Just like in life, the more I learn, the less I know. Just thought I’d jot down a few of my observations I’ve learned in my short time here as a Head-Fi member. Observations, not facts. Maybe something might help another newbie like me navigate the waters a little easier. Head-Fi is a great place. If it sounds good, it is good.
1) Keep an open mind. Many of the things you doubted or didn’t believe will turn out to be true. Many of the things you believe when you get here are wrong.
2) The search function is your friend. Few members here like to help the lazy. If you searched and either couldn’t find what you were looking for, or got so many search hits you are confused, say so. You’ll usually get more and better replies. (more and better?)
3) Even if you think you know everything, keep it a secret.
4) Don’t pay any attention to words like: warm, dark, shrill, bass light, bass heavy, smooth, musical, tonally accurate, etc. These things don’t mean the same thing to you that they mean to the person posting them. Otherwise, how can the same pair of headphones be dark and bright? Have “too much treble emphasis” and “obscure the highs with their overbearing bass”, blah-blah-blah. You won’t know how it actually sounds until you listen yourself. Also, remember membership is worldwide. English isn’t everyone’s native language. Words have different meanings in different places. I found out ‘warm’ doesn’t mean the same thing in Munich as it does in Manhattan.
5) If half the people love a certain headphone/piece of equipment and half don’t, it’s probably great; just not everyone’s cup of tea. Pay attention to what the posters listen to, and what else they have, since that gives you an idea where they’re coming from.
6) Frequent the for sale forum. In general, the members here are very nice, accurately describe the condition of their stuff, and take good care of their gear. Buy and sell until the light goes on. For the same $200, you can try for example: the Senn HD580 with upgraded grills and cable, HD600, Beyer DT880, Little Dot amp, get the picture? You can usually get back all or close to what you paid. Maybe you’re out shipping costs. Hey, $10 is a cheap rental fee. (This doesn’t apply if you keep everything you buy).
7) Believe it or not, some of the best advice/tips came from PM’ing people. Most of the members are happy to give their advice/opinion and they will respond if you ask the right questions. “Are Denons good headphones?” probably won’t get a response. “I notice you listen to xyz music like I do and have 123 and 789 headphones that I’m interested in. Would you mind giving me your opinion on those two when listening to xyz” probably will.
8) Unless you feel you have to, it’s probably best to stay out of discussions on the sonic properties of cables.
9) Don’t be afraid of equipment made by our do-it-yourself members. (DIY) Much of it is great bang for the buck stuff. I have a λ1 dac and a Millet Hybrid tube amp driving a pair of those “bass-light” AKG K501s, and I find it sounds absolutely beautiful on anything I throw at it with vocals or non-electrified musical instruments. Spending a little time in the DIY forum also helps get a better grasp on things like ‘impedance’ and getting some awesome custom cables for a reasonable price.
10) Don’t log on if you get your feelings hurt easily. It doesn’t matter what you bought/thought/heard/or thought you heard, someone is going to tell you you’re wrong/dumb/too new/haven’t heard xyz/or you shoulda done what they did. Let it go. This is usually followed by great advice from someone else. It’s almost like the cognoscenti get tired of responding to the same newbies’ questions until some idiot tries to pass doodoo for guru. Then they weigh in with with the real skinny. The humans you meet in everyday life are the same ones you’ll run into here. Some are the kind of people you wish everyone was, and some would only get taller if they took Viagra.
.
1) Keep an open mind. Many of the things you doubted or didn’t believe will turn out to be true. Many of the things you believe when you get here are wrong.
2) The search function is your friend. Few members here like to help the lazy. If you searched and either couldn’t find what you were looking for, or got so many search hits you are confused, say so. You’ll usually get more and better replies. (more and better?)
3) Even if you think you know everything, keep it a secret.
4) Don’t pay any attention to words like: warm, dark, shrill, bass light, bass heavy, smooth, musical, tonally accurate, etc. These things don’t mean the same thing to you that they mean to the person posting them. Otherwise, how can the same pair of headphones be dark and bright? Have “too much treble emphasis” and “obscure the highs with their overbearing bass”, blah-blah-blah. You won’t know how it actually sounds until you listen yourself. Also, remember membership is worldwide. English isn’t everyone’s native language. Words have different meanings in different places. I found out ‘warm’ doesn’t mean the same thing in Munich as it does in Manhattan.
5) If half the people love a certain headphone/piece of equipment and half don’t, it’s probably great; just not everyone’s cup of tea. Pay attention to what the posters listen to, and what else they have, since that gives you an idea where they’re coming from.
6) Frequent the for sale forum. In general, the members here are very nice, accurately describe the condition of their stuff, and take good care of their gear. Buy and sell until the light goes on. For the same $200, you can try for example: the Senn HD580 with upgraded grills and cable, HD600, Beyer DT880, Little Dot amp, get the picture? You can usually get back all or close to what you paid. Maybe you’re out shipping costs. Hey, $10 is a cheap rental fee. (This doesn’t apply if you keep everything you buy).
7) Believe it or not, some of the best advice/tips came from PM’ing people. Most of the members are happy to give their advice/opinion and they will respond if you ask the right questions. “Are Denons good headphones?” probably won’t get a response. “I notice you listen to xyz music like I do and have 123 and 789 headphones that I’m interested in. Would you mind giving me your opinion on those two when listening to xyz” probably will.
8) Unless you feel you have to, it’s probably best to stay out of discussions on the sonic properties of cables.
9) Don’t be afraid of equipment made by our do-it-yourself members. (DIY) Much of it is great bang for the buck stuff. I have a λ1 dac and a Millet Hybrid tube amp driving a pair of those “bass-light” AKG K501s, and I find it sounds absolutely beautiful on anything I throw at it with vocals or non-electrified musical instruments. Spending a little time in the DIY forum also helps get a better grasp on things like ‘impedance’ and getting some awesome custom cables for a reasonable price.
10) Don’t log on if you get your feelings hurt easily. It doesn’t matter what you bought/thought/heard/or thought you heard, someone is going to tell you you’re wrong/dumb/too new/haven’t heard xyz/or you shoulda done what they did. Let it go. This is usually followed by great advice from someone else. It’s almost like the cognoscenti get tired of responding to the same newbies’ questions until some idiot tries to pass doodoo for guru. Then they weigh in with with the real skinny. The humans you meet in everyday life are the same ones you’ll run into here. Some are the kind of people you wish everyone was, and some would only get taller if they took Viagra.
.
