Heavy Metal headphone

[cajunchrist]

I've noticed that most of the afficionados on these boards are jazz/classical fans with very few shout outs for heavy metal.

I want your opinions on a headphone that will reproduce the crunch of a heavy metal guitar, the slam of a kick drum and the crack of a snare WITH AUTHORITY. Absolute sonic accuracy for this type of music is, of course, unnecessary. I also listen to noise (Masonna, Merzbow) and space music (Robert Rich, Dead Voices on Air), and having a headphone that at least does a reasonable job reproducing these types of music would be good too.

Summary: warm bass would probably be helpful, so long as it isn't muddy. Crisp highs would be good, but should not be searing to reduce fatigue. I suspect the Grado 80's will be the weapon of choice, but there's more than one set of ears out there.

I'd like to read what you have to say, so I can narrow the list a bit when I go to audition headphones.

Thanks,
cajunchrist

[Possum]

Maybe some kind of Grados would work for you. Comfort and fatiguing highs might be an issue, as these bother some people but not others, however, that all depends on you.

From personal experience, I didn't notice any fatiguing highs with my Alessandro-Grado MS-1's, but then again they were Alessandro-Grados, which are different from the regular Grado line. I could tolerate but did not enjoy the comfort.

[Dusty Chalk]

(to whomever accidentally deleted my post: Oh, well, you might as well delete the rest of it, since I don't have that capability. cajunchrist got the message, and that was the important thing. And then you might as well delete our two response posts, too.)

[cajunchrist]

I remember your posts from the previous board, Dusty. I will think about the Beyer, but I was hoping not to pay quite so much for a set of cans, and if I have to have an amp to enjoy them, it will put them out of the running for me. I will keep them in mind, though.

P.S. I think the cover for K.K. Null's 'Peak of Nothingness' is one of the best CD covers of all time.

http://www.hushush.com/hushush/catal...rk/hsh08.shtml

cajunchrist

[kwkarth]

Oh man Pete, you have RKV? WoW Tell me, how does it sound with the Senn's???????????

[scottpaul_iu]

Sounds like you may want some kind of Grado. Probably 80s, 125s, or 225s. Tyll at Headroom considers the 225s the best rock headphones out there.

I use Etymotic 4Ss and I listen to a lot of old school metal.................Michael Schenker, UFO, Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore.......along with non-metal like the Allman Bros., Gov't Mule, Santana, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. The Etys work well in those types of applications.

That said the Grados will definitely give you the kind of impact that you want. The Beyers will as well, but I can't recommend a specific model.

Hope that helps.

Try e-mailing or calling Todd at Headroom as he has good recommendations for certain types of sound you are seeking.

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally posted by kwkarth
...RKV? ... Tell me, how does it sound with the Senn's???????????

Delish. You may want to look around for some of my other posts on the topic (so that we don't derail this thread).

Better than good. Reduce-me-to-a-non-productive-member-of-society-just-like-drugs-do good.

Found a pair of Senn cables (stealing them from my HD250-II which aren't in use anyway).

[Dusty Chalk]

Originally posted by cajunchrist
P.S. I think the cover for K.K. Null's 'Peak of Nothingness' is one of the best CD covers of all time.

That is nice. I'll have to get that one. I have a one-of-a-kind painting that he did a few years ago that he was selling at his show (he had several, but each one was hand-made). It looks like a psychedelic Rorschach (inkblot) test. I think it was from around the time of 0.0004.

[Neruda]

I'd reccomend the beyerdynamic DT250-80 over the grado line. They have that awesome slam that just makes them killer for rock without the comfort/construction problems or the fatiguing treble.

[kwkarth]

Good point Neruda! Why didn't I think of that??

[KR...]

BTW,

what kind of metal are you listening to?

Grado headphones are better for the more simple styles.

[krell1]

I listen to everything from the heaviest metal known to man (SFU, Overkill, Iced Earth, etc.) to some jazz with over 2000 CD's to account for this. I have used Grado 325's for the last 8 years with a Cosmic amp. I just reconsidered while in pondering about the 600's. I just recieved my new 600's and like them better than the 325's. I attended the Detroit show and was convinced after auditioning them and found the RS-1 to slightly better them but when I tried the 600 I couldn't go back. I feel that I like the presence of the 325 but not the glare they have for me. I think the punch of the 600 is 90% of the 325 but without any of the glare. I say use a good amp and the 600's for everything.

[KR...]

Overkill is heavy? It doesn't sound very heavy to me, but they are from Jersey so I not going to say anything bad about them

System matching is extremely important (jeez, how many times have I type that here?).

I suppose to be getting a pair of MS2 on loan very soon, I will review these with many types of music, mostly classical, but I'll throw in some metal for you guys. Expect the review sometime next week!

[redshifter]

although everyone recommends them, i'll have to say try the sony mdr v6. they are great with amplified music, and have real punch in the drums and bass departments. plus they are comfortable and easy to drive, and of course built like a tank for heavy head thrashings.

[Xevion]

I would put in a reccomendation for the HD580s. They don't have the same impact the Grados have, but they aren'f autiging at all. Also, they are very accurate, which is generally a good thing. They can be considered warm, particularly when compared to the forward Grados, but don't sound muddy when decently powered.

If you are looking for something really involving, these are not, but you should really be able to enjoy any music through them.

Then again, I find my Celestions good speakers for metal, I guess I just love a smooth sound . I have yet to experiment much with more forward speakers, and my next purchase will probably be some Paradigms or something, so I will get to experience the more forward sound which many people claims is more involving, but I hate Klipsch's sound, so I don't know what I am going to think...

In other words, take everything I say with a grain of salt. I have heard the RS-2s and I think they are a touch bright and forward, btu I don't know if fautige would be a major problem with them.l I haven't heard the SR80s.

The Sony V6 would probably be a good choice (Completely hearsay), but many people don't think they sound very enjoyable for some music because they are too "anylitical".

I guess my theory is that I don't want something harsh sounding speakers or headphones because a lot of recordings can sound very harsh, particularly metal CDs.