Apple products usually come with very decent DAC's so yes, I think low impedance, high sensitivity headphones would sound great on it. However, I think you need to be more specific to get good recommendations. Do the headphones need to be closed? Want kind of music do you usually listen to?
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
$500 cans on, this is how you dream right - Official Headphone Thread
- Thread starter HiResDes
- Start date
Anthony2035
Member
Hmm, Either open or closed in fine. I don't think open ones would bleed sound enough to get through these old walls. I rarely take them out of the room. Whatever type gives the better sound I suppose. For the type of music, I typically like Country, Rock, Electronic, Alternative, and Classical. Not really into Rap or Hip-hop much though rarely a pop song sneaks onto my list. I just signed up for a 30 day free thing for Tidal (Streams lossless music) and figured now would be a good time to try and upgrade.
For those genres I'd definitely say go ahead and grab some open headphones. I really really like the way the Sony MDR-MA900 sound with rock. I know a lot of people say Grado's are the best, but they're not very comfortable and don't have nearly the soundstage that I've come to expect from a good open can. Soundmagic HP200 would be my second choice
Anthony2035
Member
The Sony ones look nice, What makes so good? I see their company marketing reasons but I wanna be educated a bit more. I see some of the things from the OP but still a bit gibberish to me.
I think they are one of the top five most comfortable headphones on the market. They're so fucking light and the sound is has this great warm airiness to it. The treble is extended yet so smooth, and the mids are quite forward and lush (especially the upper mids) making vocals sound quite lovely, the bass is quite balanced and showcases good speed for an open headphone with a pretty dilligent attack and just enough to make the blast beats on a metal track sound perfect. They have also have good instrument separation and detail making classical music sound pretty great as well.
The Soundmagic HP200 are very detailed, but sport a much brighter tonality than the Sony's. They have lower sub-bass and the treble extends out much further, enough to say that it's a bit elevated in spots. The upper mid-range also is quite boosted, making rock tracks sound pretty Grado-like, but with much better bass. They are also pretty comfortable, though the pads aren't quite plush enough. The shortcomings of the HP200 are it's sounstage, which isn't quite as intimate and congested as the Grado, but definitely isn't as airy and open as the Sony's either. The detail is fantastic on these headphones, but it's this narrower soundstage that makes classical better on the Sony's and rock every so slightly better on the Soundmagics.
Anthony2035
Member
Nice, Thanks for the information :-D I will report back when I try them and let ya know what I think.
I spent 4 hours using the AKG 702s and messing with the x-fi soundcard last night. I found the issue was the previous configuration was terrible for the AKG 702s.
Also I realized that I now need to turn off CMSS 3D sound when listening to music, set crystalizer from 100% to 10% and a number of other changes.
These now sound absolutely amazing for music and gaming. I am just not used to the dynamic range of the sound in terms of volume of the treble and how low bass can go. I guess I am use to hearing the bass being exaggerated before I got these.
I knew I bought good headphones when I was hiding in a locker in alien isolation and watching the distance counter on the motion tracker drop rapidly but I couldn't see anything on the motion tracker. Only to hear something coming from the right slightly behind me which didn't make any sense until I figured the ALIEN was moving through a vent shaft. The sound moving from right to left of the ALIEN scurrying through the vent oh god what a horrible and scary sound. I could pin point exactly how far and how quickly it was travelling. I would have pooped myself if my butt wasn't so tense at the time. :|
I just need to break em in. Shame I am on holiday until next week!
Also I realized that I now need to turn off CMSS 3D sound when listening to music, set crystalizer from 100% to 10% and a number of other changes.
These now sound absolutely amazing for music and gaming. I am just not used to the dynamic range of the sound in terms of volume of the treble and how low bass can go. I guess I am use to hearing the bass being exaggerated before I got these.
I knew I bought good headphones when I was hiding in a locker in alien isolation and watching the distance counter on the motion tracker drop rapidly but I couldn't see anything on the motion tracker. Only to hear something coming from the right slightly behind me which didn't make any sense until I figured the ALIEN was moving through a vent shaft. The sound moving from right to left of the ALIEN scurrying through the vent oh god what a horrible and scary sound. I could pin point exactly how far and how quickly it was travelling. I would have pooped myself if my butt wasn't so tense at the time. :|
I just need to break em in. Shame I am on holiday until next week!
Okay not exactly headphones, but it's sorta related.
Anyone have good speaker recommendations? Something to just blast high-quality music in my apartment, doesn't really need to be portable.
I'm coming across some decent looking ones, but I have a feeling there is something better out there I don't know (similar to the incredible value of the ATH-M50s, and I had no idea they existed until this thread). I saw Sonos recently, but they look expensive...
Recommendations?
Anyone have good speaker recommendations? Something to just blast high-quality music in my apartment, doesn't really need to be portable.
I'm coming across some decent looking ones, but I have a feeling there is something better out there I don't know (similar to the incredible value of the ATH-M50s, and I had no idea they existed until this thread). I saw Sonos recently, but they look expensive...
Recommendations?
Price Range, are you looking for a 2.1 or higher setup or is 2.0 okay?
Mmmmmmm probably 2.1
What's your price range and are you looking to hook it up to a receiver or desktop.
Union Carbine
Member
Been happy with my JVC HA-S680s but I find the headphones somewhat uncomfortable to wear for any extended length of time. I ordered a pair of brainwavz earpads to try. Hopefully, they'll help.
Sound wise, I like what I'm hearing though I've read the sound signature changes pretty drastically after a ~50 hour burn-in period. Right now, I run them through a Fiio E17 and I use the E17's EQ to drop down the bass and increase the treble. To my ears, it's helped the sound. I may try running a real burn-in over the weekend.
From what I've read both hear and in other places, these JVCs are a real steal at $50. I'm curious how they compare to 'phones at higher price points but I don't have anything yet to compare it to.
Ideally, these will be my work headphones. I have my eye on the NAD Viso HP50 for home. Anybody have experience with these? Thoughts?
Sound wise, I like what I'm hearing though I've read the sound signature changes pretty drastically after a ~50 hour burn-in period. Right now, I run them through a Fiio E17 and I use the E17's EQ to drop down the bass and increase the treble. To my ears, it's helped the sound. I may try running a real burn-in over the weekend.
From what I've read both hear and in other places, these JVCs are a real steal at $50. I'm curious how they compare to 'phones at higher price points but I don't have anything yet to compare it to.
Ideally, these will be my work headphones. I have my eye on the NAD Viso HP50 for home. Anybody have experience with these? Thoughts?
Looking for the same thing. I think I know how to elicit a response:
The new Beats from the Lebron commercial seem to be pretty well reviewed -- can anyone recommend better wireless headphones? Cost not an issue.
I can't say much about wireless headphone.
You'd love them, they still amaze me.
I wrote a mini-review/comparison here.
You'd love them, they still amaze me.
Probably around $100. What's a receiver? I was planning on just playing music from my phone via 3.5mm or Bluetooth (I probably should have mentioned this).
Nostremitus
Member
Hello headphoneGAF.
My wife has been mentioning the Bose Quiet Comfort noise canceling earphones. To me they seem really overpriced, but what do I know.
She says she likes them because of the shape of the earpiece.
Are there any comparable noise canceling earbuds with a similar style of earpiece in the $100-150 range?
My wife has been mentioning the Bose Quiet Comfort noise canceling earphones. To me they seem really overpriced, but what do I know.
She says she likes them because of the shape of the earpiece.
Are there any comparable noise canceling earbuds with a similar style of earpiece in the $100-150 range?
Never ever buy noise canceling earphones as most earphones isolate tremendously well passively.
So you want wireless bluetooth speakers?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009A6D034/?tag=neogaf0e-20
So you want wireless bluetooth speakers?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FIZ1SXK/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009A6D034/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Union Carbine
Member
Nice write-up. Everybody seems to love them. Can't wait to hear them for myself.
I haven't used them personally, but I know that they got a rave review from Wirecutter. They also talk about some budget alternatives.
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-noise-cancelling-in-ear-headphones-so-far/
It's just that earphones like these:
Etymotic HF5
Etymotic MC3
TDK BA200
Hifiman RE-400
Meelectronic A161P
VSonic VC1000
Vsonic GR01
Yamaha EPH-100SL
Shure SE15
HisoundAudio HSE-C2
Isolate at such a high level passively that it makes higher costing and mostly worse sounding active cancelling earphones such a poor value.
Thanks for those links -- I should have been more specific that I was looking for something wireless for exercise/runs.
Just get anything cheap if you're going to be actively running with them. Maybe something like this or this
Nostremitus
Member
Do any of these offer ergonomics similar to the Bose?
Also, the Shure SE15s... do you mean the 215 or the 315?
br0ken_shad0w
Member
I just went and ordered one myself since I needed some portable cans that could be used without an amp. I've heard nothing but good things about them.
See I didn't find these in my searching! Thanks!
Nostremitus
Member
I don't want them, my wife wants them because of the ergonomics, I'm looking for a less expensive alternative. I was looking at the Shure SE215s. Have you tried them? They look kind of similar.
Yes, but those are definitely not all that similar. These Audio Technica look kind of similar - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO3DYQ6/?tag=neogaf0e-20
DyslexicAlucard
Member
Quick, what's the best program on PC to listen to FLAC? Using iTunes, and it doesn't support it.
Gray Matter
Member
Just got the KRK KNS 8400 on the recommendation. Loving them, except for the damn cable, why the hell does it have to be so long?!
It's detachable man, just get a shorter cheap replacement one - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LTEUDO/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Gray Matter
Member
I know they are, but doesn't it compromise the sound quality? And what about the different sizes, on the 8400 the side to goes to the headset is 2.5 mm and the one into the headphone jack is a regular 3.5 mm.
Unless the cable has a ridiculously high impedance in most cases sound quality won't be affected whatsoever.
Gray Matter
Member
glad to hear. thanks for all the help, these are some great headphones.
I look forward to hearing what you think of them.
Nostremitus
Member
I bought a pair of Bluez 2 bone conduction headphones today. My wife is actually considering a pair now (nothing touches your ear canal. A set of comfortable foam ear plugs can be used to isolate the sound on plane trips.) The sound quality isn't top notch as the lows aren't great, but I have hearing loss in my left ear. These things bypass the eardrum sending sound to the cochlea and I can hear better. So in that sense, for me, the stereo sound quality is better as everything on the left side sounds muffled to me with regular headphones. It's pretty exciting, actually.
I would recommend these to anyone with damaged eardrums or are looking for something to use while running that allows you to still hear cars, people, etc.
They can get pretty loud too. When it's turned all the way up you can feel the sound vibrating on your cheekbone, but it's not overly distracting.
I would recommend these to anyone with damaged eardrums or are looking for something to use while running that allows you to still hear cars, people, etc.
They can get pretty loud too. When it's turned all the way up you can feel the sound vibrating on your cheekbone, but it's not overly distracting.
Gray Matter
Member
Damn these new headphones are killer. I'm hearing details that I never heard before. It's like listening to brand new music.
Gray Matter
Member
I realized that now. I can't go back to regular headphones now.
How do you know so much about headphones, are you a producer or something of that nature?
Allez Phill
Banned
Welcome to the addiction. You'll probably catch yourself just wanting to pick up the headphones and listen to them out of no where because they sound so good.
I'm not sure about Des' case, but for many people, collecting and testing headphones just builds knowledge.
I have a tiny collection of headphones at the moment and I've also tried many.
What headphones did you have before?
Gray Matter
Member
I bought the KRK 8400 from his recommendation. Loving them. Before I used to have a pair of Bose, but one of the cheaper models. Those lasted me 2 years until it was time to upgrade.
I'm obssessed with music, so loving headphones came naturally. I've been able to test a bunch of different sets over time using lenient return policies and by getting my friends into the headphone game as well. That way when I get a new set I can try them out and vice versa.
BTW I found KRK's official replacement cable - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JG8M6Q/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Not sure how much shorter 1.5m is than the one they come with though
If I can sway you in any way that Swan set is a ridiculous value and any bluetooth set within even double the price range will pail in comparison in terms of sound quality.