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4K headphone + headphone amp/dac system recommendations please

I have 4K to spend on a better headphone system and have no expertise in the headphone zone. 

Currently using old Grado SR 225 cans with Schiit Jotunheim 2 amp (single ended connection). Source is Jay's CDT2 transport and I'm using the internal DAC in my Hegel H390.  

While the Hegel's onboard DAC is pretty good, it is a bit thin in the mids. I'd prefer something a bit more fleshed out in that frequency range. 

I'm not finding many headphone amp/DAC combos. I am not interested in Chord or import brands that cannot be serviced in US. 

The Teac UD 507 looks like a possibility. Moon Audio sells it and recommends HiFiMan HE100 V4 Stealth Magnet currently on sale for $949 to pair with the Teac.

Please Note: This budget will also need to accomodate a power cable and an AES/EBU cable to connect to transport. 

In terms of sonics, I favor musicality over detail. I'm very sensitive to fatiguing highs. At the same time, I prize tight bass. 

I listen to 3 types of music: acoustic Jazz, non-classical acoustic (NewGrass, Singer-Songwriter, Folk, etc) and some Classic Rock. 

 

stuartk
jmfinney
112 posts
 

Check out the excellent offerings from Ferrum!

stuartk OP
4,002 posts
 

@jmfinney 

Thanks for your suggestion. 

desktopguy
453 posts
 

Big-time headphone person here (@Pharmaboy on Head-Fi). I own a lot of stuff and often review loaner headphones, amps, DACs. 

Everybody hears the same things quite differently, so I can only respond from my own experience and sonic tastes:

  • DAC: Consider either an R2R (resister-based) DAC, or a non-oversampling (NOS) DAC. Either one can be had with a tube output, if that’s your thing (it’s definitely my thing). Either R2R or NOS digital will change how you perceive digital. Not only is it far less edgy and "processed" sounding then delta/sigma, chip-based designs, but the notes tend to have real weight and body. My best non-tube output NOS DAC is the Metrum Onyx. If you can find one of those, it’s endgame for as long as you want it to be. Many recommend this tiny Laiv NOS uDAC, said to sound great, but has only balanced outputs (2 x 3-pin XLR), which might be a barrier for some.
  • Headphones: Difficult because prices vary wildly. I’m a huge fan of ZMF headphones, which veer towards the musical (and physically beautiful) design camp. If you can pick up a gently used Aeolus (open-back) or Bokeh (less expensive closed back), you’ll be quite surprised at how non-edgy & annoying headhphones can be. For a more budget-friendly new option, there’s always the HFA Dahlia 2 (I really liked the sound at CanJam):https://hififorall.com/products/hfa-dahlia-2-headphone
  • Amps: Again, difficult because prices vary wildy, also because you have to decide whether you need balanced output (I do because all my headphone cables are 4-pin XLR). My favorite amps are by Violectric. I just reviewed the V222, a compact, wonderful-sounding balanced desktop amp. You can get one new for a little under $1,600 from a terrific dealer, Power Holdings Inc, or look for one used 
richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,368 posts
 

@mulveling 

Thank you for allowing me to once again express how much I hate HD800 lol

My pleasure, and thanks for taking the trouble!

What will happen to Sennheiser when it is released from the clutches of hearing instrument (ahem, hearing aid) makers?

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,132 posts
 

@stuartk - that does seem odd considering that with headphones, the only variable is the source gear, whereas with speakers, the room they're playing in makes the largest difference in sound, along with the source gear. 

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