I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but in the past year I have REPURCHASED headphones and gear that I had previously sold or returned. How could this be?
In some cases the manufacturer has come out with a better version: as in Mojo2 versus the original Mojo (which I sold), or have added functionality with an accessory (like the Chord Poly).
In other cases, I have come to a realization that certain headphones do not fit my hearing capability very well. An example is Balanced Armature IEMS. Yes, I accepted the conventional wisdom that expensive BA IEMs are the best. Perhaps because my hearing is truncated at certain high frequencies I no longer buy that argument. I find dynamic drivers, planar magnetic and electrostatic offerings to be much more suited to my hearing profile.
As a result, I have recently repurchased the Audeze LCDi4 planar magnetic headphones. I sold my earlier pair as the ear-hooks became extremely painful over time. The new ear-hooks are much more comfortable. I noticed that the LCDi4 is “sold out” on the Audeze website, another incentive to pick up a pair before they are discontinued or replaced.
I have owned dozens of headphones, IEMs, DACs and Amps over the last two decades. This has given me the ability to experience many options. Repurchasing the gear that is most satisfying given my hearing limitations, is giving me great satisfaction.
Short list for me. Schiit BF2, Pi2AES, and eventually I’ll move back into an D8KP. Most of the things I’ve moved away from and then sold have gone to further fund the next round of purchases.
I see it as a way to paying it back to the community, owning something for a year, getting some valuable use, information and first hand experience and then discounting the item he appropriate amount as I sell it.
The interesting thing about buying gear again is how you hear them again after having more experience in listening and being aware of what you like as well as potentially a better chain to connect it to.
Both the Pi2AES and the Schiit BF2 sounded way better the second time around.
Sonore ultra rendu… still don’t love the interface and the complexity is above my level but I can live with spotify on it given the performance benefits over my other midfi streamers.
LCD3F it’s not the most technical but it’s my fav audeze product… it’s got a nice blend of comfort and a warm sound that pairs well with my tube amps.
Not that they are much these days in the grand realm but I purchased a Hifiman Edition X V2 a few years back. After almost a year I sold it to Wavetheory and then he sold it and so on. It made the rounds to different people (sold bought sold.) I went looking for a set again as I missed that “Tall” sound and lo and behold the set I bought was the same one I sold. I purchased new pads and still occasionally use it. It has been about 8months now having it back.
Not today, but I have a few items that I have purchased a few times.
Cayin iHA-6: This is my back up amp, when I’m between primary amp purchases. I also use this for gaming. Punchy as hell, small stage compared to many other amps that I’ve owned but a good all-rounder. I have bought this amp 3 or 4 times! They’re great value.
Chord Mojo OG: This is my back up DAC when in between primary DACs. Preferred the OG to the 2 for sound signature. I liked the 2’s cross-fade. The original Mojo pairs great with 7Hz Timeless, my primary IEM. Great value; I think I’ve had 3 of the OG.
Sennheiser HD560s: This is my back up headphone when between primary cans. Great all-rounder, and pairs brilliantly with OTL tube amps. I have purchased this 3 times. It used to be my primary gaming headphone until I got my HEkse.
This is a followup to my July '24 post. Like so many headphones, the source is fairly critical for the LCDi4s. I am currently exploring the Mojo 2, Woo Tube Mini, and the L&P W4 as DAC/AMPs driven by my iPhone 15 Pro. My hearing peaks out at about 10khz, so mid-range timbre is the leading factor I am listening for. Also, a clean tight bass is the second requirement, as many solutions have lots of bass, but it is “flabby”. My preference is for instruments and voice to sound accurate - not pumped up with studio effects.
At present, the Mojo 2 is in the lead; it is tighter than the Woo Tube Mini (which can be a little fuzzy around the edges), and has more umph than the L&P W4 or other dongle DACs.
I purchased the Poly along with the Mojo2, but I don’t use it any more as I found the functionality to be lacking for mobile listening. Happy to sell it if anyone is interested.
After many IEM high-end IEM purchases I have come to the conclusion that my ears were not made for them. My ear canals are too narrow and twisty, IEMs keep falling out, and they irritate my ear canals so that listening for more than an hour can be painful. The LCDi4s are a great solution for me, delivering high quality sound without these issues.
And me, I do occasionally use them and I have one pair of more expensive IEM’s.
But the issue for me is they become uncomfortable very quickly.
I went through a phase of buying a lot of different tips and I have found that I can usually find a set that “fit”, but I still run into the comfort issue.
I suspect some of it is just generational, if you grew up listening to them, you probably can’t even imagine that someone would find them uncomfortable.
Im curious about this, im a LCD3PF user and in its price range its very technical, do you mean that is not the most technical compared to more expensive headphones?
And I completely agree, at least mine LOVE tube amps, they even like hybrid tube amps over solid state…
its kinda wild that being rather difficult to drive perfectly, out of all of my amps the very low power Yamamoto ha02 (Push Pull Class A tube amp) gives them the best sound by far. Its a match made in heaven, like you said comfy and warm but I still find them to be decently technical even compared to way more expensive chains.
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On this threads topic I actually have never repurchased anything audio. But ive thought about it, like getting hd25 for fun (but the comfort doesnt work for me). Or maybe Audioquest Nighthawks if their durability and pads availability was better.
However if any single one of my true keepers were to pass away I would get another one for sure.
For example my Bottlehead Crack died last week, and I decided to try another similarly priced OTL for a change, the woo wa3.
However if the woo wa3 doesnt cut it I will sell it and Id like to get one of those super well built, upgraded Bottlehead Cracks like the ones A_Jedi used to build.
IMO the stage is small, the bass is solid but not next world, and the treble is a fine level but not the most detailed. For me the hd800s and adx5k are way more technically capable cans but the lcd3 is what I listen to more as the sound is lush smooth and enjoyable especially on tubes.
As someone who thinks hd800s are 8/10 at best for my taste (theyre just not for me) and the adx5000 are my favorite headphones, I can totally see where you’re coming from and I agree.
Now im just wondering if maybe the prefazor are just a bit more analytical based on how lush I think they are on my quite warm yamamoto.
I actually have several mobile solutions, depending on the environment:
Telephone and Audiobooks: Shokz OpenFit 2 (rides ON the ear rather than IN the ear. So comfortable I forget that I have them on. Good for an environment where I must be aware of traffic, etc.).
Music on the Plane or in the Hotel Room: Focal Bathys with cable.
Music in Noisy Environment Walking Around (airport): Apple iPods Pro 2
Ah, okay. I was thinking of the DAC/Dap options that you went over.
It’s sounds like you’re covered on all fronts!
I really enjoy the AirPods as well. The ANC is decent, but I do like the transparency mode when I’m exercising. Apple’s Spatial Audio is pretty impressive, IMO. I also think that V2 was a significant upgrade.
I haven’t heard the Bathys yet, but I’m very interested in them for late night television viewing.
Maybe you can point me to your Bathys impressions if you’ve posted them already, if not I’d love to hear your impressions (maybe on the Focal thread?).
The Bathys are an interesting product. They have the flavor of a Focal headphone, but not the detail of my Focal Utopias. I started off using them with bluetooth, but have recently used them with a USB-C cable from my iPhone 15 Pro. The difference is significant. Very comfortable as well.
Just got another pair of UniqueMelody Mest MK2 (now with an upgraded Viking Weave Isa cable) only weeks after selling the pair I had. Apparently I missed these more than I thought I would and IEMs found their niche and use case for some late late listening. When I sold the first pair I got the Meze Alba, hoping it’ll be a decent option but they are over hyped in my opinion.
