Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
The Grados, to my ears, are fantastic rock headphones. Up front, intense and per the constant reviews bright sounding. But they're great. The HD650/6XX is a great all around can, but shines on jazz, blues and accoustic tracks, IMO.
I can't speak to classical.
My advice would be to get a qualityamp, a decent DAC, good source material and enjoy your music!
For amping, I've used everything from an 80gb iPod to a solid state dedicated headphone amp. The Grados sounded similar on all the solid state amps.
The HD-6XX/650 benefited from better amping, however. The bass was more full/better controlled and the mids and highs were more pronounced. The HD-6XX wasn't as "laid back" as before. In not so many words, it had more balls. Not as much as the Grados, but it was a different can, IMO.
If I was in your situation, and you know that you'll upgrade in a month, regardless if the Modi/Magni combo sounds great to your ears, looking into the Schiit Jotunheim might be wise. I haven't listened to it myself, but I've heard great things as far as synergy with the HD-6XX/650. Again, just what I've read over at SBAF...but they seem trustworthy in my experience.
Myself, I'd start with the Modi/Magni and enjoy the upgrade path. Both will pair well and likely make you quite pleased with your headphone purchases.
As far as tube amps go, I don't have much experience. I've demoed some tube amps, but nothing for extended listening. It sounded different, more liquid(?), but I didn't like the heat generated by the amp and the issue of changing tubes was a bummer.
The Bottle Head is a DIY assembly and I don't have the time to worry about soldering and possible trouble shooting.
Hope that helps, sir.