hd25-1 appreciation thread - Page 119

Well I've had the hd25's for a few days now and I have heard no better portable at any price and I've tried quite a few!

I like the they make you want to tap your feet and nod your head to the rhythm. No other headphone has had this effect on me. I have never been sad to take a pair of headphones off before.

I like the way they look, sort of anti urban. nondescript purposeful and black. The sound is right there in your face, Great treble, tight bass well separated and natural. Eric Clapton's unplugged sounds awesome.

I have been using them out of the box with pleather pads and the steel cable and have had no problem with either.

I also use them with a Neco V3 amp which gives me oodles more volume than my ipod, which is what I desired by amping them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thing Fish 

Well I've had the hd25's for a few days now and I have heard no better portable at any price and I've tried quite a few!

 

I like the they make you want to tap your feet and nod your head to the rhythm. No other headphone has had this effect on me. I have never been sad to take a pair of headphones off before.

 

I like the way they look, sort of anti urban. nondescript purposeful and black. The sound is right there in your face, Great treble, tight bass well separated and natural. Eric Clapton's unplugged sounds awesome.

 

I have been using them out of the box with pleather pads and the steel cable and have had no problem with either.

 

I also use them with a Neco V3 amp which gives me oodles more volume than my ipod, which is what I desired by amping them.

 

 

 

 

Hey there, glad you like them and glad to hear that someone else also likes the way they look! :) Question: what other cans have you tried besides them in comparison?

I've been very interested in trying out the 1-ii's... do you guys know any typical retailers in California that have these up for Demo?

Just got my set from Moon Audio with their IEM Silver Dragon cable terminated with a Switchcraft mini-xlr end.   I have a single ended connection as well as a balanced connection for both the HD-25-1 and the DT1350.  Still waiting for my SR-71B to come in for the balanced comparison.

I am comparing single ended HD-25-1 to my Beyer DT1350.  The HD-25-1 sounds bad via my ALO Continental V2 but out of the Fostex HP-P1 extremely good.  Synergy is everything I guess.  The HP-P1 + HD-25 sounds much like the DT1350 + ALO Continental V2 to my ears which is again extremely good.  More comparison to the detail will be required for a better delineation.

Edit: this morning the ALO + HD-25 sounds much better....I think my hearing changed from last night to this morning more than the equipment did. 

I noticed some of you get the headband from the HD 25 SP for your HD 25's (I guess, for comfort).

Can you go the other way? i.e. Can you use the splittable headbands from the HD 25 on the HD 25 SP?

I have a pair of HD 25 SP's, and I hate the way the drivers spin around (e.g. when in my bag) and eventually ruin my wires. 

I reckon replacing my HD 25 SP headband with the splittable one from a HD 25 will solve that problem.

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roma101 

Hey there, glad you like them and glad to hear that someone else also likes the way they look! :) Question: what other cans have you tried besides them in comparison?

Well I've tried the AKG 480's and a few Beats (don't go there) also various Bose, Sennheiser HD600's, 201's,558's and the HD25 sp's. Quite a lot of Sony headphones as I work for them. Kliptch IEM's (can't remember the model numbers, but will be selling them as IEM's tend to hurt my ears) And probably a few more i've forgotten about...?

One I haven't tried yet but would like to are the Grado 325i's. That said they are a bit big for a portable, which is what I'm after.

Just a foot note - I tried the HD600 cable on my HD25's but sadly could not hear a difference? Maybe i'll try the HD650 cable one day.

I was listening to Melody Gardot tonight throught the HD25's and OH MY GOD...!!!

I can't believe these headphones. They never fail to surprise me. It was like she was next to me. I can't see me changing them ever. Great just to throw in my bag when going to work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dockter 

I noticed some of you get the headband from the HD 25 SP for your HD 25's (I guess, for comfort).

 

Can you go the other way? i.e. Can you use the splittable headbands from the HD 25 on the HD 25 SP?

 

I have a pair of HD 25 SP's, and I hate the way the drivers spin around (e.g. when in my bag) and eventually ruin my wires. 

 

I reckon replacing my HD 25 SP headband with the splittable one from a HD 25 will solve that problem.

 

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

That can be done if I'm not mistaken.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thing Fish 

Well I've tried the AKG 480's and a few Beats (don't go there) also various Bose, Sennheiser HD600's, 201's,558's and the HD25 sp's. Quite a lot of Sony headphones as I work for them. Kliptch IEM's (can't remember the model numbers, but will be selling them as IEM's tend to hurt my ears) And probably a few more i've forgotten about...?

 

One I haven't tried yet but would like to are the Grado 325i's. That said they are a bit big for a portable, which is what I'm after.

 

Just a foot note - I tried the HD600 cable on my HD25's but sadly could not hear a difference? Maybe i'll try the HD650 cable one day.

 

I was listening to Melody Gardot tonight throught the HD25's and OH MY GOD...!!!

I can't believe these headphones. They never fail to surprise me. It was like she was next to me. I can't see me changing them ever. Great just to throw in my bag when going to work.

I hear ya. Sade never sounded so good, also. :)

Just a small incite into my feelings about the HD25's  now that I've had them for just over a week -

The bass is tight. So tight in fact its like a ticking clock in your head. I am able to follow technical bass guitar lines easily and it's not in the least overpowering. There are times when I look over my shoulder thinking someone is trying to get my attention and then realise its a kick drum on the track I'm listening to. I kid you not!  I have never experienced this before with a headphone! and its a weird feeling.

The sound stage is narrow but it suits my enjoyment levels just fine. I normally find a big sound stage a bit lacking in impact. But that's just me.

The highs (treble) are crisp and sharp which I personally crave. Percussion hi-hats and snare brush work particularly cut through along with tambourines and the like. I think this is why the 25's are so toe tappingly marvelous. Brass is also a joy to listen to.

The mid's I suppose could be described as a tad lacking ( a moot point) but the rest is so entertaining its a small price to pay and doesn't bother me at all.

I would have to add that my ears are a bit ravaged due to playing in bands for over 12 years (now retired) so I suppose the highs could be a tad sibilant for some. (burn in might help?)

All I am saying that this headphone may be a bit weird for some at first but the gains are quite exceptional. The enjoyment factor is beyond measure.

In my opinion you have to give your ears a few hours to acclimatise to these exceptional phones but when you do the rewards are beyond measure. Believe you me.

Maybe this is a musicians headphone? Who knows. All I can say that this headphone has revived my love of music. And that is a rare thing indeed...!!!

Oh and they are indestructible. Well so far...

I'm going to buy the Sennheiser HD25-1 II and I heard that it won't be a problem (a must) getting a portable AMP with iPod Touch or Cowon J3. Is it true?

I know that it might be better but are they easily driven with both Touch and Cowon?

If not, I'm just going to buy a FiiO E10 for home purposes (speakers+laptop+HD25)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godinhovsky 

I'm going to buy the Sennheiser HD25-1 II and I heard that it won't be a problem (a must) getting a portable AMP with iPod Touch or Cowon J3. Is it true?

I know that it might be better but are they easily driven with both Touch and Cowon?

 

If not, I'm just going to buy a FiiO E10 for home purposes (speakers+laptop+HD25)

iPod/iPhone can drive the HD 25's fine.  They have a really high sensitivity so don't need much power at all to get to a loud volume.  I prefer them with an amp, but it is not required.  From laptops, it can be hit or miss because some laptops have pretty terrible onboard sound.  They'll still get loud enough, but noise can be an issue.  My advice is to always try without an amp first.  If you feel the need for one, and can return it easily, you can then try an amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godinhovsky 

I'm going to buy the Sennheiser HD25-1 II and I heard that it won't be a problem (a must) getting a portable AMP with iPod Touch or Cowon J3. Is it true?

I know that it might be better but are they easily driven with both Touch and Cowon?

 

If not, I'm just going to buy a FiiO E10 for home purposes (speakers+laptop+HD25)

Pretty much anything can drive HD25-1 respectably, even the meager little Sansa Clip variants.  The J3's built-in amp is one of the best ones around before much more expensive players like Hifimans or DX100 (excluding all external amps, of course).

You will not "feel" the need for an amp.  Even if you were to get a portable amp with a J3, it will just bottleneck the sound quality if you go with some cheap amp <$200 more or less.

This question is more for those who own both a Grado and HD 25 (though other people's inputs are welcome!).

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'm absolutely LOVING my new (ahem... used ;) ) Grado SR-60i's ($50, I couldn't resist! [Thanks again peterabb!]). Now seeing that the hd-25 1-ii's have a similarly aggressive sound signature and narrow soundstage, I was wondering if it would be in my best interests to pursue this as a portable alternative, or if I should pursue a complimentary sound signature (I've been thinking about the v-moda m-80's)? 

I guess in other words, would purchasing the hd-25's render my Grados worthless (redundant), and I should choose something with a different sound signature instead, or do they really convey different enough experiences to warrant having both (under a budget)?

Sorry about my wordiness, sometimes it's hard to express a war going on in my head. :P

I would suggest trying both.  Being both an HD25 owner as well as SR325is owner, I find them not to be all that similar.  Aggressive note attack is one of the few things that they have in common.  HD25 also has a little depth to its soundstage while SR Grados have none at all whatsoever.  Do you want the comparatively darker, isolating, organic, bassier, and speedier HD25 or the clearer, non-isolating, much brighter and grungier Grado sound?  (Never heard SR60, actually =p but my modded SR325 certainly makes short work of HD25 - the Senns are my portable, not my 325)

I would suggest getting HD25 from a store that offers a 30-day return policy.  If you end up preferring HD25, then you know where you can sell your SR60. ;D