Any audiophiles here?

[Goat]

So first of all, what is an audiophile? An audiophile is someone who really enjoys sound, and enjoys hi-fidelity audio. The term audiophile can be used fairly loosely, because really all you need to do is enjoy what you're listening to.

It's getting around Christmas time, so maybe some of you guys are getting a new pair of cans or maybe a new Amp/DAC, so why not talk about it?

This year I asked for a few things:

DT-770s(80 ohm version)
Sennheiser 598s
FiiO E11 for the DT-770s

That's all, I guess. I may buy some custom pads on my own accord, but I heard the 598s were some of the most comfortable headphones on the market right now.


If you want to get into this sort of hobby, I have some links and or guides you guys might like + some forums and what not.

Headphone buying guide: http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide
Gaming Headphone guide: http://www.head-fi.org/t/534479/mad-lust-envys-headphone-gaming-guide-updated-9-2-2013-sony-ma900-added
Incredibly detailed headphone guide: http://pastebin.com/ZbPuSEJp
Great audiophile forums: http://www.head-fi.org/
Portable headphones: http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-108-portable-headphones-reviewed-denon-dn-hp1000-added-09-07-13
Flagship headphones reviewed: http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-50-headphones-compared
IEM reviews/guide: http://www.head-fi.org/t/541204/concise-multi-iem-comparison-sony-mh1-mh1c-added-oct-23th-2012

[Xrain]

For cans have the Grado Labs SR-225 and for a sound card I have the HT Omega Claro Halo, and I love both of them to bits.

I will give you a bit of a warning though, another name for an audiophile in some cases is a sucker. 


Take for example the Grado Labs RA1 Headphone amplifier which retails for $350.

All it is is about a $3 OpAmp, $2 in capacitors, 80 cents in resistors, and a nice mahogany box.
I want to sell things at a 5800% markup over my parts costs.

Basically my point is think carefully about what audiophile equipment you buy, as there exists a significant amount of marketing gimmicks everywhere in the industry. It is especially problematic because peoples experiences with things are so subjective. So even if it might not actually be better, just the whole mystique around multi-thousand dollar audio equipment will make it seem better.

[Supertoaster]

I have Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80ohm

[Tezuni]

For cans have the Grado Labs SR-225 and for a sound card I have the HT Omega Claro Halo, and I love both of them to bits.

I will give you a bit of a warning though, another name for an audiophile in some cases is a sucker. 


Take for example the Grado Labs RA1 Headphone amplifier which retails for $350.

All it is is about a $3 OpAmp, $2 in capacitors, 80 cents in resistors, and a nice mahogany box.
I want to sell things at a 5800% markup over my parts costs.

Basically my point is think carefully about what audiophile equipment you buy, as there exists a significant amount of marketing gimmicks everywhere in the industry. It is especially problematic because peoples experiences with things are so subjective. So even if it might not actually be better, just the whole mystique around multi-thousand dollar audio equipment will make it seem better.

Spoken like a true engineer!


I myself only need decent bass to enjoy music.  Surround sound is a plus.

[Jhon]

I'm less into this now then I was about a year or two ago, but I guess I'm an audiophile.

I have a Denon AH-D2000, which I tempered with and are now fully open instead of semi-open headphones - The most noticeable changes are wider soundstage, a bit more bass and kind of "smoother" sound (less sibilance).
And I have a HiFiMan RE-400, awesome earphones, very good isolation. The only thing that slightly bothers me is the microphonics from the cable, but wearing them over-ear nearly eliminates the problem.

I don't have any special soundcard or external amplifier/DAC. Might get those sometime in the future.

Oh and I have a music library of about 200GB, most are FLAC and vinyl rips.

[Goat]

Oh and I have a music library of about 200GB, most are FLAC and vinyl rips.

I've wanted to get into using Lossless audio, I just don't have the space on my phone. I'm probably going to get an old Samsung Galaxy and put a 32GB microSD in it and just use it as a music player.

Is there a noticeable difference between FLAC and 320kb/s mp3?

[coolzeldad]

Is there a noticeable difference between FLAC and 320kb/s mp3?

With capable headphones and a proper rip it can make all the difference.

[Goat]

With capable headphones and a proper rip it can make all the difference.

Know any good ripping software? Or should I just buy FLAC versions from sites like www.hdtracks.com?

As for quality cans, all I own personally is my DT-770s, my girlfriend got a pair of 598s that I could swipe, and I have a friend with a pair of Sennheiser HD650s, which I LOVE. They're really a great pair of cans.

I have Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80ohm

Forgot to ask about yours haha. How do you like them so far? I'm really enjoying mine, and the bass is really tight and punchy. The one thing I'm not liking is how they like in the mids section. I listen to a lot of Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, and Of Monsters and Men, so the nice bass doesn't add much emphasis there. Once I'm home from this trip I can't wait to try out these cans on my friends Schiit Mjolnir and his Vinyl setup.

[coolzeldad]

Ripping software depends on your source, for digital cd I would use EAC and a cd reader that is supported for secure ripping. ( rip to WAV then encode to FLAC )

For vinyl/other sources I would use a stereo lineout into pc card and record with audacity or soundforge. ( cables and interference will degrade signal so I recommend good soundcard + cables )