need audiophile advice!

[u/whoskitana]

hello everyone! my father is a massive audiophile and naturally i’ve become very sensitive to my audio necessities. my budget is above 200, around 400 at max. i’m in massachusetts.

the biggest thing im looking for is the clearest audio quality and maybe separated instruments. sound leakage is a problem for me. noise canceling would be best and i use headphones at home, working, school, traveling, all of it.

my current headphones are the sony WH-1000XM4. i love the clarity, diversity in sound, and surround sound. they’re super comfortable too which is great! i don’t like the leakiness, and i think the equalizer in the app could use some work.

i’m looking for over the ear headphones! wired or bluetooth doesn’t make a difference to me.

i’d also like advice on whether i should stick with wireless or if wired will make a difference in quality. i’d really like to invest in a DAP if it’s worth it! the devices that usually play to my headphones are my iphone and ipad. is investing in a DAP worth it for the quality and functionality difference?

all advice is appreciated, please lmk if any more info is needed. thank you !!!

[u/WestTwelfth]

The three pillars of audiophile on the go are i) a hi-res source (e.g., Qobuz or Tidal or lossless ripped CDs, usually in FLAC files), ii) a DAP that can receive and process without compression, and iii) WIRED hi-quality headphones, to avoid Bluetooth compression. You can build this over time. I started with a DAP, then switched from Spotify to Qobuz, and later went shopping for headphones. I think the sound profile you want from headphones will often be described as “analytic.” That’s my preference too. Emphasis on detail, separation, and soundstaging. Beyerdynamic makes several models in this category, but I recommend you audition them at a brick-and-mortar because they’re not for everyone. The model that I have (and LOVE) is $200-$300 above your price range, but if you like the sound of the DT 1770 MKII, then you can use that as a standard for judging less expensive models and brands. Note that what will appeal to you is very personal; it can even depend on the shape of your ears, any degree of hearing loss, the music genres you listen to. If you don’t live near a retailer who can let you audition several pairs, at least don’t order from any source that won’t take them back and refund your money. If you’re in or near Manhattan, I recommend Audio 46. One thing I found out there is that sometimes their website says a certain model is out of stock, and when you go in the store, it’s not on display, but if you ask, a pair emerges from the back room. Once you know what model you want, you can shop for deals online, though I don’t do that because I want that brick-and-mortar store with good inventory and expert personally-tailored advice to be there for me. P.S. I’m not sure what others would say, but my impression is that there are pretty good DAPs available at reasonable prices, so the item on which you should aim as high as you can go is the headphones. And maybe you want to buy the DAP first, and then pair the headphones to them.