slunk007
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Posts
- 307
- Likes
- 10
My first post here. Be gentle...
I'm sorry to start one of these, but I simply don't have enough experience with quality headphones. I've done quite a bit of reading on this excellent forum, and I'm becoming more and more confused (and more and more interested), the more I read.
STRAIGHT OUT: I'm trying to decide between a few headphones: HD600/580, AKG k501/401, ATH-A900
MY PROBLEM(s): I am unable to audition any of these models where I live. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. No good stores to audition headphones. We're a speaker city though! I have never used headphones. I have only used earbuds due to portability.
PURPOSE: I'm planning on using these cans at home, on my home PC. Their main purpose would be to listen to Alt Preset -Standard MP3s out of my Audigy2 Platinum's LiveDrive.
MUSICAL TASTES: Pop, rock, indie, alternative, folk, electronica. I listen to all of these genres about the same amount.
MY REFERENCE gear:
- Sony MDR EX-70 (earbuds) -
I do realize that there is a difference between crap earbuds and decent ones. I have a pair of Sony MDR EX-70 and I'm fairly happy with them (although many here think they're crap). Super portable. Works well with my iMP 550X. My complaint about them is that the bass is a little overpowering and the highs are pretty harsh. Fine for listening on the bus however. Rock music (guitar solos, and loud drums) are not too fun on these though.
- Monsoon PM14 (desktop speakers) -
I love my desktop flatpanels. They are not harsh, they have more than adequate amounts of *tight* bass for my tastes, and are fairly articulate (both low and high ends) for PC speakers. Their main downfall is the fact that you have to be in the sweet spot to really enjoy their quality. I like to lay down on my bed sometimes and just groove to some tunes.
Hence my need for a good set of cans...
REQUIREMENTS:
- They HAVE to be comfortable. Preferrably on the lighter side.
- They do NOT have to be sound isolating. My room is fairly quiet.
- Nice soundstage
- I like nice tight punchy bass. Not overbearring but *tight*. (I don't want a 'phone that sounds like its farting along to the music.
)
- No modding necessary out of the box. I don't really want to swap cables, etc.
PREFERENCES:
- Amp-less configuration if I can get away with it. But I'm willing to invest in a headphone amp if need be. X-mas $ only goes so far...
- They should look nice. As long as they don't look like ass, anyway. (I really like the aesthetics of the AKG k501/401, and they A900 ain't bad. HD580 doesn't appeal to me too much. HD600 a little better however)
QUESTIONS:
I've got a couple of questions that hopefully you'll be able to help me out with.
- Is AudioCube the only online retailer that sells the ATh-A900s?
- If you think an amp is necessary, can you recommend one for the recommended headphone? ~$200 or less.
- Do you think that my Audigy2 will be capable of decently driving any of these phones without an amp?
So sorry for the really long post.
Cheers!
I'm sorry to start one of these, but I simply don't have enough experience with quality headphones. I've done quite a bit of reading on this excellent forum, and I'm becoming more and more confused (and more and more interested), the more I read.
STRAIGHT OUT: I'm trying to decide between a few headphones: HD600/580, AKG k501/401, ATH-A900
MY PROBLEM(s): I am unable to audition any of these models where I live. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. No good stores to audition headphones. We're a speaker city though! I have never used headphones. I have only used earbuds due to portability.
PURPOSE: I'm planning on using these cans at home, on my home PC. Their main purpose would be to listen to Alt Preset -Standard MP3s out of my Audigy2 Platinum's LiveDrive.
MUSICAL TASTES: Pop, rock, indie, alternative, folk, electronica. I listen to all of these genres about the same amount.
MY REFERENCE gear:
- Sony MDR EX-70 (earbuds) -
I do realize that there is a difference between crap earbuds and decent ones. I have a pair of Sony MDR EX-70 and I'm fairly happy with them (although many here think they're crap). Super portable. Works well with my iMP 550X. My complaint about them is that the bass is a little overpowering and the highs are pretty harsh. Fine for listening on the bus however. Rock music (guitar solos, and loud drums) are not too fun on these though.
- Monsoon PM14 (desktop speakers) -
I love my desktop flatpanels. They are not harsh, they have more than adequate amounts of *tight* bass for my tastes, and are fairly articulate (both low and high ends) for PC speakers. Their main downfall is the fact that you have to be in the sweet spot to really enjoy their quality. I like to lay down on my bed sometimes and just groove to some tunes.
Hence my need for a good set of cans...
REQUIREMENTS:
- They HAVE to be comfortable. Preferrably on the lighter side.
- They do NOT have to be sound isolating. My room is fairly quiet.
- Nice soundstage
- I like nice tight punchy bass. Not overbearring but *tight*. (I don't want a 'phone that sounds like its farting along to the music.
- No modding necessary out of the box. I don't really want to swap cables, etc.
PREFERENCES:
- Amp-less configuration if I can get away with it. But I'm willing to invest in a headphone amp if need be. X-mas $ only goes so far...
- They should look nice. As long as they don't look like ass, anyway. (I really like the aesthetics of the AKG k501/401, and they A900 ain't bad. HD580 doesn't appeal to me too much. HD600 a little better however)
QUESTIONS:
I've got a couple of questions that hopefully you'll be able to help me out with.
- Is AudioCube the only online retailer that sells the ATh-A900s?
- If you think an amp is necessary, can you recommend one for the recommended headphone? ~$200 or less.
- Do you think that my Audigy2 will be capable of decently driving any of these phones without an amp?
So sorry for the really long post.
Cheers!