Are these headphones & DAC still decent?

[bitchstewie]

I don't really "do" hi-fi any more but I do listen to a lot of podcasts and YouTube content and if I want to concentrate on it I usually use headphones which are a pair of Grado SR325e that Amazon mistakenly sent me when I ordered SR80e and a Meridian Explorer2 DAC.

Sounds pretty good to me for £210 but every so often I'll spot a DAC or set of headphones on Amazon and get tempted.

I get that headphones are a very personal thing but am I right in thinking I'd still need to spend a pretty decent sum on a DAC and headphones if I wanted anything most people would consider significantly "better"?

[Tony1963]

It’s up to you and yours ears and budget.
You’d need to try some ‘phones out in a shop really because, as you’ve said, they’re a very personal thing. I’ve had my Sennheisers since 1997 (jeepers…) but they’re so comfortable that I can’t face ditching them for something else just for the sake of it.

As with most things, for most of us, there’s always something better on the market. Just be glad for what you have. That’s my motto for now.

[wyson]

Bet you won't be able to tell a difference with those sources. Your audio will only be as good as the weakest link in the chain. No point trying to build a supercar using the 1.2 litre engine out of a Corsa.

I'd not worry about upgrading, even a set of Grado SR325e's is overkill.

I couldn't tell the difference using a LG G6 phone with quad dac (apparently equivalent to something like an AudioQuest Dragonfly Black) running Grado SR80s vs SR225's listening to Spotify 320kbps.

Edited by wyson on Monday 2nd January 08:57

[bitchstewie]

Thanks both, really not interested in upgrading other than when I sometimes get a YouTube video suggested and just find myself watching some random DAC being reviewed or what have you.

New shiny thing syndrome

Fully appreciate that for what I listen to probably anything is good enough but I must say the Explorer 2 seemed to make a significant difference when I got it compared to the headphone socket on my MacBook.

[wyson]

Yeah, I can imagine. I suppose using the Macbook 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple's 3.5mm wired earphones and listening to podcasts is like driving a 1.2 Corsa for driving enjoyment.

Adding an entry level DAC and a pair of Grado SR80's, is like sticking that Corsa's engine into a Mazda MX5. Definitely getting more enjoyment out of it, but its probably the maximum limit of what's sensible.

The Grado SR325's are already pushing entry level Cayman \ Civic Type R territory.

Edited by wyson on Monday 2nd January 11:15

[Tony1963]

bhstewie said:

Thanks both, really not interested in upgrading other than when I sometimes get a YouTube video suggested and just find myself watching some random DAC being reviewed or what have you.

New shiny thing syndrome

I gave up buying hifi and photography mags over twenty years ago, and life is better. I realised that with camera mags (not much photography content, really) the same old topics were rehashed year after year, and quite often the photos they were printing in the mags weren’t all that good. With hifi, similar, but how on earth can you tell what something will sound like in your room and system from what a magazine says? And as for YouTube… shouty Americans shouting at me about their latest shouty opinion? No thanks.

Life is cheaper.

[RowntreesCabana]

For what you're listening to, I'd get a decent pair of wireless in ear headphones. I bought a pair of Sony wf1000 xm3's.

Absolutely game changer for podcasts and YouTube. You will not believe how much better it is having the freedom of wireless. I still have wired headphones, but having the phone/tablet and these in my pocket for whenever I get the opportunity to listen in to a podcast or audiobook is a game changer, especially with noise cancelling for podcasts.

The Sony's sound excellent with music too.

[wyson]

Agree with that, wireless buds are definitely something to consider if you listen to music on the move and you want to get something shiny and new.

Grado do a decent pair, if you enjoy the Grado sound.

Could get a pair of bluetooth over ears as well.

They won’t sound as good as wired, but are much more convenient.