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One-Inevitable1861 t1_j9he6sh wrote

Reply to comment by lukelib in My End Game, but I'm not sure I'm happy Any questions? by mghazik

Yeah... it really does come down to expectations. I've got a small horde of headphones that all sound amazing and I love them to death, but there's just... something, not there. Horns could sound even better, bass could be punchier, guitars could... I don't even know. Something? I've spent thousands chasing it and there are times where it got close. HD800S with my turntable playing my original copy of Aftermath / 2011 press of Plastic Beach is one of the most natural and balanced experiences with audio I've had to date. But what if it could be better?

I've created a dragon in my head and I'm chasing something that doesn't exist. I don't regret any of my purchases, I've had a great journey and I'm content with where I am at before I spend sillier money. Which I won't do unless I win the lottery.

Basically, don't get your expectations so high that it becomes a dragon. It's not helpful in any way and it just leaves you feeling disappointed with frankly, fantastic gear.

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lukelib t1_j9hfgel wrote

Great advice / story, thank you. Currently have the hd660s & looking for a good dac/amp. I know they dont NEED a dac amp to run but I just want cleaner/crispier sound. Currently running it off a a Syba Sonic gaming dac/amp & it has plenty of power to run the HD660S. Right now looking into the Topping DX3 Pro+ as my end game.

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One-Inevitable1861 t1_j9hhpw7 wrote

Thank you! I love sharing stories with my gear, I can't lie :D

The HD6X0 Series are just fantastic, I had a HD600 for a while before I traded to my beloved Grado RS2e and part of me to this day wonders if I made the right call there because as much as I love the Grado, the HD600 was something speical. I will say, personally, I think DAC / Amps are all snake oil past a certain point. So, look into it a little more before you pull the trigger.

I currently use a BTR5 for mobile use and a $30 Behringer UMC22 for my digital desktop side. I had a Topping A30 II / L30 II DAC / Amp stack and I honestly... after dB matching, I couldn't hear a difference between that and my UMC22 with my HD800S which people claim is a very source dependant headphone. I gave it all the benefit of the doubt too, ran it side by side through Roon. It was all the same. The most expensive amp I've tested is the Naim Uniti Atom and, again, it sounds exactly the same, but it does have a cool screen and dial on the top.

Something to consider, having a good source is good of course, but anything audiophile grade will all just sound the same.

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lukelib t1_j9hi7nj wrote

Thank you again. The thing is I'm coming from "gamer grade" with the Syba Sonic leaping into REAL HiFi territory with the DX3 Pro+. Only time will tell. I'll let you know once I get it (soon).

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AnOldMoth t1_j9itswv wrote

> I've created a dragon in my head

In a way, yes. The reason this happens is because human minds are always, always trying to equalize with their environment. So if you get used to something, your brain will basically invent things it wishes it had because it got used to what it heard.

Best way to fix that; listen to worse gear for a bit, then wow yourself all over again.

I keep a pair of 6XX specifically so I can go back to my Ananda and go, "Man, literally everything is better, damn these things sound so fuckin' good."

Keeps me sane.

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