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Post by timjthomas on Apr 8, 2016 10:06:30 GMT
Much of the discussion seems to always revolve around what is the "best", "must accurate", etc. headphone. The answer tends to be HD600, HD650, or HD800. But, are these the most "fun" headphones?
By fun, I mean good for all recordings, comfortable for all day listening, etc.?
The 600/650/800 may very well be, but I thought I'd ask others.
Thanks!
-Tim
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Post by marveltone on Apr 8, 2016 13:32:00 GMT
I find myself asking the same question. I think it all boils down to personal preference. Some people seem to crave accuracy above all else, and as such, they tend to be more analytical by nature. I can appreciate this to a certain extent, as I have spent a tiny bit of time in recording studios (very tiny!), and even at home, I've used headphones to help pick out different instruments to arrange a piece of music to fit our particular group.
While super accurate headphones are a great tool, sometimes, they can sound a bit too clinical and boring to me. My personal preference is for a headphone to be accurate enough to not significantly color or hide vocals or instruments, yet give me more of a feeling of actually being at a concert, not a recording studio. For this, I think I prefer the bass to be a little higher than flat to help simulate the bass you feel when at a concert, but it still has to be tight enough to pick out the individual notes. I like the mids to be smooth as possible, to help bring out strings and vocals with authority, not thin and wimpy. The highs need to be crisp, but not piercing. Definitely not muddy! I like high hats to dance but not make me wince.
I guess what it boils down to for me is, while part of me demands accuracy, the other part craves something that will make me want to dance... Or as I get older, perhaps just get totally lost in my music. I'm too sore and tired to dance.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 8, 2016 13:58:01 GMT
Agree with you 100%. I'm looking for that headset that allows me to just get lost!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 8, 2016 16:10:46 GMT
I think so many are just obsessed by what is accurate and what is analytical that they can no longer tell what they like themselves. Many also don't have the confidence to trust their own ears and judgement. For me, the best isn't always the most accurate. I used headphones as tools, but I also use them for entertainment. The two sounds needed are different, let alone other physical things such as lead length, comfort, isolation etc. The theory is that if you have an accurate headphone, then you wouldn't want anything else perhaps? I don't believe that either since each headphone that I have tried has its own strengths and weaknesses. For me, entertainment value is first. I'd rather have a 'musical' sound than analytical, any day. I get a huge amount of enjoyment from the variations of sound possible from headphones and eventually, my listening tends to hover around a select few for different reasons. Whenever I go out with the other half shopping, I always drop in to music places just to try new headphones on display, out of interest. Just recently heard a Nad Viso and a Sony mdr-1a. I liked both, not because they're accurate, but because they portray the excitement in the music that you are listening to. In fact, I'll be borrowing a Sony when I get back home for a while because I quite liked its sound, but it's not what I'd call analytical in any way. Thing is, what I like might not be what others like. That never bothers me since I do have some of the better headphones too, and tbh, it's my ears not theirs. I even used a Fanny Wang headphone for a period of time which was quite funny. One of the cheapish, 'style' headphones, purely because I quite liked its convenience and sound!! It's not really that important. What's more important is your interest in the music, and if you are constantly focusing on what headphone that you ought to be using, then imo, you've lost your way in hifi and music listening. If you prefer X brand..... even if it's a Beats headphone, if it gets you into the music, then it really doesn't matter. You're just listening in a different room to other people. It has never bothered me one bit, what I listen on and what anyone thinks of me for using any headphone. If someone told me that my headphone was rubbish and I was deaf, I couldn't care less. There is a kind of snobbery in hifi which I don't really like. Some turn their noses up at you in public because you use something that they regard as inferior and frankly, it's not very nice. It always makes me laugh when some hifi snob states that they can't possibly listen to a headphone because the sound is so awful. I just wonder why it's so bad that they can't listen. I just think, turn it down then but no need to exaggerate. I haven't found one headphone that's impossible to listen on. It runs through lots of things in hifi though, not just headphones. Wires, daps, file types, file resolution, etc., when the truth is, most of those people can't tell the difference in reality and avoid any form of testing because they know they'd 'fail' the test. That's better .............
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 8, 2016 17:50:26 GMT
Good response Ian. I've been wanting an "upgrade" to my HD580's. But, I'm thinking that an upgrade is not the "right" approach. I need to find a solid open headphone that meets the criteria of comfort, all day fatigue-free listening, with a good fun sound.
I was thinking the HD800 with Kameleon may be the headphone, but I'm not sure. I haven't been able to hear the HD800 yet.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 8, 2016 18:35:09 GMT
The hd580 is a great headphone. I'm not sure though that the hd800 is what I'd describe as a 'fun' sound tbh. It's a pretty analytical headphone.
I guess it depends really on what your preferences in sound are. I think for me, a strident top end is not good. I find that I have to turn things right down so I lose a lot of impact as a result.
Funnily enough, I het more pleasure out of having a few cheapies than one expensive headphone since you can change signature instantly.
At that high price level, I think accuracy might be more of a priority. I find the th900 an entertaining headphone but again, it suits my preference for a lifted bass end.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 8, 2016 21:28:38 GMT
I'm on the Ether "tour" at SABF, so I'll get to hear that. I did read a couple of people post that they would rather have an HE-400s. The sound is very forgiving and fun, and for $299, they wouldn't nearly be as concerned with it getting stolen or damaged.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Apr 9, 2016 7:15:29 GMT
You're an SBAF'er? Oh no!!!!! Infiltration from the reformed house of sarcasm? The RHS. DON't tell everyone ...... I suspect that the Ether might sound better than they might have you think. Plenty of ... 'Oh I can't wear xxx for more than ten seconds' on that site!!!!
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jello
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Post by jello on Apr 9, 2016 8:00:07 GMT
Lucky you! Wouldn't mind hearing myself.
It's the closed back Ether C that really appeals to me though. Tyll at Innerfidelity's recent review is very positive indeed.
Some days I half toy with the idea of cashing in all my chips and buying one really good headphone...but I'm not sure I could live with just the one no matter how good it sounded. Unless it was a great all rounder (not jack of all trades) and I'm not sure such a 'phone really exists.
Hifiman Edition X is another that is quite appealing and seems to strike a good balance of sounding detailed yet musical. But it's a Hifiman and that puts me off a bit.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 9, 2016 9:30:53 GMT
You're an SBAF'er? Oh no!!!!! Infiltration from the reformed house of sarcasm? The RHS. DON't tell everyone ...... I suspect that the Ether might sound better than they might have you think. Plenty of ... 'Oh I can't wear xxx for more than ten seconds' on that site!!!! LOL - you caught me. I don't by half of what's said there. But it does make for an entertaining read! The up side of being able to get on a few loaner programs has had some benefit. I got a chance to listen to a stock HD650 and didn't care for it. It sounded very "murky" compared to my HD580. The 650 may very well be the "better" headphone, but it's not for me.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 9, 2016 9:35:22 GMT
Lucky you! Wouldn't mind hearing myself. It's the closed back Ether C that really appeals to me though. Tyll at Innerfidelity's recent review is very positive indeed. Some days I half toy with the idea of cashing in all my chips and buying one really good headphone...but I'm not sure I could live with just the one no matter how good it sounded. Unless it was a great all rounder (not jack of all trades) and I'm not sure such a 'phone really exists. Hifiman Edition X is another that is quite appealing and seems to strike a good balance of sounding detailed yet musical. But it's a Hifiman and that puts me off a bit. Looks like the loaner will be both the open and closed versions. I'll definitely let you guys know what I think. I'm also on the Meze 99 loaner list. You'll have to take my reviews with a grain of salt though -- I don't have "high end" equipment, and my hearing is only "so-so". I did get it recently tested as my tinnitus has been acting up. My hearing is "normal" for someone in their 40's--I'm 49. I do have hearing loss at around 8khz in my right ear. The audiologist expects it was some kind of damage when I was a kid.
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Post by tunkejazz on Apr 10, 2016 7:37:55 GMT
I'm on the Ether "tour" at SABF, so I'll get to hear that. I did read a couple of people post that they would rather have an HE-400s. The sound is very forgiving and fun, and for $299, they wouldn't nearly be as concerned with it getting stolen or damaged. I have the he400i, you can read the post from Frans when he borrowed mine. They are 'easy' to listen and relatively flat FR (but not exactly which makes them smoother). Very very good comfort. I think they are better than the he400S.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 10, 2016 12:27:41 GMT
Thanks for the recommendation. There is a store hear about an hour away that carries HiFiMan as well as Mr. Speakers. So I'll give them a try. If anyone has recommendations for some "fun" / relaxing headphones, let me know. I haven't had a chance to hear teh DT880 or DT990, so I'd like to try those as well.
-Tim
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Post by chinook9 on Apr 13, 2016 1:12:36 GMT
Good luck Tim!
I'm not sure how many headphones I've owned but I have been on a similar journey for quite a few years (I'm 70). The ideal is to be able to take the headphones home and listen to them on our own system for a while but few of us can do that. I have thought about buying from Amazon and returning the ones I don't like but I don't want to do that.
That doesn't leave much except read what others say on these forums and read the reviews. I take what I can get from these sources and look until I find slightly used, or "open box" headphones at an excellent price. After I listen to them a while I just sell on the bay and move on. That can run into some money but it works and I enjoy it.
After searching for the "best" headphone for a while, I eventually became aware that what I like may not be what the average listener likes. This was confirmed in spades when I got the HD650. To me the HD650 is quite veiled and I sold mine after a month.
For a while I thought I wanted a clinical or analytical sound but now I don't think so. I bought the Audeze LCD-3 and they are very good but they still left me thinking their must be something I would like better. I thought that eventually I would get the HD800 and maybe they would be the answer but I haven't seen an excellent price on them.
A couple of months ago I saw an "open box" pair of AKG K-812 for a really good price ($829). I thought I couldn't lose too much at that price so I bought them. Lots of reviewers find a number of faults with the K812 but today they are my "go to" and "fun" headphones and my LCD-3s are getting lonely.
I listen primarily to Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Bob Seger, Dire Straits, Patsy Cline, and Fleetwood Mac and I love the sound of these headphones. I can't really describe what it is that I like but they really work for me. I'm not sure I will ever find a headphone I like better than the K812but I do plan to sell the LCD-3s and pick up a pair of HD-800. I don't expect to like them better but I do want to confirm that.
If you find the HD650 murky compared to the HD580, I expect you may be looking for a more lively, possibly bright, and less veiled sound. In addition to the Hifiman headphones, you might try the Philips Fidelio X2. These can be had at a very good price and I really like them. I might have kept mine, but by the time I had them I had the AKG K7XX and I was already intrigued by the AKG sound.
Good luck. Please let us know what you think of the Ether.
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Post by timjthomas on Apr 13, 2016 9:41:33 GMT
Thanks! I'm hoping to audition the Ether as well as some of the HiFiMan's (e.g., 400i) in a couple of weeks. I'm actually toying with the idea of bringing my Ember with me as well as my HD580's so that I can compare the headphones to something I am with. Couple that with some well known songs lossless from ipod line-out and I should be able to perform a pretty good comparison.
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