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Most involving headphone? (Looking to upgrade from Senn HD-25.)

post #1 of 12
Thread Starter 

Greetings, headphone sages. I have a question that I don't have the experience to answer, so I would appreciate your input. These days I tend to be busy and stressed, and very much appreciate equipment that draws me into the music and encourages me to listen as opposed to reading, watching movies, etc. I have a great speaker/vinyl playback system (Shindo amps, vintage Tannoy speakers, Garrard 301 tt) but these days I'm finding myself drifting more toward headphone listening. Currently I listen to the Senn HD25-1; after some trial and error, I find it always propulsive and musical, especially for rock and jazz, which is mostly what I listen to. My ATH-M50s, though better in some ways technically, just don't involve me as much with the music; they can be a little plodding and fat to my ears. The Shure SE530s are too uncomfortable and intrusive-feeling. My old Grado SR60s are too fatiguing and bright. My question is, is there a higher-end, more capable headphone around with the same PRaT, excitement, involvement and musicality as the HD25-1? What has your experience been?

 

I listen to lossless files on a Macbook->Amarra/Bitperfect->HRT Headstreamer (awesome, by the way!). 

 


Thanks in advance, 
Alex

post #2 of 12

One of the most involving experiences I have ever had was listening to high quality music via MacBook Pro through an Ultra Desktop amp driving a pair of Denon AH-D2000.  Perhaps give that a try.

 

The V-Moda M80 and Beyerdynamic 1350 are both slight upgrades to the HD-25-1 ii, but not by much.

 

You may also want to try the Beyerdynamic DT 880 which has a very flat response curve.  I personally use a pair of Denon AH-D2000 and DT 990 ( 250 Ohm ) with my Grace m903, but amping is critical for both of those headphone choices.  Poor amping makes the Denon AH-D2000 boomy and the DT990 lifeless.

 

I say try a pair of Denon AH-D2000 and let us know how you like them.  You can always EQ the bass down 2dB if you feel that your gear is making them a tad too boomy.

post #3 of 12

2X Denon.................................. Immerse.

post #4 of 12

Listening to my Denons now. They move me like no other.

post #5 of 12
Thread Starter 

Ha, three votes for Denon. I never really considered them. I've heard mixed things, particularly that the bass can be boomy and mids grainy. The HD25-1, in my opinion, does scale very well—and the music through it sounds surprisingly exciting and dramatic—and a big part of it is the agile, deep and tight bass. The Senn always finds the bass line in a song and grabs on to it, and he highs are there but are discreet, never fatiguing. The ATH-M50 has more bass, but it's looser and boomy in comparison, and the music can sound plodding and slow. Is the Denon fast and agile?

 

In my experience, a lot of high-end headphones are voiced to listen to well-recorded female vocals and other spoofy audiophile recordings that don't rate as good music. I'm a music writer and listen to a lot of recordings, some of them indifferently or even badly recorded, so I need a headphone that can make most things sound musical. What makes the Denons so involving? Would love to hear more.

 

 

post #6 of 12

The LCD2

post #7 of 12

Many folks already have a sound they are into. Funny how different each set of headphones sound, yet you have many different favorites out there. In 1975 when I first heard the Senns I still liked the super cheap Koss closed-back headphones.

 

 

Going to a Head-Fi meet I was eager to try as many as I could. After a great demo of the HD800s the guy next to me had a pair of AH-D7000s to sell. Coincidentally they were first on my list to try and to be able to use them with my rig was a plus. I knew right away they were it. I have not tried the LCDs and they may be better, I feel I just like the closed headphone sound.

post #8 of 12

You can try the GMP 8.35.

post #9 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by idletime1213 View Post

The LCD2



       x 2

post #10 of 12
Thread Starter 

Thanks everyone--bump.

post #11 of 12

The Fostex orthos might give you what you want, for a lot less money than the others mentioned, but a small investment of your time. With some simple modding they have PRAT to spare. I modded an old T20 v.2, but people are reporting great results modding the new T50RP.

post #12 of 12
Thread Starter 

 

 

So, based on the recommendations in this thread, I got a pair of Denon D2000s, and I need your help with a quick question. Picked them up last night (used and burned in a 100 hours, apparently) and they are not at all what I expected. Wonderfully enveloping, very detailed, very musical, as advertised, but from what I read I expected them to be bass-rich and if anything, thumpy and bloated. This pair, on the other hand, strikes me as anything but, with a slightly spotlit lower treble, forward mids, an airy stage, and a very dry but slightly reticent bass. In comparison, my AT M50s are much, much bassier and thumpier. Do I have a bum pair or am I simply hearing a better grade of headphone. Or something else?

 

Thanks,

Alex

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