I'm close to unsubscribing since the last few user purchases here were just insanely awesome and I'm close to getting myself some expensive open cans because of that. But I have several other purchases queued up already and need to safe up. I need to stay strong and not be mislead by these headphone pornpics in here.
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$500 cans on, this is how you dream right - Official Headphone Thread
- Thread starter HiResDes
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I'm close to unsubscribing since the last few user purchases here were just insanely awesome and I'm close to getting myself some expensive open cans because of that. But I have several other purchases queued up already and need to safe up. I need to stay strong and not be mislead by these headphone pornpics in here.
It's easy, all you have to do is rationalize it in your head. And then when people ask you, you give them your rationale and watch as their faces twist at the thought of buying a 1k headphone setup.
Or you could get a raise.
Personally I did both.
Can you guys recommend me something that sounds like the Zero Audio Carbore Tenore and is more widely available, ie Amazon.co.uk in the £100 price range. I loved those, but they died on me and well not wanting to get another pair just to die on me and returning them to Japan isn't exactly an easy process.
So since that setup looks to be my answer, all that's left is the gamble of trying these out and hoping the quality doesn't disappoint so I don't end up having to eat the return shipping costs of both of those items. I've heard some reviews say the DT990 pros have recessed mids and "lose the details" of sounds. If they mean poor sound/instrument separation that'd be bad. If I'm playing a game and exploring a forest I like the crickets to sound separate from the wind through the trees etc, and not muffled in some way or blended together like it's all on the same level. Also heard they have some sibilance in the highs and can be hard on the ears if youre sensitive to sharp treble.
Does anyone in this thread have them, or had them and can shed some light on those concerns.
If you want to alleviate all of those concerns you're going to have give up some some of the "fun" ie bass impact. The AKG Q701 might be a better pick if you're concerned about hearing every little detail.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/656626/q701-vs-dt990-250-pro-review
http://www.head-fi.org/t/656626/q701-vs-dt990-250-pro-review
Good link, I read every post, thanks. Sounds like I'd need a more expensive amp to power the 701s maybe. Question, I looked up the Q701's, are those the same 701's being referred to in this video ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjbwkUA2WIs&list=LLMxlrijF6CEK8_hO5li7hfA&index=9#t=08m40s
The guy's comparing them to the Takstar 2050 which I have now, and actually saying they sound really similar in sound signature and sound quality. What do you think of this ?
If a game has good sound design then the DT990 Pros will sound good. Some games are better in that area than others. That'll make more difference than the headphones themselves most of the time. If you simply want ultra detail and a massive soundstage then I guess Q701s or AD700s are what you want but that's too boring for me personally.
I use DT990 Pros over my DT880s, HD558s, HD598s, HD650s, and AD700s for gaming.
That's why I recommended them, but the Takstar don't have nearly as wide of a soundstage at all. And the Q701 aren't any more power hungry than the DT990s. They both scale well though.
The guy in the video doesn't even have AKG Q701s...
That's not helping with the more widely available
but I ordered them anyway. Cheap enough for me to give them a test. I hope they marked the price down, they sent it with tracking so it will get stopped by customs.Phat Michael
Banned
That is good output. The HA-1 is the same output and it drives my LCD3s / HD800s which are pretty damn power hungry. That should run sweet.
Phat Michael
Banned
THis looks interesting...most likely my next set:
Hifiman HE-1000
http://www.cnet.com/news/quite-possibly-the-best-sounding-headphones-in-the-world/
Not sure if i will have to upgrade amps tho:
Hifiman HE-1000
http://www.cnet.com/news/quite-possibly-the-best-sounding-headphones-in-the-world/
Not sure if i will have to upgrade amps tho:
ElectricKaibutsu
Member
I'd love to give them a listen.THis looks interesting...most likely my next set:
Hifiman HE-1000
http://www.cnet.com/news/quite-possibly-the-best-sounding-headphones-in-the-world/
Not sure if i will have to upgrade amps tho:
Let us know what you think! I have the Carbo Bassos and I know they're going to die eventually.That's not helping with the more widely available
TarpitCarnivore
Member
Ordered the RHA M750i and they arrived last night. Here are my initial thoughts:
Build/Design:
The build quality is top notch. The cord is thick, but there is zero feedback when touching it or having it brush up against stuff.
Right above the plug is about an inch of winded wire to help prevent bending and breaking. Not to mention the solid build of the jack itself.
Tons of tips, unfortunately silicone tips have always bothered me. The foam tips that came with them are stiff and a bit too big. So I'm happy I got a pair of Comply's when I ordered them. The mediums are fitting pretty well.
Music:
I skipped my amp with these (Schiit Magni/Modi) as I'll be using them mostly while on the go (phone or laptop on the train) and so far am really impressed. A good amount of bass, but still incredibly clear and detailed. I was a bit worried they would be really bright based on some reviews, but compared to my A151's they're incredibly balanced.
Fleetwood Mac's rumors is sound really nice right now. Everything is clear, detailed and Lindsey Buckingham sounds great.
As for something more modern I like to use Jessie Ware as I think her production is top notch. There is some low-end, not as much in my DT770 but it's there. With this I'm finding these to be a bit too bright but there is still a good amount of detail.
As of right now, and just 30-45 minutes of listening, I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Build/Design:
The build quality is top notch. The cord is thick, but there is zero feedback when touching it or having it brush up against stuff.
Right above the plug is about an inch of winded wire to help prevent bending and breaking. Not to mention the solid build of the jack itself.
Tons of tips, unfortunately silicone tips have always bothered me. The foam tips that came with them are stiff and a bit too big. So I'm happy I got a pair of Comply's when I ordered them. The mediums are fitting pretty well.
Music:
I skipped my amp with these (Schiit Magni/Modi) as I'll be using them mostly while on the go (phone or laptop on the train) and so far am really impressed. A good amount of bass, but still incredibly clear and detailed. I was a bit worried they would be really bright based on some reviews, but compared to my A151's they're incredibly balanced.
Fleetwood Mac's rumors is sound really nice right now. Everything is clear, detailed and Lindsey Buckingham sounds great.
As for something more modern I like to use Jessie Ware as I think her production is top notch. There is some low-end, not as much in my DT770 but it's there. With this I'm finding these to be a bit too bright but there is still a good amount of detail.
As of right now, and just 30-45 minutes of listening, I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Union Carbine
Member
Lovely. Any idea yet what the asking price for those will be?
All reports are rumoring something close to the 2K mark.... Yeah I'll just wait on the HE-560 to drop instead.
No one knows for sure. Dr. Fang discussed prices with a select few audiophiles but asked them to keep it a secret. Most people guess around 3k.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
$3,000 for the HE-1000 with a $5,000 version planned? LOL NO. I hate this recent trend of escalating prices. Of course people will pay the price and pretty soon we'll have flagships coming out in the $5,000 range :l
opticalmace
Member
There are already headphones that cost more than $5k.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
I know like the Abyss. I'm talking about $5,000 as a standard of sorts. We already saw $1,000 becoming an accepted price point for DAPs and now with A&K pushing $2,500, people have found THAT to be acceptable. In the IEM realm we have JH pushing the Layla at $2,400. I'm certain those will sell as well, which would only encourage other manufacturers to gouge even more
The progress has been bringing up the "low" end of audiophile gear, too. It's win win, unless you're someone who hates when something better exists.
Union Carbine
Member
I think I'll be in that same boat.
Phat Michael
Banned
I reckon 2k for the cans. 3.5k for the amp.
They either go against the LCD3's or the abyss/Stax SR009s.
But is this really that true? I honestly don't think headphones are really sounding significantly better. Shit, the Sennheiser HD580 is over 20 years old at this point and the majority of headphones aren't significantly better than it, if at all. We just have far more models to choose from.
Like I said in a post a while ago. If these headphone manufacturers designed speakers like they design their headphones, they'd be out of business overnight.
Chinese companies like Takstar, Somic, and Superlux make some fantastic budget stuff. JVCs carbon nanotube series competes well with many headphones in the two hundred range. And IEMs have made ridiculous progress at the fifty dollar price range.
AngryChinchilla
Member
.
Phat Michael
Banned
Looks nice man! Is the dac on top and the amp underneath? What headphones are connected?
AngryChinchilla
Member
Thanks, yes, HD650.
Phat Michael
Banned
Where did you get that figure?
Im sure others will disagree with me, but your setup is only going to be as strong as the weakest link in your chain.
I didnt realise that amp you posted wasnt a DAC as well, if it is so, then yes you should get one. im looking to get another DAC to play with my oppo, the Chordette 2Qute as these guys make some amazing DACs just based on the Hugo. Since the OPPO has plenty of power...i just think it is the DAC that can be improved.
This might help you: http://www.whathifi.com/news/best-dacs-to-buy-in-2014
Not surprised everything in that lineup is British.
Anyway, listen and see if you can actually tell a difference. Try and get someone to do a double blind test while you're there. If you can accurately distinguish between DACs even when they try to trick you, then great! If you can't, don't buy the product and save the cash. Buying blind off some dude's subjective opinions (in a lot of cases, very biased and influenced by material gain) is not something that should be done especially if its an extremely expensive product.
Anyway, listen and see if you can actually tell a difference. Try and get someone to do a double blind test while you're there. If you can accurately distinguish between DACs even when they try to trick you, then great! If you can't, don't buy the product and save the cash. Buying blind off some dude's subjective opinions (in a lot of cases, very biased and influenced by material gain) is not something that should be done especially if its an extremely expensive product.
I'd stick with those or even a Dragonfly 1.2 would do the trick if space is a concern.
I recently got the Dragonfly 1.2, this tiny thing is amazing, it works on my Samsung S5 too
Union Carbine
Member
Yep. The Geek Out is also tiny and exceptional. The Schiit stack would work great too and maybe has more input options, depending on what you're going to connect it to. A lot depends on how modular vs. portable vs. flexible you want to go.
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ..._mmc=AFC-dealnews-_-NA-_-NA-_-N82E16826416001
KEF M200 for $50 with this code
EMCAKNW24
KEF M200 for $50 with this code
EMCAKNW24
Never been to an audio shop, so I'll have to find one now
I'll have to check that out thanks
Dynamite Ringo Matsuri
Member
Yeah it's the Dr. Mario Pill DuoZa remember? I hear it's good but nowhere near the same league as something like the CKR-9, which is pretty meh IMO. I'm not a big CKR-9 fan, but it has some nice qualities to it. Moreover, the DuoZA seems to be going for about $100 or thereabouts. You can find used CKR-9s for about $140 or even less sometimes. Apparently the Japanese shops are lined with rows of DuoZas for $50 lol. Wish we had something equivalent to e-earphone or fujiya here in the states.
The Big Rig
Member
So I have some Best Buy bucks and I need some over the ear cans for an upcoming flight. I'm looking in the $300-400 range, and I'm trying to choose between:
Bowers and Wilkins P7
the VMODA M100
the PSB M4U2
and possibly the Sennheiser Momentums
My main concerns are isolation and ability to power from my phone. I believe the PSB have an amp built into them, but they just look ugly as hell. I don't really want active noise cancelling either, as my ears are sensitive to it. I really don't want to bring an amp with me, I'm going to be charging enough electronics as it is. I've been to Headfi and the consensus seems to be with the P7, but I'd like HeadphoneGAF's opinion. Other Best Buy suggestions are welcome too.
Bowers and Wilkins P7
the VMODA M100
the PSB M4U2
and possibly the Sennheiser Momentums
My main concerns are isolation and ability to power from my phone. I believe the PSB have an amp built into them, but they just look ugly as hell. I don't really want active noise cancelling either, as my ears are sensitive to it. I really don't want to bring an amp with me, I'm going to be charging enough electronics as it is. I've been to Headfi and the consensus seems to be with the P7, but I'd like HeadphoneGAF's opinion. Other Best Buy suggestions are welcome too.
I'd second the P7 recommendation. The PSBs are fugly, the M100s are too bass-heavy IMHO and their styling isn't for everyone, and the Senns have been superseded with a v2 release.
However we can't talk about designer portables without bringing up the B&O H6:
Gorgeous. Sound signature is neutral though, almost to a fault, and the inline mic is iOS- only. Also expensive as fuck.
However we can't talk about designer portables without bringing up the B&O H6:
Gorgeous. Sound signature is neutral though, almost to a fault, and the inline mic is iOS- only. Also expensive as fuck.
Quick audio related question. The headphone jack on my Macbook is broken and they said they would have to replace the entire logic board to fix it which would cost $500 so I don't want to deal with it.
Can anyone recommend a good, portable USB headphone jack? I bought this but the sound quality is just awful. Thanks!
Can anyone recommend a good, portable USB headphone jack? I bought this but the sound quality is just awful. Thanks!
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