[Headxoxote]

Quote:

 
If you've done your research and you're set on just those three, my choice would be the DT 990 if you want open and the DT 770 if you want closed. The COP is a downgrade from the SRH840 in my opinion. You'll need to make sure that the DT 990 or DT 770 is properly amped or it would be a waste to purchase either one of them. What are you amping it with?
 
I'd be interested to know what you didn't like about the SRH840 and why/how you narrowed down to those three Beyerdynamics. Why didn't the DT 880 apear on your list?

I'm with a Xonar Essence STX but i'm gonna sell it and get an amp/dac later. The cable on my SRH840 is f#cked up and it's out of warranty. I was interested on the DT880 but some people say it's too neutral (even boring) so i took it off the list (haven't heard it though).

 

[JamesFoo]

Um.... guys.......nice to meet all of you.......
 
well, I've got a really good question that I wanted to ask from you all, that is which headphones do you like by comparing these?? @@
 
 
1) Parrot Zik ( heard that if you would adjust the equalizer from the app, these will sound a lot better)
 
2) Sony MDR-1RBT
 
3) Logitech UE 9000
 
 
I would be glad if anyone can share some experiences as I would like to choose one of these
 
Thank You For Your Cooperation Guys!!!

 

[Death3man]

Hi guys,
I'm looking for closed cans, that I can used unamped on the go
I don't really have a budget, if its good ill probably buy it!
I like bass, but it isn't a necessary thing to have, if the rest of the sound spectrum is up to par.
I've heard about the:
WS99
Beyer COP
Beyer DT770 LE
Mad Dogs T50rp

Anything else I should look at?
Do any of these require major amping?
Thanks

 

[roguegeek]

Quote:

I'm with a Xonar Essence STX but i'm gonna sell it and get an amp/dac later. The cable on my SRH840 is f#cked up and it's out of warranty. I was interested on the DT880 but some people say it's too neutral (even boring) so i took it off the list (haven't heard it though).

The DT 880 should be on your list as well. Check out MLE's excellent Headphone Gaming Guide.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

Hi everyone,
 
New member here with a couple of questions about which setup to purchase.  Until 3 weeks ago I had no clue about headphone quality; after reading a lot of threads seeking answers so I can make an informed decision I have a lot of info but the more info I get the more confusing it seems to become so I would like the experts to chime in.  
 
Some background:
 
I mainly listen to classical music (opera, concerto, chamber music) and am aiming to get a good pair of headphones specifically for this purpose. No rock'nroll, no electro etc.   My source for music are purchased and downloaded lossless files from Deutsche Grammophon as well as high-bitrate (whatever that may mean) streaming from Classicalarchives.com.  The music is played a) via my macbook pro (actually from the macbook it's being output through my cinema display.  Not ideal but the only option here as my job has me living at 2 locations on 2 continents and I'm not about to purchase a fully-fledged high end fixed system for both and b) in one location I also listen quite a lot via a DAB-receiver.  Basically it's safe to assume that the mac will serve as main platform.
 
From what I read it seems I should probably get a headphone/amp and that'll travel with me 3-4 times a year but at each location it'll stay in the same spot so portability is not the main issue.  They should be comfortable (not necessarily light) as I'll have them on for extended periods.
 
Budget for purchasing those items and anything I don't know now that i'll need but will have to get hovers around 1200 USD.  If it's a couple of 100 more I won't be eating out of tin cans for the rest of the month but let's take this as a baseline.
 
The locations where I'll be listening won't have much if any background noise and I don't have to worry about other people hearing whatever I'm listening to so no restrictions regarding open or closed cans, sound quality is the determining factor.
 
Now for the hard part:
 
- I was thinking of purchasing the Beyerdynamics DT880 premium edition headphones coupled with the FIIO E17 portable amp. Any thoughts on those?
- Headphone impedance:  250 or 600 Ohms and does it really matter at all (I read all kind of conflicting stuff about this, some indicating that the 600 Ohm version is only relevant with tube amplifiers but not required)?
 
For those of you who are classical music buffs:  any other headphone / amp combo's that could give me better yield for my money?  I realise that probably the best tactic would be to go to a brick and mortar shop and listen to various brands/models.  However, that's just not in the cards right now as I'm at a location where this is simply not possible and would like to order them so I can pick them up in Europe first thing when I get there in 2 months on one of my trips.
 
Many thanks to anyone taking the trouble to read this and offer advice!

You'll probably want to read this:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-57-headphones-compared-update-ultimate-ears-uerm-added-4-14-13#user_DT880
 
I'd consider upgrading your amp choice with a budget like you have.
 
You do know that the DT 880 is not closed, so it leaks some sound--yes?

 

[roguegeek]

Quote:

Um.... guys.......nice to meet all of you.......
 
well, I've got a really good question that I wanted to ask from you all, that is which headphones do you like by comparing these?? @@
 
 
1) Parrot Zik ( heard that if you would adjust the equalizer from the app, these will sound a lot better)
 
2) Sony MDR-1RBT
 
3) Logitech UE 9000
 
 
I would be glad if anyone can share some experiences as I would like to choose one of these
 
Thank You For Your Cooperation Guys!!!

 
Welcome! Looks like you're searching for a wireless solution. You aren't going to hear many good things about wireless cans around here because the technology compromises the sound quality. That's not to say they are terrible. It's just if you don't truly need something like that, you should probably stay clear of them.
 

1. What's your budget?
2. Where/how do you plan on using these can?
3. What are your isolation needs? Open or closed cans?
4. What kind of music do you listen to and what's the format/bit rate?
5. What source device will it be coming from and what amp, if any, will you be using?
6. Do you know what kind of signature you're trying to find?

 

[NakedPledge]

Welp -- my post wasn't really getting any responses so Imma paste this here:

Hello everybody. Hope I did post this thing in the correct forum.

Anyways, to kick things off, I just want to ask you guys about what headset should I buy. I prefer a foldable headset too. I'm not really good when it comes to these kind of things so that's the reason why I wanted to consult this forum before I buy. 

Imma use the headset for everyday listening. I listen to classical music and rock songs(not that hardcore though) -- maybe 5 hours a day, I guess? A friend of mine introduced me to Audio Technica and I tried testing some of them a few days ago. And I guess it's safe to say that I really liked some of them like the M50s but I don't wanna rush things since I'll be using it for the longest of time. Maybe I'll use it for recording songs too(bass and classical guitar)

Feel free to add or suggest something that I might consider buying. And if it's not much of a hassle, please do post a picture of your suggestion and why should I consider buying it.

So here are my picks from Audio Technica products(sorry, I'm only familiar with ATs as of the moment)

ATH-M50 - It's comfy. Sound's great but I feel like it's lacking something. I kinda don't like the oval shape too

ATH-pro500mk - I like the design but I don't like the clamping. Sound is so-so(considering the fact that I'll just use it for listening and not for pro things.

ATH-pro700/mk2 - I dunno if it's just me or it just clamps too hard and the foams are kinda thin compared to the M50s. Since I'm going to use this for everyday listening, I might not enjoy it but I like how the sound is produced. Isolation is also very good in my opinion.

Please do help me and every input will be appreciated Price range is around 100 to 250$ I guess. And also, if it's not that much of a trouble, please kind of explain things in an understandable manner since I'm not really familiar with music and sound terms.

Thank you.

Edit: Will be using my Samsung S2 for playing songs. Hope this helps.

 

[Xenophon]

Quote:

You'll probably want to read this:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-57-headphones-compared-update-ultimate-ears-uerm-added-4-14-13#user_DT880
 
I'd consider upgrading your amp choice with a budget like you have.
 
You do know that the DT 880 is not closed, so it leaks some sound--yes?

Thanks for that link.  What amp would you suggest?  I know the DT 880 are half open but sound leakage or ambient sound entering are not an issue at all, as far as I'm concerned the headphones can be totally open if that gives the best sound experience

 

[Nixy]

And I'm back (it's been a few days since Thursday, busy weekends blurgh) with some nice findings. I hope this can help some other people in search for a new pair of headphones.
 
So first off, the general advice to try the headphones before buying is golden. There are just so many variables that can be a deciding factor in whether you'll love the cans or hate them. 
 
The store I went to had most of the headphones I was looking at in stock, and were kind enough to let me test them straight from the box, and with an amp they had for sale as well.
 
The ones I've tested were:
Beyer DT770 Pro (250 ohm)
Beyer DT880 Pro (250 ohm)
Beyer DT990 Pro (250 ohm)
Beyer Custom One Pro (16 ohm)
 
Sennheiser HD598 (50? ohm)
 
 
I've tested them all with direct output from iTouch 4th generation and with an amp. It costs around €150,00 but I can't for the life of me remember what it's called again.
 
My (personal) conclusions/opinions are this:
 
Sound quality
Note: the headphones all came straight from the box and weren't burnt in. Sound quality might change a bit after this occurs.

The Custom One and the HD598 worked great unamped. They were much clearer than the Beyer DT's, whose sound was low and muddier. The iTouch was able to drive them (in my eyes/ears) properly, where as the DT's just need more oomph.
 
When using the amplifier though, the tables turned. The €50,00 more expensive HD598 could not get to the same level of sound the DT770 and DT990 could produce. The DT880 was a step above that, again, but at additional costs (€225 for the 880's and €145 for the 770 and 990's). The 598 did benefit a little from the amp, but not nearly as much as the higher impedance cans did.
 
The only 'issue' I had with the 880's was that it's just too honest, or confronting if you will. It's very neutral compared to the other cans. I'm sure there's lots of people who love this when listening to music, but it's not my cuppa' tea.
 
When it came to the 598 I was a little afraid to be disappointed, because reviews on it say that it is lacking in the bass department. While there was less bass than the Beyers it wasn't shockingly so. The bass was quite pleasant to my ears because it wasn't so prominent. So again, reviews are fine to get a general feel.. but you're not buying cans because of how they feel now do you 

.
 
For me the showdown was now between the 770 and 990's. Even though the 770 is (I guess) supposed to be the more bassier can due to its closed nature, the 990 had more of it. More punchy, deeper and more prominent. What the 990 also had was quite noticeably recessed mids, which made some of the songs sound a bit weak and sad, while they are upbeat songs. Soundstage on the 990 was bigger as well. The sound really came from all around you, while not seeming to come from headphones.
 
The only odd one out is the Custom One Pro. It sounded quite like the 770, but was more expensive and less comfortable.. and speaking of comfort; 
 
Comfort/build quality
For me the Beyer DT's take first place here as well. The Sennheisers felt cold and plastic-ey and clamped quite hard. The Custom One Pro felt quite cheap and brittle, despite it being more expensive than the 770 and 990's. There wasn't a whole lot of difference between the DT's. They were all about equally as comfortable.
 
Purchase and happiness
In the end I went home with the 770's. While the 990's were a close call, I couldn't get over the clarity the 770s had. They also did not break my piggy bank, as I was somewhat dreading that as well when looking at the 880's.
 
Initial testing at home with the Xonar Essence STX (which has a built-in amp for headphones) is remarkable. Perhaps an equally expensive stand-alone amp would give me better quality still, but I do like to fiddle with Dolby Headphone and what not for movies.
 
I'm also rediscovering my entire music collection as we speak, and I'm loving it. Positional audio is not even in the same league to be compared to my G35, which has now been demoted to microphone when I use Skype.. I guess I'll need to find a worthy desktop microphone now.
 
In total I've spent around €300,00 and I do not regret it a single bit. My parents were calling me all kinds of crazy when I told them, but that soon changed when they had a side-by-side comparison with their iBuds and garbage €10,00 on-ear headphones.
 
Thanks for the help and opinions that have been popping up in this thread, and in other topics as well. This is a great community from what I've seen.

 

[axeltow]

Quote:

hey folks,
 
i am new in this hifi stuff and i've got the sens hd 202's for couple of years now. unfortunately they have started falling apart in the hands of my gf plus i think its time for something else.
 
i live in Bulgaria where the market for headphones is not that big but the prices are. so, i am looking for something around 70-100 $. i will list below some cans that fit these prices (looking from the bulgarian market) and i would be reeeeally thankful if you could provide more insight and help me choose. i listen to 320Kbps and FLAC music coming from the PC out of a DYI USB Headphone DAC. I will also use it for gaming.
 
i kinda like the idea of trying an open-ear headphone with better sound stage.
 
this is what i have gathered from my search:
 
1) Audio Technica ATH-AD300 - these are for now my first choice. other options that i am considering are ATH-M30, ATH-T300, or even the SJ33 (although they are portable and half the price)
2) Sennheiser - here i am really confused. a lot of option for that price range. HD429, HD439, HD449, HD215
3) Beyerdynamic DTX-710
4) Prodpipe Pro 580 or 780
5) Alessandro MS1 - i don't know about these....with the shipping they will be more than the price range i am looking in.
6) AKG K514 MKII - these are prolly the last in my list.
 
these are pretty much all the good available brands here (except the alessandro) and are around the same price. the ATH-AD300 are the most expensive ones. except the price range, i would like to get good comfort and maybe soundstage and clear sound. don't care about bass that much. i don't know if this is any helpful or i've just thrown a bunch of products and made it chaotic. of course i don't mind if you throw some other brands on the list. i will check whether they are available here and if the prices are similar. just to give you a clue, the AD700 cost 100$ on amazon and here they cost 250$
 
thank you kindly in advance for your tips.
 
cheers!

i guess this kinda got lost in posts. but any ideas would be much appreciated. as days go buy i am leaning more towards the AD300. i listen various genres so i can't really give specific answer.
i could also try ordering from amazon or ebay from the UK or Germany.

 

[JamesFoo]

1) Well, my budget i think the most is Parrot Zik ( cause It costs about RM1599 in my country and that's quite a lot of money)
 
2) well, I like to use these cans whenever I went out like strolling around the park, going to malls, and walking around before going into my college class xD
 
3) isolation?? well, I would prefer closed?? if it is meaning like over-the-ear headphones, I would like that
 
4) well, as I'm asian and also a college student, most I would hear is like j-pop,k-pop and also some of the newer english songs like exp, maroon 5, the wanted, one direction,backstreet boys.......but once in a while, classic pop and classical music from orchastra is also nice .........mp3/mp4?? @@
 
5) well, most of the time I would be using my SGS lll , and a couple of times from my old sony mp3 player.....amp?? I dont know much about them @@
 
6) signature?? not really sure what you mean @@
 
 
I know a lot of people likes wired headphones more, but for me, whenever i used wired ones, I would always entangled it or just press it due to my strap and I dont feel quite comfortable, so I would like to have wireless, even if it would sacrifice some quality >.<
 
I'm also open for suggestions to other bluetooth over-the-ear headphones that is the same or less than the price range from the parrot ziks
 
Have A Nice Day

 

[liquidzoo]

Quote:

Hi guys,
I'm looking for closed cans, that I can used unamped on the go
I don't really have a budget, if its good ill probably buy it!
I like bass, but it isn't a necessary thing to have, if the rest of the sound spectrum is up to par.
I've heard about the:
WS99
Beyer COP
Beyer DT770 LE
Mad Dogs T50rp

Anything else I should look at?
Do any of these require major amping?
Thanks

 
I'm pretty sure that the Mad Dogs would need an amp.  Not sure about the WS99s.  The 2 Beyers that you linked would run fine out of an iPod or something like that.
 
Quote:

Welp -- my post wasn't really getting any responses so Imma paste this here:

Hello everybody. Hope I did post this thing in the correct forum.

Anyways, to kick things off, I just want to ask you guys about what headset should I buy. I prefer a foldable headset too. I'm not really good when it comes to these kind of things so that's the reason why I wanted to consult this forum before I buy. 

Imma use the headset for everyday listening. I listen to classical music and rock songs(not that hardcore though) -- maybe 5 hours a day, I guess? A friend of mine introduced me to Audio Technica and I tried testing some of them a few days ago. And I guess it's safe to say that I really liked some of them like the M50s but I don't wanna rush things since I'll be using it for the longest of time. Maybe I'll use it for recording songs too(bass and classical guitar)

Feel free to add or suggest something that I might consider buying. And if it's not much of a hassle, please do post a picture of your suggestion and why should I consider buying it.

So here are my picks from Audio Technica products(sorry, I'm only familiar with ATs as of the moment)

ATH-M50 - It's comfy. Sound's great but I feel like it's lacking something. I kinda don't like the oval shape too

ATH-pro500mk - I like the design but I don't like the clamping. Sound is so-so(considering the fact that I'll just use it for listening and not for pro things.

ATH-pro700/mk2 - I dunno if it's just me or it just clamps too hard and the foams are kinda thin compared to the M50s. Since I'm going to use this for everyday listening, I might not enjoy it but I like how the sound is produced. Isolation is also very good in my opinion.

Please do help me and every input will be appreciated Price range is around 100 to 250$ I guess. And also, if it's not that much of a trouble, please kind of explain things in an understandable manner since I'm not really familiar with music and sound terms.

Thank you.

Edit: Will be using my Samsung S2 for playing songs. Hope this helps.

 
FYI the S2 probably doesn't process the sound very well (if it's anything like my Skyrocket, anyway).  Though they're not foldable, you might want to take a look at the Beyer DT770s (LE would be fully able to be driven from your phone, though the Pro models (80 and 250 Ohm) would need an amp to achieve full sound).  I preferred the sound of the 770s over the ATH-M50s when I was looking at closed cans.

 

[AnteriorGoose80]

Hi there. I'm in the market for some new headphones and really need some help sorting through all the different ones on offer.
 
I want over-ear closed head phones that can be run by a small device such as an ipod nano or an HTC Sensation smart phone without the need for an amplifier. I will be using them for all sorts of listening. I listen to music a lot but also want them for watching movies, tv shows and playing games on my computer. These are mainly for round the house use but will also be used traveling so folding isn't a necessity .
I live with noisy flat mates so some decent noise isolation is a definite plus but I don't really need noise canceling. 
I listen to all sorts of music so I guess a more neutral sounding headphone would be best.
I'm on a limited budget of around 60 to 75 pounds.
A removable cable would be nice as my last pair of headphones (JVC HAM5X Xtreme Xplosives) (great value cans) broke at the headphone jack and if this were to happen again I would love to be able to replace the cable rather than buy a new set of headphones.
Headphones I've found so far that seem to be the right fit for what I am looking for are: Sennheiser HD 439/449 and Sennheiser HD 215. I'm lost as to where I should start with other brands or other Sennheiser models so some input would be much appreciated.
 
Thanks.

 

[RyuBlade94]

Hello everyone, i recently posted here to ask some recommendation about a new pair of headphones.. anyway, i now decided to get a bigger budget (around 120-130$). 
I would use those headphones 90% of the time directly on my PC, to listen to the music (Dead by April, Nickelback, Linkin Park, etc..) and to play videogames; i would like to have clear sound and powerfull basses. 
Which headphone would you recommend me? Thanks a lot

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

Quote:

You'll probably want to read this:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-57-headphones-compared-update-ultimate-ears-uerm-added-4-14-13#user_DT880
 
I'd consider upgrading your amp choice with a budget like you have.
 
You do know that the DT 880 is not closed, so it leaks some sound--yes?

Thanks for that link.  What amp would you suggest?  I know the DT 880 are half open but sound leakage or ambient sound entering are not an issue at all, as far as I'm concerned the headphones can be totally open if that gives the best sound experience

Can't help you with a portable amp, as I only have one and it has been discontinued.  I will say that you will want a neutral to a slightly dark sounding amp with the DT 880.