Replace Headphones

[tntnt]

Hi! Firts post here, a friend of mine told me that you are the ones who could help me!

I want to buy a new pair of HP to replace my good old HD202 (they'll go to my sister).

The source will be mostly the PC.

The music I hear most is House and styles that are heavy on bass, so that should be in the equacion. I like powerful bass!
Sometimes I like to chill with a bit of classical music, so..

I really prefer them to be closed, but i'm not in a noisy environment, so perfect isolation is not an issue.

Here's the catch: i'm limited to some HP on a store... So, here are the models:

- Sennheiser HD 212 Pro
- Sennheiser HD 418 (they are new to me, seems good)
- Sennheiser HD 228
- AKG K 420
- AKG K 512
- Panasonic RP DJ300
- Panasonic RP HTF 600E-S (good specs)
- Pioneer SE M290

Well, with those limitations, what would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[jamie2112]

I would check this out.A buddy of mine who is a audio scientist and genius is doing a headphone test and here are some results

http://www.ratsound.com/cblog/archives/365-The-Mighty-Headphone-Quest-Part-6.html

 

[sholling]

See if they have some Grado Prestige SR 225 headphones.

 

[tntnt]

Thanks Jamie.
The link has very useful info, but it's not particularly enlightening for what i'm looking for..

Which one of these is the "best buy" for what I want?

- Sennheiser HD 212 Pro
- Sennheiser HD 418 (they are new to me, seems good)
- Sennheiser HD 228
- AKG K 420
- AKG K 512
- Panasonic RP DJ300
- Panasonic RP HTF 600E-S (good specs)
- Pioneer SE M290

thanks

 

[jamie2112]

Are you able to listen to any of your choices?That to me is the best way to pick out your phones.

 

[tntnt]

I'm afraid I cant... That was my first question in the store! I have a "voucher" to spend there, so i'm limited to those models...

That's why I'm asking for some advice.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I'm afraid I cant... That was my first question in the store! I have a "voucher" to spend there, so i'm limited to those models...

That's why I'm asking for some advice.

Do they carry the Shure SRH840, if so get those. They would be excellent for your preferences.

 

[sholling]

I would go to headphone.com and read up on their reviews. Yes they sell headphones but their bread and butter is the trust they've built up over the years and I've found their reviews to be honest.

There are also some specialized headphone forums like head-fi that might be worth a visit.

 

[Boerd]

I'm afraid I cant... That was my first question in the store! I have a "voucher" to spend there, so i'm limited to those models...

That's why I'm asking for some advice.

Since I have not listened to all of them I have to talk from the brand point of view:
In this case I'd go with AKG - pick one of them.
I own Grado SR 125 but I like AKG and Beyerdynamic too.
Next would be Senn.

 

[sholling]

Also keep in mind that just because you hear good things about a brand that it doesn't mean that you will like all of their products. For example Senn makes a dozen or more model. Some of those are high-buck masterpieces optimized for detailed classical music, others are optimized for trance, others for low powered MP3 players, still others are just built to be cheap. My point is that read up on each model and don't just generalize based on brand.

 

[WmAx]

I would check this out.A buddy of mine who is a audio scientist and genius is doing a headphone test and here are some results

http://www.ratsound.com/cblog/archives/365-The-Mighty-Headphone-Quest-Part-6.html

CD3000 a reference for 'accuracy' and 'flatness'?

Come on now; while this is a great headphone for 'euphoric' sound; it is not accurate. No way. No how.

I do extensive controlled headphone/measurement/analysis experiments. The absolute, most accurate headphone I have found; and this is comparing the highest end products that cost several hundreds to several thousands of dollars; is the Beyer DT880 from the mid 2000's(with the flat mesh screen caps, not the newer dome shape), combined with a special modification that I designed. It has measurably(weighted on the diffuse field method) and audibly, the most accurate sound of any headphone I have been exposed to. Remember, that my basis of 'accuracy' is using dead flat stereo mics, standing between them, and comparing the real sound to miced sound. Use a delay unit so that the live sound can be heard, then stopped and immediately place the headphones on your head. Repeat with various voices, instruments, etc.

DT880, OEM vs. MOD:

The MODDED unit has a smooth, decaying response as you move past 2kHz, to account for the head response treble reduction effect, and lacks the peaks/resonances/cancellations of the stock unit, providing extreme smooth/flat (in effect when accounting for the head treble response) response. Not shown, but also analyzed: distortion is extremely low (lower than any loudspeaker system) across the audible band.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

To the OP: Sony MDR-V6 or MDR-7506 is my recommendation. Very high grade construction (better than most phones that cost near $1k), and very good SQ; best in the price range really, and superb if you do pro audio work.

The 7506 and V6 are IDENTICAL with the exception of a single cosmetic difference (plug on V6 is nickel plated with stainless cover, plug on 7506 is gold plated and flat black painted cover). They are sold through different divisions of Sony. 7506 from Sony Professional and V6 through Sony Consumer. The $25 price difference? Your choice. The 7506 has full warranty support for at least a year, and it comes with a schematic and way to easily get parts replaced. The V6? Sony consumer is a dog, and will usually give you big problems. Sony pro won't cover your warrant since the V6 is distributed through consumer division. I have read accounts of people with defective V6 that sent them to Sony (consumer) for repair, and Sony sent them back Sony MDR-V600(A completely inferior product in EVERY SINGLE ASPECT) because it is listed as an acceptable 'replacement value' phone in Sony's consumer system. In addition, consumer warranty is 90 days, while pro warranty is 1 year.

So..... V6=Near Useless Warranty.... 7506= Useful Warranty

-Chris

 

[Mika75]

WmAx, a friend of mine has the Sennheiser HD555, they sound good and are comfortable to wear and in Aus they are practically the same price as the Sony's u alluded to..

But would the Sennheisers be in the same league as the professional Sony's ? (I would be buying these sight unseen )

 

[MinusTheBear]

WmAx, a friend of mine has the Sennheiser HD555, they sound good and are comfortable to wear and in Aus they are practically the same price as the Sony's u alluded to..

But would the Sennheisers be in the same league as the professional Sony's ? (I would be buying these sight unseen )

Very different headphones. The design of HD555 are open while the Sony V6 are closed. The 555 will leak sound and allow outside noise in. The V6 are the opposite. The sound signature of the V6 is more neutral compared to the HD555. Some subjective opinions on the V6 that I have read is that they can sound harsh with some recordings. The Sennheiser headphones I have listened to have all been very comfortable and offer a more laid back type of sound. With the design of most closed headphones, I find they can sometimes feel like a vice on your head.

 

[tntnt]

Well, i just bought the HD428.

I had the chance to try the HD428 and the HD438 for a couple of song styles(new, without "burn-in" and equalization, just out of the box default).

Conclusion:
The HD428 seems to have a good bass and pretty good mids and highs.
The HD438 has a better overall sound, a little more clear in highs, but not so powerful on bass.
And the HD428 is far more beautiful, has a bigger cable an is cheaper, so...
Now, I belive that with time, the "soundstage" will open and the quality will improve. But it's enough for what I need.

I have a question: When i connect the phones to the PC speakers (Logitech X-230) or directly to the on board sound card, the volume is not very high (just like my old HD202's). I know that the Realtek drivers suck...

Is there a cheap amp that allows me to have a louder sound on the PC (without losing quality)? Not anything too fancy, just a simple improvement.

Thanks!

 

[jamie2112]

About $199 for a good headphone amp
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=headphone+amps&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3225598362841047853&ei=_SRFS47hE5O2M-rDmfEB&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=5&ved=0CC4Q8gIwBA#

http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/amplifiers.php

 

[WmAx]

Actually, the Behringer Xenyx 802 mini mixer has a superb headphone amp that can power any dynamic headphone without effort, including the notoriously low voltage efficiency AKG K340 and K1000. The 802 has a silent background, flat response, very low distortion and very high driving voltage. It's around $60-$80, I believe.

-Chris

 

[tntnt]

Well... I guess I'm not able to spend more than 50€...
I just want to use the full power and volume of the phones..
Nothing cheaper??

 

[Mika75]

I have a question: When i connect the phones to the PC speakers (Logitech X-230) or directly to the on board sound card, the volume is not very high (just like my old HD202's). I know that the Realtek drivers suck...

Have u checked the pc volume level setting? >> Start/ Control Panel / Sounds & Audio Devices / Volume / Advanced

 

[HDPCsound]

You can use a headphone amp to make them sound louder, usually onboard audio is not very good for headphone use.