Headphone / Headphone Amp purchasing question

[brakpanpolisie]

So my office headphones bit the dust recently and Im looking to replace them.
Some casual googling suggest that using a set of headphones with a headphone amp makes everything more better.

I use my headphones a lot throughout the day so getting something on top of the headphones that improves the sound quality would be great.
The question is what where and how much?

I'm completely lost on where to go from here, which headphone amp would be good for entry level / beginner wise?
I came across the locally manufactured Lint Solo which looks great but then what headphones would be worthwhile to pair it up with?
If I spend say R1000 on an amp would a R1000 headphones then do it justice?

 

[goldfritter]

Huh, never heard of Lint before, might be worth checking out.

Anyway - you are standing at the precipice of a massive, unending, and potentially very expensive hobby

In terms of headphone amps, there are some decisions to make. Firstly do you want just an amp, an amp with a DAC in the same box, or an amp and DAC in separate boxes? At the entry level, they are often combo units, which is totally fine.

In terms of headphones, do you want open back or closed back? Open back is supposed to have a wider soundstage (i.e. there sounds like there is more space between the instruments), but they do not isolate sound very well, so you will more easily hear your colleagues and they will more easily hear your music.

You also need to decide if you are keen to import or not, and if you want new or used. The SA scene is a tad limited unfortunately. Some people on Carb and on avforums.co.za do import their kit and then sell them on. But used, entry level headphone amps/DACs tend to sell very fast, so you will need to be on your toes.

A totally decent, entry level, locally available headphone amp/DAC combo would be the FiiO E10k. It is difficult to beat at the price (R 1 590) and you can buy it today here: FiiO - E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier (Black) - Olympus 2 - Latest New Improved - A Classic Reborn (Ships Next Day) (C-Plan Audio Specials). It has USB input so you can plug it straight into your PC. It's nice and small. And if you decide to upgrade to a beefier amp later you can use just the DAC bit.

Totally decent, entry level, locally available, closed back headphones would be the AKG K92 at R 1 269 (AKG K92 Perception Closed Back Headphones | Buy Online in South Africa | AudioMart.co.za) or the Sennheiser HD 559 at R 1 950 (Buy Sennheiser HD 559 Headphones in South Africa | Free Shipping).

The E10k with the above headphones is unlikely to disappoint you and should be a nice entry into the head-fi world, and they are all locally available. If you are keen to look around for second hand deals or import, on the other hand, your options suddenly become much wider, and you will have to get advice from people with a lot more experience than I have.

Good luck Alice, may the tumble down the rabbit hole not be too rough!

 

[JollyJamma]

So my office headphones bit the dust recently and Im looking to replace them.
Some casual googling suggest that using a set of headphones with a headphone amp makes everything more better.

I use my headphones a lot throughout the day so getting something on top of the headphones that improves the sound quality would be great.
The question is what where and how much?

I'm completely lost on where to go from here, which headphone amp would be good for entry level / beginner wise?
I came across the locally manufactured Lint Solo which looks great but then what headphones would be worthwhile to pair it up with?
If I spend say R1000 on an amp would a R1000 headphones then do it justice?

Go get these and then look for a good DAC. A DAC will make a big difference but start with a well rounded set of headies.

Here's a review for the headies.

 

[brakpanpolisie]

@goldfritter oh boy and dont I know it!
I actually saw Lint Audio on the AV Forums thread and they look cool and they are made here in SA. But Im not sure of the quality?

I did see the CPlan website but have you dealt with them? They have some great specials going.
Headphones, def closed backed, the pair I had were the AKG’s you linked. They bit the dust after 4 years so fair enough, they were great so I might just go for them again.

@JollyJamma @goldfritter thanks very much gents, things are much clearer now.

 

[JollyJamma]

brakpanpolisie​

Try get an AudioQuest Dragonfly v1.5

 

[goldfritter]

@goldfritter oh boy and dont I know it!
I actually saw Lint Audio on the AV Forums thread and they look cool and they are made here in SA. But Im not sure of the quality?

I did see the CPlan website but have you dealt with them? They have some great specials going.
Headphones, def closed backed, the pair I had were the AKG’s you linked. They bit the dust after 4 years so fair enough, they were great so I might just go for them again.

@JollyJamma @goldfritter thanks very much gents, things are much clearer now.

I did actually buy an E10k from C-Plan last year when they still cost R 2 099 my brother is using it now, still a cracker. The service I got from them was excellent.

If you want a step-up from the AKG's then a lot of people seem to recommend the Beyerdynamic DT770. The E10k should do fine with the 32 or the 80 ohm versions.

 

[brakpanpolisie]

I did actually buy an E10k from C-Plan last year when they still cost R 2 099 my brother is using it now, still a cracker. The service I got from them was excellent.

If you want a step-up from the AKG's then a lot of people seem to recommend the Beyerdynamic DT770. The E10k should do fine with the 32 or the 80 ohm versions.

Noice Ill check them out thanks.

Now see thats more of a nuclear powered leap than a step, but damn they look nice!
Oi this is going to end badly lol!

 

[brakpanpolisie]

brakpanpolisie​

Try get an AudioQuest Dragonfly v1.5

Thanks meneer Ill check it out

 

[5hadow17]

I'd allocate budget to headphones first, then amp, then DAC.

With R2k total, I'd probably just get the best value headphones that get be driven well without an amp.

Maybe SHP9500 if open back?

 

[JollyJamma]

Thanks meneer Ill check it out

Yeeesh. Local pricing is mad. That device is £89 here.

 

[brakpanpolisie]

Yeeesh. Local pricing is mad. That device is £89 here.

Yea checking on Amazon now as well, being torn a new one over here. Might be worthwhile to compare pricing on Amazon before deciding

 

[brakpanpolisie]

I'd allocate budget to headphones first, then amp, then DAC.

With R2k total, I'd probably just get the best value headphones that get be driven well without an amp.

Maybe SHP9500 if open back?

yea checking around on pricing that seems the best ways.
ideally it would be closed back, small open plan office and my choice of music is bound te get me a slap upside the head

Edit : But those look great as well......how many pairs of headphones do I need though

 

[iamgigglz]

......how many pairs of headphones do I need though

Ask anyone who's gone down the rabbit hole and they'll say it directly correlates with how many virgins you get in the afterlife.

Don't spend TOO much time on it, but my tip is to check the frequency response (or just some reviews on what they sound like) before clicking buy.

My on-board sound powers my HD58x just well enough, but a Schitt Fulla 2 had moar powa. Problem is the Fulla 2 seemed to rob me of what little bass these open-backs had to offer, so I went back to on-board. Still shopping for another amp, but paying more attention to the curve now.

 

[brakpanpolisie]

Ask anyone who's gone down the rabbit hole and they'll say it directly correlates with how many virgins you get in the afterlife.

Don't spend TOO much time on it, but my tip is to check the frequency response (or just some reviews on what they sound like) before clicking buy.

My on-board sound powers my HD58x just well enough, but a Schitt Fulla 2 had moar powa. Problem is the Fulla 2 seemed to rob me of what little bass these open-backs had to offer, so I went back to on-board. Still shopping for another amp, but paying more attention to the curve now.

Too late, I already logged into Amazon. So. Many. Options.
Jokes do have a shortlist together.

Thanks for the input man, yea Im checking all sorts of reviews. Think my budget has grown a bit since starting this thread...

 

[iamgigglz]

Think my budget has grown a bit since starting this thread...

...aaaand he’s gone.

 

[5plus2equals9]

I'd allocate budget to headphones first, then amp, then DAC.

With R2k total, I'd probably just get the best value headphones that get be driven well without an amp.

Maybe SHP9500 if open back?

This. In your current price range, the marginal performance gained from buying a better headphone (>R1K) is much greater than what you'd receive from buying an entry level dac to pair with a R1000 headphone.

Most R1000 headphones can be driven well by your phone, and are arguably not resolving enough to fully benefit from a better dac.

 

[brakpanpolisie]

So....some decisions have been made, before we continue I will eschew from referring to cost or price or budget as that horse seems to have fucked off a long time ago at great speed.

Anyway, I'm considering going the Amazon route just for more options and more better. (Also more savings, jeez local pricing hey)
So after much searching I have decided (for now) on the AKG K371 or K361 headphones, for various reasons. (Close second is the Sony MDR7506).
For the amp, for now and pending input, the Fiio Q1, as its got all the extra cables and whatnot to connect it my pc and my iphone, which is something I had not considered but being able to grab it from the office and use it at hom easily is quite appealing.
There are some really nice bluetooth ones but sometimes bluetooth is a real faff for me.

So please feel free to scold, ridicule, jest, laugh at and generally make of my choices and this new type of financial ruin that I have found.

Also thanks for everyone chipping in with advice, I'd definitely would've bought the wrong stuff if I had not come here

 

[goldfritter]

Here be dragons

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[brakpanpolisie]

Here be dragons

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Yea whoever said money can't buy happiness obviously hasn't seen this thread yet.
Those look the business!