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Which set of headphones is better: http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc^fs^MV1 or http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/pdfs/HD280.pdf I don't have a studio or make music, I'm not a DJ or a professional, I just want some better headphones and these 2 are in my price range. (Or I think the HD280's are 190 the website doesn't say.)
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 09:09 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 01:34 |
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plester1 posted:I think you're supposed to wrap the cord behing your neck, not below your chin. I still prefer the straight Y-cord, but again, just a preference.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 11:14 |
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thehandtruck posted:Which set of headphones is better:  Edit: The Koss' are $120, also.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 11:20 |
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Fantastipotamus posted:Interesting.. That may be the reason I always felt they were awkward. Still kind of a cheap design. One of the best features of my old Sennheiser HD570s was the main cable went to the left ear, and the wire for the right went throught the headband. I like that design much more than the Y-cord.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 12:49 |
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pim01 posted:How did the extremely small amp you were building turn out, anyway? Pretty well, but 9v batteries aren't ideal for something that small; I never did find a good case.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 12:50 |
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J-cords suck. Around the neck or in front, it sucks. The Yuin Pk2 I have has a J-cord and I hate it oh so much; enough that when the version with y-cord is released I'm going to sell my current pair and get the new one. thehandtruck posted:I don't have a studio or make music, I'm not a DJ or a professional, I just want some better headphones and these 2 are in my price range. (Or I think the HD280's are 190 the website doesn't say.) If you aren't looking for closed circumaurals in particular, others to consider and research are Sennheiser HD595, open circumaurals and considered great unamped for all kinds of music; and the Grado SR-225, open supraaurals, with Grado being considered the best for rock music in general. Generic recommendations, but you didn't give anything specific about what you want in your headphones
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 15:04 |
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what is it about sennheisers that goons love so much? i have yet to find a pair that sounded good. they all seem bass heavy to me...even with an amp.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 18:13 |
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Sorry for not giving any specifics in what I want out of my headphones, I had no idea there was so much to it! Mainly I want quality. But I also want closed ear because people are loud. A good bass is important but I'd rather not be able to hear people and have closed ear than be able to hear them and have open ear. They should be sturdy, and hopefully collapsible.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 19:21 |
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My Sennheisers have not been bass heavy, which is part of why I like 'em so much.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 22:02 |
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flyboi posted:what is it about sennheisers that goons love so much? i have yet to find a pair that sounded good. they all seem bass heavy to me...even with an amp. I've owned HD580s since 1999 and I've loved them, even unamped. I just consider them effortlessly comfy and tonally neutral. I've never noticed any bass issues - maybe cheaper ones? They certainly have lowered their level of across-the-line-quality since dipping down into the budget market.
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| # ? Mar 29, 2007 23:28 |
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I purchased some Fontopia per recommendation in this thread, and they sound good enough for my lovely taste in music. The odd cord is kind of annoying, but i'm sure i'll get over it. 
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| # ? Mar 30, 2007 00:28 |
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Thanks to this thread and the previous headphone thread, I just emailed Gary about ordering the PA2V2 and will order the ATH-AD700s once I figure out what to get for portable use. I don't want clip-ons or around-the-neck type things but small headphones, earbuds, canalphones are fine. I'd rather they not be too isolating so I'm not completely oblivious to everything but my music, however I do want at least some isolation for long flights (I visit Taiwan 2-4 times a year). I'll set the budget at around $100 but if there's something that'll suit my needs for a little more, that's ok too. Any recommendations? [edit] Just ordered the ATH-CK7s. 
Souffle fucked around with this message at Mar 31, 2007 around 07:59 |
| # ? Mar 30, 2007 07:40 |
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iPodschun posted:If that's $190 US, I'm going to beat Agreed to the punch and suggest the Audio Technica ATH series of closed headphones... It's not, they've been selling for $90 for the past 2 years if you've ever looked at them. As Fantastipotamus said a couple of posts ago: "between $80 for the Dynamic Collapsible and $99 for the silver closed version of the 280 from Amazon"...which is partially incorrect ... because they're the same headphones! Both are closed, dynamic, collapsible, 500mW, 102dB, 64ohm, same cable, same everything, except the color plastic on the earcups. (there is a 300 ohm version out there, but you're not likely to find those)
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| # ? Mar 30, 2007 10:35 |
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UserNotFound posted:It's not, they've been selling for $90 for the past 2 years if you've ever looked at them. flyboi posted:what is it about sennheisers that goons love so much? i have yet to find a pair that sounded good. they all seem bass heavy to me...even with an amp.
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| # ? Mar 30, 2007 16:30 |
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iPodschun posted:He linked to the Sennheiser site, where they're still listed for $199. thehandtruck clarified he wants circumaural headphones, which unfortunately eliminated Grado (shucks, I like turning people onto a Good Thing). The Sennheiser HD25 might be something to look into, at the same price point as the HD280's. They're different in that they more sit on your ears than COMPLETELY around them like the 280s, and sound generally punchier than how I'd catagorize most Sennheizers. The earpieces rotate flat, and the headband is pretty small (opens up into a split band design), and the cord unplugs from the phones unlike the 280's. They actually take up less space in a bag than the 280's collapsing design. As for goons and Sennheiser? They're just good, and easy to get ahold of. You'd have to be really picky to actively dislike a decent pair of Senns, or deaf to not notice that they're leaps and bounds better than any generic headphone. Souffle posted:...I figure out what to get for portable use. Shure e2c, UltimateEars, and Etymotic er6 are all the standards around $100, but are pretty isolating. Shure has a newer canal phone, the CX300 for about $40, but they're near identical to the Sharp MD-33 and the Creative ep630. All three I believe have the J cord, and air pretty microphonic. I personally have the MD33's and love them now that i've modded the 4 pole plug to work with 3 on any player in my shirtpocket. UserNotFound fucked around with this message at Mar 30, 2007 around 20:32 |
| # ? Mar 30, 2007 20:08 |
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flyboi posted:what is it about sennheisers that goons love so much? i have yet to find a pair that sounded good. they all seem bass heavy to me...even with an amp. I have the 595s and they definitely don't seem bottom heavy to me at all. Which models have you tried?
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| # ? Mar 30, 2007 20:10 |
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Agreed, old buddy. I'm back. I recently bought the Audio-Technica M40fs and I think they are really, really good for closed phones under 100$. What's your opinion on those?
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| # ? Mar 31, 2007 10:21 |
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Scrapez posted:I have the 595s and they definitely don't seem bottom heavy to me at all. Which models have you tried? HD650, HD590, HD280s and their noise canceling line (totally useless)
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| # ? Mar 31, 2007 15:06 |
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flyboi posted:HD650, HD590, HD280s and their noise canceling line (totally useless) The HD650 are bass-heavy compared to Grados, but most things are. The HD590s are, in my opinion, their poorest quality higher end headphones, and sound generally bad (though some really like their sound). However, you think the HD280pro are bass heavy? They have a huge roll-off starting around 100hz, picking up drastically at 70hz and terminating at ~40hz. They're as bass-light as you can be and still reproduce the frequencies in question. I am not calling into question your judgment, but I would like to point out that not many would say the HD280 are bass heavy based solely on their frequency response, and subjective listening ought to confirm that. I know that I miss bass a lot when I use them, though the isolation helps to make up for it. Their noise cancelling line is also pretty even in bass response, though they emphasize certain frequency ranges associated with "bass punch." Sennheisers are characteristically dark, in the high end, but not the HD280 or the portables. The HD650 is the darkest of the HD555/580/595/600/650 lineup, so I could see finding it too bass-heavy if you don't like bass. Either way, if you think they're too bassy, that's certainly valid and I would not begin to argue that you're judging unfairly given the physical and psychological subjectivity of audio. Shroom Soup posted:Agreed, old buddy. I'm back. Haven't tried them. How would you characterize their sound? I might need to pick up a pair.
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| # ? Mar 31, 2007 17:47 |
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The Audio Technica ATH-A500's are on sale for $79 and I was thinking of picking them up. Any comments on this pair of cans? I'm going to be running them through my iPod, and this is my first pair of headphones beyond the iPod earbuds. Would this be a good choice?
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| # ? Apr 1, 2007 05:39 |
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Any one got any opinions on the Audio Technica ATH-EW9? AHTW-EW9 specs. I own a pair and will admit right off I bought them partly because they are really really nice looking, but mostly because I think audio technica is quality, and the size was perfect. Ear buds or the bulky style ear muffs are just uncomfortable.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2007 07:59 |
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Jimmy Jazz posted:The Audio Technica ATH-A500's are on sale for $79 and I was thinking of picking them up. Any comments on this pair of cans? I'm going to be running them through my iPod, and this is my first pair of headphones beyond the iPod earbuds. Would this be a good choice? They're a good match. They're easy to drive, have great sound quality for the price, and are incredibly comfortable. One caveat - I don't recommend them for active portable use, as they sit lightly on the head and can fall off with vigorous movement. Pencil posted:Any one got any opinions on the Audio Technica ATH-EW9? I admit that I've wanted a pair of those for some time, but I've avoided them because I just don't think they could have very good bass response. I bet they sound good with classical and pop, at least in fairly quiet environments, but that's just conjecture based on their specs.
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| # ? Apr 1, 2007 18:26 |
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Alright, I ordered the ATH-500s along with some Koss KSC75s. I'll post impressions when they get here since that seems to be the cool thing to do. I'm actually pretty excited about my first set of 'phones 
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 06:08 |
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I just bought a pair of Sony MDR-V150s and I have a real issue with the sound quality, they sound like they are being dampened, its not crisp. Even my old earbud piece sounded better. What would you guys reccomend?
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 09:02 |
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My phone uses Sony Ericsson MDR-EX71s (or 51s?) and I also own a pair of 71s/51s and I am quite happy with the sound. HOWEVER, both sets have the 'shortened' cable with adapter for use with the phone/minidisc remote kits. I have recently migrated to an ipode and cant find my extension cable, and quite honestly would like to do away with it as its just an extra 5g of weight hanging on the cable, tugging on my ears. Ive been looking at Sony MDR-EX90LPs and 85LPs, but I cant really tell what the difference is besides the shape and color options. Also from what I can gather neither of them have the annoying shortened cable option, which is what Im going for. How comfortable are these phones compared to the ones Im currently using? the new shape puts me off slightly, and while I am happy with my current headphones, The cabling situation annoys me (I cannot stand having the cable tug on my ears, like most people I assume). Im not really interested in straying from the Sony gear simply because I have absolutely no problems with how they sound, however I do like the punchiness of the bass on the 51s/71s, so if that is something that is missing from the 85s/90s then Im open to similarly priced/spec'd items. Can anyone recommened the 85s/90s over the 51/71s, or should I just suck it up and get one of the Ipod clip-remotes and plug into that? Laserface fucked around with this message at Apr 2, 2007 around 10:40 |
| # ? Apr 2, 2007 10:38 |
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I've noticed there hasn't been any mention of 5.1 Headphones so far in this thread - is that as they're a load of hogwash or they're an entirely different being? I'm interested in buying som headphones to increase my PC FPS gaming experience and thought 5.1s might be the way to go.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 12:03 |
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batmansdrawers posted:I've noticed there hasn't been any mention of 5.1 Headphones so far in this thread - is that as they're a load of hogwash or they're an entirely different being? They're a whole different animal. There are some pretty good 5.1 DSPs that you can use with 2-speaker headphones, but the best ones cost literally $1000-$2000+. The 5.1 headphones at the consumer level are pretty crappy, in my opinion, offering neitehr good sound quality nor good positional audio. However, some people like them and think they offer better positional accuracy than 2-channel headphones, so ymmv as far as that goes. I wouldn't buy them, personally - think about it sheerly in terms of economy of production: #drivers/dollars. Just like PC multimedia speakers start looking like a much worse deal when you realize they're shoving a bunch of cheapo speakers with awful frequency response and a cheapo sub capable of nothing but boom together with cheapo electronics with an awful SNR and THD and selling it at a huge markup, 5.1 headphones are less appealing when you look at all they're trying to give you for the money... unless you just have to have positional audio regardless of quality.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 13:18 |
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To report in, I got my headphone amp today. All doubt that it makes a huge difference was gone, within literally just a second or two. This is on a pair of HD-580s with a Chaintech AV-710 and inexpensive Go-Vibe V5 amp. To quote my wife, the non-audiophile I had sample it to make sure it wasn't just me, Beethoven's Ode to Joy: "You can hear every instrument; it's like you're in the concert hall." No regrets.
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 22:10 |
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Boy the trafo of my soundcard just blew out completely. Error? My cat ate the insulation and the cable short-circuited. Fuse inside was blown, but the soundcard is okay. I nearly died. 
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| # ? Apr 2, 2007 22:49 |
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Hey I just found a great deal at audio cube.
It's the Audio-Technica ATH-A500 Art Headphones. Every else has them listed around $150. I got them for $88 with shipping.  http://www.audiocubes.com/product_i...products_id=319
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 03:53 |
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The Pebbler posted:Hey I just found a great deal at audio cube. Im pretty sure thats the same price audiocube has had for the past year or two... wait it appears to be $10 off! which audiocubes does every couple of months 
coolskillrex remix fucked around with this message at Apr 3, 2007 around 06:43 |
| # ? Apr 3, 2007 06:20 |
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I just bought some Beyer DT 770 Pro-80s, should be here tomorrow. I'm reading lots of reviews that say these cans need 10 hours minimum break in time, can I do this unattended? I'd like to leave Winamp shuffling some of the higher quality folders in my music collection while I'm at work, is this ok? Should I play them soft or loud? ps review incoming as soon as they're broken in etc
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 15:42 |
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Owsla posted:I just bought some Beyer DT 770 Pro-80s, should be here tomorrow. I'm reading lots of reviews that say these cans need 10 hours minimum break in time, can I do this unattended? I'm not a big proponent of headphone break-in, but if you feel it beneficial it is something which can be accomplished unattended. The usual recommendation from advocates is to play music at a slightly-louder-than-comfortable volume, and the methodology ranges from white or pink noise, to sine sweeps, to bass-heavy music for maximum extension and stress on the drivers. Some say that headphones are burnt-in after ten hours, while some claim that headphones take as many as 24, 100, or 500+ hours to reach their peak performance. A trip to www.head-fi.org will educate you on the disparity between burn-in advocates' beliefs on the subject. I conjecture that it ranges so broadly because it's largely imaginary, and that perceived differences in two headphones of the same type by a single person are pretty easily explainable by the impossibility of creating the ideal driver laid out in the engineering documents, factory tolerance (including binning superior/inferior drivers from the same line to be used in different headphones, in some Grado and Sennheiser models), and volume-matching at different points. Further, sense memory is notoriously unreliable, and there are physiological changes day to day and hour to hour in your ear thanks to ear wax, blood pressure, barometric pressure, etc. which alter the systemic frequency response and make your judgments at best questionable, at worst downright unreliable. Ever listen to your stereo or play a familiar instrument when you have a bad head cold? The convenient beauty of the burn-in advocate's position is that, if it does happen, it is something that would happen anyway through normal use, so it's not really possible to argue against without appealing to different headphones of the same model, with all the problems I've listed. Until someone designs an isolation rig to test the frequency response of a headphone driver before and after burn-in, we won't know for certain if it works. I would like to point out, however, that the burn-in required for subwoofers, etc., with larger diaphragms made out of rigid materials (headphone drivers are made out of much more flexible materials) and stiff suspensions don't scale down to headphones. Agreed fucked around with this message at Apr 3, 2007 around 16:06 |
| # ? Apr 3, 2007 16:01 |
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Wow, great post. Excellent info and advice, thank you
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 16:44 |
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Are there lots of electrostatic owners in here? I've had a Stax Omega 2 system for over three years now, so if anyone's curious about the high-end headphone world I'd be happy to help out.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 20:50 |
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Agreed posted:
Don't forget to mention that the biggest factor in perceiving sound is actually the current emotional predisposition.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 22:34 |
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I just wanted to chime in with my impressions of the HD280's that I just got about 2 weeks ago. I came from a 10+ year old pair of bleh Sony MD something or others and let me say the HD280's sound amazing in comparison. I'm no audiophile, but to me, it is a world of difference. The bass really thumps if you have your EQ settings right and the mid and highs are also very clear and clean. Playing games and watching movies has been a joy to the ears. I really and truely do hear things that I've never heard before. When I game it is really amazing, and with the passive noise blocking I'm totally in the game. Now to my problems: These things are not comfortable by any means. They are heavy and tight. The foam around the ears is ample, but they are deeper then they are wide, so a thin and deep foam is encircling your ear and pressing into your skull, almost like a piercing feeling. If the foam was wider where it actually connected with your head it would be much more comfortable. The thig is big and clunky and heavy. Don't get me wrong it's well built and sturdy as hell but you can really feel it on your head. Plus the fact that the cord only connects to one side it always feels like theres a tiny bit more weight or tension coming from that side. As soon as I put them on I could feel the headband cushion crush the top of my head. I have a fairly large noggin, but the shape of the curve of the headband is more horizontal then vertical if you know what I mean. Basically I like it when the headband "floats" and I can't feel it on top of my head. Taking the headband cushion off remedies this somewhat. Lastly, the cord. I thought it would be great to have a shorted coiled cord. I was wrong. It stretches a mean bit but you can feel the tension. The cord is also very thick and heavy so if it's just hanging you can feel a slight pull on the left side of your head where it's connected. My old cans had a wire on both sides and was so long it rested on the floor so I would never feel tension. This coiled cord swings heavily and you can feel it and even hear it if it touches something. I guess in conclusion I'm not very happy with the comfort, but they sound so great that I guess I will just have to endure and get used to it. I wish they were a bit more streamlined, comfortable, less clunky, with a straight cord that connects to both ears, but I will have to deal. Also, I've only had them 2 weeks (broke them in playing music over 24 hours straight), using them about 4-6 hours a day. I assume they will break in a bit more and become more comfortable, but I miss the old Sonys thats just float on my head and ears for hours at a time.
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| # ? Apr 3, 2007 22:48 |
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I should be getting my Audio-Technica ATH-A700 headphone and iBasso T1 amp this week. I'll try to post some pics when I get them.
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| # ? Apr 4, 2007 10:27 |
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I've read through the thread (at least, most of it). I saw a few people questioning about the in-ear canal headphones. I am also looking for a very portable in ear setup. A little research on Headroom yielded these: http://www.headphone.com/products/h...shure-se210.php (Shure SE210 - $150 - I imagine I could get this for cheaper elsewhere, but nonetheless that's what it's quoted at on Headroom) However, a lot of people have been mentioning the Shure E2c, and the Etymotic ER-6i. I listen to classical music almost exclusively. I'm not into "boomy" bass. I would like the drum to sound like it should, but definitely not emphasized. I want something that completely blocks out the rest of the world. I may ride my bike with them, or go to class (plane rides etc etc). With classical music, I don't want to hear anything else. This includes all the bitching kids talking about "omg I have so much work and I am SOOO TIRED waaaaa" while walking to class. My budget is around $150, but if there is a huge gap in quality at a price above that I might be able to do something. Wonderful threads. 45 pages is truly epic. And I realize, this is probably a repost. I did a quick search in each thread, but it seems the results were slightly outdated. Are the E210's new? I'm not up to date with everything. Thanks for the help in advance! Edit: Question, can you sleep in headphones like that? It would be nice so I wouldn't have to hear my neighbors loving techno every night, but I don't really want to pierce my ears if I roll over or something... TheChipmunk fucked around with this message at Apr 4, 2007 around 10:39 |
| # ? Apr 4, 2007 10:36 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 01:34 |
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RunOfTheMill posted:I guess in conclusion I'm not very happy with the comfort, but they sound so great that I guess I will just have to endure and get used to it. I wish they were a bit more streamlined, comfortable, less clunky, with a straight cord that connects to both ears, but I will have to deal. Also, I've only had them 2 weeks (broke them in playing music over 24 hours straight), using them about 4-6 hours a day. I assume they will break in a bit more and become more comfortable, but I miss the old Sonys thats just float on my head and ears for hours at a time. One way to stretch them out in a more timely fashion is to get a rough estimate of how wide your head is, and then stack a few books together a bit wider than that and put the cans on the books for a few nights. Works for nearly any uncomfortably tight headphone. I will attest that they get much better over time, and that the clamp is one reason they attenuate ambient noise so well, but comfort is key to enjoyment.
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| # ? Apr 4, 2007 13:07 |
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