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Headphones Can't do Bass = Fail? - Page 2

post #16 of 87
9/17/07 at 11:35pm
You could always duct tape a pair of subwoofers to your ears...

(I bear no responsibility)
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post #17 of 87
9/17/07 at 11:56pm
Any headphone that lacks bass is less desirable than one that has plenty. Any headphone that has too much bass is also less desirable. But that doesn't make either a failure, when you consider all headphones have their strengths and weaknesses. IE: That bass-shy headphone may have outstanding soundstage or detail resolution.

I have heard headphones that were bass shy but had speed and detail resolution... enough to make me forget the bass-shyness.
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post #18 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duggeh View Post
Gentlemen who require the kind of tactile feedback in their headphone bass which you seem to seek have but one option available to them.

THE SURROUNDER.

Dare ye tread on such fugly ground? The sonic rewards are many, but the scorn is difficult to shoulder.
HAHAHA I am cracking up. I just googled "The surrounder" and found pics of them in use. hahahahaha. Just get it man hahahahahaha. I don't think you could look any cooler.
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post #19 of 87
9/18/07 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xollox View Post
This almost seems like a troll, but I'll bite. What headphones have you heard?
No, I'm speaking in general.
Headphones simply don't have the physical space to create really good bass.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chu View Post
The thing about Base is that you feel it as much as you hear it. Headphones can produce base in greater volume and more accurately then almost any home system . . .

. . . but it can't reproduce the visceral feel that low frequency pumps into your body.

You can train yourself to listen for base instead of having to feel it, but really this is one of the disadvantages of headphones we all have to deal with.
Yes, that's what I'm saying. Headphones can't do the ammount of bass that you would need in order to actually feel it.
And with Movies and Games, it's needed, is it not?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth View Post
Let's go with the notion s/he isn't a troll. Since there is only one post in this thread from the OP let's go with the benefit of honest searching for an answer.

Short answer as indicated above: plenty of phones provide excellent audible tight deep bass. Of course the OP indicated quality already. There are some phones that indeed to quantity too, but only to the ears/brain/head. There are options though in getting that visceral chest cavity crunching bass...include a sub in the system. I'd bet that there are headphone amps/preamps that have a sub output. Rig one up and enjoy the music. Those that have used K1000's often chimed in that this was one means of increasing the greatness of these phones.
You make an interesting point.
My first thought when I heard that Headphones can't provide a large ammount of bass, was that I could simply use a Subwoofer WITH them.
How would I go about doing this with my Sennheiser HDxxx headphones?

Quote:
Originally Posted by MonolithTMA View Post
There have been times where I listened to headphones and left the speakers on so I could feel the bass too. I haven't done it in years, it was an interesting experience, but it wasn't something I would do all the time.
How can I leave the speakers working together with the Headphones? There's only a single output.

Quote:
Originally Posted by F107plus5 View Post
I got to the point after getting MS2i and HD600, that I actually turned the sub "down" to more closely match my phones.

I have the ability to turn the bass "up" within my phones system, but I chose to leave it at a more natural level since I found that I enjoy the music more when the bass isn't overpowering all the tunes.

.....I had to sneak around and turn the sub down slowly over time, since my entire family is into the typical North American impression that heavy bass is King!
Yes, that's a good point.
Currently, with my Creative Inspire 2.1 set, I have the Subwoofer turned pretty much all the way down.
Does this mean that I don't like a lot of bass, and will be pleased with the small ammount of bass that Headphones can provide me? You tell me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by plaidplatypus View Post
So, which headphones did you get since last you graced us with your presence?
None, yet.
This new info is coming from a good "audiophile" friend of mine who told me that Headphones simply don't provide enough bass for movies and games.
Infact, he says that the HD650s were lacking when he used them to play Half Life 2.
Now, he does seem to like a lot of bass, but if the best headphones on earth can't provide him with enough bass.. I'm in trouble.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kramer5150 View Post
Any headphone that lacks bass is less desirable than one that has plenty. Any headphone that has too much bass is also less desirable. But that doesn't make either a failure, when you consider all headphones have their strengths and weaknesses. IE: That bass-shy headphone may have outstanding soundstage or detail resolution.

I have heard headphones that were bass shy but had speed and detail resolution... enough to make me forget the bass-shyness.
I have a hard time accepting the proposition that if I buy good headphones like the HD580s, that I will somehow forget about the bass when it comes to Games and Movies.

Thank you to those who actually gave good answers!
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post #20 of 87
9/18/07 at 9:50am
I love threads like this. Gets my juices flowing.
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post #21 of 87
9/18/07 at 9:51am
i agree no headphones or iems come close to the power impact and feeling of my 4 12" kenwoods, no chance, but headphones and iems can give a beautiful warm sound and sometimes thats enough to give superb impact.

ive always said bass is not bass unless its powerful and has impact, many can do without that warmth and impact and many prefer it but i grew up around an area with cars bouncing down the road and although i wouldnt say im a basshead i do generally like the warm side of headphones and in many cases i would take warm headphones over subs
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post #22 of 87
9/18/07 at 9:55am
Sweet memories of auditioning DT770's come flowing back to memory reading this thread.
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post #23 of 87
9/18/07 at 10:49am
I dunno about the premise.

No headphones can't make the chest cavity shake. But the Edition 9's with s logic sure fools my brain into feeling surrounded by bass. Very eerie feeling. I feel like I'm a miniature person sitting among giant instruments.

Gave me the chills several times when listening to the Cream 2005 reunion DVD. Mind you, this DVD was mastered by Bob Ludwig and is exceptionally well done technically.

The effect, in my opinion, is in many ways better than speakers. But remember I've been listening to headphones for decades and actually prefer them to speakers for most of my listening.
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post #24 of 87
9/18/07 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker View Post
How can I leave the speakers working together with the Headphones? There's only a single output.
That would all depend on your setup. All of my audio runs through a Tascam US-428 which allows me to output to multiple devices. I can listen to headphones and have my speakers playing too.
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post #25 of 87
9/18/07 at 11:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker View Post
No, I'm speaking in general.
Headphones simply don't have the physical space to create really good bass.

...

Thank you to those who actually gave good answers!
My answer was dramatically written but was serious. If you really want real and tactile physical low frequency feedback from a headphone, the Surrounder is undoubtedly the only headphone that can do it.
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post #26 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jinx20001 View Post
i agree no headphones or iems come close to the power impact and feeling of my 4 12" kenwoods, no chance, but headphones and iems can give a beautiful warm sound and sometimes thats enough to give superb impact.
But won't I miss the bass when I play games and watch movies?
Music is only around 20% for me, in usage.

I just don't know if I even really want that kind of power and impact.
My friend says it's important, but what if the kind of bass that headphones can provide is just enough for me.
All questions I can't answer..
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post #27 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pageman99 View Post
I dunno about the premise.

No headphones can't make the chest cavity shake. But the Edition 9's with s logic sure fools my brain into feeling surrounded by bass. Very eerie feeling. I feel like I'm a miniature person sitting among giant instruments.

Gave me the chills several times when listening to the Cream 2005 reunion DVD. Mind you, this DVD was mastered by Bob Ludwig and is exceptionally well done technically.

The effect, in my opinion, is in many ways better than speakers. But remember I've been listening to headphones for decades and actually prefer them to speakers for most of my listening.
I don't think I'll ever be able to afford those headphones.
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post #28 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonolithTMA View Post
That would all depend on your setup. All of my audio runs through a Tascam US-428 which allows me to output to multiple devices. I can listen to headphones and have my speakers playing too.
Yeh, I can't quite afford a 600$ device for outputing my audio..
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post #29 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker View Post
But won't I miss the bass when I play games and watch movies?
Music is only around 20% for me, in usage.

I just don't know if I even really want that kind of power and impact.
My friend says it's important, but what if the kind of bass that headphones can provide is just enough for me.
All questions I can't answer..
yeh movies you may well miss a bit of rumble but what the earphones make up for is amazing ive heard 4-5 people speaking at one time in a movie and for the first time heard every single one with a high end pair of headphones/iems.

bass is good for movies but unless you have seriously powerful subs/speakers, bass is not too easy to feel and is indeed mainly heard, thats what we call boom, and most headphones can create that so it isnt as missed as you first think.
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post #30 of 87
9/18/07 at 12:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker View Post
Yeh, I can't quite afford a 600$ device for outputing my audio..
Yeah, either can I. I bought the US-428 when it first came out, but I bought it for it's audio and midi inputs so I could compose and record music. Using it for audio output is just a bonus.

I also bought it when I didn't have a freaking car payment.
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