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Comfortable, open, flat/neutral, highly detailed and resolving headphones? (< ~$500) - Page 6

post #76 of 105
9/14/11 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 

Well, despite what I said earlier about not buying more (I still am satisfied with my HD 650s), I got an offer to buy someone's Audio Technica AD2000's here for a reasonable price. After reading a lot of reviews about the AD2000, I just couldn't resist, so I bought them from him :).

 

They'll probably arrive next week. I'm kind of excited, hearing some people really raving about these, and it sound like exactly what I was originally looking for on this thread. The DT880 and AKG702 descriptions just sounded a bit off from what I was looking for, but the AD2000 seemed to fit everything I wanted exactly from descriptions. It remains to be seen how I like them when they arrive but I think I will.

 

The only possible annoyance would be the drivers pressing against my ears, but what really annoys me is pressure on the top of my head (and pads that squash my ear sideways like the Ultrasone Pro 900) - and both my HD 650 and the AD2000 don't have that problem, so it should be fine.


Edited by ac500 - 9/14/11 at 6:13pm
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post #77 of 105
11/12/11 at 8:29pm
Thread Starter 

Well I ended up selling the AD2000s. Ultimately I didn't find they sounded better than my HD650s, other than a slightly different sound signature I could change on my HD650s to sound identical (if not better) than AD2000s.

 

I'm still finding my Shure SRH940s highs and detail to be vastly superior to my HD650, and I'd kind of like a comfortable open pair similar to my SRH940s again (I tend to prefer SRH940s over HD650s for well recorded music, but sadly they remain uncomfortable as far as this price range of headphones go). As far as I can tell it seems the only real option here are DT880s 600ohm = super comfortable, similar sound signature to SRH940 I've read.

 

Problem is I've read comparisons where people say the SRH940 is superior to the DT880 in every aspect. But then I read things with people saying the HD650 is superior to the DT880. It's confusing. I suppose the only true solution is to hear it in person with my own music to compare :/


Edited by ac500 - 11/12/11 at 8:31pm
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post #78 of 105
11/12/11 at 8:50pm

DT880, HD600, SRH840 = Neutral

 

HD650, DT990, SRH940 = Smooth, full bodied

 

Maybe you should try the DT990 instead of the DT880. DT880's sound signature isn't similar to the SRH940. 

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post #79 of 105
11/12/11 at 8:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nikp View Post

 

DT990, SRH940 = Smooth, full bodied


Really? 

 

OP, when someone says one thing is better than the other you have to take into account why they're saying that.  There is no best.  Someone may prefer the HD650 to the HD800 simply becasue they like the warmer sound signature.  But that doesn't mean everyone will feel that way, esp not someone who's priorities line up with the HD800.  So reading why someone dislikes something and asking yourself if that's something that matters to you is going to lead you in a straighter direction. 

 

Now I think you should go stax...  There's a lambda in the F/S forum right now.  evil_smiley.gif

 

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post #80 of 105
11/12/11 at 8:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhythmdevils View Post


Really? 

 


More enjoyable. 

 

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post #81 of 105
11/13/11 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 

I see a Stax Lambda Pro for a perfectly affordable price, but what kind of amp would I need for that?

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post #82 of 105
11/13/11 at 12:23pm

I'm not a stax guru, others could help you out more.  If you have a speaker amp, you could use the SRD-7 which is called an energizer.  Those are pretty cheap.  I bet you'd love stax if you like the SRH940 sound signature.  Stax is similar from what I've read (haven't heard the 940, but I understand it's general sound sig), but way faster...

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post #83 of 105
11/13/11 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 

Would the STAX STS-2020 Basic 2 System be a good option, better than the SRH940?


Quote:

Originally Posted by nikp View Post

DT880, HD600, SRH840 = Neutral

 

HD650, DT990, SRH940 = Smooth, full bodied

 

Maybe you should try the DT990 instead of the DT880. DT880's sound signature isn't similar to the SRH940. 


This is confusing. I've heard the SRH840 has more bass and less treble than the SRH940. I thought the SRH940 was roughly neutral, and the DT880 is also roughly neutral.


Edited by ac500 - 11/13/11 at 1:12pm
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post #84 of 105
11/13/11 at 4:40pm

You've been checking the B/S/T section here, haven't you? I'd go for that one myself if I had the money right now.

 

Whether it's any better or worse than the SRH940, I can't say, but electrostatics like that have the traits you're looking for.

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post #85 of 105
11/13/11 at 7:27pm
Thread Starter 

Which one, the STS-2020 "Kit", or the Lambda Pro? The Lambda Pro is more expensive since I'd have to find an amp also... and I have no idea how this works for electrostats. Hmm.

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post #86 of 105
11/13/11 at 7:35pm

Lambda pro is a better set than the 2020... 

 

You need source + speaker amp + energizer (Srd-7 or similar) + headphone.

 

Or, source + SRM-1/mk2 (or SRM-717/727) + headphone 

 

Or a third party amp like those from Woo - but the used Stax gear will be closer to your budget if you are patient.

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post #87 of 105
11/13/11 at 7:37pm

The SRS-2020 (SR-202 + SRM-212) system, of course. I'll be surprised if the shipping gets anywhere near US$150. Rarely do you find a Lambda-series model with a dedicated amp (not a transformer box) of any sort for that price.

 

However, you may be able to afford a better amp to pair with the SR-Lambda Pro, something like an SRM-1/Mk2 Pro. (If you're lucky, an SRM-T1.)


Edited by NamelessPFG - 11/13/11 at 7:38pm
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post #88 of 105
11/13/11 at 7:37pm

From all of your criteria, DT 880 would fit the bill. Those headphones were amazing, but be warned. IF you try them you might want to get the T1.

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post #89 of 105
11/13/11 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 

How much would a fairly good amp for the SR-Lambda Pro be? I guess it would probably push the price above $500 total (if the Lambda Pro is $300)? Is $300 for a SR-Lambda Pro a really good price I should just go for if I'm thinking about jumping into Stax-land anyway? :)

 

Sanity: That's what I thought. That's why I'm kind of curious to hear from people who've heard both, it's too bad it seems there are very few comparisons between the SRH940 and DT880. The only one I could find said they're very similar in signature, except the SRH940 is better quality sound and the DT880 is vastly better comfort.


Edited by ac500 - 11/13/11 at 9:48pm
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post #90 of 105
11/13/11 at 10:57pm

Get a decent vintage receiver ($100 - you can find a Harman Kardon 430 for under $75) and the SRD-7 ($150 or less) - that plus the well priced Pro's out there should keep you right around $500 for a fantastic rig. 


Edited by liamstrain - 11/13/11 at 10:59pm
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