Klinemj"s Headphone Setup Review/Thoughts

[klinemj]

It's been a long time since I got my headphone system. It dates back to this... -->CLICK HERE<---

A recent post reminded me I had never finished sharing my thoughts on my setup. The reason for my delay is that I was originally thinking of feeding the system via a Raspberry Pi and using Volumio. That didn't work out as I hoped. So, I switched to using a PC with Tidal and jRiver to feed by DAC and my BasX A100 to my Senn 600's. And...that didn't work out as I hoped. I found I didn't listen as much as I thought I would - not due to sound,but due to having to update the Windows PC more than I listened.

Flash forward to me deciding to go to Roon...which was via delving into Roon Ready devices like the microRendu and ultraRendu. See reviews here:

->FIRST ONE HERE!<-
->SECOND ONE HERE!<-

Once I got into Roon and Roon ready devices, I decided to ditch the PC and separate Tidal and jRiver then use the R-Pi as a Roon Ready endpoint.

This led me to going "Roon" control (via my Surface Pro 3) to the R-Pi (running RoPieee) to the DC-1 (via USB) to an Emotiva BasX A100 amp to my Sennheiser 600's.

So, how does it sound? Overall, really...pretty amazing. And, setting up the R-Pi with RoPieee was really easy, and it feeds my DC-1 via USB with no special steps other than choosing the DC-1's USB input.

I prefer my main system with my Maggies and my ultraRendu (via Roon) and Geek Pulse xInfinity, but...there are some things I like better about the headphone system. The system w/the speakers sounds more like live music in terms of overall imaging, but in context of hearing the setup with the headphones - I can hear some things I think my room is adding when I listen to the phones. With the phones, I do pick up increased clarity overall. Subtle details are very clear even at low volumes. And, some aspect of imaging are better...for example, on recordings where the engineer sent sound in what sounds like it goes around my head. But, the headphones sound more like I am at the soundboard doing the mixing vs. sitting out in the room and listening to the result.

Both have their charms, but overall I like the speakers better. But, when I need some time to just listen and do some reading, the phones are really nice.

As far as some comparisons...

First, my headphone setup (Roon->R-Pi via RoPiee->DC-1->Basx A100->Sennheiser 600's) sounds great. It sounds a LOT better than the same phones via the DC-1. Much more punch even at low volumes.

Second, when I talked (in my rendu reviews) about certain recordings sounding less than optimal before the micreRendu and ultraRendu, I do still hear more detail when the micro/ultrarendu are in the chain. Net, for critical listening, I prefer my rendu over the pi.

That said, the R-Pi via Ro-Pieee/Roon is not bad at all for "around the house" use. If I didn't have a Sonos system, I'd use a Ro-Pieee/Roon to a USB DAC to and amp and speakers in place of my Sonos units. But, I have the Sonos units and my family knows how to use them. So, I will stay with the Sonos units for now.

And, before I forget it...the BasX-a100 is one heck of an amp! For headphones or with speakers. I am really happy to have one.

Mark

[creimes]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think a headphone system is a must and man do I regret selling the A-100 amp I had, though i made money on it I should have just kept it, that little amp never broke a sweat powering my Chane towers.

Chad

[klinemj]

Dec 10, 2018 22:32:09 GMT -5 creimes said:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think a headphone system is a must and man do I regret selling the A-100 amp I had, though i made money on it I should have just kept it, that little amp never broke a sweat powering my Chane towers.

Chad

I'd never had a headphone system until this, unless you count listening to my Dad's when I was a kid. I had not planned to get one until I got hooked on Massdrop and then got a heck of a deal at Emofest on the A100. I am really glad I ended up getting one set up. I've run the A100 into my old B&W 202's and it makes them sing.

Mark

[creimes]

Dec 11, 2018 13:05:37 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Dec 10, 2018 22:32:09 GMT -5 creimes said:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think a headphone system is a must and man do I regret selling the A-100 amp I had, though i made money on it I should have just kept it, that little amp never broke a sweat powering my Chane towers.

Chad

I'd never had a headphone system until this, unless you count listening to my Dad's when I was a kid. I had not planned to get one until I got hooked on Massdrop and then got a heck of a deal at Emofest on the A100. I am really glad I ended up getting one set up. I've run the A100 into my old B&W 202's and it makes them sing.

Mark

I have a buddy here who is a Massdrop diehard haha, multiple headphone purchases even though he never uses them he collects them for some reason, every time i go to his place he has a new watch or flashlight or glasses or knife or whatever lol. He owns the Oppo PM-1, Sennheiser HD6XX and HD600, HIFIMAN 4XX, 350 and the other I can't remember, also the Schiit Asgard 2 and Valhalla 2, but like i mentioned he never even uses any of them, oh and like 10 sets of different headphone cables.

So usually I borrow an amp and headphone to listen to for a bit

Chad

He uses vodka and tequila bottles as headphone stands for some of them, pretty sweet if you ask me

[DYohn]

My current head phone setup: MrSpeakers Ether Flow C, Schiit Mjolnir 2 with Gold Lions, Schiit Yggdrasil, Ultrarendu source which you can kind of see on the left next to the stack of this week's CD acquisitions on top of the music server.

[creimes]

Dec 11, 2018 15:46:21 GMT -5 DYohn said:

My current head phone setup: MrSpeakers Ether Flow C, Schiit Mjolnir 2 with Gold Lions, Schiit Yggdrasil, Ultrarendu source which you can kind of see on the left next to the stack of this week's CD acquisitions on top of the music server.


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You have a $6000 headphone setup holy smokes hahaha, I have a Little EGO and $99 Shure SRH440's, your setup for me up here in Canada would cost me over $8000 lol I bet it sounds nice or I hope it does

Chad

[DYohn]

As long as you are listening and you like it, it really doesn't matter on what.

[brutiarti]

I enjoy my headphone rig everyday. Tried several headphones but always go back to the HD600

[creimes]

Dec 11, 2018 18:39:50 GMT -5 DYohn said:

As long as you are listening and you like it, it really doesn't matter on what.

Music is therapy for the body and mind so yes even my little setup is fantastic, I borrowed my buddies Valhalla 2 and HD6XX for a while and man i would love to own that combo

Chad

[saturnx]

I purchased the BasX A-100 for my HD6xx's and was stunned by the output it provides to the power hungry Sennheiser's. Unfortunately it's now collecting dust since I took a risk and purchased this little modded Creek headphone amplifier from US Audiomart.

www.usaudiomart.com/details/649479078-professionally-modified-creek-obh11-headphone-amp-w-new-3-amp-power-supply/

Now imagine the A-100 w/ more dynamics, detail and a lower noise floor. I'm spinning CDs unbalanced out of my Denon 2930CI directly into this little gem and then out through an upgraded cable to my HD6xx's..... Stunning sound, unlike anything I've ever heard. My music is scary revealing to the point of disbelief. I think I'm done with my headphone rig forever lol.

I'll never sell my A-100 amp though because it is a ridiculous bargain and does everything better than it should at this price point.

Happy Listening!
Steve