1. Home
  2. headphones
  3. 197019-76351

Help me spend $$$$

I recently decided to put together a headphone system for my office. I usually listen to my 2-channel system but it sits in my living room and my wife's office is adjacent so I can't listen to it most of the day and sometimes in the evening if she's working. I'm not looking to spend a ton but want something that sounds nice. I started by getting a used pair of LSA HP-1 (kennerton) headphones. I like open planars that are easy to drive. I'm currently using a Bluesound Node 2i as an all-in-one streamer/dac/amp. It sounds ok but I'd like to upgrade. Space is an issue as I don't have a huge desk, so I'd prefer an all-in-one. I'm ok continuing to use the Bluesound as a streamer but would like to get a better sounding amp and dac, but if I can also find something with airplay and Roon that would be best so I can use the Bluesound elsewhere and remove 1 box from the equation. My budget is about $800. Obviously would like to spend less but also willing to spend more if there's a great deal on something (max $1500). Always prefer to buy used as well.

Current top contenders are:

Matrix Element X

Mytek Brooklyn+

Audio GD -- so many models -- R28, R29, D28.38

Aune N7D

 

Any other suggestions?

abd1
yyzsantabarbara
5,547 posts
 

I should mention that I heard the Schiit Guniger 2 with the AsgardX and my Mjolnir v3. What a terrific DAC and only $1800. This gave me a lot of hope that the Schiit Byggy DAC that is taking forever to arrive back to me after the upgrade from the Schiit Yggi+ MIB to Byggy. Maybe the $3k Byggy is the only DAC I need for my office gear and not the 3x more expensive ASRA DAC. Now I do not think the Byggy will be as good and I will keep the unheard Byggy up for sale on head-fi. The new ASRA DAC comes out in Feb so that gives me a month to burn in the Byggy and compare against my memory of the D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL that the ASRA DAC is supposed to sound like.

BTW - I did not even hear the internal Mesh DAC on the AsgardX, just the external Guniger v2 DAC.

yyzsantabarbara
5,547 posts
 

@abd1 My friend Danny who is in the audio industry and knows a lot about gear listened to the Audio Technica. He liked the top end model at $3.5k as I did but he asked me whether I had heard the $1k model, which he really liked.

Just by my respect for Danny's audio acumen I would recommend that phone as one to consider. I do not remember the model number (maybe 3000) but it should be easy to figure out. I can ask, if you are interested in doing more research.

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot
1,575 posts
 

I bought a used Schiit Lyr3 used. I fitted it with a LinLai Elite 6SN7 tube. I'm currently running RCA's from the tape out's on my ASR Emitter II Exclusive power amp to the inputs on the Schiit Lyr3.Then I'm using a modified pair of Aurorus Audio Borealis headphones with no equalizer. Of course my DAC is running directly into my ASR power amp and my renderer into my DAC. Overall, my headphone listening sessions are way better sounding than what I had expected. 

More to discover