Sound qulity with wireless headphones

[pemike1973]

A quick question, i am thinking of buying the Beyerdynamic RSX 550 wirless headphones or the Beyerdynamic DTX 900.

My question is, being the Beyerdynamic RSX 550 a wirless headphone using FM frequency, is there a loss in sound quality when compared to wired headphones ?

In your opinion which is the better pair of headphonesI listen to all types of music and action movies)

Beyerdynamic RSX 550
Wireless Headphone

System: 40mm Mylar-500 High-Tech System
Transducer Type: dynamic, closed-back
Frequency response: 20 Hz- 20,000 Hz
THD at 1 kHz: < 1%
Max. SPL: 100 dB
Battery: 2x NiMH rechargeable batteries
Operating time: 8 hrs.
Weight inc. battery: 290 g
Transmitter:

Modulation: FM Stereo
Operating Distance: up to 100 m
Signal-to-noise ratio: 70 dB(A)
Switchable RF frequencies: 863, 3 MHz/ 863,9 MHz
Connection: 3,5mm stereo phone plug & 6,3mm adaptor
Dimensions: 180 x 100 x 100mm

Beyerdynamic DTX 900

System: 40 mm Mylar-900-TopClass-System
- Transducer type: Dynamic, open
- Frequency range: 10 - 22,000 Hz
- Sensitivity: 108 dB
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- Maximum power input: 1500 mW
- Cable length: 3 m
- Weight without cable: 180 g
- Connector: 3.5 / 6.3 mm stereo jack plug

Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphone

Type: Circum-aural, closed
Drivers: 40 mm dia., dynamic type
Impedance: 63 ohms at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 106 dB/mW
Rated power: 0.5
Power handling capacity: 1 w
Frequency response: 10-20,000 Hz
3 m coiled litz cable with gold plated 1/8, and 1/4 inch plugs
Weight: Approx. 230 g minus the cable
Comes with carry bag and 1/4 inch adapter plug

 

[jaxvon]

Try to listen to each headphone and see which you like best. I'm personally a big fan of the MDR-7506 headphones, but that's me. As far as accuracy goes, they are THE reference standard in the audio engineering world.

 

[Hi Ho]

I have a pair of Sennheiser RS-120 headphones. I absolutely love them! FM doesn't have unlimited bandwith so you do sacrifice just a bit of sound quality but in my opinion, the freedom and range far outweighs the miniscule loss in sound quality. My headphones sound pretty damn good, especially when the $99 price tag is considered. The range of 300ft is no lie. I can go to the house next door and still hear loud and clear. They last forever on the two rechargable AAA batteries too. I have worn them for 15 hours straight (not just sitting ) and they were still going strong. I just hang them on the charger when I'm not using them.

I have listened to the newer (and more expensive) RS-140's and they do sound better than the RS-120's with better bass and a closed design.

I have never heard the ones you are looking at but if the Sennheisers are any indication, wireless headphones can sound excellent.

 

[buckyg4]

While the MDR-7506 are hardly a reference, out of all of the ones listed they are the best. I haven't heard any wirelss headphone that made me happy, or at least happy related to the price. For a hundred dollars more you can probably pick up a B stock Sennheiser HD600.

 

[Hi Ho]

Why didn't the wireless models make you happy? Sound quality?

Maybe it's just me. I'm always after the best possible sound I can afford. However, I hat wires. I hate being tied to one spot with headphones. With my Sennheisers I can walk around the house, around the yard, even to my rental houses acrossed the street and next door.

 

[jaxvon]

While the MDR-7506 are hardly a reference, out of all of the ones listed they are the best. I haven't heard any wirelss headphone that made me happy, or at least happy related to the price. For a hundred dollars more you can probably pick up a B stock Sennheiser HD600.

I beg to disagree. They're a staple in the recording world for headphone monitoring.

 

[pemike1973]

Home cinema

Try to listen to each headphone and see which you like best. I'm personally a big fan of the MDR-7506 headphones, but that's me. As far as accuracy goes, they are THE reference standard in the audio engineering world.

I enjoy listening to jazz, and the ocasional "Metallica", but am also a movie freak, and by movie freak i mean that I enjoy watching action films, like Blade.

In your opinion can the sony MDR-7506 also be used for home cinema viewing ?

Thanks.

P.S. One more thing, i am really inclined in buying the Sony MDR-7506, they have excellent reviews !

 

[buckyg4]

I beg to disagree. They're a staple in the recording world for headphone monitoring.

Are you in the industry? I was in the industry for about 8 years and worked in multiple higher end studios. I can tell you that they weren't used. But none the less they are a decent headphone.

 

[buckyg4]

Why didn't the wireless models make you happy? Sound quality?

Maybe it's just me. I'm always after the best possible sound I can afford. However, I hat wires. I hate being tied to one spot with headphones. With my Sennheisers I can walk around the house, around the yard, even to my rental houses acrossed the street and next door.

I would have to say sound quality. You can get comparable quality up to a point (can't get a wireless that compares to a Sennheiser 650), but you are probably paying double (which makes sense based on the added convience). I've been spoiled to listen to high end wired headphones for so long that its hard to go down in quality.

 

[Snap]

You are not going to get a studio to use wireless head phones. I would have to see it to believe it. I have 3 pair of Sen Head Phones and they are all wired. Full enclosers sets with a minimum of 40 db noise blocking. I tired a couple of sets of wireless headphones and I will NEVER use them again. They either died on me durring a gig. Got static from something. Either one of the thousand wireless stuff people are using, or just stay trons. And I did not find that they gave me enough of the sound spectrum for me to use. I have 2 of the lower end Sens for live gigs, (The HD 280's) and a NICE set for mixing with Pro Tools.

Tooling around the house, or if your wife wants to sleep, and you want to listen to the TV while in Bed. TOTALLY different story. Wireless is definatly the way to go.

Sen head phones are awesome. I have tried Sony and a whole bunch of other brands and found the Sens to be the ones that I liked best.

Blessed,
Snap

 

[Snap]

I would have to say sound quality. You can get comparable quality up to a point (can't get a wireless that compares to a Sennheiser 650), but you are probably paying double (which makes sense based on the added convience). I've been spoiled to listen to high end wired headphones for so long that its hard to go down in quality.

Sorry posted before I read this.

I agree totally! Good headphones are like HDTV. Once you watch HDTV you will hate 480i

 

[Hi Ho]

Analog wireless headphones are not meant for mastering or critical listening. They are meant for casual listening, watching TV, late night movies, music while you work in the yard, etc. They do that job very well. With my Sennheiser's I get an occasional pop of static when I am far away from the transmitter but that's it. They will run continuously for over twenty hours as well. People need to look at what the product is designed to do and not expect it to be as good as a wired pair designed for studio mastering.

I would love it if Sennheiser, or any other company, put out an affordable set of quality digital RF wireless headphones. I don't know why it hasn't happened. There are infrared models but, in my opinion, you are still tethered, the wires are just invisible (line of sight). I don't see any technical reason why a pair of digital RF wireless headphones could not compete with the best wired models. I also don't see why there aren't any digital RF models available in the U.S. I believe AKG has some (very expensive) digital RF headphones but they are not available in the U.S. The analog FM transmission is what holds back the wireless models of today.