Portable audiophile electronics

[mrpackerguy]

I'm surprised I didn't get into this sooner being a musician, but much like watches, my dang brother got me into this. It started with small DAC a couple months ago, which improved the quality of Amazon HD Music through my phone immensely. That lead to a search for a new DAP to supplement my well loved Cowan D2+ and a purchase of the new Fiio M11+ DAP with the newer DAC chips. That, then lead to finding new in ear monitors to keep up with the M11 and a lucky slickdeal find of Westone W60s at 60% off. My Amazon HD Music trial ended so now I'm giving Tidal a 2 month try and really really liking it so far, both the super high quality streams and the Spotify-like interface. Now, I'm considering over-the-ear headphones and am trying to decide between open vs closed back. My wife is sensitive to extraneous noise, and since I listen a lot in bed, I'm thinking it probably needs to be a closed back purchase. Last thing... this hobby ain't cheap.

 

[3bc]

I find that all the best headphones, in terms of pure sonics, are open back. They are definitely not convenient. Can't listen to them in bed, on a plane, mowing the lawn, etc.

It definitely takes a nice convertor, but the difference between Spotify and something like Tidal is pretty wild. I don't want to call it night and day, but it does sound like someone took a layer of cellophane off the music when you a/b the two. If I were just listening on apple earbuds plugged into an iPhone kind of listening I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Mudder]

The FIIO gear is just awesome.

 

[3bc]

The FIIO gear is just awesome.

You guys have better ears than I do.

I have pretty baller convertors and studio monitors in front of me. Listening in a controlled environment like this, I can really hear a pretty big difference.

If I'm in my car or listening to headphones on the go or something like that, there's really not much in it for me. I trust the FIIO stuff is great, but looking at $1800 for a little HD iPod essentially, is too rich for my blood. That's almost as much money as one of my studio monitors!

 

[Mudder]

26509346[/URL], member: 165835"]You guys have better ears than I do.

I have pretty baller convertors and studio monitors in front of me. Listening in a controlled environment like this, I can really hear a pretty big difference.

If I'm in my car or listening to headphones on the go or something like that, there's really not much in it for me. I trust the FIIO stuff is great, but looking at $1800 for a little HD iPod essentially, is too rich for my blood. That's almost as much money as one of my studio monitors!

That’s fair. I like that they can run big headphones so I can use them without being tethered to the stereo. There’s an Aussie guy on youtube called DankPods who has several vids on this type of equipment. He’s a pro jazz drummer and has pretty good ears.

 

[mrpackerguy]

You guys have better ears than I do.

I have pretty baller convertors and studio monitors in front of me. Listening in a controlled environment like this, I can really hear a pretty big difference.

If I'm in my car or listening to headphones on the go or something like that, there's really not much in it for me. I trust the FIIO stuff is great, but looking at $1800 for a little HD iPod essentially, is too rich for my blood. That's almost as much money as one of my studio monitors!

Wish I had a dedicated studio where I could listen without the requisite "turn it down!!" reigning down from upstairs. I have a low-moderate grade 3.1 set up downstairs with Denon and Polk components but the familiar refrain usually interrupts the listening session, thus why I went portable in ears components.

 

[3bc]

I have had several Denon products I've really enjoyed.

I'm set up in a spare bedroom right now, and I normally listen somewhere around 70dB almost always. Very sporadically do I get to 85dB. Only once in a blue moon when my wife and kids are out shopping or visiting friends or something will I really fire it up. I have the benefit of being in a 170 year old house that's made of stone. Most of our walls inside are plaster and 14" thick.

Moved a couple years ago planning on doing an addition right away that included a small studio space. Turns out the $150 per square foot we were told it would cost was WAAAAY off the mark. Hoping to start this fall.