thanks for the info! Windows has caused so many audio headaches, so I’m relieved to hear that I can just plug in my stuff and I’m off to the races!
As I type this, THX 789 -> U12t.
In general, my favorites are U12t, Letshuoer Z12, Diana v2, and Koss KSC75 on a headband.
Recently got the Qudelix 5K and am impressed with it’s absurd feature set and sound quality even over AAC.
Killer combo. Is the 64 Audio U12t an endgame IEM for you? Lately I’ve been really into IEM’s as they’re more practical for my usecase, and in this summer heat they definitely play into the comfort factor.
I currently have an Android phone that uses the LDAC codec, is there an audible difference between a higher resolution codec, or is AAC perfectly fine?
I’m hesitant to call anything endgame, lest upgraditis bite me in the ass. But the U12t has definitely earned it’s place on my “keep forever” list and it’s the IEM I’ve been using the most. It is as I’ve seen others describe it: Excellent at almost everything but not exactly the “best” at anything. I think it has the least compromises of any IEM I’ve used thus far.
As for LDAC vs AAC on the 5K, I actually haven’t tested that yet but I plan to. I have an Android DAP that can do LDAP but I’ve been pretty happy with AAC off my phone, which is much more easily pocketable than my DAP. When I do get around to doing a side by side comparison I’ll definitely post about it here.
Thanks for the excellent response! And lol I absolutely relate to the ‘upgradtitis’ I was happy with me Blessing 2 Dusk, then I saw the hype around the Sennheiser IE 600, and I’m hoping they can hold me off for some time.
I look forward to your future update on the codecs audio quality!
The 5K is easily the most exciting piece of consumer audio equipment of the decade.
The hype around it is definitely deserved. It’s one of the few gadgets I’ve bought recently where the enthusiasm of the people that made is glaringly obvious.
I have a too many headphones but here’s the short list:
Headphones: Audio Technica Ath-W5000, Audeze LCD-XC, JM modded Hifiman HE R9, AKG N90Q, Ultrasone Edition 10, Hifiman He400i
Interface: Mousai MSD192 & Monoprice liquid spark (desktop setup), HaaFee ha11-2 (portable setup)
HD6XX by Senny, AKG K271mkII, AKG K712 PRO, Fiio K3 DAC. I’ve got an old mbox 2 and 002 rack that is currently gathering dust as I don’t have space for them and I don’t have a pc with FireWire.
Nice idea. I’ll share my setup as well!
Headphones: Beyer Dynamics DT1990 Pro (home use) Bang & Olufsen H95, Sony WH-XM5 (outside)
Looking to get a nice pair of wireless in ears too but unsure what to go for
Interface: Topping DX3 Pro+ (DAC+AMP)
I have a pair of Edifier speakers that I got 7 years ago that are super budget but sounds pretty nice for the price for my desktop. That’s probably the next bigger upgrade to the entire setup!
DT 1990 Pro are amazing for gaming, I almost feel like I’m cheating if I use them lol
- Indoors: Hifiman He400se, KSC75
- Outdoors: TGXear Serratus
- Running: Koss Portapro
- Biking, loud enviroments & Winter: Sony Wh1000xm4
As amps are the Qudelix 5k and Earstudio.
Currently subscribed to Deezer and really happy with it. I Live on finding more music.
While i EQ the He400se to be perfect, the KSC75 is still something that can make me feverish about the music. The KSC75 has ruined many headphones for me.
Awesome, Love the XM4 for commuting!
Stax SR-Lambda originals w/ Stax SR-7 energizer
Some cheap class D amp that I’ll replace in due time
Topping D10s DAC
Most wonderful headphones I’ve ever heard. Most wonderful anything I’ve ever heard honestly.
Love it dude! I want to listen to an electrostatic one day, I only have had Planars and Dynamics so far
https://ivankyo.com/products/vankyo-c750-headphones-active-noise-cancelling-headphones-over-ear-with-microphone-un-wired-headset-hi-fi-stereo-deep-bass-with-30h-playtime-protein-earpads-for-travel-work-tv-pc-cellphones Vankyo C750s. I bought them about 3 years ago just as a temporary el cheapo set while I did research to get “good” ones to replace my old Sennheisers… THESE THINGS ARE AMAZING. After about 2 weeks of using them I told myself they were good enough to use until they died. They are still going strong, worth every penny. Thank you Vankyo. <3
That’s great! This hobby is all about building a bridge to let us enjoy music to its fullest 👍
When I’m on my PC: Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pros plugged into an Audioengine N22 Integrated Amplifier which is receiving audio from an Audient Evo 4 interface. Pretty basic, but it all gets the job done. When I’m not using the headphones, the N22 powers a pair of vintage Infinity Infinitesimal bookshelf speakers.
When I’m on the go: A pair of Sony WF-1000XM4 buds. Love em.
Headphones/IEMs: ZMF Atrium, HD 6XX, Hifiman Ananda, 7hz Timeless, KSC75
DAC: Qudelix 5K
Amp: JDS Atom, Darkvoice 336se
I’ve heard the ZMF Atrium are like a super version of the HD 600, what do you think?
I originally bought the headphone because I heard the same thing and can confirm it’s true if you’re using the BE2 perforated suede pads. My only complaints with the frequency response is that it lacks sub-bass and some energy in the upper mids. I’ve EQ’d those things in and it’s been a perfect HD 6XX replacement.
At desk - Audeze Maxwell
Portable: Sony WM1A -> Campfire Audio Andromeda 2019 Samsung S23 Ultra -> Qudelix 5K -> Campfire Audio Andromeda 2019
I also have a THX Onyx that I can use for my laptop, but I don’t have a detachable cable and worry about removing mmcx earbuds over and over.
- Headphone: Sennheiser HD 600
- Headphone amp: Schiit Magni
- Switch: Schiit Sys
- DAC: Schiit Modi
- Phono amp: Schiit Mani
Great setup!
I’m just gonna copy my signature from head-fi lol
Collection So Far:
Headphones:
ZMF: Aeolus Sapele, Atrium Aged Cherry, Atrium Closed Olivewood, Atticus Camphor, Auteur OG Mahogany, Auteur Classic Wenge, Caldera Stabilized Maple - Interrobang, Eikon Camphor, Vérité Closed Stabilized Maple - Nightcap, Vérité Open Burmese Padauk
Focal: Clear Mg, Elegia, Elex
Sennheiser: HD558, HD 6XX, HD 8XX, HD 820
DCA: Æon Open RT, Ether CX
Audeze: LCD-3, LCD-X
Cascadia Audio: Talos
HiFiman: Ananda, HE-5XX, HE-X4, HE-4XX, HE-R7DX
Fostex: TH-X00 Ebony
Modhouse: Argon
Monoprice: Monolith M1570C
Audio-Technica: ATH-M40fs
Campfire Audio: Holocene
STAX: SR-009S, L-700
AKG: K7XX
Amps/DACs:
Schiit: Magni Piety, Magni 2U, Jotunheim 2
Topping: L30
Drop: Cavalli Tube Hybrid
STAX: SRM-D10
Bottlehead: Crack (DIY), Qudelix: 5K
DAPs:
Sony: Walkman ZX707 uncapped
**Astell
I’m keeping old. I use the Sony MDR-v6. These were for the time a really solid $50 pair. I recommended them to someone at work only to find out they are selling for over $100.
I run them with older schitt audio gear to drive them.
For me these are daily all day long wear. They feel light enough on my head and fit comfortable on the ear. The sound is pretty neutral it doesn’t really seem to have a strong or a weak point. I’m not listening to great sources, so they feel a bit ‘veiled.’ I don’t often get a clear sense of space like I can with near field speakers. Still everything resolve quickly, so nothing is muddy but it’s absolutely not that transcendent sound.
When I need a wireless headset I use the Sony WH-1000XM3 It’s a bit more bass and midrange forward than then mdr-v6
When I’m out and about I like to be able to hear what’s going on around me, so I use my Bose Frames Tempo. It helps that they sound about a million times better than one would expect given that they’re sunglasses.
At my computer I tend to use my SR60Xs.
