At some point soon I hope to update my headphone rig. My current setup is as follows:
Oppo PM-3
Dragonfly Cobalt
(fed by) Ropieee XL
My maximum budget is no more that 2K GBP (hopefully less), and I’m going round in circles as to what would be the best choice. At this stage I’m looking at the Focal Celestee as a good upgrade for the PM-3s (any alternative suggestions need to be closed-back), and possibly a Topping DX7 Pro or Schitt Lyr (with multibit DAC). Both are combined DACs/Amps, but I’m also open to suggestions for a two box solution.
In terms of the DX7 vs. Lyr: I’m impressed by the measurements for the DX7 - there’s a lot to be said for an affordable but transparent system - but I know that I tend to prefer ‘warmer’ to clinical/sterile, hence the Lyr.
Any (and all) suggestions would be gratefully received.
I use Topping A90/D90 combo with Focal Clears. About $2600 USD.
I think if I were to do the headphones anew, I would get something from ZMF.
I have the older model Lyr. I don’t really care for Schiit stuff. I don’t think they’re anything special and there’s other stuff out there at least as good for the money.
I am intrigued by the Feliks amps.
I do have a pair of Vidars as monoblocks for my main system.
I own ZMF Verité closed, they are wonderful, but unfortunately they don’t fit your budget. The other ZMF closed headphones are the Eikon and the Atticus, more within your budget, but I never heard them. The Lyr 3 is very different from the original Lyr that @xxx mentioned. The Lyr 3 is mostly neutral with a touch of tube warmth depending on the tube used. It has lots of power making it competent for both dynamic and planar headphones. In my experience it can only be beat by much pricier tube amps.
The ZMF Veritié look great, but no, they definitely don’t fit the budget. I’ll have to bear those ones in mind for the future. And thanks for the info on the Lyr 3, that fits with what I’ve read elsewhere. The only other candidate I’m thinking about at the moment is the RME ADI-2 DAC FS - it measures well and seems to have quite a few extra features that appeal to me.
Long term watcher but not author here. I have a load of gear, speakers and headphones and used to own the PM3.
I just invested in an RME ADI-2 DAC FS and Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire (closed). The headphones follow the preferred Harman curve more than others for the brand. I’m delighted and I listen to everything from classical to jazz to rock to electronic.
Personally you can always EQ to tweak sound if you are prepared to spend time - either in Roon or the ADI. Make sure you put the high power mode on for your headphones on the DAC if you buy it!
A big step up in terms of resolution and low end clarity without adding too much low end “boom”. They don’t sound sterile or too much “fizz” - in essence very balanced with more resolution and more low end.
I was going to spend 2x on the Ether 2 but glad I didn’t. Perhaps the open back would have been more natural but practicality needs to win out sometimes!
I can’t afford to spend 2x as much, and there’s no way I’d get way with open backed
One more quick question, if you don’t mind. I’ve found the PM3s to be a little bit uncomfortable at times - the clamping force seems a bit high, and my ears sometimes get squashed - how are the Aeon’s in comparison?
No problems - i’ve a fairly small head so this doesn’t bother me and therefore hard to comment - sorry. I used to get some pressure on the top of my head, They are light (~300g) and the band does a good job to distribute their weight.
I have a Chord Mojo / Poly with Beyerdynamic T5p 2nd Gen (closed back) and I love this combination. The Beyerdynamics are comfortable for hours on end. They’re also slightly warm, so may be to your liking. I replaced the cable as this suffers from microphonics and added velvet ear pads for comfort.
I was referring to ZMF phones, not the amps. If you want warmth, try the Aeolus or its closed back equivalent. They are specifically designed to be on the warm side.
I plan on pairing an Aeolus with a Feliks amp and Black Ice tube DAC.
I have the Celestees (primarily needed a closed back for my commute, when it returns) and the Topping D90/A90 and it’s a winning combination.
I have the new Clear MGs, too and prefer them marginally to the Celestees but by degree. I have a ZMF Aeolus on order and will match it with a ZMF Pendant tube amp.
My personal experience is that you can get everything you need within your budget. My non-expert (and limited budget) opinion is that you should invest most of your $$$ in your budget for the headphones, and you can get a nice DAC and amp within what’s left. You can always spend more, I certainly know, but you don’t need to to get a great experience within your budget.
At the moment I’m definitely leaning towards the Celestees, so it’s good to hear you’re happy with them. The Pendant looks great - I do think there’s something special about Tube amps - but I suspect I’ll end up going for either the Topping DX7, RME AD-2 or maybe the Lyr. I definitely need to do some auditioning - not possible at the moment - or maybe I’ll end up just ordering anyway and return if necessary. A larger budget would help, but it’s certainly large enough for what I need at the moment, assuming I don’t buy something totally useless
