Can't tell the difference between ATH-M50s and ipod earbuds...

The headphones themselves are not entirely responsible for the type of sound you're getting. What are you using them out of? What quality are the files you're playing? Are you using any sort of amplification?

Personally, I don't always notice an immediate difference between a certain pair of headphones; I'm not always floored by how good a new headphone sounds. But, I'll usually be able to notice how different the two headphones in question are in sound quality when I listen to the first, and presumably worse, pair after listening to the new headphones for a while.

well, i recently went back on purpose to test my ears and listened to a pair of earbuds that come with my parents old radio, is it bad quality? yes, and im pretty sure it wont beat your ipod earbuds in terms of sound quality but could i stand the sound quality of it? yes, i have no problem listening to them. can i tell the difference from that and my sony z1000 or beyerdynamic dt990? yes to that too, but the difference is not like everyone on here says, at least to me. the difference is noticeable but not to the extent that i can only stand the sound quality of my best cans and nothing less. and about your listening ability, i dont know, i think it will probably grow on you as you listen to more gears and do more active listening and a/b test your gears more. my ears are not that well trained neither, so yeah... maybe more experienced headfiers can chime in to tell you their experience...

Quote:

Originally Posted by falmouth 

No amp. I know I typically need better quality audio than what I have, but all my audio is 256kbps at least, some 320kbps (no FLAC). I am using my macbook air lol. I am only doing it for listening to music while studying in the library, or watching random tv shows on netflix.

 

One thing I should mention is that I have fallen in love with the aesthetics of the white M50s. If I were to get another pair of headphones, I would probably want them to also have a certain aesthetic appeal.

 

This and Philips Citiscape Uptown which I purchased at the same time are my first non ipod eardbud headphones. I have never played any instruments or been involved in any music production whatsoever, so as I said, my ears are very untrained.

thats fine, my ears are very untrained too since im no musician... what you have is ok-ish... mp3 files to macbook to m50... i think you should try to get lossless files, if you cant get flac because you are using mac then use apple lossless, about dacs and amps, worry about that when you go for your next purchase

I could tell a difference between M50's and iPod earbuds. One sounds decent, the other some what awful. 

The M50's benefit from a bit of EQ though to make them sound good, they have to much bass that bleeds into the mids. 

http://www.head-fi.org/a/how-to-equalize-your-headphones-a-tutorial

This is a great thread for learning about EQ.

Ears matter, not headphones. A well trained ear is fairly more important that headphones. Check out this link,  

http://www.audiocheck.net/

Quote:

Originally Posted by falmouth 

Also, is volume maybe an issue? Do I need to play these headphones at pretty loud volumes to fully appreciate different music? My computer volume is probably around 30% bc I don't want the sound leaking to the people around me.

Loud will always sound better simply because you pick up more detail in the music. Some people listen to music at an absurd level, it's best to just listen the level you feel comfortable with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by falmouth 

Also, is volume maybe an issue? Do I need to play these headphones at pretty loud volumes to fully appreciate different music? My computer volume is probably around 30% bc I don't want the sound leaking to the people around me.

Obviously not! Volume is never an issue (unless you have a high impedance headphones). I suggest people around to listen using low volume to understand better your music, but that's me.

It seems like you haven't use the Ath-m50 yet. Relax and try to see what you haven't heard before. Enjoy

I'm following this.

This is why I asked on another thread if there's a "headphone for dummies" to give a bit more "audiophile 101" to a starter.  I recognize a little bit of some sound characteristics by auditioning some headphones at a shop.  But I still don't hear most of what the rest of the people here talk about.