The diary entries of a little girl who is now 30! ~ Part 2 - Page 234

Quote:

Originally Posted by compoopers 


These are the same guys who believe that the O2/ODAC is the best amp that could exist and that every other amp is merely "flawed." An amp can only be as good as the O2/ODAC, not better.

To their credit, though (what little of it I care to give), there's a ton of whack **** out there that's way more expensive and I have trouble thinking of anything I've heard that beats the O2 at less than twice the price. 

Listening to my ECBA earlier today compared with my memories of it at a meet has me convinced that I should be looking into better ways to connect my PC to my DAC as some guy and I were discussing over there.  From what I've read I'm convinced I can get good performance out of it, just not using the USB input.  I do plan on getting a new DAC sometime in the future, though.

In the mean time I'm going to order boxes and foam after finals and put ome genuine effort into selling gear.  I'm torn as to whether or not I want to sell my Rx MK3-B due to it being too loud paired with the CLAS for IEMs or if I want to sell my CLAS and put that money toward the newer one that supposedly has a lower line-out.  I'm leaning toward the later. 

If that's what I decide on then I'll be selling:

CLAS

Hifiman HM801*

HM601

Hisound Studio V

Burson HA160D

Schiit Lyr

Woo Audio WA22 (and most of my tubes for it)

*I've thought about keeping this as a portable USB DAC for an office job I may or may not ever have some day, but I could just as easily listen to music off my iPod with the HP-P1, so I it doesn't seem worthwhile.  I still think the 801 has some sonic perks over the HP-P1 and CLAS but they're not worth maintaining another portable library for.

I have some fancy cables I should probably get rid of too, but... meh, I like their ergonomics more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardgedee 

 

I ordered a set of Beyer pads. I don't have any Beyerdynamics phones, but the pad shape is nearly universal and it should fit a few other headphones I've got. I want to do some experimenting.

 

 

Depends on the price range you're in, maybe? Like MuppetFace remarked earlier (and which had been on my mind lately for a while): IEMs are innovating more quickly than headphones are. It's a more interesting field to watch.

 

But it's hard to compare IEMs and headphones on purely dollar-value basis. They're too different in too many ways in order to make the comparison meaningful. Is my HE-6 better or worse than my NT 6 Pro? They cost about the same, but they work too differently and sound too differently to recommend one over the other purely on terms of sound.

 

I've made handwavy statements that the 4.A is the equal or peer of headphones costing more. I'll stand by that, though I admit it's a qualitative statement that doesn't hold up to close scrutiny. I do prefer its sound to that of some high-end headphones. I think I would probably reach for those headphones before the 4.A for many listening situations.

 

The headphone-or-IEM is one element in a chain, and there are limits to which they can be considered in isolation. It becomes like arguing whether beach sandals are better than steel-toed boots.

Sorry for not clarifying, but I mean for home use at a desk in a relatively quiet house (in between the raucous Real Housewives fights), would you generally prefer (comfortable) iems or headphones in a similar bracket?

Quote:

Originally Posted by eke2k6 

 

Sorry for not clarifying, but I mean for home use at a desk in a relatively quiet house (in between the raucous Real Housewives fights), would you generally prefer (comfortable) iems or headphones in a similar bracket?

Well if you want my opinion the Sony MDR EX 600 is a steal of a deal for the sound quality it provides. I personally didn't like the Sony hybrid tips provided with the earphones and instead opted for a Meelectronic's tri flange. The deep fit resulted in some of the upper frequencies being tamed and slightly more fuller bass. Out of all of the stuff I've heard and owned only the j-phonic K2 sp trumps it and even then only in certain areas. My Westone 4 Ortofon e-Q7, and Turbine Coppers have their strengths but my opinion is none of them can overall outperform my EX 600 or K2 sp. Considering all those other IEM's cost anywhere from 250 to 375 USD and a Sony MDR EX 600 can be had for anywhere from 175 to 120 USD I think Sony has proven that higher cost doesn't always equal better sound. Rather ironic considering this is Sony we're talking about.

Right now I'm looking into getting some better headphones for home listening. If given the choice for sitting around I would pick headphones. For working around the house and yard I would go IEM's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalFreak 

Well if you want my opinion the Sony MDR EX 600 is a steal of a deal for the sound quality it provides. I personally didn't like the Sony hybrid tips provided with the earphones and instead opted for a Meelectronic's tri flange. The deep fit resulted in some of the upper frequencies being tamed and slightly more fuller bass. Out of all of the stuff I've heard and owned only the j-phonic K2 sp trumps it and even then only in certain areas. My Westone 4 Ortofon e-Q7, and Turbine Coppers have their strengths but my opinion is none of them can overall outperform my EX 600 or K2 sp. Considering all those other IEM's cost anywhere from 250 to 375 USD and a Sony MDR EX 600 can be had for anywhere from 175 to 120 USD I think Sony has proven that higher cost doesn't always equal better sound. Rather ironic considering this is Sony we're talking about.

 

Right now I'm looking into getting some better headphones for home listening. If given the choice for sitting around I would pick headphones. For working around the house and yard I would go IEM's.

Funny enough, I've had the EX600 with those exact meelec triple flanges. It's great, but I found it really similar to my GR07, except that it lacked the 07's the drum and rock guitar presentation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eke2k6 

 

Funny enough, I've had the EX600 with those exact meelec triple flanges. It's great, but I found it really similar to my GR07, except that it lacked the 07's the drum and rock guitar presentation.

Can't really comment on that since I've never heard the 07. In your opinion is the 07's highs more refined and not as tizzy sounding as the EX 600's is?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalFreak 

Can't really comment on that since I've never heard the 07. In your opinion is the 07's highs more refined and not as tizzy sounding as the EX 600's is?

I used to think so with the MK1, but the MK2 sounds splashier to my ears than the MK1.

James444 would be able to help since he currently owns both.

7550 has more intact soundspace too, not as hyperextended and withered inside the core as the EX600, except, I listened to them around half a year apart and on different equipment so not entirely sure.

Edit:  ...and the 7550 is [I think...] more source-transparent and had slightly more presence in the mids.

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_recording 

Might want to consider the 7550 as a smoother version of the EX600 as well :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

7550 has more intact soundspace too, not as hyperextended and withered inside the core as the EX600, except, I listened to them around half a year apart and on different equipment so not entirely sure.

 

Edit:  ...and the 7550 is [I think...] more source-transparent and had slightly more presence in the mids.

Now you guys are making me want to try out the 7550

Hey kiteki weren't you the one who once said the EX 600 sounded almost like the core was hollow, sort of like the empty center of a donut? I'm curious if you found the EX 600 had comparable depth to match it's width sound stage wise?

I said it's an apple without a core, yeah, around 1 year ago.  The reason is the way the driver is placed.  At ultra-low volume, you can hear the placement of the driver.

Of course the sound-science forums say IEM's have no soundspace and it's all in our head, which is why we should use SRS algorithms or crossfeed, those guys all drive me crazy.

I tend to stay out of the sound science forums nowadays. To many rude and crabby people.

Ya, but I'm justice jackson and try to set people straight, which is why I get banned all the time for idiotic reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiteki 

7550 has more intact soundspace too, not as hyperextended and withered inside the core as the EX600, except, I listened to them around half a year apart and on different equipment so not entirely sure.

 

Edit:  ...and the 7550 is [I think...] more source-transparent and had slightly more presence in the mids.

Interesting.

I feel like the 7550 is the better phone compared to the EX1000, but that the 'apparent detail' of the EX1000 impresses a lot of people. Same situation as the SA5000 I guess.

Speaking of which, the leather pads that came with my SA5000 are all hard. Does anyone know how I could soften them back up?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgray91 

It seems JMoney is closing up shop for now, and is doing a Christmas charity drive to finish up stock: http://www.head-fi.org/t/638706/the-end-of-jmoney-audio-and-christmas-giveaway#post_8910254
Maybe someone already posted it a few days back...
Regardless, I'm wondering how good the grado headband is, since using my MS1i converted into the MS1000, it's been a blast except for two things: the salad bowl pads and the headband are kind of uncomfortable. Thinking of buying a couple from them if he is willing to send them to Mother Russia.

where do you order the stuff? and how much do the beyer pads cost?