Questions, questions, questions... (HD 595 + Other)

[Trashman]

Don't care for story? Skip down.
I've had some Shure e2c's and junk Sony cans for awhile, but wanted to improve. I've been lurking, for awhile. You guys got me all pumped for music. I was initially wiling to spend 100$. Read up on the best bang for buck headphones and grabbed some HD 280's - wasn't impressed. After reading 20+ threads later, decided on the 595's. They came super quick (2 days, 2000 miles) and I'm afraid to try them on.

Okay so here's the questions.

1) Apparently if I want to get everything out of the 595's I'll need an amp, but I went looking and whoa! the amps can cost more than the headphones? Are there any decent amps I can get for >70$. Is it worth it in the long run to grab a good amp now (total bithead?) in the event of an upgrade down the line?

2) Amps vs. Sound cards. I listen to my music off my computer(s) about 75% of the time. Do I only require a good amp to listen well, a sound card, or both? I don't plan to do any editing or anything, I just enjoy music.

3) Burn in. This is one of things that has me worried. Should I burn in through an amp to get the best quality sound in the end or does it not matter?

4) On the go listening. I have an iRiver H10 20 GB with Rockbox installed. Is there a specific type of encoding for a music file that sounds best on the 595's (i.e. well-encoded high kb/rate mp3/4 vs. alac vs. monkey's audio, etc.)

5) Shure e2c question. How does the older "e" line compare to the newer "se" line. Are there significant improvements in the series? Does anyone own both e2c and SE110 and have a comparison analysis? I have also heard the Shure line is overpriced and has less expensive competition. What are good IEM competition buds for =>150$?

Not sure if this is the specific forum for all these questions but figured some might get answered. If the questions have already been answered, I'll take links or whatever. Thanks much!

[Musicboy]

Well, well, well. That is many questions. You need an amp to get all the potential out of the 595's. Otherwise, it would be a waste of money. If you want further hi-fi sound, you need a dac to improve. If you have a low-quality soundcard on your computer, then get an amp/dac combo like the total bithead. You do not need to play high quality music to get the right burn in. The only thing you will need for burn in is playing your favorite music! Or just any kind of music.... Some use special sounds like acid sawtooth and pink noises to get the burn in they want, but normal music will also do. There is no specific digital code, that sounds better with the 595. Use the biterate you like, but remember higher bitrates means better quality

[kejar31]

As the owner of a pair of HD595's I can tell you without a doubt that both burn in (100 ~ 200 hrs) and an amp improve the sound quality of these headphones greatly.

[Gurra1980]

But HD595 is very good and easy to drive so you will get good quality sound without an amp, but you now all headphones get better with an amp, even PX100 and koss portapro.

[kejar31]

Originally Posted by Gurra1980

But HD595 is very good and easy to drive so you will get good quality sound without an amp, but you now all headphones get better with an amp, even PX100 and koss portapro.

I agree the HD595's do still sound great even without an amp.

[Brian loves music]

i got an emu 0404 usb over the total bithead (it was recommend be lots on this forum over the bithead). It was even a little cheaper. Got an amazing DAC...huge leap from my laptop soundcard...and a decent amp. To my knowledge it has a way better DAC than the total bithead and maybe a slighly worse amp...i decided the emu 0404 was better.

But let me say, when people say "to get the most out of hd595s you need an amp" they are saying just that...not neccessarily that there will be huge improvment. Yes they will sound better..but it will be nothing like the jump between everyday $30 headphones and hd 595. So really you get less improvment for your dollar with amps. They are really just for audiophile..people who really really enjoy sound quality (like i do)

[Trashman]

I put them on. Really comfortable, I don't even notice them over my glasses. I...hear things I never heard before in some of my favorite songs! It's hard to describe going from 20$ headphones and shure straight to 595's. It's like you go "Oh! This what it's supposed to sound like!" I can't imagine them getting any better, but I have a feeling other investments will take place in the near future. On a side note, I still a question, dunno if it'll get answered or not.

1) Items such as the emu 0404 listed and total bithead, are these amp/DAC combo devices? Is it better to buy a device specific to each area or do the combo devices perform just as well?

Listening too - Guns 'N' Roses Greatest Hits!

[anoobis]

Trashman, let me second "Brian loves music"'s comments about amps. I can't speak for the HD595 but with easy-to-drive headphones I was initially extremely underwhelmed by the addition of an amplifier. They're definitely better but the changes are subtle. I noticed the changes more when listening for a long time (rather than repeatedly switching between amped/non-amped for specific sections) then returning to non-amped. If I had to sum it up, it was easier to listen to amped for longer periods.

I think the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. You can say, well it has a bit more impact but not much, it's slightly smoother, but not much, the transients and fades are a bit more detailed etc. But they're all pulling in the same direction of getting the most out of the recording, which was designed to capture the actual sound of the instruments/vocals.

HTH

[jona.p]

I think you should listen to your HD595 for a while first, cause out of the soundcard or CDP or whatever your source is, they sound great. If you really want the amp later on, you should get a decent one, which will also be suited for lets say, a HD650 or something. Because I think you'll want to upgrade your phones pretty fast after you get the amp. While an amp will improve SQ, it'll also make you hunger for more, even more then you will without the amp.

Also, when you get an amp, I think source becomes even more important.

I think burn in is real, I also think it's you getting accustomed to the sound more. You don't need to buy a seperate amp to burn them in, just burn it in while you listen .

This will be the second time Im gonna say this, here it goes;

Welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet!

And dont forget the music


My experience with hps is limited to DV336i/HD595 and x-fi xtrememusic soundcard, take this into account when you judge the usefullness of my opinion, heh.

[wind88]

I'm looking for a HD 595 after trying on the HD 555. Anyone have one for sale (to Canada)?

[theScribe]

get a good DAC. I was a former owner of the HD595s for 3 years and despite what people tell you here, a good DAC would be a significant improvement over your computer's integrated soundcard than any amp would do. It was the biggest difference I noticed going from Macbook Pro sound to Headroom's MicroDAC.

Enjoy.

-JC