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From:
James Bamford
To:
rb , ,
Date:
Sat, 10 Sep 2005 01:39:01 +0100
Subject:
Re: [idm] ae headphones
Msg-Id:
<op.swu2rbgsn75mj0@jims-win2k>
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<E1EDi7c-0000Ho-00@mrvdomng.kundenserver.de>
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On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:36:47 +0100, rb <rb@c67.org> wrote:
quoted 18 lines is it correct that of this ones, the sony is the only open headphone?:> is it correct that of this ones, the sony is the only open headphone?: > > Sennheiser HD580 practically same sound as HD600, just a cheaper > looks/feel > Sennheiser HD600 > Beyer Dynamic DT250 (80ohm/250ohm, the former is easier to drive without > a > proper headphone amp and is the model i went for to be driven by ipods > and > the like) > Sony SA5000 (or their cheaper siblings the SA1000, SA3000) > Beyer Dynamic DT770 80ohm > > is any of your reviewd hp other than the sony a open hp? > > thanks > rb >
Only the two Beyer headphones listed there are closed (and isolating) all the others are open.. the sony's perhaps isolate slightly more than the HD580/600 but only slightly its still very open.
quoted 239 lines On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 21:36:48 +0100, rb <rb@c67.org> wrote:> > > > On Thu, 08 Sep 2005 21:36:48 +0100, rb <rb@c67.org> wrote: > >> >> hi >> im about to invest in some headphones. >> which can you recommend best for a super clear autechre sound, they >> also should be extremly comfortable and if possible open. >> im willing to pay maximum 400 euro, better 300 or less. >> >> thanks >> rb > > Quite simply you must hang out at www.headfi.org and find out more about > headphones, possibly even get a good deal on a 2nd hand pair.. > > The other suggestions by everyone are all fair.. I'm a bit of a headphone > nut so i'll list all mine that i currently own > > Sennheiser HD600: > My original hifi headphone, and still in use 4 years later.. similar > to the 580.. its been superseeded by the 650 which i've not heard but a > lot > of people like.. the 650 is a lot more money though and the 580/600s are > a > bargain compared. Its a very very comfortable headphone, and sounds great > with electronica. You really want to get it amped semi-decently to get a > nice powerful bass. > > Beyer Dynamic DT250 (80 ohm, or 250 ohm models) > These are quite simply the perfect headphone for use at work.. > they're pro spec so can be rebuilt from available parts, but importantly > are > built to survive anything. They're isolating headphones, and are a bit > dark > sounding.. this is nice as you get an inky backdrop for your music to > present to you.. consider the noise of your environment, isolating cans > are > a real bonus.. open cans do sound nice, but you will hear your computer > fans > over the top of the music all the time, it masks tiny details, or forces > you > to go louder - damaging your ears long term. > > Etymotic ER-4P/S > In ear monitors from the states.. i dont use these much at the > moment.. > if you do any long haul flights these or similar models by shure etc > would > be a godsend. These are very very detailed and natural headphones.. they > offer mid 20db isolation which means music again appears from silent > depths.. Their soundstage is really in the head.. sometimes it works > nice, > sometimes not compared to the bigger soundstages of the others in this > selection. Their bass is arkward to find, and though tuneful and correct > it > always seems to sound slight compared with what you're used to. > Electronica loves the bass, so its sometimes not the best can for the > job. > > Sony SA5000 > These are indeed wonderful headphones.. very very detailed.. this > can > sometimes be a curse though.. they're bright.. a lot of energy in the > higher frequencies.. they can sometimes set ceilings on your listening > volumes in a lot of tracks cause its literally too painful to go any > louder.. I loved them for a while, but have not listened to them a lot of > late as i've brought newer models.. They certainly have an affinity with > electronica with their details.. their bass whilst slightly slight > relative to the bloomyness of some, is tuneful and right down to fairly > low frequencies. Comfort is good, but still not as good as Sennheiser > HD600s or similar.. also all their parts are non-replacable, compared to > the Sennheisers allowing you to replace the leads etc when they get > damaged (i've had to do this 2-3 times over 4 years, but they have been > my > main phone that gets a lot of abuse with casual listening) > > AKG K1000 > These are the most unique kind of headphone you'll find.. they are > actually ear speakers and they pivot away from the ear by amounts set by > the listener.. with this you get binuaral feedback where your left ear > hears the right channels signal and vice versa.. this leads them to have > a > great out of head soundstage that just blows your mind with electronica.. > They require driving from speaker outputs of an amp, and they make you > look a bit of a fool, but they are really special cans.. ones that i've > neglected recently as i've had newer cans take up my time, but a recent > relisten proves that they are one of the best headphones for electronica, > and so will always stay in my collection. THe only real negative is from > their unique design their bass rolls off at about 35hz or so... i > expected > to hear bass-lightness when i first heard them, but nothing but.. they > are > a flat line can response in all the frequency range they provide, their > bass is excellent.. better than the SA5000 for the frequencies they > handle.. also being powered by muscular speaker amps you have a palpable > feeling of the sound as the diaphragms really move air. > > I've got some pictures of these headphones here > > http://jimtreats.com/k1000/ > > Sennheiser HE60 > > These are known as the baby orpheus headphone and are Sennheisers > top of > the range electrostatic headphone next to their £10,000 signature Orpheus > system they released. Now discontinued, so hard to find.. but they have a > wonderful sound.. I've not been listening to them for the last week or > so, > but i should be getting an adapter to be able to listen again with my new > amp any day now.. They are light as anything, electrostatic design helps > on that.. no magnet.. Headband and comfort like a HD600 but their pads > are > much thicker so they rest off your ear more.. one of the most comfortable > headphones you can wear.. their sound is superb.. electrostatics are just > natural.. its a funny thing, but they are just so easily listened to.. > really excellent details.. above SA5000 even, without being as shouty at > the top end.. these kind of cans really drink in natural details and so > its in voices, and live recorded instruments where you really start to > hear these things like they are in the room with you.. violins and string > instruments in particular (Max Richter for example) sound out of this > world!!! Electrostatics bass isn't as forceful as dynamic cans, but the > bass on the HE60s is really really good. perfectly tuneful and natural, > and going deep... I'll be interested to compare them to my most recent > can, as soon as the adapter arrives > > Stax Omega II > > These are the current top of the line Stax electrostatic headphone.. > I > had the opportunity to get them at a good price saving over their normal > £1700 price tag, and had to do it.. Stax have just gone to town with this > can, and for one targetted bass response of electrostats.. the Omega IIs > go down to 5hz and up to 40khz, in a near straight line fashion.. they > are > sometimes described as a bit dark, with a bias to the bass end.. but then > again so are HD600s and its a sound that i love, and know works with > electronica well.. I've not really discerned that as a problem, but as > hoped they really are great cans (as they should be for their ridiculous > price) .. they'll play with anything.. details above the HE60 perhaps > (will get chance to try and compare when i can drive them simultaneously > off the same amp), great bass, amazing depth to soundstage.. tracks i'd > listened to for ages with all these cans all of a sudden had a layering > going away from the head like i'd never heard before.. at the same time, > the soundstage isn't THAT big, it stays close to the head but in a really > detailed way.. panning from left to right doesn't exhibit any of the > left, > centre, right blobs that headphone listening can sometimes do.. its a > smooth path from side to side.. they're also really fast so glitch is > just > etched out with razor sharpness.. all in a package that has that > effortless electrostatic listenability that none of the other dynamic > cans > i've heard have when offering high amounts of detail across the frequency > range. > > Pics of these are available here, with their energiser to power them. > > http://jimtreats.com/omegaII/new/ > > Beyer Dynamic DT770 (modded into Darth Beyers) > > These are the most recent headphone i've brought that i've still not > > recieved.. yes i'm insane, and have too many of the damn things but after > a few pairs it becomes quite addictive, and they don't take up too much > room!! :) ANyways all the other cans mentioned apart from my work ones > and > those Etymotic ones are open.. background sounds are a real issue, such > that i usually turn off all PCs and listen in silence.. these DT770s are > closed like their DT250 brothers i describe above.. they are supposed to > have the most bass of any headphone.. apart from perhaps the grado PS1s, > limited edition £2000 from Germany only.. anyways i had to give them a > go.. bass being such a driving force in some electronica, i'm hopeful > that > they'll be a great can for some situations.. one being able to listen > over > air conditioning in peace. I also watch dvds with headphones and again > they'll be ideal for that with bass to be like a sub for explosions, and > isolation remove the noise of fans etc. > I've gone and got myself a modded pair though whose cups have been > rebuilt in wood.. at the same time a recabling is done to make them > longer > and different leads, which is supposed to balance them out a bit, and > perhaps enhance bass that last step. > These DT770's could be a possible solution for you. > > Anyways enough.. i'd seriously recommend spending some money on a pair of > headphones and enjoying the unique perspective they give you on music.. > its something very rewarding for a lot of electronica, letting you really > zoom in and move between the layers.. > > In your budget I'd suggest you consider > > Sennheiser HD580 practically same sound as HD600, just a cheaper > looks/feel > Sennheiser HD600 > Beyer Dynamic DT250 (80ohm/250ohm, the former is easier to drive without > a > proper headphone amp and is the model i went for to be driven by ipods > and > the like) > Sony SA5000 (or their cheaper siblings the SA1000, SA3000) > Beyer Dynamic DT770 80ohm > > Grado's are options.. that's the last manufacturer i've got to look at.. > the thing with grado's is that they dont really have a soundstage so to > speak, they're rock phones designed to get you sat next to the singer at > his mic, rather than cans with soundstage that portray it as if you are > sitting in the audience however many rows back (depending on their style > of soundstage) ... for electronica don't discount soundstage it plays a > BIG role in what i enjoy about it.. in your budget the HD580/600 are > probably the ones to go for.. after i've heard my new DT770s i may be > able > to suggest them as well (they're supposed to have a good soundstage, > making them excellent gaming headphones as well) > > Good luck, do check out headfi its a great community and there is lots to > learn. > > I'm going to go and listen to something tonight before sleeping, what to > choose tho :) > > Regards > > Jim > > ps. once you've got some headphones, be sure to check out some binaural > recordings.. I've got a load of mine online here > http://binaural.jimtreats.com/ listen to them with headphones and be > amazed at their 3d qualities, whatever the headphone.. its an effect that > improves with quality of cans, but still works really well.. even with in > ear buds (in fact they're almost ideal as the ear wont effect the sound > any further which is crucial in making the effect as realistic as > possible) >
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