Headphones - Any advice?
Discussion
The BEST STAX Electrostatic Ear speakers. They do require a driver unit to move the ribbons but they use the same technology as Quad Electrostatics and with the smaller size the bass is better. They are unreal!
www.stax.co.jp/ENG/products.html
www.stax.co.jp/ENG/products.html
Grados are my choice.
They leak music a lot, but they are comfortable, relatively cheap and most importantly they sound very lively.
In small group stuff, especially jazz and string quartets the seperation between the instruments is as it should be --- no muddiness.
Start at around £80 and go through to the RS range which top out at about £600.
Without seperate headphone amps I've read that a set of 225s will be the best option.
They leak music a lot, but they are comfortable, relatively cheap and most importantly they sound very lively.
In small group stuff, especially jazz and string quartets the seperation between the instruments is as it should be --- no muddiness.
Start at around £80 and go through to the RS range which top out at about £600.
Without seperate headphone amps I've read that a set of 225s will be the best option.
Depends on what you want them for, I got a pair of the Sony MDRV700DJ DJ cans for travelling, much comfier for long periods than standard iPod plugs, fold up into a little bag for sticking in carry on luggage, you can swivel up one side, ideal for when the chickenfish or salad lady comes round the plane (chickenfish please
)
For home use HD25SPs certainly good, Orpheus if you're not short of a bob or two
) For home use HD25SPs certainly good, Orpheus if you're not short of a bob or two
I've got a pair of MDRV700's as well, very robust and great sound, although they are DJ headphones and are closed-back so you might not find them the most comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.. were £100 when I bought them 3 yrs ago and have lasted very well
>> Edited by john_p on Monday 6th December 20:11
>> Edited by john_p on Monday 6th December 20:11
Nobody mentioned Beyerdynamics yet?
What you need to do is find a hifi shop that stocks some decent ones (Senns, Beyers, and maybe Grado), and have a listen. Depends on your kit, what music you listen to, and what sound you like. Also, open or closed back. Do you need to keep the noise down? (other people in the room) Then you need closed backs.
I would avoid wireless ones. Convenient, yes. Hifi, not really.
What you need to do is find a hifi shop that stocks some decent ones (Senns, Beyers, and maybe Grado), and have a listen. Depends on your kit, what music you listen to, and what sound you like. Also, open or closed back. Do you need to keep the noise down? (other people in the room) Then you need closed backs.
I would avoid wireless ones. Convenient, yes. Hifi, not really.
telecat said:
The BEST STAX Electrostatic Ear speakers. They do require a driver unit to move the ribbons but they use the same technology as Quad Electrostatics and with the smaller size the bass is better. They are unreal!
Everything he said and doubled. Nothing else even comes close.
So analytical and revealing that you may have to change all the rest of the system too.
YarisSi said:
Grado are the dogs. Although not most comftable. Also do you want open or closed design - what use it for?
I want them so that I can sit in my darkened study and 'listen' to music. Not just have it on in the background, but to actually enjoy it.
Sounds like I need closed backed and as mentioned the wireless ones would be very handy as I don't want to have to sit 1m away from the unit.
Thanks for the advice, I'm starting to think that all PHers are starting to become a collective stereotype! And that's no bad thing.
Hmm.
Depends on whether you want to hear the phone/wife/dog/doorbell/etc., but have you considered some good quality in ear noise isolating units?
Shure E2c are a starting point. Clarity and solid bass. And they are the bottom of the range! Excellent for travelling as well.
If you want something a bit more remarkable, consider the Etymotic ER4's. The S model is tuned for use with hi-fi amplifiers. The P model for portable stuff - CD, notebooks, MP3 players and the like. There is an optional cable that adapts the P to S spec for dual use where required.
Bass response is a little more 'subtle' than the E2c's but stunningly clear. The overall sound is so detailed it's like hearing everything for the first time. Comfortable to wear as well. But not cheap.
However, even at a very low volume setting you will be unable to hear anything else ... the isolation really does work.
Being designed for small portable unit use the leads tend to be relatively short so you might need and extension for use with a regular system. But then you could also consider going for the small portable device and avoid the conflict of wireless headset convenience vs. poorer sound quality.
I also have some old Sennheisser HD 450's which are still very good (and very light ...) and some HD 565 Ovations which are also very good but probably best suited to orchestral and accoustic stuff. Of the two I use the 450's more regularly.
>> Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 7th December 10:54
Depends on whether you want to hear the phone/wife/dog/doorbell/etc., but have you considered some good quality in ear noise isolating units?
Shure E2c are a starting point. Clarity and solid bass. And they are the bottom of the range! Excellent for travelling as well.
If you want something a bit more remarkable, consider the Etymotic ER4's. The S model is tuned for use with hi-fi amplifiers. The P model for portable stuff - CD, notebooks, MP3 players and the like. There is an optional cable that adapts the P to S spec for dual use where required.
Bass response is a little more 'subtle' than the E2c's but stunningly clear. The overall sound is so detailed it's like hearing everything for the first time. Comfortable to wear as well. But not cheap.
However, even at a very low volume setting you will be unable to hear anything else ... the isolation really does work.
Being designed for small portable unit use the leads tend to be relatively short so you might need and extension for use with a regular system. But then you could also consider going for the small portable device and avoid the conflict of wireless headset convenience vs. poorer sound quality.
I also have some old Sennheisser HD 450's which are still very good (and very light ...) and some HD 565 Ovations which are also very good but probably best suited to orchestral and accoustic stuff. Of the two I use the 450's more regularly.
>> Edited by LongQ on Tuesday 7th December 10:54
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