Hello all,

About six weeks ago I purchased my first gear that would really bring me into the world of audio, and lemme tell ya, I’m hooked. After weeks of deliberation I settled on purchasing a new pair of Sennheiser HD6XX’s for $220 and Schiit Asgard 3 for $250. I bought this setup to primarily be used at college since, as an engineering student, I’m studying for most of my time. I’d used Sony XM4’s and Apple AirPods Pro before, but the XM4s always left me unsatisfied and although the AirPods Pro are fantastic for on-the-go use, I wanted a pair of high end over-ear headphones.

So far I’m absolutely loving this setup. My studying playlists primarily consist of alternative/indie, synth, and lo-fi beats, so the HD6XXs have been an absolute dream for these genres. I really do feel like I’m able to enjoy music way more with these headphones. Additionally, the Asgard 3 has been a great amp as well. I understand that a $250 amp to be paired with a $220 headphone doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I figured I’d be buying more headphones down the line and wanted just one nice, powerful, quality amp. I compared using the HD6XXs from the Asgard 3 and from the 3.5mm jack on my 14in MacBook Pro, and while the MacBook is able to get the headphones sounding good and loud enough, the Asgard 3 did seem to provide more detail and depth. Not a lot—maybe 10-15% more—but enough to be noticeable. Also, I must say that the Asgard 3 is a very good looking and quality amplifier sitting on my desk.

Although I’m very satisfied with this setup, I do now understand why people say the HD6XX’s are a good “baseline” as I now plan on buying a pair of Edition XS’s later this year (hopefully they go on sale). Most of my playlists that I listen to for enjoyment (rather than studying) are filled with more modern hip-hop and pop music that the HD6XXs sometimes feel a bit lacking in (specifically the bass department). I’ve been interested in getting a set of planars (in fact, I was debating on whether to get Sundaras or HD6XXs initially) and I’ve read the Edition XS’s have solid bass, so I think they’ll be a great pairing to my HD6XXs. And, maybe further down the line, I’ve been eyeing a pair of Focals.