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Shootout: 107 Portable Headphones Reviewed (Astrotec AS-100HD & AS-200HD added 12/02/12) - Page 227

post #3391 of 4053
8/25/12 at 12:48am

Been reading this thread for at least 5 times per month. lol. This shootout as well as the IEM's reviews have been fantastic and a great resource for a lot of people.

 

I'm currently eyeing a good headphone that has good midrange and good balance (and something that looks good) and so far I'm set on taking Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9A. Based on your review, ESW9 fits my requirements just fine. Any other headphone that you think are "more worth it" than ESW9 for what I'm looking?

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #3392 of 4053
8/25/12 at 5:51am
I would recommend looking into the M-80 as well. It sounds very engaging to my ears and the midrange is liquid smooth.
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post #3393 of 4053
8/25/12 at 2:30pm

i am looking for headphones that fold flat (for hanging around my neck) and do vocals and guitar the way the es7 does. it took a little while to get used to it, but when i actually gave them a chance, the way those cans did vocals sounded like the man was right next to me singing in my ear, and the guitar was lifelike in my opinion. the soundstage was perfect to me. i swore i could reach out and touch the singer when listening to opeth's album "damnation" because he sounded close, but i knew exactly where he was standing. which was a trip on the occasions that they made the singer slowly rotate around the listener.

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post #3394 of 4053
8/26/12 at 8:59pm

Ironically the M80 is also on my list but is somewhat 'farther down' than the ESW9 (due to me really liking how ESW9 looks). I rechecked it and found that its cheaper, and more durable than ESW9. And it also looks good.

 

Thanks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by roma101 View Post

I would recommend looking into the M-80 as well. It sounds very engaging to my ears and the midrange is liquid smooth.
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post #3395 of 4053
8/29/12 at 8:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by countolaf View Post

Been reading this thread for at least 5 times per month. lol. This shootout as well as the IEM's reviews have been fantastic and a great resource for a lot of people.

 

I'm currently eyeing a good headphone that has good midrange and good balance (and something that looks good) and so far I'm set on taking Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9A. Based on your review, ESW9 fits my requirements just fine. Any other headphone that you think are "more worth it" than ESW9 for what I'm looking?

 

If you like the way it looks better than the competition, I don't see any issues with the ESW9. The mids are nice - maybe not as good as the M-80 but up there - and they don't lack heavily in any other area. Personally I would pick the M-80 over the ESW9 most of the time unless I was after long-term comfort or sparkly treble. 

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skoobs View Post

i am looking for headphones that fold flat (for hanging around my neck) and do vocals and guitar the way the es7 does. it took a little while to get used to it, but when i actually gave them a chance, the way those cans did vocals sounded like the man was right next to me singing in my ear, and the guitar was lifelike in my opinion. the soundstage was perfect to me. i swore i could reach out and touch the singer when listening to opeth's album "damnation" because he sounded close, but i knew exactly where he was standing. which was a trip on the occasions that they made the singer slowly rotate around the listener.

 

The HD25 might do it for you - it's an intimate-sounding headphone overall and crystal clear despite the bass boost, plus it still has that raw, gritty feel of the ES7. It'll put the bass and treble a bit ahead of the midrange but not much more so than the ES7. The ES10 is also reminiscent of the ES7, though more spacious and much more refined. Quite a bit pricier, too. 

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post #3396 of 4053
8/31/12 at 5:06am

The ATH M-50 that is reviewed in this thread is that the earlier model or the rcent model? (soundwise very different)
 

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post #3397 of 4053
9/2/12 at 5:27pm

Hey guys, i'm looking for a portable headphone with good isolation for 60-70$ max (50€)..

 

Are there any good alternatives to JVC HA-M750 and Panasonic RP-HTX7?

Unfortunately i can't find Sony V6 at a good price in any european site..

 

 

Also, on Creative's site Aurvana Live are 50€.. are they worth the money even if isolation is mediocre? 

 

I would like to try headphones to compare them with IEMs, since the differences between the two are hard to describe and i couldn't find a general point of view on which of the two is better.

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post #3398 of 4053
9/2/12 at 9:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by marald View Post

Hey guys, i'm looking for a portable headphone with good isolation for 60-70$ max (50€)..

 

Are there any good alternatives to JVC HA-M750 and Panasonic RP-HTX7?

Unfortunately i can't find Sony V6 at a good price in any european site..

 

 

Also, on Creative's site Aurvana Live are 50€.. are they worth the money even if isolation is mediocre? 

 

I would like to try headphones to compare them with IEMs, since the differences between the two are hard to describe and i couldn't find a general point of view on which of the two is better.

The CAL! is a much better sounding headphone that the JVC HA-M750 or the Panasonic RP-HTX7 (unless you are a basshead and don't mind rolled off highs and veiled mids). Isolation is not great for a closed "over the ear" headphone but not terrible either. They're very comfortable as well.

 

If you like the Sony V6, try to see if you can find the Superlux HD661, which sounds and looks very similar at about 1/2 the price but sacrifices some comfort.

 

You might also be able to find a good deal on one of the many versions of the Fischer Audio FA-004, which in Europe include:

 

Incipio F38

Brainwavz HM3

Ace MP-68

MC Crypt DJ-50

Maxell Retro DJ

(yes, they're all the same headphone)

 

These have very good sound quality for the money but are not as comfortable as the CAL! But they do isolate better.

 

If you're not absolutely set on getting circumnaurals (over the ear) and would consider a supra-aural then look into the new Beyerdynamic DTX-501p. I'm reviewing a pair now and they sound great and have amazingly good isolation for an "on the ear" headphone.

 

All of these headphones have adequate and tight bass, but if you're a die-hard bass lover you might not be impressed.

 

Good luck

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post #3399 of 4053
9/3/12 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy Flycatcher View Post

The ATH M-50 that is reviewed in this thread is that the earlier model or the rcent model? (soundwise very different)
 

 

Should be the first version, that review was written quite a while ago using a used pair.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by marald View Post

Hey guys, i'm looking for a portable headphone with good isolation for 60-70$ max (50€)..

 

Are there any good alternatives to JVC HA-M750 and Panasonic RP-HTX7?

Unfortunately i can't find Sony V6 at a good price in any european site..

 

 

Also, on Creative's site Aurvana Live are 50€.. are they worth the money even if isolation is mediocre? 

 

I would like to try headphones to compare them with IEMs, since the differences between the two are hard to describe and i couldn't find a general point of view on which of the two is better.

 

Yes, the CAL is definitely worth 50EUR, more so than the other two, but not if you plan to use them in the subway or somewhere else where isolation might translate directly into sound quality. 

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post #3400 of 4053
9/3/12 at 2:42pm

Thanks guys you were really helpful!

 

I'm looking for a pair of portable headphones to use on the go (buses, train, street), since i don't use headphones while i'm at home, so yes, isolation is very important and affects sound quality.

 

However, i've purchased a pair of Superlux HD661 on amazon.. if i don't like them i can always recycle them as a gift for my freinds, since they're probably 10 times better then stock earbuds they are used to lol

 

That's too bad CAL! lack isolation, everyone agree they have a great SQ for the price but they definitely don't fit my requirements!

 

Once again thanks guys, this forum had blown my mind away in the last month, and once i decided to ask for help a lot of competent people answered me instantly.

Amazing place, seriously!

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post #3401 of 4053
9/3/12 at 2:50pm

joker, have you heard the Sony MDR 7550?  I understand its mids are more forward compared with EX1000.

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post #3402 of 4053
9/4/12 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by marald View Post

Thanks guys you were really helpful!

 

I'm looking for a pair of portable headphones to use on the go (buses, train, street), since i don't use headphones while i'm at home, so yes, isolation is very important and affects sound quality.

 

However, i've purchased a pair of Superlux HD661 on amazon.. if i don't like them i can always recycle them as a gift for my freinds, since they're probably 10 times better then stock earbuds they are used to lol

 

That's too bad CAL! lack isolation, everyone agree they have a great SQ for the price but they definitely don't fit my requirements!

 

Once again thanks guys, this forum had blown my mind away in the last month, and once i decided to ask for help a lot of competent people answered me instantly.

Amazing place, seriously!

Great, I'm glad you found some helpful advice here. The Superlux HD661 (like all Superlux phones) is great value for the money. They sound VERY similar to th Sony V6 and 7506. It is a pretty neutral headphone. My only complaint with them is the headband design which makes it a little hit and miss as far as getting a good fit. Another thing...these headphones benefit from a good burn-in, so give them plenty of hours before judging them. They also benefit from amping. I know you're going to use them as a portable, but you might want to invest in one of the inexpensive portable amps from FiiO. They will really breathe more life into the HD661. Please post your impressions of them when you get them.

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post #3403 of 4053
9/5/12 at 12:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post

 

Should be the first version, that review was written quite a while ago using a used pair.

 

Time for an update? popcorn.gif

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post #3404 of 4053
9/5/12 at 1:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by olear View Post

joker, have you heard the Sony MDR 7550?  I understand its mids are more forward compared with EX1000.

 

Didn't I just answer this in the IEM thread a day or two ago?

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddy Flycatcher View Post

Time for an update? popcorn.gif

 

I don't have a newer M50 or the old one to compare it to.

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post #3405 of 4053
9/7/12 at 6:47am

M80 vs M50.

What're the main differences between the two? How do their sound signatures differ? I see you've given the M50 a slightly better value score. Is it better than the M80?

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