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Headphone recs for a Martin Logan/Conrad Johnson lover...

post #1 of 8
6/14/09 at 12:14am
Thread Starter 
Short Version:I would like open/airy phones with the best imaging and sound stage available. What are the goto high-end classics?

Long Version:They will probably be used most with gaming, or movies off game systems, with Dolby Headphone. Therefore all my research has lead me to "awesome gaming phones" like DT880s or AKG501/601. But then I come here and people seem to talk down about those... so what are the real high-end phones? What do you think of the Denon AH-D5000?

All help/advice greatly appreciated,
Thanks.

(I know...go listen...but nobody seems to have them available and I have more money than time)
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post #2 of 8
6/14/09 at 12:29am
If you LOVE a technology, stick with it. I'm a dynamic transducer man myself, but for a Martin Logan lover I think you'd have to stick with the electrostatic earspeakers/headphones too.

The electrostatic headphones I've heard - this includes the Stax Lambda, Stax Omega II, and Sennheiser Orpheus he90 - have all featured a superb airiness and ethereal delicacy that no dynamic headphone can quite match (and I've heard/owned them ALL, almost anyways). Again, I'm a dynamic transducer man, so I NEED that dynamic bass slam

Though for gaming?? I have no experience there - perhaps you don't need to go to the ultra-high end for that?
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post #3 of 8
6/14/09 at 12:41am
Since you like dipole loudspeakers (at least in the midrange and treble), why not try some dipole headphones? Those would be the AKG K1000.
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post #4 of 8
6/14/09 at 12:51am
The Denons D5000, both stock and modded, are okay, but not what you're looking for. If you're prepared to build a rig around them, and can find Stax Omegas, or O2 MK1s, I think that you'll be extremely happy. K1000s, HP2s might be up your alley. As far as in-production headphones, maybe GS1000 (not my fav, but worth investigating), or ATH AD2000s. I'm currently in new toy love with the HD800s right now, but since they're actually available, you might want to check them out.
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post #5 of 8
6/14/09 at 12:51am
X2 on the K-1000s
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post #6 of 8
6/14/09 at 1:19am
If electrostats are more your flavor in speakers, I would go with electrostatic headphones like the 02/Jade or if you're fortunate, HE90s. Just make sure that they are very WELL amped.
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post #7 of 8
6/14/09 at 7:18am
Since you clearly love electrostatic speakers it would not be a surprise if you love electrostatic headphones as well. So I recommend you check out the Stax Omega II, Sennheiser HE90, and like.

If you want to go moving-coil, then definitely check out the AKG K1000.
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post #8 of 8
6/14/09 at 11:45am
The AKG lineup isn't too bad. Like everything, you get adjusted and they sound pretty good. The "bashing" is part of the environment here and some exist to criticize to keep us safe and thinking like them. For every good comment, you'll find two bad.

Imaging and details at the expense of impact sounds like the K series to me (in that pricepoint) without dropping several thousands (interpret well amped) into a stat rig. The cans you listed are a few hundred bucks.

Boosting the AKG can with a good amp will give adequate bass for a stat fan. Hps won't do what speakers can for soundstage though the K1ks are suspended speakers and can be driven with a speaker amp.

One person's high end is another's garbage. Got a budget in mind or is this an opinion starting thread?

This is one stat fan's opinion.
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