I have the Sennheiser HD600, Neumann NDH-30, Audeze LCD-X.
I use these with my SSL2 hp out, and with Qudelix 5K.
I spoke to someone about my impressions and his first question was: which dac/amp? and when I told, he just winked.
So my question is: is the difference this obvious with a more expensive dac/amp combo? Should I spend another 6-800 euro to get one? Do your headphones open up/perform that much better?
Absolutly. Most people here will tell you some crap like “if it gets loud enough its perfect”. Thats just not true. Most people who say that have never given it a try. On all headphones I tryed I have noticed significant differences between all sources. Just go to your local hifi shop, let them put some amps infront of you, pick a decently transparent headphone you enjoy and then go and listen. 95% of people who claim that qudelix 5k is the best amp out there and nothing can beat it cause “dacs have reached perfection” have never done this for sure.
Have you done a blind test? The proof is always in the pudding…
Why would I blind test? If I am not biased at the beginning and the differences are obvious as can be why wouldnt I just trust my ears?
The problem with this a/b blind switching is that if you do it enough you wont hear a difference nomore because the brain corrects using its memory. Thats what it always does btw. It basically tryes to translate all input to “i have heard something alike so I can understand this”. Thats why good timbre is so important. It makes listening more easy for your brain.
So my question: have you done a single listening session were you just relaxed and listened to alot of different stuff?
Blind testing doesn’t mitigate only conscious biases, but subconscious ones as well. Simply saying “I’m not biased” is insufficient; otherwise there would be no point in double blind experiments.
Even a tiny volume mismatch will make the device outputting the higher volume sound better to anyone.
You’re spreading bullshit, please stop.