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$500 cans on, this is how you dream right - Official Headphone Thread

H

Heidalloon

Member
So I'm in the market for a new pair of headphones and I think I've decided on the DT770s. I'll also be picking up an E17 to drive them.

Before I make my purchase, I have one question regarding using these headphones with my TV. I have a Panasonic Viera GT50, which has no headphone jack but does have a digital audio output. From what I've read I'll need a DAC that can convert Dolby Digital 5.1 to analog to use these headphones. This one (http://www.gefen.com/gefentv/gtvproduct.jsp?prod_id=5980) seems to fit the bill. Besides that, will I need anything else to use these headphones? What cables do I need to pick up to connect the TV to the DAC, and the DAC to the E17?

Also, how long is the cable on the DT770s? I sit about 12 feet away from my TV. Will I need an extension cable?
 
M

Mononoke

Banned
Currently rockin' my Audeze LCD-2's.

Been bouncing back and forth between those and the HD-650's. Can't decide which one I like more.
 
G

Geneijin

Member
Heidalloon said:
So I'm in the market for a new pair of headphones and I think I've decided on the DT770s. I'll also be picking up an E17 to drive them.

Before I make my purchase, I have one question regarding using these headphones with my TV. I have a Panasonic Viera GT50, which has no headphone jack but does have a digital audio output. From what I've read I'll need a DAC that can convert Dolby Digital 5.1 to analog to use these headphones. This one (http://www.gefen.com/gefentv/gtvproduct.jsp?prod_id=5980) seems to fit the bill. Besides that, will I need anything else to use these headphones? What cables do I need to pick up to connect the TV to the DAC, and the DAC to the E17?

Also, how long is the cable on the DT770s? I sit about 12 feet away from my TV. Will I need an extension cable?
Click to expand...
If you're willing to gefentv product for the Fiio E17 and haven't yet gotten the E17, wouldn't you be better off getting a amp/dac combo like the NFB 12.1?
 
M

Mononoke

Banned
I've worked my way up the chain (all the way up to STAX) and honestly, I still think the best headphones I've ever owned were $300 HD-600s.

LCD2/HD-800 were probably the most impressive to me, in terms of the wow factor. They each had their own jaw dropping quality, that was unique and amazing. However, I find both have their own glaring flaws (the HD-800 is almost too realistic, if you are sensitive to treble, or high peaks, and the LCD-2's design is bulky/heavy).

So in the end, I always came back to the $300-400 range. I decided to keep my LCD-2s, because despite their design, they have IMO the best bass I've ever heard on any phone. The bass extends so low, and the music is so musical and smooth (if you like separation and soundstage, you won't like these). And the HD-600/650 is a good middle ground of everything I like. I think that is honestly key here. I've yet to find a can that does everything perfectly, so to me - the best is the one that can do a lot of things pretty close to perfect.
 
F

FoxSpirit

Junior Member
Jzero said:
These are crap compared to what you guys have but you gotta start somewhere right? Damn student budget
LLShC.gif


They sound pretty good compared to the crappy Apple earphones I've been using for years.
Click to expand...
Really can't go wrong with Sennheiser. Relaxed, full, lush, inoffensive, most often with good bass. Congrats.
 
Synless

Synless

Member
I'm really considering picking up the Sony MDR-1RBT headphones ever since I got my M50's. Any impressions? I am really liking the looks and wireless aspect of these headphones. I also like that you can go wired if you want as well.
 
V

Vinterbird

Member
I'm looking for some headphones that will mainly be used for music and video games. Currently stuck between the Beyerdynamic DT 990 or the Sennheiser 558

(I presume this is the 555 that can get modified to perform like its older brother? Amazing cant find anything related to 555).

Also, the Beyerdynamics come in different Ohm versions, what determines which one I should get?
 
C

CrunchyFrog

Member
Looking for an all purpose pair of earphones, portable, and somewhat durable (my last pair randomly shorted the left channel, and the one before that had its volume control casing randomly come apart and THEN short out due to exposed wiring). I've got a $100 amazon gift card, so that's my limit give or take $10. These look pretty good and highly discounted, but I wasn't sure if the premium price came with more style or substance.
 
S

SteveO409

Did you know Halo invented the FPS?
Vinterbird said:
I'm looking for some headphones that will mainly be used for music and video games. Currently stuck between the Beyerdynamic DT 990 or the Sennheiser 558

(I presume this is the 555 that can get modified to perform like its older brother? Amazing cant find anything related to 555).

Also, the Beyerdynamics come in different Ohm versions, what determines which one I should get?
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbyuSFyYOVs
 
H

HiResDes

Member
CrunchyFrog said:
Looking for an all purpose pair of earphones, portable, and somewhat durable (my last pair randomly shorted the left channel, and the one before that had its volume control casing randomly come apart and THEN short out due to exposed wiring). I've got a $100 amazon gift card, so that's my limit give or take $10. These look pretty good and highly discounted, but I wasn't sure if the premium price came with more style or substance.
Click to expand...

Those are good for the price for sure, especially if you enjoy bass.
 
C

CrunchyFrog

Member
HiResDes said:
Those are good for the price for sure, especially if you enjoy bass.
Click to expand...

How's the durability though? Not talking about flinging it around type of abuse but able to be stored in pocket and not carried around in a steel plated case? Lemme stress again, durability is important, I've lost close to $150 on shoddy craftsmanship in the past 2 months alone :/
 
K

Kukuk

Banned
Man, I got that itch to trade headphones again, so I put my K501s up for trade on Head-fi. I've only had them for a couple months. Naturally I'm getting swarmed with buy requests, and people lowballing the hell out of me.

Really hoping I can get something awesome for them, like a pair of Sony MDR-Z1000's. Seems like there's totally different perceptions on what the value of the K501 is, since I get people offering me like $100 for them, and other people offer me really reasonably valued (~$300) headphones I'm not interested in.

I ended up being a bit disappointed with the K501s in the (not so) long run. At first I absolutely loved them, but their harsh mids really got to me. I guess I just fell for the hype when people were saying they had world-class mids. So now I'm going to shoot for something that isn't all that popular. It served me very well with my CD900STs, and I hope it will serve me well again.
 
A

Andrew.

Banned
Hey guys.

I got sent over here from the Dead Space 3 thread because I was told you all could help me out finding a good pair of gaming headphones that arent Turtle Beaches (which I currently own)

Im not a budget buyer so Im willing to spend at most around 200 bucks. Any reccomendations?
 
B

Broadbandito

Member
Hey guys. I have a Lumia 920. I stopped bringing my iPod with me everywhere since. I noticed it has Dolby capabilities and in the market for a new headset/earbuds that are possibly Dolby capable. Looking to start at $100. I'd be using them for travel and my daily walk routine . Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

edit: or a really awesome pair of ear buds. I looked at the monster purity headset and that's just too expensive at $199 for my blood
 
P

Presco

Member
Andrew. said:
Hey guys.

I got sent over here from the Dead Space 3 thread because I was told you all could help me out finding a good pair of gaming headphones that arent Turtle Beaches (which I currently own)

Im not a budget buyer so Im willing to spend at most around 200 bucks. Any reccomendations?
Click to expand...

Console or PC or both? Sennheiser PC360 is the best all in one if you're looking for a mic as well but you'll need a mix amp to use them with consoles. They are basically a 595 with a mic. Good all around set at that price point.
 
A

Andrew.

Banned
Presco said:
Console or PC or both? Sennheiser PC360 is the best all in one if you're looking for a mic as well but you'll need a mix amp to use them with consoles. They are basically a 595 with a mic. Good all around set at that price point.
Click to expand...

Console only. I have a 360 and a PS3 so are the PC360s backwards compatible? What's a mix amp and what will that run me?
 
P

PflargBlarg

Member
Haha, I bought a couple Somethings from the SomethingStore and one of them arrived today. It ended up being Motley Crue branded HIGH PERFORMANCE IN-EAR BUDS. I think they would actually sound decent if any of the tips made them fit my ears properly. I've just noticed that it says "Sounds INSANE!" on the box.

They are now my favorites.
 
J

Joe

Member
I bought M50's and have been enjoying them but I've come to the conclusion that I am super sensitive to high frequency sounds.

As I skip through different genres I find myself constantly adjusting the EQ to accommodate this because sometimes it just becomes unbearable.

Should I experiment with a different set of headphones? Or just try to find a sweet spot with the EQ? Not really sure where to go from here.

Edit: I'm at about 10 hours into really cranking these guys and I'm either crazy or I'm really starting to notice a much warmer and fuller sound which isn't bothering my ears at all.
 
Y

yogloo

Member
Just got my Sony MDR-V6. Mucho awesome!! Thanks for the great recommendation. This headphone made some of my music sound awful. I can pretty much hear all the detail that I've never noticed before. Seems to me that this headphone is best for electronic music. Daft punk sounds great on it. Instrumental pieces sounds a bit cold with it. But still, the clarity beat the crap out of my old yuin pk3 with less of the warmth.
 
S

Spinning Plates

Member
Turtle Beach DSS

LL


Get the DSS if you have headphones and don't need voice chat solution (ie added mic) or as an upgrade to a Turtle Beach headset (X11/X12 up).
Original DSS is superior to DSS2 but also discontinued so you'd have to pick one up on eBay.



Astro Mixamp

LL


Get the Mixamp if you want intergrated chat mixing it offers.
 
Soodanim

Soodanim

Gold Member
NotTheGuyYouKill said:
Hey guys, extreme newbie/idiot question.

I have people staying over at my house, so I decided to buy some headphones so I can watch TV, movies, and play games without bugging them. I just picked up some Wireless Sony ones for a hundred bucks (better ones I'll get down the line probably). Problem is... I'm an idiot, and I didn't check my TV first. It doesn't have a headphone jack or an Audio Out, so I have no idea how I'm supposed to connect these headphones to the TV. The headphones only have a connector for headphone jacks and the red/white AV cables. I have a satellite connected to the AV IN connectors on the TV and my PS3/360 connected to the two HDMI ports. Is there any fix for connecting my headphones to the TV? Or should I just pack them up and return them? I gotta be honest, I'm feeling pretty disappointed. I mean, how hard/expensive could it possibly be to put a headphone jack in a TV? I hope someone can help me out with this.
Click to expand...

This is definitely possible for the PS3, but I don't know how easy it will be to find the parts you need. Even then, it wouldn't help for the rest of the TV's inputs.

In case you do keep it for that one function, you'd need to use the composite cables and plug the audio leads into some sort of adapter/interceptor that has a headphone jack at the other end. Then you set the PS3 to output sound through that and you're done.

What kind of TV doesn't have a headphone jack?
 
S

Septimius

Junior Member
Joe said:
I bought M50's and have been enjoying them but I've come to the conclusion that I am super sensitive to high frequency sounds.

As I skip through different genres I find myself constantly adjusting the EQ to accommodate this because sometimes it just becomes unbearable.

Should I experiment with a different set of headphones? Or just try to find a sweet spot with the EQ? Not really sure where to go from here.

Edit: I'm at about 10 hours into really cranking these guys and I'm either crazy or I'm really starting to notice a much warmer and fuller sound which isn't bothering my ears at all.
Click to expand...

You might just come off poor headphones. If you suddenly change to a much higher quality headphone, you'll definitely be off-put by the comparatively much more detail and treble. Give your ears a chance to adjust - don't use EQs. Do it for some a week or two, then see what you think.

NotTheGuyYouKill said:
Hey guys, extreme newbie/idiot question.

I have people staying over at my house, so I decided to buy some headphones so I can watch TV, movies, and play games without bugging them. I just picked up some Wireless Sony ones for a hundred bucks (better ones I'll get down the line probably). Problem is... I'm an idiot, and I didn't check my TV first. It doesn't have a headphone jack or an Audio Out, so I have no idea how I'm supposed to connect these headphones to the TV. The headphones only have a connector for headphone jacks and the red/white AV cables. I have a satellite connected to the AV IN connectors on the TV and my PS3/360 connected to the two HDMI ports. Is there any fix for connecting my headphones to the TV? Or should I just pack them up and return them? I gotta be honest, I'm feeling pretty disappointed. I mean, how hard/expensive could it possibly be to put a headphone jack in a TV? I hope someone can help me out with this.
Click to expand...

Wait, are you saying your TV doesn't have RCA (red/white plug) out? That severely hampers your ability to connect.. well.. anything. Or does it have optical out? I know the FiiO E17 (which I have and love) has optical in - works like a charm. But it's not worth-while for those headphones (since the amp in the wireless headset will be the limiting factor, anyway). The way I use my headphones with my TV is that I have an optical cable that is stretched from the TV to the couch, and I can have my amp right there with me in the couch.
 
F

Ferr986

Member
I bought M50's and have been enjoying them but I've come to the conclusion that I am super sensitive to high frequency sounds.

As I skip through different genres I find myself constantly adjusting the EQ to accommodate this because sometimes it just becomes unbearable.

Should I experiment with a different set of headphones? Or just try to find a sweet spot with the EQ? Not really sure where to go from here.

Edit: I'm at about 10 hours into really cranking these guys and I'm either crazy or I'm really starting to notice a much warmer and fuller sound which isn't bothering my ears at all.
Click to expand...

Im also a new owner of M50LE (got them 2 weeks ago).

It was the same for me, highs were slightly harsh, but that dissapear after some days. I think is partly you being used to them and also the cans getting better with burn-in.

Im at 30 hours of burn-in and the sound quality is really better (although I feel that the bass is slightly tamer, but thats probably me getting used to it).
 
G

GMM

Banned
Got my M-Audio Fast Track MKII and Sony MDR-7506 setup a few days ago, man the audio quality is great. The M-Audio Fast Track MKII really gives the audio quality quite an upgrade compared to the ALC889 soundcard on my motherboard.

hRL1ZVc.jpg
Click to expand...
 
F

FoxSpirit

Junior Member
Joe said:
I bought M50's and have been enjoying them but I've come to the conclusion that I am super sensitive to high frequency sounds.

As I skip through different genres I find myself constantly adjusting the EQ to accommodate this because sometimes it just becomes unbearable.

Should I experiment with a different set of headphones? Or just try to find a sweet spot with the EQ? Not really sure where to go from here.

Edit: I'm at about 10 hours into really cranking these guys and I'm either crazy or I'm really starting to notice a much warmer and fuller sound which isn't bothering my ears at all.
Click to expand...
Be happy. My sensitivity is waaaaay up. Your brain propably has adapted.
If it returns, yes, you have to sell those. They are real ear cutters.
And I always opposed them for that when they where suggested.

Sennheiser is always a great, safe pick in that regard. Especially since many modern recordings are really harsh and have the treble sticking out.
 
J

Joe

Member
So I'm giving them another quick go right now and either the headphones or my ears have adjusted because sound quality has definitely leveled up. I'm going across genres without EQ and I haven't felt the extreme sharpness that I felt before.

Going to get really into it tonight to see if it comes back. There's probably a lot of psychological play at work here.
 
F

FoxSpirit

Junior Member
Joe said:
So I'm giving them another quick go right now and either the headphones or my ears have adjusted because sound quality has definitely leveled up. I'm going across genres without EQ and I haven't felt the extreme sharpness that I felt before.

Going to get really into it tonight to see if it comes back. There's probably a lot of psychological play at work here.
Click to expand...
There is but they are definitely sharp and have the treble sticking out.
 
V

ValleyJoe

Neo Member
Hey all. I'm looking for some suggestions for some good general purpose headphones. I've got a pretty decent Paradigm Studio/Anthem home theater system that I normally derive my listening pleasure from, but I have a 10 month old daughter and my opportunities to crank my volume up have really dwindled lately. I've been reading through this thread, and have come close to buying several different models but I still haven't talked myself into pulling the trigger on something.

I'm looking for something that is good for blu ray movies, and mostly classic rock, with some classical, hip hop and various other types of music sprinkled in. I want something with a nice sized soundstage, decent bass, and hopefully good comfort. I think Open back would be preferred, although I'm not opposed to closed. I've come close to ordering the sennheiser hd598s, the 650s, the Audio Technica ad900s, the AKG k702s, but I just can't decide. Anybody have any suggestions between these, or any other models that would be good primarily for movies and rockish type music? I'll probably be buying a portable amplifier for them at some point too if that makes a difference.
 
H

HiResDes

Member
I'd suggest the AKG Q702, HE-400's, and especially the Sennheiser 650 if you have the budget. The only closed cans I might consider would be the Mag Dogs.
 
L

LCfiner

Member
ValleyJoe said:
Hey all. I'm looking for some suggestions for some good general purpose headphones. I've got a pretty decent Paradigm Studio/Anthem home theater system that I normally derive my listening pleasure from, but I have a 10 month old daughter and my opportunities to crank my volume up have really dwindled lately. I've been reading through this thread, and have come close to buying several different models but I still haven't talked myself into pulling the trigger on something.

I'm looking for something that is good for blu ray movies, and mostly classic rock, with some classical, hip hop and various other types of music sprinkled in. I want something with a nice sized soundstage, decent bass, and hopefully good comfort. I think Open back would be preferred, although I'm not opposed to closed. I've come close to ordering the sennheiser hd598s, the 650s, the Audio Technica ad900s, the AKG k702s, but I just can't decide. Anybody have any suggestions between these, or any other models that would be good primarily for movies and rockish type music? I'll probably be buying a portable amplifier for them at some point too if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...

I've had the AKG Q701, HD650 and MrSpeakers Mad Dogs.

Since you want some decent bass and a large soundstage, I would recommend the HD650. (or HD600 if you prefer a little less bass and more neutral sound). The AKG Q701 had really weak bass even with good amplification. The soundstage is nice but, ultimately I found the lack of bass unsatisfying - and I'm not a basshead.

I preferred the Mad Dogs to the HD650 for music as I felt they had a smoother, less grainy sound. less mid bass hump and more precise imaging. But they have a smaller soundstage than the HD650. But if you end up looking for a closed can cuz it turns out the HD650 or other open can still leaks a bit too much, I strongly recommend the Mad Dogs. they need about the same amount of amping power as the HD650 to sound good. The headphone out from a good home theatre receiver should be fine but it won't sound good out of a laptop outlet.

The HE-400 are also supposed to be really good. The HE-500 is excellent but more pricey than the rest here.
 
F

Fracas

#fuckonami
Hey guys, not sure what headphones to go with. I read the OP, but I still can't really decide. I'll start off by saying I'm not really an audiophile.

My last pair of earbuds were these. I know they're nothing special, but they're good enough for me.

Being the broke college student that I am, I'm wanting to get something in the same price range, but of similar/better quality. Between this pair, this pair, and this pair, which ones would be considered best all-around? Or are there any better pairs in the same price range? I'd prefer over-ear/clip ons, never been much for earbuds/IEMs. Portability is somewhat important as well.
 
T

Tattooth

Member
I am looking for some recommendations for headphones in the £100 range. I prefer clarity over bass. I have been looking at the Grado SR80i, but am not sure if they are the best for the price.
 
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