Author Topic: HEADPHONES Y'ALL (Read 7555 times)

sambo · « **Reply #15 on:** January 10, 2008, 10:08:33 PM »

I've got a set of Sennheisers too. HD555s I think.

Really makes a change from tinny PC speakers. Of course what TO said is true though; Hi-fi's just rule. Don't have a personal system myself but my parents have got a rig downstairs and it's awesome just sitting back and cranking the volume. Best way to listen to music, imo.

JDC · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2008, 01:54:09 AM »

I've been listening my gf's hello kitty cd player, was amazed how good zakk wylde's rhythm tone sounds on ozzy - facing hell, I think I've been using headphones for so long I've never noticed what I've been missing out on, I thought my sennheiser pc150s we're good but they are no match for my gf's cd player, in the bassier department at least

how much do you need to spend on headphones do get a really good clear, well defined bass sounds?

ps the compressed sounds of the song on youtube probably doesn't help but I'm sure the real cd would still not be as sharp in the bass on this headphones)

JJretroTONEGOD · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2008, 12:53:58 AM »

Quote from: JDC

I've been listening my gf's hello kitty cd player, was amazed how good zakk wylde's rhythm tone sounds on ozzy - facing hell, I think I've been using headphones for so long I've never noticed what I've been missing out on, I thought my sennheiser pc150s we're good but they are no match for my gf's cd player, in the bassier department at least

how much do you need to spend on headphones do get a really good clear, well defined bass sounds?

ps the compressed sounds of the song on youtube probably doesn't help but I'm sure the real cd would still not be as sharp in the bass on this headphones)

Indeed, nothing matches a good speaker. Have you ever heard Zack Wylde through £40,000 speakers? It will make you cry! with tears of joy :twisted:

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #18 on:** January 13, 2008, 03:56:10 AM »

Quote from: JJretroTONEGOD

Indeed, nothing matches a good speaker. Have you ever heard Zack Wylde through £40,000 speakers? It will make you cry! with tears of joy :twisted:

I get to do that every day through multiple choices: JMLab Grande Utopias, Peak Consult El Diablos at the +$100K range, and may more choices in the $20-40k range as well.

Depends on the album, however. The older stuff, especiall Book Of Shadows sounds amazing on a proper hi fi, as well as Blessed Hellride. On a reference system, those albums are jaw dropping experiences!

MDV · « **Reply #19 on:** January 13, 2008, 04:33:31 AM »

I have to say, book of shadows is awesome

BUT

Blessed hellride sounds pretty cr@ppy on my

EMU1616M -> Adam A7s + (NAD 352 ->B&W DM602s) #

And with both the adams and the NAD+B&Ws sperately.

Plus my CD players, technics pgsl409 (I know its a bang-for-buck player but its OK) and awia XC005- sounds no different and worse, respectively.

Now I realise that this is NOT by any stretch of the imagination a high class system. Oh no. Not at all. But it owns the living $%&# out of everything else I've ever seen in anyones lounge and.....

Blessed hellride sounds high middy and obnoxious. If it doesnt sound good on that, what eactly is it supposed to sound good on? A one-box sony? An average car stereo? I think the blessed hell not!

If its produced to sound great on only super-high-end gear then its produced badly IMO.

_tom_ · « **Reply #20 on:** January 30, 2008, 02:41:31 PM »

Just got a pair of SR-80s through the post on Indys recommendation and love them. They do seem a bit thinner/less bassy than my Koss Sparkplugs, but they're so much clearer and better, I can hear everything properly now :D

Just listening to the Best of Black Sabbath through them, its so good :D I think I'm going to have to go back and buy most of the cds I've downloaded though, as a lot of them are pretty poor quality mp3 rips. Sounded fine through my creative pc speakers but I keep hearing clipping and just generally poor quality through these :(

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2008, 03:25:52 PM »

I had a bad ass pair of Bang & Olafsaon headphones (until they got stood on). Best advice I can give is to stay away from any with a volume control on the lead, I kill loads of headphones by breaking this.

Quote

Really makes a change from tinny PC speakers.

Connect it to the stereo :lol:

At uni we nicked a projector and were playing worms armageddon on my bedroom wall with the volume through the stereo

Scotty477 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2008, 03:59:55 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

The new GS1000 headphones from Grado are truly mind blowing! But, they cost a lot of money!!

No kidding ..... £549? .... Holy sh*t!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-GRADO-GS-1000-GS1000-Headphones_W0QQitemZ260206453587QQihZ016QQcategoryZ109019QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

indysmith · « **Reply #23 on:** January 30, 2008, 09:32:45 PM »

I'm going home tomorrow guys to fetch my Graham Slee Voyager headphone amp that's just been built for me. It's going to be ridiculously delicious I think (and hope!!), although I've read that they can take upwards of 400hours play to burn in. my 'phones are going to have fused to my head by the end of Feb!
I've read no bad reviews of it at all, so it seems a pretty safe bet, and it's portable which is nice for the train :D

http://www.gspaudio.co.uk/preamps/voyager.htm

Also - loosely connected to headphones... I fancied a headphone stand so i'm bidding on this awesome 1920s mannequin head on eBay. It'll be AWESOME if i get it. I think i might decorate her a bit, make her a bit of a cyborg 8)

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #24 on:** January 31, 2008, 01:45:06 PM »

Most electronic components need 1-200 hrs to break in.

Any component with moving parts (loudspeakers, headphones) need anywhere from 300-1,200 hrs.

I would run music through the amp continuously (while it's seeing the load from the cans) for a week to be on the safe side.

EDIT: Indy, you might consider getting a good pair of interconnects to put between your source and the headphone amplfier, too.

At the price point you are in, I would recommend the following:

Nordost Blue Heaven
Straightwire Symphony II
Kimber PBJ

You can usually find high end cables for really good prices if you get em used.

If your source only has a mini jack output, look into the mini-to-RCA cables made by these companies.

Gizmo · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2008, 10:04:49 PM »

Sennheisers - HD580. they used to sound great now one ear doenst always work.

Its not the speaker part its the lead connection. The lead is detachable. They plug into the earmuff part with a 2 pin type connection. When I pull the headphone lead in one direction that side works again. It must be the connection. I dont know how to fix it. Can they be taken apart?

They were very expensive at the time and they sounded amazing. Headphones are def worth the money especially if your in a shared house or uni and want a gd sound.

Can anyone advise how to fix this?

indysmith · « **Reply #26 on:** March 03, 2008, 07:28:54 PM »

I've ordered some SR325i's :D (dispatched today!) apparently they're very bright and forward sounding (classic Grado sound exaggerated), with ridiculous amounts of detail. I can hardly wait :D Also due to their superb accuracy they're supposed to be great for mixing, which'll be handy. :D

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #27 on:** March 03, 2008, 08:00:17 PM »

325s are very nice.

jibidy · « **Reply #28 on:** March 04, 2008, 10:50:29 AM »

Im a Music tech student and headphones are absolutely esential!!

The first pair i bought were cheap sony's then i got some AKG K81 (amazing bass resonse!!!) but my faves ever are my equation audio RP 21's. they sound very close to my freinds grado sr80's and at only around 70. they also have veryvery good isolation which i consider very important for headphones

indysmith · « **Reply #29 on:** March 14, 2008, 09:30:46 AM »

OH MY GOD. All i can say right now.
Yesterday some SR325i's and an Apogee Duet turned up at my house (new headphones and source in the same day 8) nice). It's amazing - added SO much more detail and richness to my setup! I'd heard the SR325i's were rather cold and analytical, and while they have ridiculous amounts of detail and are incredibly accurate, I find them to be warm, thick, fat, and revealing. Brutal to bad recordings they are, and uncomfortable they are (as with all grados, except these have aluminium alloy cans, so are heavier on the head), but never have I heard ANYTHING so revealing and true to the recording.
The SR80s will still be getting a lot of headtime, as they sound more 'fun' with any genre of music (kind of like there an e.q. dialed in), but thats not to discredit the 325s which sound delicious - as I speak I'm hearing background guitar passages I'd NEVER noticed before in an album which has a playcount of 48 on iTunes!