Denon AH-D2000 for privacy/workplace, Sennheiser HD580 (upgraded to HD600 spec) for home use, NAD VISO HP50 for serious mobile use, and Westone W30 in-ear with triple flange for max portability.
At work, I amp using a Dragonfly Red outboard DAC, which frankly, I like less than my old NuForce Icon2. (I would've happily stayed with the Nuforce, but Apple cluelessly bricked older "dumb amps" like the Icon2 when they "upgraded" their audio code in MacOS Sierra. Morons.) The Dragonfly just doesn't seem to add anything beyond the system amp.
On my Mac, I drive the external DAC using the Vox app because it has a parametric equalizer. On my i[Phone|Pad], I playback using the Equ app, which also offers para EQ.
I love the Denons. They enhance bass a bit and don't export my music enough to annoy coworkers. The Senn HD-580s are great, but feel a bit "cool" compared to the warmer Denons (due to the open cushions). But their smoothness is effortless; I can listen to them all day long. The NADs cut out surrounding noise really well and offer surprisingly good fidelity for such lightweight cans. I like the Westones mostly for their portability; their sound quality just can't match any of my full-sized cans and IMHO depend too much on a good seal from the triple flanges.
I also own Grado SR325Es, but could never warm to them. Their bass is substantially weaker than my other phones, though mid-to-upper reproduction is exemplary.
Comments
Denon AH-D2000 for privacy/workplace, Sennheiser HD580 (upgraded to HD600 spec) for home use, NAD VISO HP50 for serious mobile use, and Westone W30 in-ear with triple flange for max portability.
At work, I amp using a Dragonfly Red outboard DAC, which frankly, I like less than my old NuForce Icon2. (I would've happily stayed with the Nuforce, but Apple cluelessly bricked older "dumb amps" like the Icon2 when they "upgraded" their audio code in MacOS Sierra. Morons.) The Dragonfly just doesn't seem to add anything beyond the system amp.
On my Mac, I drive the external DAC using the Vox app because it has a parametric equalizer. On my i[Phone|Pad], I playback using the Equ app, which also offers para EQ.
I love the Denons. They enhance bass a bit and don't export my music enough to annoy coworkers. The Senn HD-580s are great, but feel a bit "cool" compared to the warmer Denons (due to the open cushions). But their smoothness is effortless; I can listen to them all day long. The NADs cut out surrounding noise really well and offer surprisingly good fidelity for such lightweight cans. I like the Westones mostly for their portability; their sound quality just can't match any of my full-sized cans and IMHO depend too much on a good seal from the triple flanges.
I also own Grado SR325Es, but could never warm to them. Their bass is substantially weaker than my other phones, though mid-to-upper reproduction is exemplary.