Newbie need advice on creating my first system

[chanwhk]

Hi

I basically want to start creating a system mainly for AUDIO listening with a headphone. Headphones like K701, ATH-W1000..etc (Just personally listening, no speakers)

I am starting blank and have a quite limited buget (around 600-800USD). I have a Laptop and some portable music player, but wanting to enjoy a higher audio experience. I am a violin player myself and enjoy listening to Classical. I also listening to some Jazz, pop's, and RNB's.. so perhpas a system that works better for Classical with a pretty good bass.

Here are my questions:
1) Should I build a system with use of my Laptop, get a external sound card and get a headphone hook up with it? (I don't know if it can push the headphone to better, more detail sound.) Or is it possible to add a headphone amp between it?)
2) Should I build a system with a CD or DVD player, connected to a ... er... receiver..? ... AMP? ... DAP?? and to a headphone?
3) Does DAP work with laptops?


.

 

[chanwhk]

can anyone help me?

 

[mnnc]

Hi

I basically want to start creating a system mainly for AUDIO listening with a headphone. Headphones like K701, ATH-W1000..etc (Just personally listening, no speakers)

I am starting blank and have a quite limited buget (around 600-800USD). I have a Laptop and some portable music player, but wanting to enjoy a higher audio experience. I am a violin player myself and enjoy listening to Classical. I also listening to some Jazz, pop's, and RNB's.. so perhpas a system that works better for Classical with a pretty good bass.

Here are my questions:
1) Should I build a system with use of my Laptop, get a external sound card and get a headphone hook up with it? (I don't know if it can push the headphone to better, more detail sound.) Or is it possible to add a headphone amp between it?)
2) Should I build a system with a CD or DVD player, connected to a ... er... receiver..? ... AMP? ... DAP?? and to a headphone?
3) Does DAP work with laptops?






.

I would purchase an a/v recv'r and a pair of 500 or 600 series Sennheisers. Recv'r or amp for about $400-$500 and many to choose from in this price range(Yamaha or Denon would be best overall bet), Oppo dvd/cd player $200, and a couple hundred on the Sennheisers. You can even get the wireless headphones and walk around pulling off some sick riffs on that violin! Speaking of sick violin riffs...listen to Jean Luc Ponty?

Later on just add speakers and a subwoofer for a system that handles both music and movies/tv. Happy listening.

 

[chanwhk]

listen to Jean Luc Ponty?

no I don't~

I though getting a cd/dvd player would be better off for the long run. too
external sound card is quite limited and I doubt that they gonna last very long.

 

[Nick250]

My favorite headphones are the Senns HD580. The current 650 should be a bit better I suspect. The thing to keep in mind is that these headphones will sound muddy and weak with most portable listening devices because they need a fair amount of umphh to drive them. The 580s have sounded fine on all of the 4 receivers I have owned since I bought them on. Anyway, if I had it to do all over I would still get the 580/600/650 Senns. They have a full rich sound that to me is delicious. For portable I use Koss Porta Pros because they are very easy to drive.

Nick

 

[mnnc]

no I don't~

I though getting a cd/dvd player would be better off for the long run. too
external sound card is quite limited and I doubt that they gonna last very long.

ok...tried to help but guess you will have to wait until stuff on Star Trek becomes reality to find what you are looking for. Good luck.

BTW...Ponty ripps.

 

[jamiecrane]

Hi

I basically want to start creating a system mainly for AUDIO listening with a headphone. Headphones like K701, ATH-W1000..etc (Just personally listening, no speakers)

I am starting blank and have a quite limited buget (around 600-800USD). I have a Laptop and some portable music player, but wanting to enjoy a higher audio experience. I am a violin player myself and enjoy listening to Classical. I also listening to some Jazz, pop's, and RNB's.. so perhpas a system that works better for Classical with a pretty good bass.

Here are my questions:
1) Should I build a system with use of my Laptop, get a external sound card and get a headphone hook up with it? (I don't know if it can push the headphone to better, more detail sound.) Or is it possible to add a headphone amp between it?)
2) Should I build a system with a CD or DVD player, connected to a ... er... receiver..? ... AMP? ... DAP?? and to a headphone?
3) Does DAP work with laptops?


.

Since you already have a laptop I would recommend this...
SB3 as a source
Headphone amp (I vote tube?!?)
Headphones-I have Senn 595 and like them enough. There are better ones out there but I got a good deal I have grados too but I like them better for rock type music (thicker sounding-good with electric guitar). The Senns are a little more forward and are good for vocal and instrumental music.

When you are ready to expand this system will move with you and you can add a rcvr and some bookshelfs in the future when you have the room and funds.

Jamie