New headphones / speakers / sound card?

dt97583

dt97583

dt97583

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Hello,

I plug my CAL headphones into my Creative T40 II speakers, which are powered off my Z77-D3H mobo. Let's say I've got a few hundred to drop, where might you spend it?

I like my CAL headphones, they're comfy, they don't squeeze my head, and they sound great to my untuned ears. I listen to a lot of music of all types, probably 50/50 with headphones and speakers.

So where might you spend on something new? Speakers? Headphones? A soundcard? An amp?

Cheers

David
 
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Cheers rids57 - appreciate the response. Is it worth touching the desk speakers too though as I don't always listen via headphones. 6 year old towers that I've probably got their monies worth from.
 
So the CALs epitomise great value for money and fantastic quality. I don't have a fixed budget if I'm being honest.

My criteria is just the best value for money and nothing unnecessary. Headphones plugged into speakers, plugged into mobo, sounds good at the moment. Would more or better kit sound better?

My tastes in music go from left to right - grime, rock, indie, pop, basically most.

Cheers
 
Hmmm I didn't realise there was so much choice and option. I'm liking what I read about the HD650 so I think I might be sold on these. They're a decent chunk of money though so I'm now thinking I can probably only square off in my mind funds for new speakers, and not DAC / Amp - is this crazy talk? What are my options with speakers?

Thanks
 
In terms of speakers I've been reading through some old threads on here and the Edifier R1600T III and Edifier R1800T III seem to get very positive reviews.

I've also read that active / powered speakers have their own amp and so can't make use of amps other than the built in one?

So I'd plug the R1600s into the DAC, then I wonder could the inbuilt amp of the speakers drive the HD650s enough?

Tech spec for the speakers:

http://cdn.ventmere.com/edifier-dev/uploads/user-manual/studio_1600tiii_r1600tiii.pdf

On closer inspection the speakers don't seem to have a 3.5mm output but I'm reading there's a RCA to 3.5mm conversion cable out the box...

One final point - my audio input comes 100% from Spotify Premium i.e. 320kbps although maybe this will go to lossless with rivals like Tidal offering this.
 
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Thanks Marsman.

I've got a pretty massive desk, an Idea Galant corner desk so I think space should be okay. Are there any other speakers I should be considering? Are the 1600 / 1800 preferred over the other?

What are my headphone options if I choose not to go down the route of the HD650+Amp+DAC? A step up from the CALs I mean.

I suppose they'd still need a DAC+Amp if you're saying it's a waste of the new headphones powering them off any new speakers?

Wow £62 for the FiiO E10K versus the £265 Schiit combo.

Cheers for all the advice.
 
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rids57 said:
If you want a nice headphone setup, something like this would sound great...

Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 (£230)
Headphone amp: Schiit Vali 2 (£165)
DAC: Schiit Modi 2 (£100)

Total = £495
Click to expand...

How does the Magni 2 or Magni 2 Uber compare to the Vali 2? Let's say it's paired with the Modi 2 (or Modi 2 Uber?), HD650s and Edifier R1600T3.

Thanks
 
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Would it be worth connecting the speakers to the pre-outs? I don't really know what my other options are or what the 'best' way of connecting the kit up is.

I don't have any desires to change tubes. Not really sure I know what sounding 'tubey' sounds like.

It sounds like the Magni 2 is possibly a better buy over the Vali 2, or maybe this just comes down to preference?

What cables would I need to connect all the kit up?

Cheers
 
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So it's looking like:

Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 £232.00
Headphone Amp: Schiit Magni 2 Uber £145.00
DAC: Schiit Modi 2 £100.00
DAC to Amp cables: Schiit PYST RCA £15.00
Speakers:
Edifier R1600T3 £87.00 or M-Audio BX5 D2 £149.00
Total: £579 or £641

How does the Modi 2 connect to my PC mobo, USB to ? are there cables supplied with it?

I guess speakers generally come with RCA cables to connect to the line out of the amp too?
 
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Marsman said:
Ouch. Things are getting expensive quickly. :p

It seems when it comes to audio, people go in intending to spend a certain amount, then that budget goes completely out of the window, and they spend much more than they intended! :D
Click to expand...
I know right, ultimately I want to upgrade from my current kit, and I don't want to feel like I need to upgrade again in 3 / 5 years because I didn't spend the right amount the first time round.

It seems like there's marginal to no gains to be had with anything if I don't get a proper DAC/amp solution, and this seems like the best bang for buck whilst not going in too cheap. I could do things a bit cheaper, save a couple of hundred, but if I'm already 400 in, what's 200 more right?

The next question of course is do I go for 650s for HE-400i's ;)
 
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