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My english is juz so-so only...lol...not that excellent enough...
Even when im speaking in english, i'll be a bit "laggy" (cant speak fluently) as English isnt my mother tongue...
I didn't see this thread and posted one myself and no one answered (now I know why :P). Well, to the subject at hand:
What is a good headphone + amp that will be mostly used for progressive rock, proggressive metal and jazz (and fusion jazz), tough also to other genres of music?
I know there are many diffrent sounds I could like, but what are some good options for this kind of music in a budget of up to 1500$?
I have used the following headphones and all of them are exceptional but I enjoyed some more than others. I have placed them in reverse order of gratification:
Sennheiser HD580
These headsets was my primary headset for two years. They are excellent for their price range. They have good response but their impedence level is high so it requires an amp to drive it properly. Since these are not portable headsets that should not pose too much of a problem The highs and bass is a little mushy but nothing it is not too distracting. I would recommend them without reservation.
Etymotic ER-4S
These are simply the best off-the-shelf in-ear-monitor on the market. They produce the flattest response I have encountered from this catagory of headsets. My major complaints for these are:
They are uncomfortable to wear. The earbuds causes back pressure that is, somethimes, hard to take
They pick up all line noises. So much so that you tend to stay perfectly still when using them.
These do require the you upgrade your equipment becuase you will notice ANY distortion anywhere in your system. The isolation is so significant that they cannot be used when driving or walking because all more external sounds are eliminated.
Senheisser HD600
These are very much like the HD580 but it has much better fidelity. In fact, once I listened to these I could not go back to the 580s. These seem more fragile than the 580s. I somehow damaged the connection to my right speaker but I cannot see any damage to any component.
Beyerdynamic DT880
These are my current favorite full size reference headsets. They are, by far, the most comfortable sets I have. The quality is so good that it seems almost bright. The response is about as flat as you can get. I have no cons for these units. Absolutely love them!
Ultimate Ear UE-10
These are simply the best custom-fit in-ear-monitor I've every experienced. The fit is perfect. They are so comfortable that I can wear them unceasingly. The sound isolation is comparable to the Etymotics. The reponse is flat and no distortion. The line noise is less than the Etymotics but the problems seems to be the bane of in-ear-monitors. There is nothing to complain about for these little babies.
I have to give another recommendation for the ER-4S. This is flat-out the best universal fit in-ear monitor money can buy. Some people have claimed that the sound is harsh, or tipped toward the treble region, but this is completely, utterly, false. They are by far the smoothest, most neutral, most accurate, most detailed, most musical IEM I have ever used. I would even say that they are lush. I have never been able to enjoy music quite like I have with these. The frequency response was always off somehow. Too much bass, or not enough treble, or dim, distant mids. But these, wow. They let me forget that I am wearing headphones and allow me to truly delve into the depths of whatever I am listening to. The sound they produce is so smooth and natural I don't even have the vocabulary to describe it. For the mids, think smooth, like freshly churned butter, and just as delicious. For the highs, think clear and sharp, like a polished diamond. For the bass, think deep like the mariana trench. The sheer naturalness of the sound is something to behold, and the detail, the ability to discriminate between sounds, the ability to hear each instrument exactly the way it sounds, the ability to hear even the smallest background sounds, is unsurpassed by anything else in this price range.
Truly a king among headphones. I'm ashamed I didn't buy them sooner.
Phew. Now, for the cons. The cables are very noisy. Noiser than any other IEM cables. You must use the shirt clip or find some other way to secure them or else the transmitted noise will be very disturbing. Potentially, they may be uncomfortable for some people, but I have yet to have any problems. With the foamies or Comply tips, I can wear them for hours on end with no discomfort. Undoubtedly, some people will find them uncomfortable.
Bose just introduced I set of headphones that I'm sure you will like. they really isolate your listening imvironment very well and there is a little switch on the side when deactivated will allow sounds outside of the headphones to filter through, my understanding of this is that these phones are battery powered. the cost for these very comfortable headphones is around $349.00, and trust me, this will be the best money you ever spent.
Linear Mode
