Here is my concern with the "non upgrade "thought process. IMO, you need to maximize the quality of the amp to fully take advantage of the upgraded headphones. Think of it in order of $$$$ magnitude. Just using MSRP, Senn HD650's are $500, the HD800's $1500. The headphone upgrade costs $1000 or three times the cost of the HD650's. I am befuddled by the idea that it is a better sound value investment than upgrading the amp!! The law of diminishing returns is unavoidable.
So are the 800 better than the 650's? Yes, but by what level of improvement and where in the reproduction spectrum is that improvement achieved? For the sake of argument, let's say that the 800's are 25% better for the 1000 bucks more. (the %age improvement is probably a bit high given audio's diminishing returns slope!) Just for grins & giggles, let's say each 1% improvement costs $40!! ($1000/25%)
Does the stock built Crack capture 100%of the HD650 capability? Probably not. So logically the stock Crack would capture an even lower percentage of the 800's improvement. The basic tenet of "match the amp to the speakers/headphones" is still valid! ( Just a thought! If I were looking to get the 800's, I would probably be looking at the Mainline first. Likely a better match!!)
Every commercial product is built to a price point. This includes kits. The reason for DIY kits, to me, is simple....buy a well engineered design, (anything from Doc, PJ, etal at BH), and then address the "price point" selection with better quality. For example, the stock Crack's major commercial compromise, IMO, is the electrolytic output caps. The caps are very good electrolytics, but they are 'lytics. I am assuming that the caps were chosen based on cost, size and ease of construction for the builder. But even very good "for audio" electrolytic caps are not that great sounding as compared to film caps.
The design of the Crack will let you hear every improvement, but logically the first upgrade step must be the output caps! Why? Every other upgrade to the signal path must go through the output caps to get to the headphones. So what is the cost of improving the output caps? It can be fairly low by bypassing the 'lytics with quality film caps or outrageous with high capacitance boutique caps.
So what would I do before dropping $40 for each 1% improvement?
1) Change out, (or bypass), the output caps for the best quality/size fit caps that I can accommodate.
2) Change out the stock volume pot for a high quality TDK, Noble, Alps or stepped attenuator, (remember the source signal goes through here before any amplification!)
3) Improve the power supply with a choke and a film/PIO final PS cap. Clean power = clean signal!
Now once I have done all of this I can compare the 650's to the 800's, (insert your favorite $$$ blackholes here!) Short read...Spend a $100 for a far greater improvement, before you spend an additional $1000 for a potentially lesser overall improvement. You may find that giving your current phones the benefit of the best that the Crack offers is all you need!
Of course YMMV!
Cheers,
Geary
« Last Edit: February 27, 2014, 11:31:42 AM by galyons »
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