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| Portable Headphones, Earphones and In-Ear Monitors Discussion of portable headphones, earphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs). |
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View Poll Results: Which sub-$100 portable? (Read details in OP)
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AKG K518
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4 |
36.36% |
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Audio Technica SQ5
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2 |
18.18% |
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Audio Technina ES7
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4 |
36.36% |
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Other (Please Specify)
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1 |
9.09% |
11-19-2008, 11:14 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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Mid-Fi Closed Portables
Red's convinced me that I need some wood...in the form of ESW9s. Yessiree. Sadly, the NZD ain't what it used to be, so I'm going to have to hold it off. Also, I probably wouldn't use these as my workhorse portables. So, I'm in the market for some mid-fi portables, to avoid eating into my ESW9 budget.
As far as I can tell, the candidates are:
AKG K518 - ~$76
A.T. SQ5 - ~$80
A.T. ES7 - ~$96
Senn. HD280 - $99
(Prices quoted are based on the lowest I can find, let me know if you can find cheaper.)
Are there more in the $75-$100 closed portable category? Anyone have any insight on which of these I should get. Preferences and requirements summarized below:
Music - Alternative/Indie rock (e.g., Muse, Deathcab for Cutie), Classical (orchestral and camber)
Sound - Detail and wide soundstage would be nice. Not a basshead, but usually prefer darker rather than brighter headphones.
Isolation - Very important.
Comfort - Keep in mind I wear glasses.
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11-19-2008, 04:34 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 812
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I recommend either M-Audio Q40 or Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Overall, I think that the M50s are superior, but when unamped they seem to lack a bit of control in the midbass - other than that they are amazing for the price though. The Q40s, on the other hand, have awesome, controlled bass even unamped, but have some problems handling the high frequencies IMO - the highs can get harsh and sibilant with the Q40s at times, although the detail in the highs is very good. Also, the M50s have better imaging and separation and are a bit more portable, comfortable and isolate better, but cost a bit more too.
__________________
Feedback
'Phones:
Current: Westone ES3X (Enyo ES cable coming soon!), Shure SRH840, Hifiman RE0, ATH-CM700, M-Audio Q40, Senn HD555, CX300, MX75, HD202, Yuin PK2, G2, UE Super.fi 3 Studio, AMP3 stock buds. Sony EX-085, JVC FX33
Past: ATH-M50, German Maestro GMP 8.35 D, Senn HD25-1 II, Westone 3, Senn IE8, Senn HD380 Pro, Sleek SA6, M-Audio IE40 (rebranded Triple.fi), UE Super.fi 5 Pro, AKG K271 Studio and K26p, Senn HD25 1-II and PX100
Sources:
Current: Audigy 2 ZS + KXProject drivers --> Foobar 2000, AMP3, Sony NWZ-A816 4Gb, Samsung T9 2Gb and U2 2Gb, Sansa Clip 1 Gb, iPod Shuffle 1st gen 512Mb, iRiver T10 1Gb, a generic 1Gb MP4 player
Past: Samsung P2 2Gb, iRiver Clix 1st gen 2Gb, Creative Zen Stone
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11-19-2008, 08:03 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 4,818
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Stay away from HD280. Boring pair of cans with deathgrip. 
__________________
Currently own:
Portable: iAudio X5L 30G FLAC - ESW10JPN
Portable2: iAudio 7 16GB - B&O A8/KSC75 X2
Home: Apogee Duet - Gilmore lite w/DPS- AD2000 X2/HD600
Home2: Apogee Duet - Millet Hybrid w/dDB - K501
Vinyl: JA Michell Gyro SE + Rega RB300 tonearm + Ortofon Rhondo Bronze + Cambridge Audio azur 640p
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11-19-2008, 08:09 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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Mornin, Red. HD280 off the list.
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11-20-2008, 05:34 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mississauga, ON
Posts: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonathanjong
Red's convinced me that I need some wood...in the form of ESW9s. Yessiree. Sadly, the NZD ain't what it used to be, so I'm going to have to hold it off. Also, I probably wouldn't use these as my workhorse portables. So, I'm in the market for some mid-fi portables, to avoid eating into my ESW9 budget.
As far as I can tell, the candidates are:
AKG K518 - ~$76
A.T. SQ5 - ~$80
A.T. ES7 - ~$96
Senn. HD280 - $99
(Prices quoted are based on the lowest I can find, let me know if you can find cheaper.)
Are there more in the $75-$100 closed portable category? Anyone have any insight on which of these I should get. Preferences and requirements summarized below:
Music - Alternative/Indie rock (e.g., Muse, Deathcab for Cutie), Classical (orchestral and camber)
Sound - Detail and wide soundstage would be nice. Not a basshead, but usually prefer darker rather than brighter headphones.
Isolation - Very important.
Comfort - Keep in mind I wear glasses.
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SQ5 - square look awesome, dunno about the sound, review said they were neutral though
AKG - look too DJ too me, sound similar to K26p or so I heard
ES7 - lots of research, apparently these are SUPRA aural and not much isolation
HD280 - fugly, i don't care how they sound, they are just fugly to me 
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11-20-2008, 07:20 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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So...that leaves me without options? LOL!
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11-20-2008, 07:23 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 4,818
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just sell some body parts that aren't necessary. you only need one eye, for example
__________________
Currently own:
Portable: iAudio X5L 30G FLAC - ESW10JPN
Portable2: iAudio 7 16GB - B&O A8/KSC75 X2
Home: Apogee Duet - Gilmore lite w/DPS- AD2000 X2/HD600
Home2: Apogee Duet - Millet Hybrid w/dDB - K501
Vinyl: JA Michell Gyro SE + Rega RB300 tonearm + Ortofon Rhondo Bronze + Cambridge Audio azur 640p
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11-20-2008, 07:51 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: monterey park & la jolla, ca
Posts: 586
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or a kidney
__________________
Grado SR-325i, Yuin G2A, Audio-Technica ATH-ES7, JVC Victor FXC50
[Sansa Fuze/Clip > LOD] > PA2V2/FiiO e5 | ThinkPad > HifiMAN EF2
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11-20-2008, 08:11 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rednamalas1
just sell some body parts that aren't necessary. you only need one eye, for example
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Hey, quit recycling your jokes!  Admittedly, the last time you said kidney. I think.
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11-20-2008, 08:32 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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Is that an 25-1 II?
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11-20-2008, 10:18 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jonathanjong
Is that an 25-1 II?
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It looks like a HD25 SP but the specs are HD25-1 II
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11-20-2008, 10:25 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 405
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akg k-81 dj out of budget??
__________________
I love Tubes
TEAM AKG
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11-20-2008, 12:13 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Posts: 3,792
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K81 = K518, no?
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11-20-2008, 04:54 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 1,535
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SQ5 is excellent.
I've had them for a couple of weeks now, and by my standards I can't find anything complaining about, considering the sound. The build quality, on the other hand isn't that glorious. it generates some frictional noise around the vertical axis, especially when i walk. I haven't got any silicone spray or any other lube at hands, but i suppose it would eliminate much of the annoyance. the aesthetics is super cool, and the SQ were way above what i expected for $80.
__________________
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law
Love is the law, love under will
Equipment:
Home: White running-shoe –> Bowl of Petunias –> Sperm Whale –> Lemon re-cabled Gold Bricks
Portable: Minstrels
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