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Classical.

post #1 of 18
8/19/05 at 10:27pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking for a new pair of headphones - open, closed or IEM - that will be used to listen to classical almost exclusively.

Price range : Ehh, I don't know, if you think can convince me I need to go for 600$, go ahead and try
(However I'd prefer staying in the sub-300 category)

Headphones currently owned : Ety ER6, Grado Sr-225
I really like the Grado for rock etc, but they just don't work with classical...

I currently do not own an amp, but I'm considering buying one...
I'm also probably getting HeadRoom's Bithead.


Any recommendations?
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post #2 of 18
8/19/05 at 10:34pm
AKG K501's?...
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post #3 of 18
8/19/05 at 10:51pm
What kind of classical? I ended up buying the HD580 and K501s both for classical. The Senns for choral, large orchestral and opera. K501s for chamber, piano/violin solos, and arias.
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post #4 of 18
8/19/05 at 10:53pm
I absolutely love the Sennheiser HD580/600 for Classical. Detailed, Rich, Balanced.... Absolutely stunning phones. They have the same drivers and sound identical without really good equipment. Plus if you get the 580s you can just order a set of 600 Grills and make them truly Identical.
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post #5 of 18
8/19/05 at 11:02pm
Listen to Sennheiser HD-590s. They're balanced and comfortable.

See ya
Steve
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post #6 of 18
8/19/05 at 11:14pm
la_marquise makes a good point about what type of clasical.

The Sennheiser 580s and 600s and are pretty good overall for classical. However if you plan on listening to alot of small chamber works or solo pieces You might want to look at some Stax headphones.
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post #7 of 18
8/19/05 at 11:19pm
Often times when an earspeaker is sought for classical genre music, I feel that the term classical is not sufficient enough to identify the proper product. In the same regard the information that relates to the source and amplifier which the earspeakers will be paired is essential. Classical music, as you know can range from symphonies to cello concertos. After testing a wide range of various headphones and requisite ancillaries, it is clear that each headphone can drastically favor either the largest symphonies or solo cello/ violin concertos. I have found that Grado Labs products are exceedingly well matched to string works and may very well be the most ideal product for such usage. Though arguments can be made that Grado Labs products are not as well suited for large symphonies (and all closely assoc. music), the AKG K501 and Sennheiser HD650 (and similiar) have remained the top recommendations overall. I have some reservations in reaching for the K501 because I do not believe that it is flexible enough to meet all of my requirements and desires. In terms of choosing either of these headphones its very important that you have the proper amplifier because both are tricky to drive. I encourage you to share more about your interests, needs and equipment to make sure that you walk away with the proper earspeakers/ in ear monitors.
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post #8 of 18
8/19/05 at 11:34pm
Keeping it under $300 I'd recommend the Beyer DT-880's. They are great for all types of music, but for me they really shine with Jazz and Classical -String Quartets in particular.

Some say that they are a little too sterile/boring but I have found that they are very good with a reasonable SS amp (Gilmore Lite) and are excellent with the added warmth of a tube amp (Singlepower)

They are also the most comfortable phones I've ever tried, and their build quality is excellent.
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post #9 of 18
8/20/05 at 12:11am
When I'm in the mood for classical it's the Sennheiser HD-650's that wind up on my head most often (well, next to the L3000s, but I ain't gonna try talking you into them! ). They are truly outstanding with classical where their depth of sound and distance from the intruments really let's them shine. The 600's are also worthwhile but aren't as good. Price tag for the 650's is probably around $350.00 I think.
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post #10 of 18
8/20/05 at 12:34am
Beyer DT-880's are great for classical of all kinds, very versatile. They have a huge expansive soundstage for large orchestral, choral and organ music; but also incredible detail. You can just about hear the "rosin on the bow". Harp music is incredible, as are classical guitar and harpsicord. Great for jazz too.

For piano music, the Senn Hd-580/600/650 are a bit better, I think.

Unfortunately, you will hear everything with the DT-880's - things like pages turning, chamber musicians snorting, choirboys whispering, etc. Very many English recordings are made in large churches, and it never fails that some trucks go by - with the DT-880s you can really hear them go by and usually tell which direction they are moving in relation to the mics. I sometimes find myself taking them off thinking that someone is driving by my window.

I don't know much about the Grado line, so I can't help with a comparison.

There are so many good choices, but the Beyers are a class act for sure!

Good luck with your choice.
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post #11 of 18
8/20/05 at 4:13am
Another vote for the DT880. I had a very quick A/B between a HD600 and a DT880 and for some reason, I find the HD600 to have a very compressed soundstage... I guess everything is relative I suppose...thus, I should qualify my statement. HD600 sounded very compressed next to my DT880. There is no right or wrong here...this is just my ears perceived.

In anycase, I find the DT880 to be very versatile and can be used for many different kinds of Classical music. I also especially like DT880 for Jazz like the Dave Brubeck Time Out album (although, for this album, the HD600 runs very close second).

Back to classical music, I really like DT880 for larger ensemble....e.g. piano/violin concertos....

In anycase, like I said again, all these are impressions that I got with MY ears...your ears might tell you a different story..

SH
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post #12 of 18
8/20/05 at 5:27am
I have owned K501 for six years, and it is indeed a nice headphone for classical (decent for jazz, bass-shy for pop/rock). I prefer it over HD580 for classical--more air and clarity.

I heard 3-4 pairs of HD650 at a recent meet, with various expensive recables, and they sound at least as good for calssical as K501. The sound is quite warm and slightly muffled/colored/veiled. Not the last word in transparency but its smoothness can be audio gold. Its heavy bass is kind of overpowering in classical but allows it to be a decent headphone for rock/pop.

DT880, from my brief impression at a meet, has a clear sound on par with K501, but with slightly more presence and bass. It treble is a tad too bright even on my class A triode tube amp, so it may take some serious system matching to remove the brightness.

IMHO these three cans can all be excellent with classical depending on system synergy and audio preference. Since you have SR225 for rock/pop, K501's bass-shyness is not a real issue and is the cheapest of the three. I would recommend K501.
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post #13 of 18
8/20/05 at 9:42am
The only fault I find with my 650 phones is they do seem a bit more then muddy. I guess I need to work on my source. Again.
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post #14 of 18
8/20/05 at 10:45am
another vote for the k501 here.. provided the vast majority of your listening will be either with jazz or classical.

they are wonderful cans imo - clear without being bright/fatiguing, spacious without sounding distant, airy without sounding loose... you get the idea.

as an added bonus they are incredibly light and comfortable too - no worries with getting through even the longest of mahler's symphonies in one sitting. and oh - they're cheap too.
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post #15 of 18
8/20/05 at 12:00pm
As a serious classical listener who owns the K501 (and has auditioned the DT880 and HD600), let me offer a dissenting opinion.

The K501 is good, but the SA5000 is far superior for classical. Classical is perhaps the most demanding genre, spanning an immense range of color, complexity, and scale. This requires a highly resolving, transparent sound across the entire spectrum. The K501, as good as it is, is significantly less resolving and transparent than the SA5000, and also gives up the bass.
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