Need advice on over-ear headphones that are $300 or under for long sessions of listening to and producing music (decided on the Sennheiser HD25 Aluminum).
Aug 25, 2013 at 4:57 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 27
BucketInABucket

BucketInABucket

Headphoneus Supremus
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Hello community, I have been lurking on these forums for a while but have only just truely joined today. For my first post, can I please have some help on what set of headphones to chose? I need a good pair of over-ear balanced-sounding cans that are $300 or under, comfortable, have good build quality and are good for making and listening to music. I am considering the FA 003 Ti, the ATH M50 and the HD25-1 II. I have an Alienware M17X hooked up to a DACMagic Plus and I am currently using a pair of DN HP-700s and a SteelSeries Siberia V2 for gaming. Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 5:26 AM Post #3 of 27
For the shures, I have issues with bad build quality (*cough* I'm clumsy *cough*) so that's a no. For the K550, the mids and trebles do concern me so no thanks :) I'll consider the K167s though! Thanks for the help.
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 6:05 AM Post #4 of 27
bucketinabucket said:
For the shures, I have issues with bad build quality (*cough* I'm clumsy *cough*) so that's a no. For the K550, the mids and trebles do concern me so no thanks :) I'll consider the K167s though! Thanks for the help.
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What's with the AKG K550's mids and trebles? I do not have any issue with it althought some may find it ted bright with not perfect seal

Billson :)
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 6:09 AM Post #5 of 27
Quote:
bucketinabucket said:
For the shures, I have issues with bad build quality (*cough* I'm clumsy *cough*) so that's a no. For the K550, the mids and trebles do concern me so no thanks
smily_headphones1.gif
I'll consider the K167s though! Thanks for the help.
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welp you know your stuff, the Mids on the K550 are slighty forward actually so that should not be an issue at all. I will admit the Treble is very balanced and in my taste a little bland at times, but it's got some DEEP TIGHT bass. And yea I am also very clumsy my self xD 
 
Also you have an Alien Ware Laptop? Good because only SUCKERS buy Alien Ware desktops... the laptops are ok I guess
 
ehm that being said, so you have a Dac, well why not consider and amp like the Schiit Magni? And then get something like the BEYERDYNAMIC Dt 880 Pro 250 ohm. Those cans are VERY neutral, they are essitally the K550 but EPIC. The treble is a tad bright, which I dig, the mids have more weight and body than the K550 while not being as forward, and the bass is deeper and tighter than the K550
 
So uhh YEA GET THE Dt 880 Pro 250 ohm NOW. And love it forever 
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:02 AM Post #6 of 27
I find the 550's mids and trebles to be a little too forward...I prefer a neutral sound signature for producing :)

My DAC is the Cambridge Audio DACMagic Plus so it has an integrated headphone amp, here's estreeter's impressions post on it for more details: http://www.head-fi.org/t/581591/dacmagic-plus-impressions. As for the DT 880 Pro 250 ohms, will have to give them listen :D
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:12 AM Post #7 of 27
Quote:
bucketinabucket said:
I find the 550's mids and trebles to be a little too forward...I prefer a neutral sound signature for producing
smily_headphones1.gif


My DAC is the Cambridge Audio DACMagic Plus so it has an integrated headphone amp, here's estreeter's impressions post on it for more details: http://www.head-fi.org/t/581591/dacmagic-plus-impressions. As for the DT 880 Pro 250 ohms, will have to give them listen
biggrin.gif
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K550 has to FORWARD treble... wow. Maybe Lower treble but it's upper treble is pretty middle of the road so to speak. 
 
Be warned the Dt 880 has brighter treble than the K550. Although again the mids of the beyer Dt 880 are a touch recessed compared to the k550, but they still have great body and tone. 
 
it could be that the Treble is not to forward, but that the bass is too recessed [or to neutral for you lol] The K550 and Beyer Dt 880 have very simmilar bass, the Dt 880 has a touch more body an texture with just as tight a sound
 
Also wow... the K550 is pretty good with Metal :O I'd like a little more energy to the Cymbals and snare drums, but it's not doing bad at all! 
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:19 AM Post #8 of 27
What do you think of the Fisher Audio FA 003 Ti? That's my favourite so far but I want to know more before I commit :)
 
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:25 AM Post #9 of 27
Quote:
bucketinabucket said:
What do you think of the Fisher Audio FA 003 Ti? That's my favourite so far but I want to know more before I commit
smily_headphones1.gif
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Have yet to hear it but if you have listened to it and enjoy it, nothing wrong with commiting to something you enjoy! 
 
Aug 26, 2013 at 4:30 AM Post #10 of 27
Quote:
mshenay said:
Have yet to hear it but if you have listened to it and enjoy it, nothing wrong with commiting to something you enjoy! 
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Totally agree with him! If it sounds good to your ears, just pull the trigger and take one from the shelve, head to the counter and purchase it! 
 
I am not sure about the FA headphone either but for neutral... Maybe something like the PSB M4U!? The AKG K167 are out in that case as it does have a forward mod to my ears.
 
Billson :)
 
Aug 28, 2013 at 1:44 PM Post #11 of 27
I actually committed to a Sennheiser HD25 Aluminums. I liked their neutral-ish sound signature and ruggedness :) now breaking them in with a 100% Mumford and Sons playlist!
 
Aug 28, 2013 at 2:24 PM Post #12 of 27
Nice enjoy it! I tried the HD 25-1 II and I liked it, but the sound stage was alittle to small for me. non the less great starting hadphones :D 
 
Aug 29, 2013 at 3:29 AM Post #14 of 27
Quote:
bucketinabucket said:
I actually committed to a Sennheiser HD25 Aluminums. I liked their neutral-ish sound signature and ruggedness :) now breaking them in with a 100% Mumford and Sons playlist!
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good to hear that! The Momentum also has narrow soundstage... not sure why xD
 
Billson :)
 
Aug 29, 2013 at 5:41 AM Post #15 of 27
Quote:
blueangel2323 said:
Do you find them comfortable? The HD25's were like torture devices for me :D
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I did notice a decent amount of clamping...so I tamed them by stretching them on a couple books for ~2 hours so now they fit snugly on my head! It helps that the pads are of a higher-quality more comfortable material then the original HD-25s, and they look and feel less like a medieval torture device and more like a real set of headphones too :D
 
Btw, do I really have to break them in for 200-300 hours? The retailer recommended me to do that in order to let the sound signature develop it but I highly doubt that I have to do such a thing since I have never had to do it for that long (I usually break-in headphones for around 72-96 hours).
 
Also, I didn't buy the FA-003s because nobody stocks them in Hong Kong and none of my friends has even heard of that brand before :frowning2:
 
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