Newbie questions Re headphones for Creative Zen X-Fi please

[AllenG]

Hi All.

Nice forum, I've been reading a bit, and I'm sure I can get some good advice.

I have recently upgraded my portable audio from a Creative Zen MUvo2 to a 32GB Creative Zen X-fi. The included EP830s were an improvement on the Sony EX52SLs that I had been using with my Muvo2, but they didn't have ear hangers, so I went looking for some new in-ears or cans.

I live in New Plymouth (a small city in New Zealand), and we only have two stores that stock anything other than mass market blah and have anything that could be remotely classed as high end audio. Their range is limited. I auditioned and bought a pair of compact AKG K416P phones for NZ$150 (32ohm, 11Hz - 29.5kHz 126 dB/V. I love the bass on these, and the mids and highs seem to be sweetening up over time. Here is the problem....

I like to take my Zen walking, and the AKGs headband and "3D" swivel mechanism has a mechanical click or creak as the headphone moves slightly on my head while I am walking. This is in time with my step and is very annoying during quiet music passages.

I am looking to get a better pair and need some advice.

What impendance phones are practical for DAP use?

What sensitivity is practical for DAP use. I have read that over sensitive cans tend to emphasise the hiss on some players.

I prefer an "On the ear" or "In the ear" design with ear hanger to an over the ear design. In-ears tend to come loose in my ears and I find myself pushing them back in all the time, and Over the ears tend to be hot and heavy for summertime use, so thats why I am persuing the on-ear path.

Some phones have their sensitivity quoted as dB/V, and some as dB/mW How do you convert dB/V to dBA (dB/mW)? (subtract aprox 11 dB at 32ohm?)

I'm a Scada technician, but my dB theory is pretty rusty. I know volume perception is log, but how does headphone sensitivity relate to percieved volume? would a 100 dB/mW phone sound half the volume of a 106 dB/mW or 6% lower?

Two models of AKG look like they might be better options, but I'm not sure how well the Zen will drive them. I need to be pretty sure before the store will get them in for me to audition.

AKG K181 DJ 42 ohm, 5Hz - 30kHz, 120dB/V NZ$425
AKG K172 HD 55 ohm, 18hZ to 26kHZ, 107dB/V NZ$299

The K181s still have a 3D swivel mechanism but it looks a little more robust than the one I have currently. The K172s look like they have a more traditional headband, but don't have quite the same frequency response or sensitivity.

a Penny for your thoughts?

Regards, Allen.

[AllenG]

In the immortal words of Roger Waters, "Is there anybody out there?"

[rockbottom]

well...for starters, what's your budget and your musical preference?

Sensitivity and impedance both effect the volume. Most portables have a fairly low output impedance, but then again so do most IEMs. The only cans that have really high impedance would be some AKGs, and Senns.

[AllenG]

Originally Posted by rockbottom

well...for starters, what's your budget and your musical preference?

My budget is flexible, and open to ideas. I paid NZ$425 for my 32GB Creative Zen Xfi, so am willing to pay a similar amount for phones. My music taste is eclectic, I'm 43yrs old and a big part of my collection is Pink Floyd, Dire Straights, Alan Parsons Project, Mike Oldfield, Phil Collins, Annie Lennox and others from that era, also have things like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and more modern stuff like Jack Johnson, Fat Freddies Drop etc. I enjoy most music that is well engineered. I like good bass frequency response but not over exaggerated in level. I also like my mids and treble to be clean and crisp and full of detail. I guess I like an un-muddied open clean sound, almost clinical.

As stated in my original post, I have a pair of compact AKG K416P phones for NZ$150 (32ohm, 11Hz - 29.5kHz 126 dB/V). I love the bass on these (after taming it a bit with some EQ), and the mids and highs seem to be sweetening up over time, but the mechanism makes an unacceptable mechanical creak when walking with them. Something more solidly built with similar sonic signature is what I'm after. I want to block as much noise without getting to hot and heavy to wear.

Originally Posted by rockbottom

Sensitivity and impedance both effect the volume. Most portables have a fairly low output impedance, but then again so do most IEMs. The only cans that have really high impedance would be some AKGs, and Senns.

The two AKG phones that I thought might fit the bill are below, but I can't try before buying so need to know if my Zen is going to be able to drive them. and that they will sound as good or better than the AKG K416P.

AKG K181 DJ 42 ohm, 5Hz - 30kHz, 120dB/V NZ$425
AKG K172 HD 55 ohm, 18hZ to 26kHZ, 107dB/V NZ$299

Regards, Allen.

[AllenG]

Any comments? Anyone???

hellooooooo

[alyssa]

i am looking to add AKG k172HD into my collection as well. need some comments too...