Any fellow high end headphone users here?

[V-Fi]

I don't see a ton of activity in this section but I'm wondering if anyone else around here has a nice dedicated setup based around headphones. My experience is that a lot of my audio buddies get pretty good or even excellent headphones to sort of use as an accessory, only for limited applications where they can't use the big speaker system. Which is a fine use as well! But I'm talking more about people who have a dedicated rig built exclusively to maximize headphone performance.

Mine involves a rotating cast of DACs like the Bricasti M3, Sonnet Pasithea, and several others. Headphone amps include the Niimbus US5 Pro, Cayin HA-300 mkII, and Pass Labs HPA1. For headphones I've got the Meze Elite, Audeze LCD-5, and ZMF Caldera among others. Also been really into custom in ear monitors from Ultimate Ears and Noble Audio.

I've had more fun messing with headphones over the past few years than I have had in ages with my big speaker setup. Maybe it's because the physical size as well as cost are smaller, so it allows for more experimentation? Not sure but I'm having a blast.

Anyone else?

 

[dan31]

I went from a 2 channel stereo in a dedicated room to a headphone dedicated system in our home office.

I am more focused on vinyl but enjoy cd and sacds as well as some local FM radio.

I have decided to stay with what I have. To me headphones must be comfortable. Sennheiser HD600/650 with a solid state and OTL tube amp.

 

[Jep]

I went from using expensive high end systems to a high quality Stax based headphone system and I am very happy with this solution. Mostly because we moved house, but I do not miss my "normal" hifi system at all. I used to have a dedicated, well treated listening room. Now I have a comfortable chair and the dac/streamer/Earspeakers (as Stax call them) besides me. Very convenient, practical and no room issues at all .

JP

 

[V-Fi]

I went from a 2 channel stereo in a dedicated room to a headphone dedicated system in our home office.

I am more focused on vinyl but enjoy cd and sacds as well as some local FM radio.

I have decided to stay with what I have. To me headphones must be comfortable. Sennheiser HD600/650 with a solid state and OTL tube amp.

Very nice. HD600 and HD650 are absolute classics. Just a crowd-pleasing signature that has stood the test of time, and a massive value compared to what that same money would get if spent on speakers.

I went from using expensive high end systems to a high quality Stax based headphone system and I am very happy with this solution. Mostly because we moved house, but I do not miss my "normal" hifi system at all. I used to have a dedicated, well treated listening room. Now I have a comfortable chair and the dac/streamer/Earspeakers (as Stax call them) besides me. Very convenient, practical and no room issues at all .

JP

Love Stax! I've owned most of their models over the years, from the humble Lambda models to the top Omegas and everything in between. Currently have an SR-007mkII because I didn't love the SR-009/S or SR-X9000 flagships. My 007 gets about equal time with my Audeze CRBN, very different sounding and both a ton of fun.

 

[joey_v]

Headphone user here too!
Stax x9000 and Sennheiser HE1 as well.
Don’t get why it has to be either stereo 2ch or headphones. Why not both?

 

[Kingrex]

I have a Schiit tube headphone amp and some $250 AKG headphones. I listened to a lot of high $$$ headphones and decided I really like what my AKG do. I do listen to them at times. But I like my big rig. The headphone was very important in understanding what my big rig was not doing. Now that the large system is more dialed in, I gravitate to it more.

 

[Alrainbow]

I've got a assortment of amps and phones , also ciems and iems .

 

[Alrainbow]

Headphone user here too!
Stax x9000 and Sennheiser HE1 as well.
Don’t get why it has to be either stereo 2ch or headphones.

I owned the original he set up sold off years ago . Own the baby Orpheus combo , stax 9000 ,
Hd800 and he6 .
Surround sound is good to but your right on how many feel .
In NYC I have both and it's nice to have music around not at you .
Live music is best on surround
I've not heard the model you posted on .
Have heard the model with its own amp on the headphones though
the Orpheus 1 was closed back unlike newer models of stats

 

[joey_v]

The Orpheus 1 was never a closed back.

 

[iaxel]

I've been a headphones enthusiast since my first days in this hobby.
Now "settled" with a Raal 1995 Immanis and a Spirit Torino Valkyria, powered by an Allnic HPA-300B headphones amplifier.

 

[Alrainbow]

The Orpheus 1 was never a closed back.

You are correct sorry long memory not so good lol.
I did have the he-1 and the baby Orpheus same time . Not compared on the original amp sold with the he-1
the baby Orpheus was close enough for me to sell them.
both seemed colored compared to stax009
Oddly I do enjoy the baby orpheus more

 

[Alrainbow]

I was going to buy the raal truly sounds like my infinity irsv planer speakers.
Ended not due to confusion of amps to use with them.

 

[Brucemck2]

HiFiMan, Dan Clark, Focal, Noble, T+A, Ultimate Ears, JH Audio, Etymotic, among others, fed by a wide array of transistor and tube amps and DACs.

Lately I’ve been impressed by the trajectory of the sonic gains from some of the leading Bluetooth models. And, like streaming, it’s hard to beat the wireless user experience.

 

[joey_v]

You are correct sorry long memory not so good lol.
I did have the he-1 and the baby Orpheus same time . Not compared on the original amp sold with the he-1
the baby Orpheus was close enough for me to sell them.
both seemed colored compared to stax009
Oddly I do enjoy the baby orpheus more

You mean you had baby Orpheus and Orpheus. Not the he1. He1 is the new version.

 

[Alrainbow]

No I mean I had both and still have the baby Orpheus .
Never had there amp though.
only had the first Orpheus . Do have the cheap amp they sold with the baby Orpheus
sorry if I am confusing you. This has to be some 10 years ago

 

[Alrainbow]

I think I did have a closed back stat too not sure what model and make it was

 

[Alrainbow]

N

HiFiMan, Dan Clark, Focal, Noble, T+A, Ultimate Ears, JH Audio, Etymotic, among others, fed by a wide array of transistor and tube amps and DACs.

Lately I’ve been impressed by the trajectory of the sonic gains from some of the leading Bluetooth models. And, like streaming, it’s hard to beat the wireless user experience.

Nice list I have way more iems and ciems then phones

 

[rgmd11]

Love my T+A Solitaire P headphones for listening late at night and use I use JH Audio Roxanne IEM’s with a Chord Electronics Mojo when travelling which keeps me happy

 

[Kingrex]

Has anyone tried the new BACCH for headphones?

 

[Alrainbow]

Bluetooth get you close to wired and freedom in that your done
Where wired it's the dac and amp and this in itself is a journey
Am example I have a pair of jh audio Sharona
Custom really cool but it's bulky and use it with my fiio m17 it a brick to hold
Better is the fiio btr17 smaller but you need a phone . Then can be Bluetooth or wired to your phone.