Worth noting that there could be some Black Friday deals around on outgoing models etc in the coming week. Obviously it’s usually more mass-market stuff, but there can be the occasional gem to be found.
I have an Ifi Zen Can headphone amp.
I reckon that for your budget it’s hard to beat the value offered by Hifiman. I have been using a pair of HE400is as my office headphones for a few years now and they’re brilliant - thanks to an easy impedence, they sound great regardless of what they’re plugged into, which is just what I want with this as they see duty on everything from an Apple MacBook Pro to an 80GB iPod Video, to my iPhone all the way up to a Unitiqute and my various DAPs.
I do love the Senn HD600s though. I’ve owned a pair since they were first released 20 odd years ago and while they are not so easy to get the best from, when you find a great match they can be amazing (especially if you can drive them balanced). However, get it wrong and they will underwhelm and disappoint, so nowhere near as universal as the Hifimans.
Beyond the HD600s you’re into the realm of Focal’s lovely 'phones but you’ll need much deeper pockets…
As Clare says above, Black Friday is almost upon us so you could pick up a nice bargain.
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Worth noting that the HD600 are less than stellar when driven by a Uniti device… unless possibly the new Atom HE (which I’ve not heard) but as the OP has a 202, I can attest to them working great off a Rega Ear headphone amp. It’s not expensive. Pairs brilliantly with HD600. And can be upgraded with an after market PSU if desired.
Really wish I’d not given mine away.
I traded my beloved Senn HD650s for AKG K701s due to wanting more involving highs, without the shrillness I experience with other popular brands, especially all Grado models I have tried.
It is true I found the HD650s really benefitted from better amplification, which was not a problem for me.
No regrets five years later.
Nick
Tech Radar tested the HD 600 with the Uniti Atom Headphone Edition, and was impressed enough to award it a rare ‘Recommended’ award:
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There some great out going range of Grado cans that can be had for really good prices at the moment. Admittedly not the most comfortable of phones, but they do sound great, are easy to drive, and built to last. I use a pair of SR325e’s with my SN3 and they really do sound rather excellent.
I have a pair of the SR325e’s (amongst others) and they sound great with my Superuniti and my Marantz 2275. I am in the throes of acquiring an ex demo SN3 and pleased to hear that the Grados sound “rather excellent” with the SN3.
I also have a pair of Grado SR80e’s, which I think are great value; B&W P5’s, which are used for bedtime listening and for travelling; and B&W PX’s, which I haven’t quite got to grips with yet.
Thanks for all the tips and pointers!
Plumped for the HD600s and they sound very good already. You mentioned running them balanced which I can do with the Zen Can, any idea where I could obtain a suitable DIN to 4.4mm balanced plug?
You’ll need a replacement cable. If you’re handy with a soldering iron then you could make your own. You can buy the replacement HD650 cable for under £15 (just as it is this is a worthwhile upgrade over the HD600 cable so well worth getting) and then fit your own balanced plug. Otherwise companies like Custom Cans offer a range of cable solutions. Be warned though that running balanced is not automatically an upgrade and does depend on the device or amp, some performing better single-ended.
I’ve seen the replacement headphone cable advertised, the bit that concerns me is the connection from my NAC202 to the 4.4mm balanced input on the Ifi Zen Can headphone amp. Will this be a bespoke cable? Who could make up such a cable?
You’ll want to use the single-ended input (RCA Phono) on the Zen Can as that’s what the tape out of the NAC202 outputs.
The FAQ will help you here;
Hi Richard, at the moment I connect my NAC202 to the Zen Can using the 2 RCA Phono inputs. Are you saying that I can no longer do this and must use the single ended input if I connect the HD600s balanced to the Can?
Nope, your already connected just right. When I refer to balanced I mean the connection between the headphone amp and the headphones. But don’t think it’s always going to be the best way to go as may not be.
An unsung hero in the Sennheiser line is the HD58x Jubilee that Drop sells, now incredibly cheap at $129. Such a no brainer. I have done a decent amount of listening to the HD600 and HD650 and prefer the 58x - a bit warmer and more natural to me. European made even. I listen to it at my office on a Chord Mojo streaming off my Android phone.
I see they’ve sold 72k pair, so they are doing something right.
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Balanced cable arrived today and the sound is now seriously good! Best of both worlds, with a 5 metre cable no need for an extension lead. Thanks for the tip!
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What is the max length of a good headphone cable? I’ve a 3 metres long one and in some occasions its just too short.
I’ve always had to use an extension cable as 3m was too short. Never struck on the quality of the extension but that’s academic now as the new balanced cable is 5m and seems very well made.
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