Headphone Buyer's Guide

[jgonino]

Its just too hard for me to find them all. I asked for other to help out, but nobody helped me.

[CaptSwerve]

Thanks for the guide. It has already helped buy a couple pair.

[Homunculus]

Senn HD 202 & Koss UR20

[kish]

Hi guys,

I am in the market for a new set of headphones. The main usage that I will get from these phones is public transport, to and from work through an mp3 player. The music I will mainly be listening to is TRANCE and PROGRESSIVE, though I dont like over powering bass, I like to hear the melodies of trance, not just doof doof doof.

This being the case I need to know the following about the D2000, AD700, DT770pro:

1) How loud is the sound that each of these phones output UNAMPED from a portable mp3 device, for reference lets assume an ipod. Will the experience be enjoyable with out an amp realtive to the standard ear buds that come with the ipod?

I hear that the AD700 sound pretty good and loud unamped, though the beyers need to be amped from a portable or dont bother. Keep in mind that I most interested in the Denon, so how does that perform unamped from a portable? Will the sound be louder than the cheap pair of buds that comes with the ipods, and if so much louder?

2) Now my main usage will be sitting on public transport with say a work breif case / back pack. I dont intend to really walk around town with these phones as I like to hear the traffic around me. How portable are these phones? Is it practical to use any of them while walking? Assuming that I am only sitting down; are they any more practical or are all these phones really for home usage only.

I realise the cords are long in these phones, is this a major problem? The orignal poster talked of recabling the denons, is this simply a matter of buying a new cord that plugs into the phones, or do you have to reterminate cable wire, etc - i.e. its quite an involved process that probably voids the warranty.

3) I am more interested in the denons and beyers as I understand them to be closed, so for public transport this is more convenient as it tends to keep the sound in the cups. How loud are open cans really for those in close proximaty? How well do the denon and beyer closed phones keep the sound within the cup. Keep in mind that I am talking of unamped usage. Will they be easily heard on a airplane flight to the point of complaints, or only very mildly, or not at all?

4) Keep in mind that these phones will double up as home phones as well for when I travel abroad and board with others; so im very fussy about getting a pair with audophile level sound quality that can play on a portable unamped. I dont like ear buds at all, so I am only interested in getting cuped head phones. of course comfort is also important as well as loudness, sound quality and noise isolation (so i dont disturb others). If you feel that the above phones are way too impractical for portable usage, or simply need amp to get any decent volume, then can you make any recommendations of phones with the above requirements.

If anyone who has the above phones could also test these phones unamped with a mp3 player and compare this to say cheapish ear buds and give some feedback that would be very greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance guys, you all seem to know your stuff pretty well.

cheers

Kishan

[revolink24]

I recommend that the Alessandro MS1 should fall under the "Amp recommended" category as straight out of a DAP it sounds murky and lacks defined bass.

[Shlonglor]

What are good headphones in the $250-450 range that aren't "3" for amp? I'm looking for closed headphones with a balanced range, good (but not overpowering) bass that I can feel inside my head, and a sound that's a bit "brighter" than my HD280s.

I listen to many varied genres, but most importantly I want them to be compatible with the stuff I pay the most attention to - Progressive/Technical Rock/Metal, ala Spiral Architect and Planet X.

I have an M-Audio Revolution sound card (listening with my computer) and it has a built in amp for the headphones output, but I'm not sure how potent it actually is (seems to do fine for my 280s).

[frozncore]

Originally Posted by Shlonglor

What are good headphones in the $250-450 range that aren't "3" for amp? I'm looking for closed headphones with a balanced range, good (but not overpowering) bass that I can feel inside my head, and a sound that's a bit "brighter" than my HD280s.

I listen to many varied genres, but most importantly I want them to be compatible with the stuff I pay the most attention to - Progressive/Technical Rock/Metal, ala Spiral Architect and Planet X.

I have an M-Audio Revolution sound card (listening with my computer) and it has a built in amp for the headphones output, but I'm not sure how potent it actually is (seems to do fine for my 280s).

Try creating a new thread to post this. More people will see it.

[Shlonglor]

Originally Posted by frozncore

Try creating a new thread to post this. More people will see it.

Thanks, I will.


QUESTION:
The Denon AH-D5000 have 25ohm input impedance and are marked as "3" for amp. My 280s are 64ohm but are marked "1"... why is that?

If I'm happy with my 280s, amp wise, will I be ok with the Denons (or anything else with 64 or less impedance)? Is there another factor?


Edit: In general, why do headphone makers produce phones with super high impedance levels, like the HD650? Is there a benefit to having 300ohm phones?

[tohni]

Personally, I did not like the K240S at all. Their highs hurt my ears and the bass was bloated (out of two different amps). I would not recommend them; but maybe that's just me. - Maybe you could add a note warning people about how likely they will be to move on from some HPs. e.g.: "This one will give you an idea of what hifi means, but will leave you wanting much more. Consider spending a little more (~50$) and you will stay with this pair longer." The K501 is not much more expensive than the K240S. However, it sounds definitely more high-endish than the 240S.

[Chri5peed]

Originally Posted by Shlonglor

Thanks, I will.


QUESTION:
The Denon AH-D5000 have 25ohm input impedance and are marked as "3" for amp. My 280s are 64ohm but are marked "1"... why is that?

Reviews are pretty subjective. Its not only the impedance which affects driving.

D5000s being wood might affect things.

[noahlapuz]

please help me choose between Behringer HPX4000 and Sennheiser HD205, i'll use it mainly for music and movies and very little gaming thanks

[KingYaba]

Can someone tell me the difference between these two? What does "ear-cup" mean?

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/6651/picture1ah8.jpg

[Chri5peed]

^ Most Grado's being 'Supra-aural', they sit on your ears, as opposed to 'Circum-aural', which sit over your earages.

[KingYaba]

So which one sits on the ears and which one sits over?

[Chri5peed]

I'm no Grado-expert, but I'd guess they have different ear-pads[comfies & bowls]. Going by the name I'd say bowls would be larger.

Grado's of the SR-series are fairly small so all fit on your ears...unless you have tiny ears.