++ FULL-SIZE HEADPHONE RECOMMENDATIONS THREAD++ i.e. Don't start a new thread: ask for advice... - Page 1705

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiderman 

...one thing I really liked about the 650's was how good the instruments sounded but I felt like the singer was being overshadowed.

I am looking for a sound signature that emphasizes the voice of the singer and makes it sound forward and detailed. l I believe this is called the treble region don't quote me on that as I don't know the full difference between the treble and upper mids. Other things that are important to me are instrument separation and sound stage and the instruments themselves I really like the way they sounded on the hd-650.

Budget wise I can go up to 500 but its slightly flexible, and it doesn't matter to me if its and open or closed can.I want them to sound fun and not overly analytical as I am not looking for a neutral sound. I listen to alot of different genres of rock, Sinatra, and guitar heavy songs. Basically the only recommendation I have gotten is grado so should I just stick with those?

Fundamental frequencies for voice are ~100-900 Hz for male voice & ~300 - 1500 Hz for female voice, which I'd call mids and maybe lower treble.  For that range HE-500 are hard to beat.  HD600 are also pretty special, really remedying the overshadowed singer you describe with the HD650, which sound more v-shaped to me with the dip where voices should go..  Don't get a closed can, none can do voice as well as an open can.  In your shoes I'd spring for HE500, they're a big jump in quality relative to HD600/650 & any SR Grado.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eucariote 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiderman 

...one thing I really liked about the 650's was how good the instruments sounded but I felt like the singer was being overshadowed.

I am looking for a sound signature that emphasizes the voice of the singer and makes it sound forward and detailed. l I believe this is called the treble region don't quote me on that as I don't know the full difference between the treble and upper mids. Other things that are important to me are instrument separation and sound stage and the instruments themselves I really like the way they sounded on the hd-650.

Budget wise I can go up to 500 but its slightly flexible, and it doesn't matter to me if its and open or closed can.I want them to sound fun and not overly analytical as I am not looking for a neutral sound. I listen to alot of different genres of rock, Sinatra, and guitar heavy songs. Basically the only recommendation I have gotten is grado so should I just stick with those?

Fundamental frequencies for voice are ~100-900 Hz for male voice & ~300 - 1500 Hz for female voice, which I'd call mids and maybe lower treble.  For that range HE-500 are hard to beat.  HD600 are also pretty special, really remedying the overshadowed singer you describe with the HD650, which sound more v-shaped to me with the dip where voices should go..  Don't get a closed can, none can do voice as well as an open can.  In your shoes I'd spring for HE500, they're a big jump in quality relative to HD600/650 & any SR Grado.

Woah, really? I've tried the HD650 at multiple Head-Fi meets and was never really satisfied with how they sound; I totally agree with Spiderman's impressions of the vocals. One of the meets had the HD600 but I never tried it because I thought the higher-number HD650 would be better. >.>

All of this talk of the HE-500 nowadays makes me want to go out and buy one, but alas, money is always an issue for a college student. XD

The HE 400 is clearer than the Senn siblings, the HD 600 & 650, but it also messes with the mids where vocals live.  You may or may not like that coloration.

The more expensive HE 500 enhances the clarity of the HE 400 and loses the coloration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG Jag 

The HE 400 is clearer than the Senn siblings, the HD 600 & 650, but it also messes with the mids where vocals live.  You may or may not like that coloration.

 

The more expensive HE 500 enhances the clarity of the HE 400 and loses the coloration.

Do planar magnetic headphones need a special amplifier like electrostatics do?

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG Jag 

The HE 400 is clearer than the Senn siblings, the HD 600 & 650, but it also messes with the mids where vocals live.  You may or may not like that coloration.

 

The more expensive HE 500 enhances the clarity of the HE 400 and loses the coloration.

Do planar magnetic headphones need a special amplifier like electrostatics do?

No--and the HE 400 is not that difficult to drive well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG Jag 

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KG Jag 

The HE 400 is clearer than the Senn siblings, the HD 600 & 650, but it also messes with the mids where vocals live.  You may or may not like that coloration.

 

The more expensive HE 500 enhances the clarity of the HE 400 and loses the coloration.

Do planar magnetic headphones need a special amplifier like electrostatics do?

No--and the HE 400 is not that difficult to drive well.

Ah okay, cool, that's good to know then. If someone brings an HE-500 to the next local Head-Fi meet, I'll give them a good listen and try to scale it down if I were to get an HE-400.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Ah okay, cool, that's good to know then. If someone brings an HE-500 to the next local Head-Fi meet, I'll give them a good listen and try to scale it down if I were to get an HE-400.

Yes like KG said, no special amp needed to drive orthodynamic headphones, it can be driven by any amps that can deliver more current

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeinharis 

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

Ah okay, cool, that's good to know then. If someone brings an HE-500 to the next local Head-Fi meet, I'll give them a good listen and try to scale it down if I were to get an HE-400.

 

Yes like KG said, no special amp needed to drive orthodynamic headphones, it can be driven by any amps that can deliver more current

I have an O2, and from initial readings, that seems to be fine with the HE-400, yay.

I actually did get the chance to try the HE-400's at a Head-Fi meet last year, back when the HE-400 was relatively new...but that was before I started to critically listen to headphones. *sigh*

Quote:

Originally Posted by miceblue 

I have an O2, and from initial readings, that seems to be fine with the HE-400, yay.

 

I actually did get the chance to try the HE-400's at a Head-Fi meet last year, back when the HE-400 was relatively new...but that was before I started to critically listen to headphones. *sigh*

The O2 will sufficient for HE-500 especially for the HE-400, it comes down to you own preferences because both HE-400 and HE-500 is quite different in terms of soundsign yet both is in the same area which is a warm headphones.

Hi, first post.

I have a choice of Sennheiser HD449, PX360, HD518 and HD558 headphones. Which one is best? I'll be using it through a techincs amp and iphone. My main listening use would be for hard rock, thrash metal, grunge etc. with some little use for hip-hop, gaming, techno/electronic, movies etc. I would also like them to be comfortable for extended periods (maybe 2-3 hours or longer). I have fairly small ears and my old sony mdr-cd100 make my ears (the actual ear on my head, not eardrum) uncomfortable and a little sore after a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blixy 

Hello,

I am Seeking your help and advice about buying headphones using the following parameters:

Budget -200-250 $
ON EAR headphones
Comfortable headset for continuous use (I have a big head, not heating up fast)
Mainly for domestic use - Music / Movies from my PC, TV
Without the need for an amplifier.
Emphasis on sound quality

What do you recommend buying ?


Up till now was using Sennheiser HD 590 headphones which recently broke down

Thanks in advance for your help

Blix

Thanks for the details, but the list is still too broad. Could we get what sort of genres you listen to? Can they be open? What is your source?

Quote:

Originally Posted by blixy 

Music - Rock , Pop
It can be open.
Mostly the one requirement is that they won't need an amplifier. I connect them to my pc or phone

What sound signature are you seeking?  As we see everyday on this thread "sound quality" means very different things to different people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rust In Peace 

Hi, first post.

 

I have a choice of Sennheiser HD449, PX360, HD518 and HD558 headphones. Which one is best? I'll be using it through a techincs amp and iphone. My main listening use would be for hard rock, thrash metal, grunge etc. with some little use for hip-hop, gaming, techno/electronic, movies etc. I would also like them to be comfortable for extended periods (maybe 2-3 hours or longer). I have fairly small ears and my old sony mdr-cd100 make my ears (the actual ear on my head, not eardrum) uncomfortable and a little sore after a while.

bump