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Best Unamped, Open Headphone

post #1 of 49
10/4/09 at 2:51am
Thread Starter 
I'm working on a birthday present for a friend, I hope that you guys can lend a hand.

-open backed
-easily driven
-neutral frequency response
-the typicals, fast/soundstage/imaging/extension/comfort etc.

I'm willing to spend anywhere from $100 to $500, best examples at different pricepoints would be appreciated.

Candidates I've come up with myself:
Alessandro MS-1i
Audio Technica ATH-AD700
Audio Technica ATH-AD900 (How neutral are these?)
EDIT, ADDED:
Beyerdynamic dt880 32ohm (Is this easily driven?)

Hmmm brain cramp, help me out guys :s When I think of easily driven opens, I usually turn to Grados, but they're too colored for this case. Hmmm... something like a easily driven K601.
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post #2 of 49
10/4/09 at 2:54am
Off the top of my head: Sennheiser HD 595.
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post #3 of 49
10/4/09 at 3:00am
Thread Starter 
Am I correct in assuming that the HD595 retains the house midrange bass hump? That would be trouble.

Just remembered the Beyerdynamic DT880 32ohm, yum.
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post #4 of 49
10/4/09 at 3:04am
Go for
Alessandro MS-1i = $ 99.00
or
Alessandro MS-1i = $ 299.00

The two headphones above are musically-easily driven for your heads.
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post #5 of 49
10/4/09 at 3:19am
ATs
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post #6 of 49
10/4/09 at 3:22am
Unamped HD595 yields to ATs in terms of SQ.
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post #7 of 49
10/4/09 at 3:25am
Try the GMP 435S, here more info: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/ger...31/index6.html
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post #8 of 49
10/4/09 at 4:24am
For budget AD700, if you want to really make their day AD900.

If they are rockers and soundstage is not the be all end all then I would say Allesandro MS1 or MS2 but only if they are not concerned about sound stage.

I found the HD595 to have to much veil in the midrange and be a bit to laid back for my tastes and it did seem to really need to have an amp to begin to compeat with the AD700/900 phones.

I have not heard the DT880 but have listened to the BD DT990 and found it had a severely recessed midrange with very uncomfortable highs.
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post #9 of 49
10/4/09 at 4:49am
For $500 you can get used RS-1.
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post #10 of 49
10/4/09 at 5:21am
Quote:
-open backed
-easily driven
-neutral frequency response
-the typicals, fast/soundstage/imaging/extension/comfort etc.
That describes the AD900 pretty well.
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post #11 of 49
10/4/09 at 5:33am
+1 AT-AD900
Senns need amp...
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post #12 of 49
10/4/09 at 5:45am
435S
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post #13 of 49
10/4/09 at 7:45am
If the RS1 is within the OPs budget, why are we even suggesting anything else ? We should all be so lucky.
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post #14 of 49
10/4/09 at 7:48am
The OP said no Grados. AD900 would probably be your best bet. The AD700 or MS1 would be ok too if you want something for around $100 but the MS1 isn't as comfortable nor does it have the soundstage of the AD700/AD900. Its midrange is also a bit recessed compared to the AD900.
From what I have read the DT880 needs an amp (even the 32ohm).
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post #15 of 49
10/4/09 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VALIENTE View Post
Go for
Alessandro MS-1i = $ 99.00
or
Alessandro MS-1i = $ 299.00

The two headphones above are musically-easily driven for your heads.
Same headphones, but two totally different prices? Weird!
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