Behringer UCA 222

Behringer, $30.63, Purchased from Amazon, Returned, Refunded
Behringer UCA 222 - For $30 what a great deal!  The Sennheiser HD201 and UCA 222 may be the perfect $50 setup.  Not very loud and not as musical as the uDAC, but detailed and fun.  Not as powerful as iBasso D10, not as detailed, not as spacious, but a 10th the cost, pretty darn good!

iBasso D6

iBasso D6, $275, Purchased from iBasso, Returned, Refunded 
iBasso D6 - Silver, still deciding if I like the silver, I ordered in black and silver arrived.  Switches more solid feeling than the D4.  Potentiometer quiet on turn on, Gain and Battery / USB switches quiet.  On first listen, D4 sounds more powerful with more air than D6.  Smaller soundstage than D4, more intimate sounding.  More analytic sounding than D4 and a little "brittle" sounding. 

ibasso D4 vs. D6

iBasso D4, $199, D6, $275 purchased from iBasso

iBasso D4 - Potentiometer a little "squeaky", makes a mechanical echo noise on turn on, as if something is vibrating inside the case.  Gain and Battery / USB switch throw too long and feel cheap.  Slightly thinner case than D6.  Larger soundstage, more air, blacker background than D6.  Non rechargeable 9V battery

iBasso D6 - Silver, still deciding if I like the silver, I ordered in black and silver arrived.  Switches more solid feeling than the D4.  Potentiometer quiet on turn on, Gain and Battery / USB switches quiet.  On first listen, D4 sounds more powerful with more air than D6.  Smaller soundstage than D4, more intimate sounding.  More analytic sounding than D4 and a little "brittle" sounding.

Tested with Beyer Dynamic DT770 Edition 250 ohm

Case Logic Case

Case Logic Nintendo Case, $9.99
Wonderful hard sided case, will fit Nuforce uDAC or iBasso D4 & D10 perfectly.  I keep my 6" USB in the cable compartment.

iBasso D10

iBasso D10, $245, iBasso, Returned, Refunded

Good amp, but not as good as the D4.  Don't need optical in, thought it was important, but not needed.   The soundstage is not in the same league as the D4. 

Build Quality - 6.5, potentiometer a little funky, not as well made as uDAC

Bass - 7

Mid Range - 6, mids a little recessed

Treble - 6, a little bright

Rating 1-10, 10 being the best

Beyerdynamic DT770 32 ohm

Beyer Dynamic DT 770, 32 ohm, $249.00, Amazon, Returned, Refunded

Great headphones, would keep except the Beyer Dynamic DT 770 250 is more dynamic.  The the felt covered ear cups.  A little big for bringing to the library, but would rather deal with larger headphones with great sound quality.

Build Quality - 7, Plastic hinge seems a little delicate

Comfort - 8.5, very comfortable, ear cups fully cover ears

Bass - 9, Tight, rich bass

Mid Range - 7, mids a little recessed

Treble - 8, balanced treble 

Rating 1-10, 10 being the best

Audio-Technica ATH-A700

Audio-Technica ATH-A700, $127.34, Amazon, Returned, Refunded

Stereophile rates the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 "Class A".  The Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 is an open headphone, while the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 is a closed headphone.  Maybe the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 is very different is character than the Audio-Technica ATH-A700, because the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 is not in the same league as the Sennheiser HD800 or HD650 (both also rated "class A").

Hoping that the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 was an inexpensive closed headphone in the league as the DT770 32ohm, but no such luck.  The soundstage is small and compact, sounds like the instruments are right next to my head.

Build Quality - 6, Lot's of plastic, doesn't feel like they will last very long

Comfort - 6.5, large ear cups fully enclose ears, the headphones feel as if they are falling down my head 

Bass - 5, thin sounding bass

Mid Range - 6, Realistic sounding 

Treble - 6.5

Rating 1-10, 10 being the best

Beyerdynamic DT770 32 ohm vs 250 ohm

Beyerdynamic DT770 32 ohm vs 250 ohm
Started with the DT770 32 ohm, the best sounding closed headphone to date (except the Denon 2000).  Then compared to the DT770 250 ohm, larger soundstage and dynamic range.  Will return the DT770 32ohm

Compared with the iBasso D4

Chinese BBQ

When I bought the D10, I plugged in the unit and got a strong smell of electrical circuits.  Now I understand some of the "Chinese BBQ" comments on HeadFi.  The iBasso D4 is a great unit, but it does not have the fit and finish of the Nuforce uDAC.

After comparing the D10 to the D4, shipping back the D4, first I got a price of $108 for shipping to China using UPS, no way.  Then priced USPS, $64.58, still expensive, but within my "hobby budget".

I don't want to add up all of my shipping costs, afraid what I might find.  A down side of the hobby is many of the vendors are in Asia and shipping back and forth is expensive!

iBasso D10 vs. iBasso D4

iBasso D10 - Sort of a pain to charge, the D4 is simple remove rear cover and insert 9V.   Compared to the D4, sounds distant and shallow.  Optical input improves soundstage width, but still not a match for the D4 soundstage, too much in to small a space?   If the D4 sounds better through USB, no reason to get D10.  Not sure how else to say it, the optical has more air than the USB, but D10 sounds distant.

iBasso D4 - Bigger soundstage than D10, also more power more authority.  Running from 9V seems to have more authority than USB.  Plenty of power for HD650, always want more but boy do they sound sweet, not sure what people were talking about "can't use D4 with HD650".  Simple easy headphone amp/DAC, more authority and dynamism than D10.  Curious about the Topflight kit, will order.   Will order short USB.

Comparison with:
Sennheiser HD650
Beyerdynamic DT770 32ohm
Sennheiser HD201

1000 Paintings

I had an Art teacher, one day she said to the class, "a student asked me, "how do I know a good painting?", and I answered go see 1000 painting and you will know".

Don't know if I will make it to 1000 headphones.

Portable Amps

Portable Amps

1. iBasso D10 - Smaller than imagined, Chinese BBQ smell, a little unnerving, also the potentiometer makes a click when turning on that sounds like something is loose.  Not as well made as I imagined, potentiometer does not track well, from 6 to 9 seems out of proportion to 9 to 1.  Makes me appreciate the uDAC craftsmanship. More detailed than 222, but not as spacious or detailed as NFB-12, makes me want to try Nuforce HDP.  Curios about USB vs. optical.  Black background.
2. uDAC-1 - Not as detailed as D10, not as powerful, not as detailed.  But for half the price pretty damn close.
3. Behringer UCA 222 - For $30 great deal!  HD201 and UCA 222 may be the perfect $50 setup.  Not very loud and not as musical as the uDAC, but detailed and fun.  Not a powerful as D10, not as detailed, not as spacious, but a 10th the cost, pretty good.

HD650 vs DT770-32 vs DT250-250 vs HFI-780 vs HD201

$100-$400 Headphones

1. Sennheiser HD650 - Sound Dark with the D10, blow away the DT770 32ohm (not fair comparing open HD650s to DT770s).  Love these phones, curious about comparison to HD600, less dark sounding?  Listening at about 1 o'clock on the D10, USB.  Made in Ireland.
2. Beyerdynamic DT770 32 ohm - So far my favorite closed headphone, comfortable, musical, good soundstage.  Big to carry in my bag.  Well made and easy to listen to all day. Made in Germany.
3. Beyerdynamic DT250 -250 ohm - Remind me of the Sony MDR7506, very detailed and but not engaging. Think they would get tiring for a full day of listening. Smaller soundstage than DT770 32ohm.  Very dry, just sound right.  Engineered for mixing, not recreating music. Comfortable, not as comfortable as the HD650 or DT770.  Eat cups a little small, don't sit around ears.  Toughest to drive of the four, need to change high gain and turn up volume.  Made in Germany  
4. Ultrasone 780 - Smaller soundstage than DT770 32ohm, funny sound stage, pianos above my head? Music from the middle of my head?, almost an IEM sensation.  Like the form factor, ear fold flat and ear cups fit over ears.  Doesn't sound musical or engaging, like the sound is being played in the next room.  Soundstage opens up with D10 compared to UCA 222, more detail, but funny soundstage, not 180 degrees, more left right sounding.  Weird soundstage, drums coming from right then left, drums are directional.  Making me nauseous, like someone running around room with the microphone.  Too bright sounding. Made in Taiwan. 
5. Sennheiser HD201 - Still amazing $20, going from HD650 to the HD201, big difference, but the HD201 are still without major fault.  Would like to try rewiring.  Made in China.

Notes:

1. All listened to through iBasso D10, USB

Next steps:

1. Order DT770 250 ohm, compare to DT770 32 ohm
2. Return Everything except HD201
3. Order iBasso D4
4. Order uDAC-2
5. Try Fostex
6. Order case or bag for DT770
7. Order Topflight kit $60
8. 6" USB to mimi USB