@M0N I noticed in your shortlists you never go over the signature rendu or antipodes S stack or ns1 even for maxing out susvara or mysphere. Does that mean you think these sources are only worth it for 2ch setups?
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No, it’s that they’ll remote into your network to configure it, and there’s specific things you can’t do without having the mfg do it. Don’t really want to not be able to set up my own streamer
While you can appreciate the difference, I don’t think it falls under value. I also didn’t mention things like a horizon or full twelve setup or whatnot because I also don’t think those are worthwhile for a headphone setup in the end if value is being taken into account. Doesn’t mean you can’t hear the benefit, but it’s far beyond reason for most
Same issue I feel with speaker amp pairings for some headphones, I feel as though the best pairings are either far beyond reason for it to make sense, which doesn’t really fit well into the value side of things
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Makes sense to me. Part of how I justify my DAC cost is that one day it’ll serve in a proper 2ch system lol
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I just justify it by assuming dacs are cheaper than a crippling smack addiction
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Even for the best headphones, I think at this point the highest I’d suggest anyone to go would be around 15-20k on a dac, and lower than 10k combined for networking, source, and cabling on the digital source. So capping at things like a pacific, triunity, berk ref 2, potentially kassandra, potentially rossini, potentially msb premier, top bricasti, wd sig bal, etc. And not venturing to horizon, twelve or sublime, top sw1x or an, top ac, top dcs or msb, wadax, trinity, etc. Digital source you can still get a lot of great options under 10k used but nothing like taiko, pink faun, innuos statement, and so on. Just really don’t think it makes sense
I guess in relation to the list, the holy shit top and kinda top/mid range of dacs doesn’t make sense for a headphone setup value wise. I think digital source section all are still fair game, but that’s because I haven’t heard the best digital sources enough to put them on there (or at all)
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(My dac is exogal +) Is there any risk that if upgrade all the way up to the Pass Labs HP1 Im gonna leave behind some of my beloved amps and start being more picky, like I think im going to start feeling that my 1k and $500 amps are lacking detail, resolving ability and stuff…
on the other side if I get the Bryston (or QS) it would be more like a sidegrade that I need for synergy with my ath ADX5000, and is a lot cheaper which means I can get the awkt I want or a better ddc
Unfortunately, yes that tends to happen to people more often than not. It depends on you.
For example, my Pass HPA-1 tends to be my go to amp, i like it just fine with my Line Magnetic LM32 dac. I have both “better” and “lesser” equipment all over the house, but for the general portion of my HP use that’s the combo i have been using for over a year now.
Next example, I run my desktop speakers (inexpensive Monolith K-BASS) w/ my Exogal and Ion combo, again, plenty of “better” speakers available to me BUT, i like the synergy of this combo on my desk. That’s been going on over a year and won’t change anytime soon 
As you grow into the hobby, you will / may eventually “stop chasing your tail”, and settle into a few pieces you use and move on with your life 
(Heretical speak in this forum 
)
Personally i found the Pass HPA-1 a long term keeper that does allot well and works “good enough” with so much that i don’t think much past it anymore other than for the sake of curiosity
Similar to the Exogal, it does so much “good enough” it will stick around till it fails someday and simply gets trashed or traded to someone for use as spare parts.
My advice, first sell your less expensive pieces, then “move on up”, once you start to appreciate the better technicalities certain equipment brings to the table, it’s hard to go back and you will simply be sitting on multiple “dust collectors” . (BTW, this happens at EVERY price point to allot of people, it’s not just for “budget gear” that’s whybthere is such an active used market on gear of all price points)
Happy listening and good luck in making wise choices. 
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I generally agree, I never choose to listen to my lower end gear, but when I do, it’s not like they are “bad”, they just aren’t as good as the stuff I normally listen to.
I’ve sold a few lower priced pieces, and always go back and listen before I ship them out, and I’m often impressed just how good they are (albeit not competitive).
In some cases if there is a significantly different flavor, I might use the piece for a bit longer after I move up, but eventually I’ve retired all my lower priced gear.
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Chris Rock has a good stand up routine about “not going back”. It’s just basic human nature. 
Could be, but is that really a bad thing? In the end, the hobby is about personal enjoyment, so imo if something can give you more personal enjoyment to where other things feel inadequate, as long as you plan on keeping the thing that gives you more, it’s not a big deal. It’s not like it’s going to absolutely ruin everything else for you, but you might need to put yourself in a bit of a different mindset to lower your standards to enjoy the lower end stuff to the same extent as you once did. Or you just sell it off and don’t use it and it’s not even something you need to think about lol. Having expectations and tastes change isn’t a bad thing, it’s totally normal to stop liking something as much when something new comes around and just has a lot more to offer, just because you used to really like something doesn’t mean you should keep it just because of that (if you don’t enjoy it as much now).
That general idea of “will I never like lower end stuff again” was something I used to worry about, but I stopped caring once I realized the benefits from going higher outweighed the value of being able to enjoy anything. Still like lower end stuff, even though it’s clearly not as good as the higher end and I don’t get as much enjoyment from it as I do the higher end things, just have to make sure to set expectations fairly so I don’t get irritated or disappointed
A good chain that’s higher than the rest of what you have can be helpful in helping you realize what you actually want, how you listen, and how you should consolidate and trim what you don’t enjoy. If you set the bar higher for enjoyment, trimming and upgrading your setup to match will naturally follow, or you just might find there’s still a lower end setup that meets that level due to synergy or preference or whatever and that’s totally fine too.
How you listen is an important one, and actually that’s the main reason I keep around a cheaper chain, when I’m passively/casually listening or want something non distracting or am just incredibly lazy and want things to work immediately, that’s a great time to whip out the old reliable lower end chain. Sure it’s not as good as your main chains but it just works and you enjoy it enough to where you don’t care it’s lesser when you aren’t really paying attention
I think both would still be upgrades if I recall your setup correctly, but a pass would be an even bigger upgrade, but yes you could also use that to grab more cans or a nicer digital frontend. But admittedly I’d just get the pass, and then sell off one or two of your amps if you feel the pass is better and then you could still get a better ddc or awkt. Or you could just wait, and evaluate if you even want another can after the upgrade and push it back to another time
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All kidding aside, I’d go as far as saying that having and hearing better equipment makes one more appreciative of the thing less expensive gear does very well at the given price point! You’re better able to recognize qualities that highlight a unit that punches above its weight.
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damn that hit close
thanks to nick too for the reply, as said by both, it depends in the way you like to listen, like I like to use my grados with the cheap grado amp because im so used to the tone.
I myself value synergies and get used to them, the RNHP is the one going to a new home this time, my other amps are necesary for chains I currently very much enjoy. (Its really hard to sell the RNHP here because its not known, been selling for a while now but people prefer the chinese copy)
Im getting the AWKT anyway some time because I want to finish my ATH colection. That applies to the DDC as well as im fairly sure the exogal will level up.
(The exogal comet+ currently is my favorite audio product of any kind)
The adx5000 might be my favorite can ever, it might not be, but it definitely deserves at least a Pass Labs in my opinion to really judge it for fairly, just from the sheer respect that I have for it, it already is my favorite can with what I consider a less than optimal tonality and delivery from my amps.
It will also let me better evaluate the exogal.
Like Nick said I could get a much much nicer (speaker) amp both for my klipsch r600m and my hfm He6. But I dont feel like it, I enjoy both so much still, dont feel like upgrading anytime soon, I know the upgrade will happen eventually but it never crosses my mind with those that they need a better amp/chain currently.
In contrast the adx5000 is constantly bothering me that its not a tiny bit more the way I like.
Then when I travel a bit and I get to hear Utopia, Susvara, SR Stax, LCD5 and other common summit fi cans that are common here in my country. That will help me know how much I value the adx5000 and my chain, maybe generate a new hunger.
Also really want to hear the higher end grado stuff, that one is also for later.
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Hey well the pass is an excellent pre as well, so opens up opportunities to get a power amp used for a good price and not leave stuff on the table by not having a good preamp lol
Well if you get curious, the utopia is a great match with the pass, same with the hekse, and I’d assume the lcd 5 is as well. I wasn’t as impressed with the susvara on there though
Which the pass is an excellent pairing for
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damn now I want to try the pass too lol
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The sonus aparatus syndrome
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Can you name some examples of power amps that are somewhat common because here everything is yamaha, mackie, rotel, NAD, some benchmarks, McIntosh and chinese tube amps that look like Cayin but are named yaqin… rockville
We also have the mexican brand, margules audio, everyone that recommends it seems to be shilling but it might be good actually, looks clean. They dont even display the price of their stuff and have cult like people.
The poweramp market here is very rough, could you maybe name some brands or amps that are recommended and not super big and hard to import
I mean, there’s a lot of power amps out there lol. I’d rather suggest figuring out what speakers you might want to go with and go from there. I guess there’s a list of power amps I like on the list since were in the thread, but I’d likely figure out what speakers you might want to go for first. Pairing a power amp with the preamp is important but the pass is fairly versatile in that regard, and I’d focus on speakers more in this range synergy wise
Never heard of them, look interesting though, seems they’ve been around for awhile
Looks like there’s prices here for their new/current stuff for the US, I’d assume it might be cheaper in MX. Also you never know how close MSRP is to what people actually pay though a dealer
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True that
Well the speakers are actually alredy chosen
Its the klipsch r600m
And I also have heard more expensive two channel systems but the r600m are just what I like
I use two 8" edifier t5 70 watts subwoofers cutoff almost maxed w low vol just to warmen things up
The sound with r600m + comet + any cheap amp I try is just what I like
@NickMimi just like in your desktop example with the K Bass
Also the people who buy margules here in mexico are assosiated mostly with a group called SAM, they talk margules like its the best shit but havent heard
They do have a showroom but unfortunately I havent been able to travel for a while now
@M0N In this 2ch regard my priority would be something that gives just the regular ol klipsch experience but with more technicalities, also has to have great synergy with the he6 I think thats my main priority
Hunting an ion dac seems reasonable but could you tell some other amps in the 1 or 2k used? If its already on the shit list ill check it out anyway
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Couple of questions for @M0N
- Where would cotton mouth gold rca stack up here?
- Your power cable reqs seem to be 3k+ used or lik sub $500 used. Is there any specific reason for the gap?
- Ever tried clear beyond power chords? They worthwhile?
Similar level to the signature perhaps a bit less
Just never really was impressed with a lot of the middle options, either felt that the cheaper stuff was better value, or the higher end stuff was just a bigger bump to where it was better to save
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