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Amp/DAC confusion - Page 2

post #16 of 45
4/29/12 at 3:47pm

I've heard good things about the AKG K550.

I've heard mixed reviews on the Audio Technica ATH-A900X,

but I could be they need a few hundred hours of use to sound their best.

Both heads are going to be fairly easy to drive,

Fiio E11 can easily drive them to bring out their best.

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post #17 of 45
4/29/12 at 4:41pm

The K550 is quite good, but it is large, and has a 3 metre cable, so may not be portable.
 

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post #18 of 45
4/29/12 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post

I've heard good things about the AKG K550.

I've heard mixed reviews on the Audio Technica ATH-A900X,

but I could be they need a few hundred hours of use to sound their best.

Both heads are going to be fairly easy to drive,

Fiio E11 can easily drive them to bring out their best.

 

I've heard both of these models. They have not been worn in at all, though. I felt more impressed with the ATH-A900X. I've heard great things about the AKG Q701. How do you think these models compare to the Q701?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkblade48 View Post

The K550 is quite good, but it is large, and has a 3 metre cable, so may not be portable.
 

 

I liked the ATH-A900X more but they were both poorly driven and brand new.

 

 

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post #19 of 45
4/29/12 at 6:52pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by crzycuyler View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post
I've heard good things about the AKG K550.

I've heard mixed reviews on the Audio Technica ATH-A900X,

but I could be they need a few hundred hours of use to sound their best.

Both heads are going to be fairly easy to drive,

Fiio E11 can easily drive them to bring out their best.

I've heard both of these models. They have not been worn in at all, though. I felt more impressed with the ATH-A900X. I've heard great things about the AKG Q701. How do you think these models compare to the Q701?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkblade48 View Post
The K550 is quite good, but it is large, and has a 3 metre cable, so may not be portable.

I liked the ATH-A900X more but they were both poorly driven and brand new.

I was just rereading your first post, your looking at getting the Senn HD25 for on the go.

So the ones for home use do not have to be closed.

So the AKG Q701 might be better (I do prefer using open myself)

But your employee price is over $40 more then the mail order price and mail order is zero sales tax.

Also the Q701 likes a fair amount of current to run well, so the E10 might get drained slightly faster then normal.

What again are the headphones used at home going to be plugged into?

 

 

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post #20 of 45
4/29/12 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post

 

I was just rereading your first post, your looking at getting the Senn HD25 for on the go.

So the ones for home use do not have to be closed.

So the AKG Q701 might be better (I do prefer using open myself)

But your employee price is over $40 more then the mail order price and mail order is zero sales tax.

Also the Q701 likes a fair amount of current to run well, so the E10 might get drained slightly faster then normal.

What again are the headphones used at home going to be plugged into?

 

 

 

I noticed this pricing situation. I found that at one point, these were priced at 160 on amazon. Will this ever happen again? Ugh... I was actually planning on getting the E10. Is this not powerful enough? 

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post #21 of 45
4/29/12 at 7:33pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by crzycuyler View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post
I was just rereading your first post, your looking at getting the Senn HD25 for on the go.

So the ones for home use do not have to be closed.

So the AKG Q701 might be better (I do prefer using open myself)

But your employee price is over $40 more then the mail order price and mail order is zero sales tax.

Also the Q701 likes a fair amount of current to run well, so the E10 might get drained slightly faster then normal.

What again are the headphones used at home going to be plugged into?

I noticed this pricing situation. I found that at one point, these were priced at 160 on amazon. Will this ever happen again? Ugh... I was actually planning on getting the E10. Is this not powerful enough? 

I really doubt the Q701s have ever been $160, They started out at $300, It's only recently they got down to the $250 range.

I really do not know about Q701 interaction with the E10, my brain goes to extreme unfounded ideas sometimes.

Way better to check out the several threads about amping the AKG 700 series.

 

 

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post #22 of 45
4/30/12 at 6:57am
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post

 

I really doubt the Q701s have ever been $160, They started out at $300, It's only recently they got down to the $250 range.

I really do not know about Q701 interaction with the E10, my brain goes to extreme unfounded ideas sometimes.

Way better to check out the several threads about amping the AKG 700 series.

 

 

 

Based on certain recent conversations, I am leaning towards the AKG 550 like you first recommended. For the summer, I have no need for truly portable headphones, so these will do well as a slight mix between portable and stay at home (and isolate some of room mates noise).

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post #23 of 45
4/30/12 at 1:15pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by crzycuyler View Post

 

 

Based on certain recent conversations, I am leaning towards the AKG 550 like you first recommended. For the summer, I have no need for truly portable headphones, so these will do well as a slight mix between portable and stay at home (and isolate some of room mates noise).

 


Most open cans won't give you much isolation at all to outside noise.  The HD25's definitely do.  It sounds like the P5's do okay at isolation, too.  But based on innerfidelity's review (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/bowers-wilkins-p5-portable-headphoneheadset-page-2), I don't think the sound signature is what you're looking for.  I think you would be happier with the HD25's as your portable rig.  They are older drivers and have a slight grain, but they are very fun to listen to, and paired with a good portable amp like the JDSLabs C421 or Headstage Arrow or something higher end like a TTVJ Slim or ALO Rx MKII, they really do light up.  You said you are into guitar, well, the HD25's do really present guitars nice and forward in the mix, and well separated from the rest. 

 

Another option for your home rig that you might consider is something in the Shure full size line, like a closed SRH-840/940 or an open 1040/1140 (i think those are the right numbers).  They tend to be fairly analytical and good with detail.

 

One last note:  is publishing the employee pricing really a good idea on a public forum?  I tend to the slightly paranoid myself but if I were you I'd go back and edit that post and remove the employee pricing.  I just think it could get you into hot water at work since that's not really meant to be public knowledge.  People don't like to read that they're paying $500 more than they could be on their new HD800's, for example.  Just a thought.

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post #24 of 45
4/30/12 at 1:32pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutnat View Post

Originally Posted by crzycuyler View Post
Based on certain recent conversations, I am leaning towards the AKG 550 like you first recommended. For the summer, I have no need for truly portable headphones, so these will do well as a slight mix between portable and stay at home (and isolate some of room mates noise).

One last note:  is publishing the employee pricing really a good idea on a public forum?  I tend to the slightly paranoid myself but if I were you I'd go back and edit that post and remove the employee pricing.  I just think it could get you into hot water at work since that's not really meant to be public knowledge.  People don't like to read that they're paying $500 more than they could be on their new HD800's, for example.  Just a thought.

 

All that will happen is crzycuyler will get fired

and no future employer will hire him for a position of trust

and Bestbuy will cancel the employee discounts.

No big deal.

 

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post #25 of 45
4/30/12 at 2:09pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutnat View Post

 

 


Most open cans won't give you much isolation at all to outside noise.  The HD25's definitely do.  It sounds like the P5's do okay at isolation, too.  But based on innerfidelity's review (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/bowers-wilkins-p5-portable-headphoneheadset-page-2), I don't think the sound signature is what you're looking for.  I think you would be happier with the HD25's as your portable rig.  They are older drivers and have a slight grain, but they are very fun to listen to, and paired with a good portable amp like the JDSLabs C421 or Headstage Arrow or something higher end like a TTVJ Slim or ALO Rx MKII, they really do light up.  You said you are into guitar, well, the HD25's do really present guitars nice and forward in the mix, and well separated from the rest. 

 

Another option for your home rig that you might consider is something in the Shure full size line, like a closed SRH-840/940 or an open 1040/1140 (i think those are the right numbers).  They tend to be fairly analytical and good with detail.

 

One last note:  is publishing the employee pricing really a good idea on a public forum?  I tend to the slightly paranoid myself but if I were you I'd go back and edit that post and remove the employee pricing.  I just think it could get you into hot water at work since that's not really meant to be public knowledge.  People don't like to read that they're paying $500 more than they could be on their new HD800's, for example.  Just a thought.

 

The K550 are close cans so they will isolate better than open. 

Thanks for the advice about listing prices. It's better to be safe than sorry. I figured no one who comes to these forums would actually go to Best Buy for this gear. We overcharge. 

 

 

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post #26 of 45
4/30/12 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 

Actually, I just discussed with my friend who is Best Buy manager. We are allowed to tell you how much we get discounted from items. ei) i get 500 bucks off the HD800... So I apologize for doing the math for you all.

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post #27 of 45
4/30/12 at 5:44pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by crzycuyler View Post
I figured no one who comes to these forums would actually go to Best Buy for this gear. We overcharge. 

 

If ever a truer statement was spoken.

 

Does Best Buy make it easy for price matching?

 

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post #28 of 45
4/30/12 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by PurpleAngel View Post

 

 

If ever a truer statement was spoken.

 

Does Best Buy make it easy for price matching?

 

 

We match prices from any physical retailer within 50 miles of the store, but ultimately, it is up to the manager. If it is for a loss, they won't match. 

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post #29 of 45
4/30/12 at 6:21pm

Do check out the KRK KNS8400.....if u like to comb thru passages of music.

its very clear sounding, good soundstage, abit of bass rumble, v light on the head, supercomfy, folddown earcups, isolation is outstanding.

Size is not huge like the ultrasone, and not small like the P5..

And inexpensive. 

 

===========

 

For university blinkfactor, pulling out a P5 in the library is the way to assert your taste for qualitylooks...lamb and shinychrome... haaa

The sound would tend to a ESW9 type of sound.

 

ESW9 has got lovely reddish rosewoods..or watever wood it is, just avoid the fakes,

the sound is not superclear, its warm and comforting, eufonic. 

 

I love all the above for their differences..

 

===========

 

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post #30 of 45
5/1/12 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 

I've been recommended time and time again recently the AKG K550. I think I may pull the trigger. I am looking to see if someone thinks they can talk me out of it. 

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