The Element III is so understated that I could never spend $450 on it. I just can't see what justifies the price tag. It's a little square amp with a single ended out and a knob. And?

I definitely have an EF400 in my future though.

Why do you put the two so far above the 660S?

How would you compare the bass of the Arya SE and the 1000 V2, if as far as visceral impact is concerned?

> Arya aren't necessarily endgame as hifiman release headphones none stop. So the upgrade/sidegrade is a normal thing. That's why i said hd600 is endgame. Since 1997 Sennheiser released 2 other models ( 650 & 660s ) in the 6 series. So i'm good for a long time with it.

This is a genuinely bizarre definition of endgame. New models alter your perception of your holding's value?

The egg shaped HFM reign supreme within their ecosystem, up until finding a reason to buy Susvara. I can't find a reason to downgrade once you've experienced the XS, the bass response alone is in a completely different league.

XS is Sundara on steroids, the latter has no advantages.

Said while performing ancient, forbidden strengthening rituals. I only produce children to feed them to the Hifiman gods.

I wish Meze would make a closed-back version of this set. I'd totally buy it. Can't see myself finding reason to buy an expensive dynamic open-back while my Arya is still alive.

That is a fact. It's not an open-back but I was playing Elden Ring and realized that my Atticus is way more immersive than my Arya.

I blew out two different IEMs at two different periods of time on my Jotunheim, forgetting I had one plugged in and hanging to the floor when I plugged a planar into the balanced out and turned up the dial.

I just stopped using IEMs on it lmao, I'm too irresponsible.

The person was making a comment about the HE6SEv2's power necessity, which the Jotunheim has more than enough for through the balanced out.

If you went single-ended then that'd be an issue. Not to say you'll like it anyway.

Prices don't suggest x-times better, never have and never will so this line of arguing has always been completely pointless. When the manufacturers start using that in their marketing come back with that.

Diminishing returns are not hard at the Sundara either, the Arya is clear proof of that.

Bookmarked, thanks. So given your flagships is the Atticus just window dressing these days? Before I got mine I honestly didn't think a closed back could have the SQ to warrant a $1,000 or higher price but I took the plunge anyway, and it proved me wrong.

I don't really have the temptation to upgrade and couldn't afford to if I did, but I do now wonder how good the closed back can get. So does the Atticus do anything the higher tier models don't?

What's that headphone stand the Atticus is on there in the back?

Yeah if you go beyond the Sundara it gets complicated. I had the Sundara for years then upgraded to the Arya when I decided to go "endgame" last year. I was getting braided on the regular at the time so it was cool. It was this year when I stopped getting braids that having 10 inches of hair started interfering with my favorite hobby, music listening.

Truth be told the Vegeta look was a holdover from working from home for two years, prior I always kept a clean taper but I kinda let myself go when I stopped having to get suited up to go into the office. Easy sacrifice.

Seeing your pic puts into perspective why I cut my hair off recently. Granted my fro was literally 3 or 4 times longer than yours, but my headphones had stopped being able to smash my hair and the seal was no longer working. Audiophilia or beautiful Black hair, tough choice. Grabbed the razor lmao.

Nice setup.