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Your most IMPORTANT headphone - Page 2

post #16 of 28
12/20/11 at 8:27am

JH13

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post #17 of 28
12/20/11 at 8:41am

SRH 940. I'm relatively new, and this is the first high-end headphones that I got. (I know you guys won't consider 940 as a "high-end")

 

It's serving me well so far except that it's very heavy.

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post #18 of 28
12/20/11 at 8:43am
Q701 over the summer. My biggest step in audio.

Without it, I would not have bought the NFB-10SE. My trusty old Firebox from my pro audio days was sufficient for driving every headphone I owned previously.

After that step I set myself up to wire my power-hungry phones for balanced driving. The NFB-10SE will drive these headphones and whatever hi-fi headphones come after.

I also managed to stave off the upgrade bug, as it has seemingly ended early with the Q for the time being. Whereas I had wanted the Q701 and some others, for now I have what I need to sit down and enjoy some music.

I have every hope for a purchase-free 2012 with regard to audio gear. I think I have set myself up nicely to succeed. We'll see how February's Bay Area meet will challenge that.
Edited by Lurkumaural - 12/20/11 at 8:47am
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post #19 of 28
12/20/11 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Edoardo View Post

 

the fact is that to me, 150 EUR for the Shure 315 were already a huge investment, not for the 150 EUR themselves, but for the quality/price ratio of any pair of IEMs and for the use I make of IEMs. Can't spend a lot of money on a piar of headphones I use for commuting, or as earplugs in clubs that pass their own music too loud.

 

For serious listening, well-amped, full-sized headphones are the must. and with 700 EUR you get a couple that beats any IEM in both fidelity and comfort by far.

 

 

Quite a few interesting points here.
 

Well, firstly amping is a bit over emphasised I reckon. Amping with iem's that is.

 

So many people show off their 'portable' rigs with an amplifier tied to an ipod, that it makes me chuckle sometimes. But no love lost!- there's nothing wrong with being passionate about a huge branch of headfi related gear in portable amps.

 

really, I reckon a high level of sound fidility can be achieved with a mp3 player + iem combination only. And I mean high, no matter how good of a system with full sized headphones you have. But it's a must that these iem's are thoroughly isolating, as intricate musical details are lost if this isn't the case. 

 

IF one doesn't have an issue with deep fitting tips, then i'm sure one would find the typical iem more comfortable than a full size headphone. I turn to phonaks 112 for uber uber comfortable listening. Coming from 2 hrs with the 400g denon d5k to these sub 20g phonaks is a weird experience!! Where is the sound coming from!

 

 

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post #20 of 28
12/20/11 at 12:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CantScareMe View Post

 

Quite a few interesting points here.
 

Well, firstly amping is a bit over emphasised I reckon. Amping with iem's that is.

 

So many people show off their 'portable' rigs with an amplifier tied to an ipod, that it makes me chuckle sometimes. But no love lost!- there's nothing wrong with being passionate about a huge branch of headfi related gear in portable amps.

 

really, I reckon a high level of sound fidility can be achieved with a mp3 player + iem combination only.


Fully agree with you, that's why I sold my portable amp...

 

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post #21 of 28
12/20/11 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 

'Portable amp' is like an oxymoron.

 

I mean both contradict themselves- an amp that's less than half the size of a tissue packet- when it needs to be of a large size to actually amplify!!

 

It needs to be able to provide the electrical current/voltage (easier to think of it as simply the ENERGY) that the headphone drivers require. If it don't require anything wholesome, it'll require what a decent headphone output of a phone/pmp/mp3 player can provide. So where does the portable tiny sound colouring amp fit into the equation??

 

I've always thought of them as being little physical equalizers for people that don't like to equalize! 

 

Seriously changing opamps on ibasso's- nothing more than sound equalization to me. The exact same effect.

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post #22 of 28
12/20/11 at 3:14pm
Hmm, Have you ever heard a really good portable amp such as the blackbird, it is a proper amp, your suggestion that something needs to be big to be an amp baffles me! Like many things in life, size is not necessarily the most important factor biggrin.gif
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post #23 of 28
12/20/11 at 5:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianmedium View Post

Hmm, Have you ever heard a really good portable amp such as the blackbird, it is a proper amp, your suggestion that something needs to be big to be an amp baffles me! Like many things in life, size is not necessarily the most important factor biggrin.gif

Come on biggrin.gif

 

It's just not for me. I either "easy" listen while commuting or at the gym, or do serious listening at home. So... With that money, I'd rather buy a desktop amp. That's it.

 

 

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post #24 of 28
12/20/11 at 6:33pm
Ah, we have different listening habits. I have led a fairly transitory life these past 12 years so portable is the only way to go so my amp has to do two duties. When I am out I am usually writing in coffee shops so it is great to be able to take a portable system that comes close to a home system with me to listen to music whilst I write.
Likewise on my up-coming vacation I can take my LCD's with me and still enjoy an almost full sized system sound in my hotel room.
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post #25 of 28
12/20/11 at 8:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianmedium View Post

on my up-coming vacation I can take my LCD's with me and still enjoy an almost full sized system sound in my hotel room.
Not a bad way to travel...
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post #26 of 28
12/20/11 at 9:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lurkumaural View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by ianmedium View Post

on my up-coming vacation I can take my LCD's with me and still enjoy an almost full sized system sound in my hotel room.
Not a bad way to travel...

You know, i agree biggrin.gif The wonderful thing about the LCD's is that they come with a great plastic case that seals out everything and it is all pretty light as well. Wherever I go now I can have both my portable and home system with me!
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post #27 of 28
12/21/11 at 1:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ianmedium View Post

Hmm, Have you ever heard a really good portable amp such as the blackbird.......


Which mini amp isn't a 'really good portable amp'?

 

They all are claimed to be great. And i've heard more than I can remember. I remember in my early days at headfi, going through all these ibasso's and ray samuels. Waste of time really. Some even £500. 

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post #28 of 28
12/21/11 at 8:08am

ATH-M50s? Sure, it is kinda overrated,  but hey, its my most important head-fi gear (getting a pair of ER-4S soon) and why?

 

Because,

1. It is as inexpensive as heck(I won't be too worried of spoilage or thieves), a lot of sellers, replaceable, my local warranty too.

2. Build to last, can't tell how much I abused them already(not on purpose)

3. Good SQ, may not be the best for the price but enjoyable and non fatiguing.

4. Comfy, kay not Beyer comfy but still quite comfortable.

5. looks pretty awesome to go out with. (:P)

 

O_O I would certainly be pretty scared of taking out thousands of bucks worth of equipment everywhere with me(unless it is compact).

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