Headphone and DAC suggestions

[dannywaugh1]

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade my current headphone's ATH M30) to the ATH M50X. To be honest I don't know much about headphones I've only just been looking and looked at the M50X as they seem to have great reviews.

I mainly game and listen to music, couple questions -

Is it worth getting a decent DAC to get the full benefit out of the 'new' headphones?
What DAC would you recommend?
What headphones would you recommend closed back is a must?

Happy to spend £200 on headphones , no idea how much DAC's cost.

 

[dannywaugh1]

To be quite honest, you're shooting yourself in the foot going budget with closed backs - they're just not as good as competing open back headphones. It costs a fair bit in research and materials to replicate the openness of an open back in a closed back headphone, and 200 ain't gonna cut it.

So unless it is an absolute necessity because the wife will leave you otherwise, I'd look into something else like the HD560s, especially if you're gaming.

In terms of a DAC, you don't need anything better than a USB-C Apple dongle for most of these non-demanding headphones.

My only concern and the reason I want(ed) closed back is the fact I don't want others to hear the music, how much can be heard with open back?

What closed back would you recommend?

 

[dannywaugh1]

Little update, talking to a colleague at work who let me have a look / listen to his setup - which consist off Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO headphones connected to a Schiit Asgard 3 (DAC model). Speechless is all I can say, the sound was something I've never experienced!

Now this got me thinking, the sound I loved for the type's of music I tend to listen to. Price wise much more then I was going to spend initially £400 for the Asgard 3 with DAC and £370 for the headphones but now that I have experienced sound like it makes me happy to spend about that much.

What DAC/headphones would you recommend similar to the Asgard 3 and DT1770's.

​