Does what i want exist?

Lokai · 28 Dec 2017 at 00:43

Apologies for the vague title!!

What im looking for is the best possible way to listen to both streamed and my (digital) music when at home but on headphones so not to disturb kids/wife etc and portable so i can move rooms with it.

Basically i want to treat myself to the best possible set up i can for a maximum of 1k, FLAC/hd player, headphones, everything i need. I love music but know nothing about this.

There are some ZMF Atticus headphones on mm for ~500, are these worth a go ?

Many thanks for the guidance

chaparral · 28 Dec 2017 at 05:43

Lokai said:
What im looking for is the best possible way to listen to both streamed and my (digital) music when at home but on headphones so not to disturb kids/wife etc and portable so i can move rooms with it.

Just a mobile smart phone with headphones seems perfect for that...

Maybe am missing something :confused:

lucid · 28 Dec 2017 at 08:15

You definitely need something with a Wi-Fi connection, so a phone seems like a sensible starting point. Then some decent headphones. What's missing though is the power to drive those headphones.

There are two issues. First, the vast majority of portables have limited power output from their headphone jack. This is to comply with the volume limits imposed by the European Union to stop people going deaf. This leads to the second issue - which is that because of the limited power then typical headphones used with portables have low resistance to make the most of that power, but it's a compromise because it also limits dynamic range.

If you were buying headphones to plug in to a big stereo system then you'd have your choice of low, medium and high impedances headphones.: 15-30 Ohms, 200-300 Ohms, 600 Ohms. You'd find the higher impedance 'phones capable of delivering a richer and more entertaining sound.

To achive that with a small portable means using an intermediary device called a headphone amp to provide the extra drive. There are small portable headphone amps that piggyback on to portable players. Go have a read at Head-fi.org It's a dedicated site for headphone Hi-Fi users and covers all of this in far more depth including gear recommendations.

Lokai · 28 Dec 2017 at 17:56

chaparral said:
Just a mobile smart phone with headphones seems perfect for that...

Maybe am missing something

I'm looking for something a bit better than that.

Lokai · 28 Dec 2017 at 18:00

lucid said:
You definitely need something with a Wi-Fi connection, so a phone seems like a sensible starting point. Then some decent headphones. What's missing though is the power to drive those headphones.

There are two issues. First, the vast majority of portables have limited power output from their headphone jack. This is to comply with the volume limits imposed by the European Union to stop people going deaf. This leads to the second issue - which is that because of the limited power then typical headphones used with portables have low resistance to make the most of that power, but it's a compromise because it also limits dynamic range.

If you were buying headphones to plug in to a big stereo system then you'd have your choice of low, medium and high impedances headphones.: 15-30 Ohms, 200-300 Ohms, 600 Ohms. You'd find the higher impedance 'phones capable of delivering a richer and more entertaining sound.

To achive that with a small portable means using an intermediary device called a headphone amp to provide the extra drive. There are small portable headphone amps that piggyback on to portable players. Go have a read at Head-fi.org It's a dedicated site for headphone Hi-Fi users and covers all of this in far more depth including gear recommendations.

Great thanks for the info, very helpful, will head over to what hifi.

I was thinking of something like the Panasonic XDP300R.

Barry Smalley · 28 Dec 2017 at 18:18

I’d be looking at a Chord Mojo and some Sennheiser HD650’s for that money. Remember that you are only using your phone to supply the DAC and there is nothing wrong with using your phone as a source. I use my iPhone for FLAC and Apple Music if I want portability.

EDIT: you should also weigh up the pros and cons of open backed headphones which is what the 650’s are.

Lokai · 28 Dec 2017 at 21:57

Barry Smalley said:
I’d be looking at a Chord Mojo and some Sennheiser HD650’s for that money. Remember that you are only using your phone to supply the DAC and there is nothing wrong with using your phone as a source. I use my iPhone for FLAC and Apple Music if I want portability.

EDIT: you should also weigh up the pros and cons of open backed headphones which is what the 650’s are.

Cheers, seems the Mojo is just what im looking for, headphones wise, think im going to need to test some opened and closed ones. Will look at the HD650's and possibly the oppo pm3.

Barry Smalley · 28 Dec 2017 at 23:29

Lokai said:
Cheers, seems the Mojo is just what im looking for, headphones wise, think im going to need to test some opened and closed ones. Will look at the HD650's and possibly the oppo pm3.

Both excellent choices. Nice One.

I should have said that I also use an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with the phone also and they are not just plugged in directly! I’d be looking at spending your money on some decent cans and a decent DAC/AMP before getting a dedicated Player. Sennheiser have also now brought out the HD660’s, which are supposed to be a replacement for the 650’s, so it might be worth having a look at those, although I don’t know anything about them. Head-fi is a good place to go for advice and reviews.

Lokai · 14 Jan 2018 at 22:05

Just thought i would update this, after trying loads of different headphones i settled on a pair of Oppo PM3's and an AK70, the sound is truly excellent, im very happy with the setup.

NirK · 15 Jan 2018 at 01:40

Removed because I just read you already got something.

mistersprinkles · 17 Jan 2018 at 21:57

Lokai said:
Cheers, seems the Mojo is just what im looking for, headphones wise, think im going to need to test some opened and closed ones. Will look at the HD650's and possibly the oppo pm3.

I can vouch for the PM3. I like them better than the 650's or HE400is but my opinion is in the monority. You already have a phone, I'm sure. Adding Oppo PM3 and Oppo HA2+ amp to that would fit the bill and come in under budget.

Keep in mind that open back headphones leak sound. Some leak a tremendous amount of sound (Grados for example)