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Portable Headphones to replace Sony MDR-XB1000

post #1 of 21
1/5/12 at 7:31am
Thread Starter 

Hello guys

I was first thinking of getting Sony MDR-XB1000. But I heard someone talking about that they leaked a lot of sound and that they are too large to travel with. I really like bass. I listen to electronic/trance and some house. Though music without lyrics.

Do you have any good suggestions for headphones for me?
Needed specs:
- Closed
- Over Ear
- same price range as Sony MDR-XB1000
- preferably with a combination of a DAC/AMP like FiiO e11 or something like that.

I did own the Sennheiser HD215. And I thought it sounded amazing. If  that helps.


Edited by HwangMiHee - 1/5/12 at 7:33am
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post #2 of 21
1/5/12 at 2:35pm
Get some beats...................lol just kidding, ath m50 by audio technica have a very controlled and overpowering bass, and their main problem is the bass seeps into the midrange, but you listen to music without lyrics so they should be perfect for around 150. Another great selection are denon ah d2000 are also great if you're willing to spend more money.
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post #3 of 21
1/5/12 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by headphonatic View Post

Get some beats...................lol just kidding, ath m50 by audio technica have a very controlled and overpowering bass, and their main problem is the bass seeps into the midrange, but you listen to music without lyrics so they should be perfect for around 150. Another great selection are denon ah d2000 are also great if you're willing to spend more money.


Hey man, thanks!

I am not spending that much for headphones unfortunately (Denon dh 2000).
The ath m50 sounds nice. Is the bass greatly inferior to the XB1000?

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post #4 of 21
1/5/12 at 6:27pm
They most likely are inferior, but the m50's will give you a much tighter and controlled bass, and it's built like a tank, they have a large wow factor. Some eq-ing and the bass will sure make your head rattle smily_headphones1.gif
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post #5 of 21
1/7/12 at 7:46am
Thread Starter 

Do you have any good idea for amp/dac for my pc, I allready have a soundcard. So with optic connection would be great! 100 dollars.

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post #6 of 21
1/7/12 at 3:31pm
Fiio e10, both amp and dac, heard it's great for the price.
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post #7 of 21
1/8/12 at 10:28am
Thread Starter 

But since I got a soundcard (X-Fi) with digital out. Isn't it optimal to get a DAC/AMP with digital in?

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post #8 of 21
1/8/12 at 11:10am

You could get a Fiio D3 to use as a DAC, it accepts optical and coaxial inputs, and get a Fiio E11 to use as an amp. It may be a portable but it's got a lot of power to spare. Together, they should run you about $100 so it's in your budget, plus you can use the E11 as a portable if you feel like it.

 

The bass on the M50s won't be able to match the XB1000 but the XB1000 is most definitely not a portable. I would say it's not a headphone you'd want to use without an amp. Maybe you might want to look into the Phiaton MS400 or Denon D1100?


Edited by DTKZ - 1/8/12 at 11:12am
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post #9 of 21
1/8/12 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DTKZ View Post

You could get a Fiio D3 to use as a DAC, it accepts optical and coaxial inputs, and get a Fiio E11 to use as an amp. It may be a portable but it's got a lot of power to spare. Together, they should run you about $100 so it's in your budget, plus you can use the E11 as a portable if you feel like it.

 

The bass on the M50s won't be able to match the XB1000 but the XB1000 is most definitely not a portable. I would say it's not a headphone you'd want to use without an amp. Maybe you might want to look into the Phiaton MS400 or Denon D1100?



Wow! Thank you for your reply!

That sounds like a very good idea. I really liked the D3 + E11 combo. 
How are the Phiaton MS400 and Denon D1100 compared to the XB1000 in house/electronic music? I like bass. But quality bass is important. :)
(It is also important to me that the headphone isolates well)

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post #10 of 21
1/8/12 at 12:31pm

Glad to be of help. I can't really comment on the Phiaton MS400 and Denon D1100, since I haven't really heard them much. I do know that they're 2 fairly well-liked portable closed bassy headphones with some measure of isolation.

 

As for the XB1000, I think it's a pretty hard headphone to beat when it comes to electronic music and is probably my favourite for the genre. I think its soundstage and bass combine to make a pretty unique headphone so I can't really think of anything that's a really good substitute.

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post #11 of 21
1/8/12 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 

Hey

I was just thinking. Since the D3 Changes either from Coaxial or Digital - to R & L audio. Wouldn't I need some kind of adapter to make the L & R together so they can connect to the E11?

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post #12 of 21
1/8/12 at 1:13pm

You can just get a 2 RCA to 3.5mm cable, like this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021815&p_id=5596&seq=1&format=2

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post #13 of 21
1/10/12 at 5:27am

Hope its not too late to chip in.

 

I've owned the ath m50s and currently have the XB1000. In my opinion, the XBs are superior in every single category, specially with regards to bass there is no comparison. Don't get me wrong, the ath m50s are the headphones I recommend most to friends who are upgrading from iPod earbuds, but the XBs are on a whole different level. I mostly listen to electronica/dance/dubstep, and this is where the XBs really shine. They are BIG, so they can be uncomfortable to carry around. They do sound good enough through a Fiio E7 (add an E9 to the mix and you've found heaven) so they won't disappoint you on the road as long as you don't mind carrying them around.

 

As for isolation.. I'd say there will always be sound leakage,so it would be hard not to wake up your partner in the same room. But as far as headphones go, you won't be bothered too much by whats going on around you.

 

Its really about what your priorities are. If portability is not a huge issue, and you're willing to spend more $, I'd say definitely go for the XB 1000.

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post #14 of 21
1/10/12 at 7:13am
Thread Starter 

But wouldn't I have to recharge the FiiO E11 eaven if I used it as a desktop amp? Or can it be connected to some power source continously?

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post #15 of 21
1/10/12 at 7:23am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cjkb90 View Post

Hope its not too late to chip in.

 

I've owned the ath m50s and currently have the XB1000. In my opinion, the XBs are superior in every single category, specially with regards to bass there is no comparison. Don't get me wrong, the ath m50s are the headphones I recommend most to friends who are upgrading from iPod earbuds, but the XBs are on a whole different level. I mostly listen to electronica/dance/dubstep, and this is where the XBs really shine. They are BIG, so they can be uncomfortable to carry around. They do sound good enough through a Fiio E7 (add an E9 to the mix and you've found heaven) so they won't disappoint you on the road as long as you don't mind carrying them around.

 

As for isolation.. I'd say there will always be sound leakage,so it would be hard not to wake up your partner in the same room. But as far as headphones go, you won't be bothered too much by whats going on around you.

 

Its really about what your priorities are. If portability is not a huge issue, and you're willing to spend more $, I'd say definitely go for the XB 1000.


So adding the E9 to the mix is a good idea? What about my soundcard - X-Fi Fatality. Would I benefit from this card as well even when I was using the E7+E9 combo? From which output of the soundcard would I connect the E9 base to? 

I am just asking this to get a little idea of how it would turn out. (Does using the optical out from my sound card benefit?)

 

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