Headphones

Nigel

Your sources are plenty good enough but you do need to listen because taste in headphones like speakers......is all over the map. I have heard 800's and they were very transparent with no high end roll-off which works with some equipment but not all. As a less expensive alternative consider the almost universally beloved HD 600. More forgiving but very musical, works with or without a headphone amp, and is a quarter the price. That would be my recommendation to you with your system. Good way to see if headphones are your bag.

A HD800 should best be used with dedicated amp. Something like a hvdv600, Moon 430ha or 230had for example. 

Other option is taking a look at the senns hd700. This headphone is easier to drive, i use it with my moon 350p headphone out and more than enough power and dynamics. Also, hd700 is a bit underrated. Really much better than hd650, soundwise hd800like, and could be more fun than hd800. For sure it would be great combo with SN2.

Just recently got back into headphones after a 15 year absence.  This past year has seen some dramatic innovations  - the first and foremost taking the industry by storm is from Naim's "partner" FOCAL.  They released two headphones this past summer.  The TOTL Utopia has been heralded as absolutely the best headphone out there today.  It is pricey - however its performance is truly breathtaking.  Even if it is not in your price bracket you should definitely try to audition it

Oh yes, headphones, find a dealer who has a good selection of quality phones. I did this recently, looking for a pair of closed back phones from the Audeze stable, I spent the whole day at a great dealer trying more or less all the likely suspects, LCD Xc, mr speakers, fostex and Oppo. I then moved on to open back, liking the hd800, hd800s, the focal utopia, LCD-4 and oppos. I Agee that the Focal Utopia is a brilliant headphone, but to my ears the Stax sr L700 and 006ts energiser had the focal s covered. As the previous posters say it depends on your system and your taste in sound, but if my trip showed me one thing, you really ow it to yourself to give a good selection a proper listen.

i went out for a clear closed back purchase in the back of my mind and I came away with something quite different which have a performance frankly quite beyond my expectations. 

I am not able to play my speaker based system at pleasing volume, so my headphone set up is my real HiFi system. Go listen, enjoy. Oh and budget for a good headphone amp too. Best of luck.

I had a brief 15 minute session with the Stax 009 at Can Jam NY this past February.  Agreed - they made an indelible impression in my mind- I am still thinking about them to this day and most likely they will be my next acquisition. Right now the Utopias are happily tiding me over.

I am in need of a closed pair of headphones to use when I am in the same room as my wife. I am currently demoing the new Sony Z1R's. Which closed backs impressed you the most?

If it's your main source of listening you might want to give the Focal Utopia a try, besides the new Senheiser 800

The "new" Sennheiser is the 800 "s" model

Agreed with the previous poster about a dedicated amp. I use a Moon 430 out of my 552.  If you end up with a Sennheiser headphone they just released (yesterday) a brand new amplifier dedicated to their headphones.

I have SN2 and HD800 headphones. The headphone amp on the SN2 is NOT worthy of the HD800's. You will definitely want a dedicated headphone amp.

Kevin Richardson posted:

I have SN2 and HD800 headphones. The headphone amp on the SN2 is NOT worthy of the HD800's. You will definitely want a dedicated headphone amp.

 

This.  The SN2 will have difficulty driving any of the Sennheisers, especially the HD800S, 800, 650 or 700.  As others have said, they definitely need a dedicated headphone amp.

[@mention:1566878603958572] is correct about Focals, though I would look at the Elear. Slightly less expensive then the HD800S, but arguably a better performer in some regards and will not require a dedicated headphone amp.  The Elear doesn't give up much to the Utopia (but the Utopia is the better 'phone and should be for 4x the price).  You will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't try the Focal headphones.

I also use the Moon 430 with Utopias and LCD - 4's. The Moon 230 is essentially the same headamp at a lower price point. Very good value. 

I had a NaitXS with FCXS powering a Headline and found it fantastic listening to both CD and vinyl with Beyer T-70s. I changed my system to a SN2 and it's weak built-in HP amp ended any interest I had in HP listening.  I would definitely get candidate HPs home to try on your SN2 before deciding which to buy. They should be efficient, e.g., 30 Ω. Otherwise consider an external HP amp and you'll be open to more quality HP choices.

Also give Grado a listen. I have had a pair of RS1's for 15 years , listening through a Graham Slee diamond headphone amp, and still really enjoy listening to them

Hope this doesn't breach forum rules but seemed a little appropriate - there are a brand new set of 800s available on a fishy site from a person who bought them for a relative and who very recently was waxing lyrical about Focal Utopia.  Previous post makes perfect sense to try out the focals and 800s if you can before committing.  Their looks may not suit everyone's taste, but Sony's Z1r phones should also make the list of potentials.

Peter

1.Forget Naim in headphone game

2. Are you looking for an open or closed one? I am assuming open because hd800 is on your list but beware if you play them on your room they will benlike small bluetooth speakers. So wife can not watch tv or you can not listen.

3. Hd800 is not easy to drive headphone, or you need a good solid amp or there is a tube universe that matches hd800 as well.

4. Focal Elear is a first class all arounder better than hd800 in my opinion, hd800 is fussy and very good in some areas but not an "only" headphone in my humble opinion.

5. Violectric v200 and gustard h10 are the best for hd800

6. Focal Elear is less picky, it even rocks with mojo.

i own both Elear is my favorite, check it out before you buy anything else

there are many less costly alternatives as well check massdrop for frequent good value drops of akg7xx and many others for best value

new arcam, creek are also good value headphone amps to check

Stop the press

new hdv820 sennheiser has been announced! 

Yes Emre - I mentioned the new Sennheiser amp in a previous post.  Information is already up on Sennheiser's website.

Someone mentioned open vs. closed cans.  Agreed - the original poster needs to determine his usage scenario.  I ultimately want both - open and closed.  Closed can be used in the same room as the wife while she is watching television.  The do not let sound in - and do not leak sound.  The Utopias are my open - at present I am demoing the new Sony closed Z1R which someone else mentioned a few posts back.  They are excellent and considered amongst the best closed currently available however I remain on the fence with them.  I guess that will happen with many headphones when comparing against the Utopia. 

Someone also mentioned Chord Mojo as a headphone amp/DAC for more portable listening.  Excellent recommendation as well as the upcoming Hugo2.

If one wants to do eliminate the cable mess which comes with using a Mojo or Hugo and their associated transports (smartphone) the new Sony Walkmans are TOTL and beating out all of the Astell Kerns.  The top Sony is pricey though - but exceptionally good.

Mojo with elear is more than good also portable..

Nothing wrong with that system at all!

"A HD800 should best be used with dedicated amp. Something like a hvdv600, Moon 430ha or 230had for example". 

Aye. I have HD800's and this level of headphone most definitely merits a high quality synergistic h/p amp. The difference in running the 800's in balanced mode (from an HDVA 600 in my case) is clearly audible.

Other posters have made the very good point that open-back 'phones (which tend to deliver a better sound-stage) are domestically unacceptable if someone else shares the listening room - particularly if they are watching TV.

John.

I have HD800 and HD650. Both are excellent headphones, with very low distortion, excellent frequency responses, great dynamics, and also are universally liked for their comfort.

There is  slight difference in positioning information from the two headphones. the 650's are more conventional in sound, the 800s are slightly more "out of the head" sounding. 

But either will do a superb job

Thanks for all of the responses. I have about £1,500 to spend, so may have to look at what's available and factor in the cost of an HP amp. Might be a daft question on this forum, but is the Headline (with Napsc) any good?

Anyway, plenty to think about and I'll have to try and find a shop (or two) that has a decent range of HPs to listen to.

Nigel

Nigel 66 posted:

Thanks for all of the responses. I have about £1,500 to spend, so may have to look at what's available and factor in the cost of an HP amp. Might be a daft question on this forum, but is the Headline (with Napsc) any good?

Anyway, plenty to think about and I'll have to try and find a shop (or two) that has a decent range of HPs to listen to.

Nigel

The Headline/ NAPSC is very good in a Naim sense, but again you will need an HCDR or above to drive Sennheisers or anything else harder to drive.

The HL/NAPSC/Elear combo sounds great (as it should since the combination was one used in the voicing of the Elears).

MarkMcK79 posted:

Nigel 66 posted:

Thanks for all of the responses. I have about £1,500 to spend, so may have to look at what's available and factor in the cost of an HP amp. Might be a daft question on this forum, but is the Headline (with Napsc) any good?

Anyway, plenty to think about and I'll have to try and find a shop (or two) that has a decent range of HPs to listen to.

Nigel

The Headline/ NAPSC is very good in a Naim sense, but again you will need an HCDR or above to drive Sennheisers or anything else harder to drive.

The HL/NAPSC/Elear combo sounds great (as it should since the combination was one used in the voicing of the Elears).

Or just mojo) headline is good with HCDR that makes it of of the most expensive headphone amps...

check violectrick if you like sligthly warmer sound, v200 is good enough if you dont need alternative outputs, pre amp, remote etc

Btw don't get comment about Sennheisers 600 being difficult to drive... not the case at all they are 300 ohm impedance based headphones with no particularly horrible impedance curves... but they are revealing and will show up less than ideal driving electronics, and an amp simply based for low impedance speakers or phones might be rather impedance mis matched resulting in poor performance... but shouldn't confuse that with being difficult to drive..... Most quality phone amps I am aware of have an output impedance setting to match the load.

i certainly love my hd600s.

I would say listen to a range of headphones, along with your preferred musical choice.  I favour my Senn HD600's for Classical and Jazz, But my Grado RS1 for Rock and Electronic.