Background
I am looking for some advice here, but I am also kind of lost, so I’ll apologize for the long post now.
I have been a portable only listener for quite a while and have just figured out how to work a desktop setup into my life and an looking for opinions on a few options I have as far as directions to go as a whole.
My Current Gear
The amp will be run on the LO of either my L&P P6 Pro or Hugo 2 for probably a decent while. My Current cans are Arya, Clear, LCD-X/XC, LCD-2C, and Argons Mk3. For portable amps, I currently have the Micro BL as well as a Mass Kobo 428. Only really notable other piece of source gear I have is a Honey H1 as an AOI device and for IEMs I have MEST, Starlight V4, and OG Nanna.
My Goal
I want a setup that will allow me to further explore what my current gear can do as well as prep me to better appreciate TOTL cans as I step up into them within the next year.
Budget and Considerations
My total immediately available budget is ~$3000, but less spent on amps obviously means more saved for cans down the road. Something to note is I have a fairly small physical space to work with. Most more medium sized amps should be fine, but big ones that aren’t rack mount flat out will not fit. Something else that is playing a role in my decisions is that I am massively curious about Susvara and plan to own a set by the end of the year. I will also be buying VCs in the B-stock sale in November, but my understanding is they aren’t crazy amp picky.
My Current Options
Option #1
Get a few (relatively) cheap amps (aka, a neutral amp, a warm amp, and probably some form of tube) to handle my current cans and figure out what I want.
Comments Option 1
The obvious downside here is that with several cheaper items the shipping costs become a much larger factor in the overall loss (especially when trying several) different options. I would also assume this option would mean I would be far more likely to want to upgrade pretty quickly once I step up to TOTL cans.
Comments Option 1 Cont.
Something else I am not sure of is just how big the quality jump is in amp from say, the $500 used range to the $1500 used range. Something I noticed in over ears is that the jump from more mid-fi cans like Ibasso SR-2 and LCD-2C to higher end cans like LCD-X and Clear is quite stark IMO. Stuff like detail, layering, image clarity, etc can all be experienced in the mid-fi range, but the higher end cans demonstrate 3-4 of these things at a time as opposed to just being great at a single one. If something similar happens with amps, tbh, I don’t really want to play in the range where they are less well rounded.
Option #2
Get one very good neutral amp
Comments Option 2
This option was what I was initially thinking of doing. I have several friends who love the combo of May/spring (which from what I can figure out have at least similar presentation to my P6P) → AHB2 → susvara (with varying passive pres). The fact that the AHB2 is pretty neutral while also being fairly versatile in being able to run basically any headphones is quite appealing to me. This appeal is further compounded by (my feeling) that a neutral source will give me a better idea as to how to properly judge the cans I currently (and will eventually) have. The topping on the cake is that I would be able to rack mount it and have to only keep the pre-amp on my desk while the amp can sit tucked away under it.
Comments Option 2 Cont.
My hesitation comes in a few parts. First, I am unsure if I actualy like a more neutral sound overall. I really enjoy my clears on the P6P → 428, but I also quite love them on the honey. TBH, I am so use to AIO devices that I am not super sure what kind of signature I would even like from an amp. Second, although it doesn’t do more demanding planars well, the 428 is a fairly neutral amp, so I feel like maybe I shouldn’t double down in that regard. Yes, the Micro BL is warm, so I do have at least some point of comparison, but the loss of quality from the H2/P6P direct our or the 428 is so stark I find it kind of hard to compare the two as it stands. Lastly, synergy gets talked about quite a bit for TOTL gear. This option is obviously the one that gives me the fewest options to find out where a can shines
Option #3
Get 1-2 solid amps that are a bit more well rounded
Comments Option 3
This obviously means I get to try less flavors, but if there is the same quality jump in amps there is in cans I would rather go with fewer flavors of more well rounded devices.
Comments Option 3 Cont.
Where this idea even came from is that I realized that a used (if you can find them) GSX-mini + ZMF Pendant are roughly the same price combined as a used AHB2 + Goldpoint is. Obviously these two specific amps aren’t set in stone, it just made me reevaluate the price levels of the items at hand.
Comments Option 3 Cont.
The downside here is that I cant verify that either of these will run susvara well, so if I dislike susvara on them I would feel the need to step up once again before I said for certain I dislike it (if I like it on them, thats great as is). Something else with these two specific amps (which again, can be changed as needed, I just want options that I can at least try everything on power wise) is also that they are both fairly flavored. Now maybe this plays well with the 428 serving as my neutral amp (which again, isnt too happy with insensitive planars, but at least will run them), but I’m not super sure.
TL;DR
I am realistically looking to discuss the types of options available far more so than I am specific amps. My goal really is to learn to listen more analytically and understand the differences between gear. I just have no idea what the best way to go about that is. Do I get several different ~$500 amps? Will I get much more well rounded products when jumping up in price? Do I just go all in on one item that will run anything and can be added to later? I am honestly just lost and would like to talk about the options at hand with yall.
and once again, sorry for the crazy long ramble post