Calling All "Vintage" Integrated/Receiver Owners - Page 416

Great stuff, wualta! I have tonight off from the listening room - letting my inner ears expand - will resume Wed/Thur hot on its tracks. Today, at the top of each hour, I kept checking by powering up. The fluoroscan meters continue to "light" as if nuthin' ever happened. 

Although, it would not be my aim, I know how to make the meters go dark without touching a thing - invite someone over to see how cool these fluoroscans look. 

Hey folks, first off, thanks for this thread. I found it a few days ago while doing some headphone research and although it took me about 4 days to get all the way through, it was a really fun read. 

The question I wish to pose has to do with headphones, but since I'm specifically looking to pair something to a vintage receiver, I thought this thread might be most appropriate. I've just recently pulled some of my old audio gear out of storage because I want to start digging back into my vinyl collection again. Unfortunately, with a wife and three kids, I very rarely have the living room to myself, so I've been researching some decent headphones. 

My receiver is a Pioneer SX-1050, and my primary source will be a Technics SL-1301 table, at least for now. I may invest in a DAC soon, but spinning records is my first priority. I have a couple pair of cheap full-size headphones, and a couple pair of nicer in-ear monitors, but I'd like to try something over-the-ear, a little up the food chain. 

I've kind of zeroed in toward the HE-400 or HD-650 - that would be the price range I'm looking to start at as I experiment. I mostly listen to rock/indie rock/new wave and some EDM. I certainly don't want to hijack this wonderful thread, but if anyone has any reaction to whether one or both of these would pair well with the 1050, I'd really appreciate it!

Sounds like you're going to have some fun there @FAC 33!  And you've done plenty of research! 

Between the two I'd recommend the HD-650 (or 600 for that matter) over the HE-400.  I'm just not a fan of the 400, even though the price point is attractive.  If you can find a HE-500 or 5LE used, or spring a little more for one of those new, I'd then say the decision will be a little harder.

The HD-6XX will be sound great from the 1050.  You'll find plenty of us here that are driving one of the two with our vintage Pioneers.

There is a pretty good difference in sound signature between the HE-400 and the HD-650, so you may want to do some more reading on peoples impressions, or better yet see if you can audition each of them to see if one of the sounds strikes you better than the other.

Here is what was said with matching the 650 with my SX-950. Similar to your 1050. Just less power.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/537704/calling-all-vintage-integrated-receiver-owners/5970#post_8752029

Thanks for the replies! I have seen the large thread comparing these two sets of headphones, but my head is kind of spinning, thus why I registered and decided to ask you vintage experts... I thought some advice specifically related to one of these old Pioneers might help me make a decision. I'm also honestly probably a little too much of a newb in the headphone realm to be able to completely parse the information. I've loved music all my life, and growing up I had a definite interest in gear, but headphones have never been a priority before. So a lot of the vocabulary just goes over my head at this point. 

weverb, did you ultimately get a pair of 650s? If so, how are they working out with your 950? 

Thanks again!

Are there any stores or local head-fier's in your area you could visit/meet?

I really should try to figure that out, huh?  I'm in Baton Rouge, LA, not exactly a retail hotbed, but honestly I have never even checked into local audio stores - the only ones I've seen around are the typical chains (Best Buy, hh gregg, Conn's).

Re-reading some of the other threads, it sounds like the 650s might be better if my listening leans more to rock. I guess I'm leaning that way. Can't wait to see what the old 1050 sounds like through some good headphones. Thanks for the advice - I'll try to avoid cluttering this thread any further with my individual needs! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAC 33 

I really should try to figure that out, huh?  I'm in Baton Rouge, LA, not exactly a retail hotbed, but honestly I have never even checked into local audio stores - the only ones I've seen around are the typical chains (Best Buy, hh gregg, Conn's).

 

Re-reading some of the other threads, it sounds like the 650s might be better if my listening leans more to rock. I guess I'm leaning that way. Can't wait to see what the old 1050 sounds like through some good headphones. Thanks for the advice - I'll try to avoid cluttering this thread any further with my individual needs! 

Send fellow member vinyllp33 a PM and see if he can advise. He's in NOLA...best to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAC 33 
weverb, did you ultimately get a pair of 650s? If so, how are they working out with your 950? 

 

So far all I have tried is a set of vintage Pioneer Monitor 10's. I am in the same situation (looking at same models and experience) as you with headphones. I am currently saving and leaning towards trying the HE-500. I was about to post something similar, but you beat me to it. My difference is I also listen to jazz and female vocal besides rock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAC 33 

I really should try to figure that out, huh?  I'm in Baton Rouge, LA, not exactly a retail hotbed, but honestly I have never even checked into local audio stores - the only ones I've seen around are the typical chains (Best Buy, hh gregg, Conn's).

 

Re-reading some of the other threads, it sounds like the 650s might be better if my listening leans more to rock. I guess I'm leaning that way. Can't wait to see what the old 1050 sounds like through some good headphones. Thanks for the advice - I'll try to avoid cluttering this thread any further with my individual needs! 

I have both HD600's and HD650's and a SX-780 and SX-1080.  Either receiver will drive the Sennheisers better than most dedicated headphone amps.  You will get great bass, very detailed highs and a very rich midrange through either of those two headphones.  Check amazon.com right now because they are running sales on the Sennheisers until Christmas. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAC 33 

Hey folks, first off, thanks for this thread. I found it a few days ago while doing some headphone research and although it took me about 4 days to get all the way through, it was a really fun read. 

 

The question I wish to pose has to do with headphones, but since I'm specifically looking to pair something to a vintage receiver, I thought this thread might be most appropriate. I've just recently pulled some of my old audio gear out of storage because I want to start digging back into my vinyl collection again. Unfortunately, with a wife and three kids, I very rarely have the living room to myself, so I've been researching some decent headphones. 

 

My receiver is a Pioneer SX-1050, and my primary source will be a Technics SL-1301 table, at least for now. I may invest in a DAC soon, but spinning records is my first priority. I have a couple pair of cheap full-size headphones, and a couple pair of nicer in-ear monitors, but I'd like to try something over-the-ear, a little up the food chain. 

 

I've kind of zeroed in toward the HE-400 or HD-650 - that would be the price range I'm looking to start at as I experiment. I mostly listen to rock/indie rock/new wave and some EDM. I certainly don't want to hijack this wonderful thread, but if anyone has any reaction to whether one or both of these would pair well with the 1050, I'd really appreciate it!

I have the SX-780, which is supposedly fairly indicative of the Pioneer "House-sound" from that era, and I can say that the HE-400's sound beautiful off of it, more so than anything I've yet tried. the synergy is great, with the pioneer's strong, clean sound cutting through any of the little remaining "mush" in the HE-400's sound sig, and giving the entire frequency spectrum very precise control. Still waiting to finish up my M^3 to see if such a large dedicated headphone amp can outdo the vintage iron.

Hi all - I was just thinking... 'I wonder what that old gear might sound like....'  and, lo and behold, here's the thread!  I'm not too familiar with the circuits of vintage 70's gear, but wouldn't mind hitting some of the local thrift shops to see if there was anything worth checking out that would be better than my computer's motherboard output... I've seen marantz and sansui mentioned several times in the posts I've read.  Is there a 'top ten' or 'bottom ten' list that I might be able to use to save a little time scouring the shops?

Well, after analyzing it to death, I decided to pull the trigger on the HE-400s (over the HD-650s) to pair with my SX-1050. Can't wait to give it a try in a few days!

I have been eyeing some McIntosh Gear for around 100 in great condition. Should I spring for it over the similarly priced stuff from pioneer and other brands?