Headphones

[ViPER1313]

And what about the wires? High quality cables can mean the difference between a $5,000 pair of speakers sounding like $500 speakers and the way they should.

I'll also point out that just because something SHOULD be done does not mean that a manufacturer will reccomend it. Markets are not driven by honesty, not even a little bit.

The Grado SR80 requires little enough power that they sound terrific driven off an iPod or your computer's soundcard. Likewise for the SR60's, which sound incredible and are usually reccomended for use without a headphone amp (not to mention are the BEST deal in headphones today, period. They've won portable audio product of the year something like four times in a row from Stereophile magazine).

I won't say anything about break in periods, aside from the reccomendation rant, as I really don't know much about it. But wires, they will make a difference (I HAVE heard a difference between cheapies and decent jobs). I'm with the guys that can suck it.

I am not saying that you should try to pump 200w through a piece of 24ga wire, but any good 14/12ga wire from Home Depot should be more than adequate for a nice stereo system.

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Once again, other than blowhole "audiophiles" ranting about the benefits of expensive shit (must be better cause it's more expensive, right) can you do a blind test and tell the difference? The placebo effect is strong, and anyone who just spent $100 on wires wants them to sound better.

Real blind listening tests of interconnects ranging from $2.50 to $900 -
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