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Keth
760
Feb 22, 2019
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Stay away from the Marantz, you're paying for the name, if you want to go that route the TEAC UD-503 is a much better choice, both in looks and performance. If you can wait for the THX, do it! Then pair it with the SU-8. Or look at the Monoprice THX desktop unit with integrated balanced DAC. The Dt1990 is one of the best all around headphones for it's price, certainly better for gaming than the 660s due to it's sound stage alone. But honestly the two headphones you listed are so different from each other that it's hard to know what sound signature you're after. Headphones I'd look at: Hifiman Sundara (on sale for $350) Focal Elex LCD2C Amiron Home (same driver as the 1990, less detail, teble spike tamed) Argon
Feb 22, 2019
Sel2g5
21
Feb 22, 2019
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KethMind blown! I havevyhe 503 and I'm hung up about the liquid velvet sound....is it detailed or not? I am enjoying it thoroughly though. Also, does the 789 have a dac or not? As far as the op sound signature desires I think it has to be to different headphones right? A bass monster closed back and a great mids sound stage airy open in my opinion.
Feb 22, 2019
Keth
760
Feb 22, 2019
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Sel2g5The 789 is just an amp, it's a faux balanced amplifier with high power output, and a solid single ended as well. A lot of balanced amps (like the Jot) have really bad single ended performance.
Feb 22, 2019
selmantabet
40
Feb 22, 2019
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KethCheers Keth, I'll drop the Marantz off my list.
Feb 22, 2019
selmantabet
40
Feb 22, 2019
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Sel2g5So you think that open backs wouldn't suit my sound signature preference? My current all day driver is an ANC headset lol. A Sony WH1000XM3.
Feb 22, 2019
Keth
760
Feb 22, 2019
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selmantabetThe only closed back high or semi high end headphones I have any experience with are V-Moda's...which are bass cans. Do you have a pretty quiet listening place where sound leakage isn't an issue? Would you say you want bass to have impact, or is extension more of a priority?
Feb 22, 2019
selmantabet
40
Feb 22, 2019
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KethI have my own room which has a fair amount of acoustic treatment. And I can pretty much use loudspeakers a fair bit without disturbing anybody. It's where I have my station/desktop and where I'll be spending my music listening time at. I don't expect sound leakage to be a problem and is the reason why I'm listing open back headphones in my options.
Feb 22, 2019
Sel2g5
21
Feb 28, 2019
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selmantabetOpen backs generally dont have "monster" bass. Of all my headphones, my beyer 770s (or B&W p7 wireless) probably have the most bass. I am waiting for the Acoustic Research H1s (my first massdrop) planars and they supposedly have deep bass. We'll see.
Feb 28, 2019
Sel2g5
21
Feb 28, 2019
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KethI also have a Teac 503, can I get your thoughts?? I havent done much ab but I also have an audioquest Dragonfly red, an Onkyo dp-x1 and a Marantz sr6011 AVR. Comparing with the Marantz, the Marantz seems brighter however also clearer. My Senn 600s on the Marantz are grating to me and on the 503 they are much smoother. The Stdy Slow filter is intersting as it seems to open up the soundstage a little. Build quality (as well as remote) seem top notch. Power is more than sufficient. My most demanding headphones (hifiman 400i) eat all the power that teh 503 can throw at it and still has reserve leftover.
Feb 28, 2019
Keth
760
Mar 1, 2019
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Sel2g5The thing about the 503 is that it's amazing for desktop use. You can use the line outs as fixed level for running through other amps (to use the 503 as just a dac) or set it to variable for use with powered monitors...though it is muted when headphones are connected. The screen, and buttons/knobs also feel better than on the Marantz. Beyond that it's about size and looks.
Mar 1, 2019
Onslash
166
Mar 20, 2019
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Keththe monoprice thx is terrible. thx themselves didn't actually design it 100% unlike massdrop's
Mar 20, 2019
Sel2g5
21
Mar 21, 2019
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KethIt definetly is versatile, I use it as a dac for my Marantz Pm15 S1, works great. So you think the headphone output sq is the same??
Mar 21, 2019
Keth
760
Mar 22, 2019
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OnslashThe amp and dac are fine, it's the firmware/software that Monoprice screwed up. Which is a real shame, because the hardware is solid.
Mar 22, 2019
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