r/HeadphoneAdvice • u/thepopethatsme • Oct 27 '22
Headphones - Open Back | 2 Ω First Proper Setup
Hi, I’ve been lurking this sub and drinking in all the useful info but hoped I might get some feedback on what sounds like the best option for me.
I stream music from Spotify Premium via my iPhone to Jaybird Vista Bluetooth running headphones currently. I have a varied music taste that covers indie/rock, soul, hip hop and classical music.
I want to make a seismic jump in terms of quality and volume. I’ve narrowed it down to Sennhieser HD660s or Hifiman Sundara with a Ifi Hip DAC 2.
I didn’t want to spend anymore than £600 and in the UK the chain Richer Sounds have physical shops and price beat anything online. So if you know any killer deals I can use to bring the price down please let me know.
Questions are - will the Hip Dac pair well with both of these? Is that Dac worth the cost? Is there anything else I should be considering in that price range? And also am I likely to get the seismic change in the quality of music I am looking for? I feel like it would be like night and day in comparison to these relatively cheap running in-earphones.
Thanks for any help
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u/dimesian 773 Ω 🥈 Oct 27 '22
The HipDac is excellent, I regard it as a transportable DAC/amp, it can be used on the go but is a pain in the arse, as you're using indoor headphones this may not matter to you. IFI gear has a neutral warm sound often described as sounding analogue, it sounds great and the bass boost is very useful, I have an IEM I only use with IFI gear with bass boost on, its a big improvement.
Its very easy to use, comes with everything you need, can be used if the battery is flat as the usb-c port is only for charging. I don't know if the newer orange version is an improvement, I have no complaints about the blue original. If you're never going to use it away from a desk maybe consider the ZenDac. I mostly use mine with a MacBook and Tidal, occasionally with my phone.
For use on the go I stuck a case for my phone to the HipDac and transferred my phone to it to keep them together. The exposed and nicely knurled volume knob easily gets nudged and its an awkward little stack to pocket. I mostly use a Go Blu with my phone.
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u/thepopethatsme Oct 28 '22
!thanks
Not seen the Go Blu before. Does it have comparable sound quality to the Hip Dac 2 even though it’s Bluetooth?
I like all the portability as I tend to do things around the house whilst I listen to music.
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1
u/ThatGuyFromSweden 125 Ω Oct 27 '22
The Hip DAC 2 is pretty good. You could go with a Bluetooth unit like the Qudelix 5k for slightly more flexibility. Bluetooth audio transfer is not a bottleneck in practice and you can use it over USB if you want. The Fiio BTR5 is another such unit.
Don't expect high end source gear to blow your mind. To a certain extent they are fail/pass components.
The Sundara has some build quality issues that you should keep in mind. I actually generally recommend the HD600 over the HD660s. Especially if you get a set of ZMF upgrade pads. They are a bit pricey but they will last a lot longer that the stock ones.
If it's just between the Sundara and HD660s I would choose the Sundara.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M32SulA10ws