Anyone here has the Koss Pro DJ-200? - Page 8

 

It's weird because everyone claims the V6 and MDR-7506 is the same thing. Didn't seem like that. The V6 seems to have some weird recession in the lower mids somewhere, but it had a huge mid-bass hump. Huh?! It felt like something was missing and it's hard to spot and describe. I never experienced this on the 7506, but maybe it's just a variation in pairs. It still had that annoying mid-bass that stuck out and annoyed me. Luckily the 7506's treble doesn't bother me. I did a comparison to the DJ100 somewhere, but it didn't hold up very well. I actually think it's an OK headphone due to having good build quality, being easy to try and being fairly clear. It's much better for portable use than a lot of the larger headphones.

 

At one point I was fooled into thinking that my DJ100 had less detail than my KRKs, but now I no longer think this is true. With the same setup (computer dac+desktop amp), they're pretty much even. If someone gave me $100 to find something in my KRKs that wasn't on the DJ100, I couldn't do it. The only difference is that on the KRK it's probably easier to spot some details just due to frequency variations. Would you believe there was some detail on the 6400 I heard once that's NOT even detectable on the 8400? It's only due to different sound signatures. Stuff that no sane person would care about. I think it was wind in a cave swirling around. Not even kidding! I had to crank the mids of the 8400 up to even hear it.

 

The KRKs only sound clearer to me due to having more treble and less mid-bass. If you cranked the mid-bass up on the KRKs and gave it less treble, the results might be very different. If you connect the DJ100 up to a receiver, you'd be surprised at what cranking the treble up does. Didn't like the results, but somehow it just got clearer and clearer, but sacrificed the entire sound.

 

For me the DJ100 is certainly no analytical detail monster. When I want to hear that I use my KRKs or Q701. Even the A/250 is pretty detailed, but lacks any kind of warmth at all. I actually find the DJ100 very, very detailed, but not overkill. All the detail is there, but doesn't draw attention to itself too much. It has no problem picking up recording hiss and all that other crap. It's actually stupid easy to tell the difference between bit-rates on the DJ100. Of course it depends more on the recording. I can have FLAC files that sound like garbage.

 

The DJ100 is nice because any of my garbage tracks that are harsh and have the mids/treble cranked up don't seem to bother me much. There's a few but I can generally use them for my entire collection without any fatigue. I kind of like to think Koss designed them this way. I think the bass on the DJ100 is very well controlled and never sloppy at all. The KRK is pretty good about this too, but they do have much less bass.

 

Comparing the warmth of the DJ100 to the HD-600 is just really weird to do. Totally different in their tonality really IMO. The mids are full and realistic, but not like the HD-600. I find the mids of the HD-600 much, much "thicker" and fuller. I mean, I don't even think the DJ100 has the mid-bass hump of the HD-600, but very close. Closer to that of the HD-580. I don't think i've ever gotten any bass bleed on the DJ100. If I did I'd immediately take them off and figure out what's going on.

 

I think i'll disagree 100% on the DJ100 being as warm as the HD-600. No big deal. I said it in my last posted, but I can't love the HD-600 due to how warm it is. Same with the HD-650. I guess with the Koss it might be a different kind of warmth Thankfully nobody has ever called the DJ100 "thin", but i've heard it being called "dry", but whatever. I think the general consensus is that they're warm and smooth despite having forward mids. A little more "shouty" than my HD-598. A little more forward upper mids and more treble I think. DJ100 is a little more fun for me due to it's bass and forward mids.

 

What's weird though is that there's so few reviews of the DJ100, so I really have no idea on what the general consensus of the DJ100 is or how it's supposed to sound to everyone else. There's this review. Not sure if you agree on it:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-102-portable-headphones-reviewed-panasonic-rp-htf600-added-04-29-12

 

You can search for (B17) to locate it fast.

 

I also saw this review and felt like I had done a video review in my sleep or something. Not my review, but it's amazing how close it is to my impressions except for being so neutral. I'd say more like balanced.

 

You might think i'm nuts, but i'm going to buy either a LD1+ or EF2a hybrid tube amp just for the DJ100 when I have more money! Maybe the O2 is ok with it.

 

BTW I hope to someday find even better pads. Maybe someday someone can take one for the team and see if HDJ-2000 leather pads fit. They look a bit too small with not enough padding.

 

Ok, i'll shut up about headphones now..

 

Anyone heard any headphones that sound similar to the DJ100? I was thinking maybe a weird combination of an HD-580 with very slightly thinner mids, but with the more forward upper mids of the 225i. I actually love the SR-225i, but I'll take the DJ100 due to have more bass and slightly less treble (I think). Someone said the DJ100 is nothing like a Grado, but there are some similarities in the mids IMO. Maybe someone mated a Grado with a Sennheiser I think that's the signature I like!

 

BTW I wonder what the HD-700 sounds like..I try to ignore that it exists. If I hear that it might fit the above last description i'll just remove that from my head or i'll be too tempted.

Edited by tdockweiler - 8/5/12 at 8:19pm

 

I tried not to reply, because everyone expects me to say "No, no, they're perfect", nothing wrong. I actually think these have more than enough treble. I was listening to some Primus (as close to heavy metal as I could get!) the other day and definitely no lack of treble. Cymbals were bright and almost ear piercing (they were not, but close!). Have you ever fired an assault rifle in Fallout 3? I mean, it's almost as piercing as it is on the Q701!! I mean, not too bad. On my 8400 it's unbearable ear piercing. I could shoot that gun all day on my HD-600 and HD-598 and not be bothered.

 

I know this sounds stupid, but try stretching the pads slightly in all directions. Try to get a better placement or seal around your ears and see if anything changes. If they haven't had more than a full day of use, try to leave them in a drawer fairly loud with random obnoxious music playing overnight. It's free and can't hurt. M50 pads might be worth it if you like the headphones.

 

Sounds crazy, but with one pair I had new out of the box, the treble was just not right. Severe lack of sound clarity somehow. Maybe yours could use a few more hours of burn-in? Can't hurt. It would be interesting to know if this is really the cause.

 

I even had a pair that didn't sound great until day 4. Makes no sense. Thankfully they don't need as much burn in as some of the other Koss headphones. I've heard the Pro4AAT needs like 200+ or something.

Edited by tdockweiler - 8/5/12 at 8:34pm

 

I feel the same way about the cymbals on the DJ100. Something seems off somewhere. 

 

I also think the headphone is slightly on the warm side. But I enjoy some brighter headphones like the Sony V6 and Grado SR80i so warm to me could seem neutral to many.

 

I've been contemplating the DJ100 (Tony Bennett Edition as well, but I'm not sure if there's any difference in quality between them). I'd like your opinion on whether these headphones would be good for rock, pop, hip hop, rnb, jazz and ballads/acoustics/instrumentals or would the KNS 8400/SRH840s (I've found that these are headphones that are often suggested for those who decide to take a step into the headphone world) be better?

 

I think the SRH-840 would work well for the same genres as the DJ100. The SRH-840 was my previous favorite headphone until I found the DJ100. I did get rid of the 840 due to it's annoying fit and comfort. Took a side-grade on the M50 for maybe 6 months.

 

The DJ100 with M50 pads will have an edge over the SRH-840 for any music that has a larger soundstage. Mostly classical, movie soundtracks and acoustic music. I never remember the SRH-840 having a larger soundstage.

 

I think the only time I could suggest the KNS-8400 over the DJ100 is MAYBE for some that listened to nothing but classical or ambient electronica. They're pretty good for those genres. Sometimes it's just had to suggest the 8400 due to it's treble. I love it though, but I find the DJ100 a better all rounder. There's not ANY music genre I don't like it with.

 

Could you explain what exactly a soundstage is? Do the M50 pads affect the SQ of the DJ100 in a negative way? As well, besides an amp, are there any upgrades I can make to the DJ100 and SRH840 if I were to improve where they lack? 

 

Have you ever listened to an orchestra? If you have, chances are it was in a concert hall designed for acoustics. That echoey feeling that you get as the sound bounces off the walls gives you the impression of depth and expanse. Replicate that feeling in a headphone, and you'll have a very wide and deep soundstage.

Edited by mbamg - 8/5/12 at 11:52pm

The mid, at least the upper mid, is dry, bright, thin, fairly clear, and harsh to my ears. The headphone is far from warm, IMO. I agree that it sounds fairly balanced. My pair is tbse1 and its definitely fully burned in since I have had it for months. You are all welcome to get at me for being "wrong".

That's exactly what my pair sounded like; the cymbals were really off.

Were you using an E10 by any chance? I don't know why, but that made my DJ100 and 598 seem darker than they should be.

When my cymbals sound "off" it's usually due to the recording I can switch to the HD-580 and KRK and they sound similar (accurate to the recording).

 

Thankfully I haven't discovered this problem with mine and I guess that's a huge plus for me.

 

I'm using it with my new CMoy, and I'm still getting the same problem.

 

You and your magic DJ100's! 

Just kidding, and no I don't have an amp because I can't afford one right now. It was really a steal for $50 though and I'm dying to try a K240 to see if I prefer the DJ100's.

I demo'd the Dj 200 for quite a while, did not get a chance to Demo the 100, the 100 though has more bass response it has been said. Non the less I liked the Pro Dj 200 and would defintley buy a Pro Dj 100 based on what I heard and enjoyed from the 200! I'm doing a review now btw

I recently went on a crazy little headphone buying spree.  Until a couple of months ago, I only had a pair of cheapy Nexxtech headphones that sound like schiit. 

 

When picking up a new set of in-ear phones at Future Shop (I like the noise-isolating aspect of these as I travel a lot) I came across some Pioneer SE-MJ151Ks on sale, and thought I would pick them up to use with my desktop computer, so that my kids can't hear me playing violent video games (BF3, anyone??).  After I bought them, I experienced buyer's remorse... and didn't open them.  However, I found a demo pair somewhere a while later and got to try them These were ok, but didn't have my desired sound - they have ok mid-bass, but really lack clarity everywhere.  They are now for sale.

 

I have a pretty expensive home theater setup downstairs with speakers that I really enjoyed listening to music with; however, since the kids I rarely let them sing - once the kids are in bed, I need to keep it quiet as not to wake them up!  So the Pio's got me thinking about a decent set of headphones I could use downstairs for two-channel music listening.  Decent, but not too expensive.

 

After doing a lot of research here, and noticing headphones at my local stores, last weekend I picked up a pair of Koss Tony Bennett (TBSE1) - all I can say is wow, right out of the box they sounded great!  Clear and accurate-sounding across the frequency spectrum, not bass-heavy but not bass-light either, nice full sound without being bassy.

 

I then came across the newegg.ca deal on the Sennheiser HD201 - so I picked those up.  Then I came across the deal for the Sennheiser HD428 - so I picked those up too! (see, I told you I went crazy).  My rationale was that the best pair would go downstairs, the second best at my home computer, and the worst to my office. 

 

I received the Sennheisers today and tried them out.  To be blunt, my first impression is that the 201s suck.  They have almost no low end, and the highs seem bright without clarity.  Sound-wise, I'm not sure they're any better than the old headphones that used to come packaged with a walkman 25 years ago!  Ok, maybe I need to give them more time...

 

A world of difference moving up to the 428s - nice deep bass, clear mids & highs.  They seem to sound good with everything so far.  Maybe a little fuller, but less detailed than the TBSE.

 

My quick first impression between the 428 and the TBSE is that with the 428 I'm listening to headphones, with the TBSE I'm listening to music.  Not sure if that makes any sense to people!

 

Anyway, as it sits the TBSE will be staying in the media room downstairs, the 428 with the home computer, and the 201s at the office... or on Kijiji, not sure yet.  I may try some of the mods suggested in here to see if I can improve the sound.

 

It makes perfect sense! I remember when I was comparing and reviewing 4 different headphones I kept going into la-la land and getting side-tracked with the DJ100/TBSE. I kept forgetting I was supposed to be analyzing their differences! Didn't work out too well. This also occurs with my HD-650.

 

I know the one thing I like about the DJ100 is that I often start listening to it and then I end up staying up until 3am with them! They're just addicting..

 

Still need to pick up an E7 or E12 for them sometime. The Airhead is great, but I want something easier to put in the pocket and possibly even more powerful. E7 definitely isn't, but E12 is I'd imagine.

 

BTW internal mods aren't worth the trouble, but modding the pads is sometimes worthwhile. Mine have broken in quite well so they're now comfortable.

Edited by tdockweiler - 2/14/13 at 9:28pm