I’ve just ordered my SMSL SU-8 + SP200 stack and I’m now also looking at upgrading my current headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 770 250 ohm). I like them, but there are probably better ones for that stack now. Also I don’t know many headphones so I don’t have many comparison options.
Requirements:
Price up to ~500$ (if slightly higher, also OK)
MUST be closed back
Must fit well with that stack
Clarity/detail is VERY important
Decent bass is important (doesn’t have to be over the top though)
Comfort for longer sessions is also important (I’m not looking to replace the pads for example, they should be good out of the box… if it’s any indication, I really like the velour pads on the DT 770)
If you could easily attach a mod mic or something like that it would also be a plus
You might like the DT177x Go from Beyerdynamic. Pretty good detail for the price.
There’s also the Fostex T60rp, which imo has better detail than the DT177x Go. They are hard to drive but I think the SP200 is powerful enough. They have really good detail, even if the bass isn’t crazy or anything.
Fostex TR-x00/Th-x00, Beyerdynamic DT 177x, Beyerdynamic T5P (you can find them used for around $500ish), Neumann NDH 20, Denon AH-D5200, Shure SRH1540.
The Elegia are quite expensive here (price checks say around ~900).
I think I’ll first go for the DT 1770. They’re more of a direct upgrade to my current ones probably. Won’t sound too different I guess.
But… is it a waste to use headphones with just 1 input cable instead of 1 for each side (balanced) when you have a balanced DAC/amp?
Found 1 offer for ~700 € (771.74 $) for the Elegia. Still a bit expensive I think?
I’ve also read some negative stuff about the DT 1770 unfortunately (internal build quality not so good / one side randomly dying).
That’s not bad for the elegia, typically in the us new not on sale they are around 700. Have you perhaps checked used markets?
The 1770 doesn’t really have a build quality issue I think, its more the tuning that is pretty off tbh. While it’s most likely not available to you unfortunately, the dt177x go I think is a much better choice over the 1770 as it has a much more coherent tuning
Gotcha. Well 700 isn’t that bad for the elegia but it is over budget so there is that. You might be able to find a beyerdynamic t5p but that would most likely be over budget as well. The Neumann ndh20 sounds up your alley sound wise but not comfort wise, as it’s not the most comfortable. Fostex t60rp possibly?
Would there be a noticeable quality increase with that stack? I mean when you have 700-800 € headphones on a ~500€ stack? Would’t these kinds of headphones make more sense with a true high-end stack?
So the elegia isn’t that amp picky but does benefit from a good amp, and I think your stack is plenty good for it tbh. It depends on the headphones for how picky about amps they actually are
