Hot headphones Lost on new ones

[ematthews]

Hello
Looking for a little help.. These will be for 2 channel listening at home only purchase. All my equipment is Emotiva.. Can anyone recommend a pair of headphones. My old set are a pair of Audio-technica m40s... They are falling apart.. They sound OK but flat and not very enjoyable. They are also hot so I have to pull them off after about 45 min..
Budget 500 or less. Have no idea if I want closed or Open... Either is fine as I am looking for the best sounding ones I can get..
I want a nice deep bass and full sound... Comfortable as well..

 

[agarwalro]

Here is a review of 56 headphones in various price ranges. I like it because several (irrespective of price) got a rating of 'F'.

The only ones that got A+ were,
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900
Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohm)
Sennheiser HD600
HIFI Man HE-500

That said, some others got A's and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Read the entire thing and try to listen to the ones you shortlist, before you pick your new set .

 

[ematthews]

Hey. Do you know if the audio- tech were the closed or open version.

 

[agarwalro]

Hey. Do you know if the audio- tech were the closed or open version.

They're open.

 

[ematthews]

Think I will pull the trigger on either the Sennheiser HD600 or 650

Any ideas if I would need an amp for these. I know my Emotiva USP-1 and my
Marantz PM8004 both have decent headphone drivers. I think my CD6004 is good too.

 

[agarwalro]

The headphone out on both will have a decent amp, otherwise it would have been a 'Line Out'.

 

[ematthews]

Ended up getting the Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohm)
Also ordered the Bellari amp too... Can't wait to have some fun!

 

[agarwalro]

Ended up getting the Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohm)!

Can't go wrong with those .

 

[jcl]

Ended up getting the Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohm)
Also ordered the Bellari amp too... Can't wait to have some fun!

Either the Sennheisers or those Beyers are excellent choices. Good idea to go with the external amp for the 600ohm model. Let us know your impressions after you get them.

 

[ematthews]

Help.........
I just tried out the new Beyer's. They sound great but are very hot around the ears.. Very concerning. Not very comfortable at all.. Maybe around the phones are just not for me. The velour material is just HOT. Did I say hot enough times.
Would the Senn HD60 be a better choice. I know they are around the ear too, but maybe they would feel better How about Grado's on ear????
Any help or recommendations?
Too bad I have no hi end audio stores around to try them out.

 

[agarwalro]

Like you mentioned, instead of 'over ear' types, perhaps you need to look at 'on ear'. Grado SR60 and SR80 have their fan following .

 

[jcl]

I think you need to identify what makes the headphone hot for you. Is the driver actually creating heat or is it just the ear cup against your head? If that is the case then you might try some IEMs.

The only other thing that comes to mind is something like the AKG k1000, which are discontinued and were well outside your budget. This didn't cup the ear so probably would have been cooler. AKG K1000 Headphones Review By Alvin Gold

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any other headphone that sits on the head like that. The problem with a design like that is it's obviously not going to offer anything in the way of isolation.

On ear will have less contact with your head, so may be cooler. However, on ear also means it tends to press on the ear. I have Grado sr60's but I can't wear them for longer than an hour. I've read you can swap out the cushions for the LCush for more comfort but i never did.

 

[ematthews]

It's the cups. I'll keep trying them. It's only the first night.. Want to really try the Grado but it seems everyone says they are uncomfortable.

 

[Lordhumungus]

It's the cups. I'll keep trying them. It's only the first night.. Want to really try the Grado but it seems everyone says they are uncomfortable.

I love the sound of my Grado phones, but they are absolutely the most uncomfortable headphones I've ever used. Not only that, but the cable is constantly getting coiled up. If it wasn't for TLS Guy being nice enough to try modding them for me, I'd definitely be looking for something different.

 

[TLS Guy]

Help.........
I just tried out the new Beyer's. They sound great but are very hot around the ears.. Very concerning. Not very comfortable at all.. Maybe around the phones are just not for me. The velour material is just HOT. Did I say hot enough times.
Would the Senn HD60 be a better choice. I know they are around the ear too, but maybe they would feel better How about Grado's on ear????
Any help or recommendations?
Too bad I have no hi end audio stores around to try them out.

Senns are the absolute best in my opinion. They sound great and are comfortable. However that said, I'm not a huge fan of headphone listening.

 

[ematthews]

Just ordered the Senn hd650 to try side by side..

 

[jcl]

I suspect that you will not find a great difference between these headphones as far as your heat problem goes. Alternately an IEM may be warm in your ear, it is just that small area. If the heat of having an over ear or on ear is too much I think the IEM would be a big improvement in heat. People do find they can be uncomfortable for sitting in your ear however.

 

[ematthews]

True
I am going to try some different stuff. I really think it's just the cloth material on the Beyer's. I checked there site to see if they make a leather replacement and didn't see it.

 

[ematthews]

HD650 are in the House!!!!
A little better than the Beyer's IMO... The headphone amp plays these much louder as well...300 ohm vs 600

I think I may end up keeping both however. The 880's do have a very nice open sound...The bass is better on the HD650 and is tighter as well.
It's strange. The Beyers almost sound a little cleaner if that makes since.
Hard to describe the two...I like both but the Senn's are more fun to listen to.

 

[MinusTheBear]

HD650 are in the House!!!!
A little better than the Beyer's IMO... The headphone amp plays these much louder as well...300 ohm vs 600

I think I may end up keeping both however. The 880's do have a very nice open sound...The bass is better on the HD650 and is tighter as well.
It's strange. The Beyers almost sound a little cleaner if that makes since.
Hard to describe the two...I like both but the Senn's are more fun to listen to.

What you say makes total sense. In short they are both amazing headphones. The Beyers IMO are more analytical. It might be what you desribe as cleaner or what I might describe as "clearer". The Senn's have a "warmth" to them that does make them fun to listen to over longs periods.

Good idea to keep both. There is no regret in that decision IMO. Enjoy!