A new headphone for the home and a cheap IEM for the street, which ones should i get?

Jan 30, 2017 at 9:33 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10

ChevyMonsenhor

100+ Head-Fier
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Posts
201
Likes
120
Location
Rio Pardo - RS
Its a such a long time i haven't posted that i may just introduce myself again, i'm a quite a newcomer to the forums, i have signed almost a year ago but haven't frequented the forums much, so i apologize for any ignorance i may commit.

 
To the question then.

 
First of all i want a new headphone for home use,i currently have a very battered Superlux HD660 that i've been using for the last 2 years, its decent, but i want to improve on that, since i've been listening to more music during the night and i dont want to mess with the neighbors.
I researched a bit and came up with some models that are in my price range, some more expensive than others, but i can manage to gather up a few more bucks to spend if the product is worth it. So here's the list:
1- Sony MDR-7506
2- Roland RH-200S (The silver model because i absolutely cannot find the black one)
3- Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
4- Audio Technica ATH-M40X
5- Philips SHP9500 (is the hype to be believed?)
6- Audio Technica ATH-T400
7- Audio Technica ATH-D40
8- Koss Pro4AA
9- Koss Pro4AAT Titanium
 
For the home i want a big, confortable headphone, it doesn't have to be pretty since i'm not trying to make a fashion statement, so that's why most of the models i've chosen are studio monitors. I mostly listen to older (mid 80s, early and late 90s) rap and hip-hop, modern rap and hip-hop, bossa nova, general MPB genres, jazz, acid jazz, blues and gauchesca (this), so i would enjoy a more sharp, yet not exagerated, bass response. I also game a bit, mostly the FPS genre with titles like Overwatch and BF1, but that's not the focus. These are going to be amplified by my old Denon AVR-1602 for now, but i'm going to buy either a Denon PMA-50 or a Cambridge DacMagic Plus and a power amp (for my speakers) in a near future.
I embrace suggestions as well 
 
As for the IEMs, i want a cheap and reliable IEM that also has more sharpness on the bass, not much, and of those i've separated only 3 different models, a bit more simple this time.
1- **** 4in1
2- KZ ZST
3- TFZ Series 1 (the matte blue one)
 
So, which one of the headphones and which one of the IEMs should i pick up?
 
Thanks since!
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 3:41 PM Post #5 of 10
The closed one I prefer in your price range is the Kingston Hyper X Cloud (also known as the Takstar Pro 80 and the Gemini HSR-1000--all the same headphone). I think it is better than the Sony or the M40X (which is quite good--I own one). For open, I like the SHP9500--it is very good--and the HD558, also very good. The open headphones will be better for gaming because of superior positioning data and a better soundstage. Still, the Kingston wouldn't be bad for gaming (it is marketed as a gaming headphone). FWIW.
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 3:48 PM Post #6 of 10
  The closed one I prefer in your price range is the Kingston Hyper X Cloud (also known as the Takstar Pro 80 and the Gemini HSR-1000--all the same headphone). I think it is better than the Sony or the M40X (which is quite good--I own one). For open, I like the SHP9500--it is very good--and the HD558, also very good. The open headphones will be better for gaming because of superior positioning data and a better soundstage. Still, the Kingston wouldn't be bad for gaming (it is marketed as a gaming headphone). FWIW.

Well, i can find the Kingston very cheaply, about 1/3 of the price, without the mic and branded as the "Arcano SHP80" in here (Brazil), but i really dislike it tbh. And like i said, gaming is not the priority.
I also couldn't find the HD558 anywhere, so...
I was also very curious about the Koss headphones, those are old cronies, but i never found a complete review on those.
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 4:02 PM Post #7 of 10
  Well, i can find the Kingston very cheaply, about 1/3 of the price, without the mic and branded as the "Arcano SHP80" in here (Brazil), but i really dislike it tbh. And like i said, gaming is not the priority.
I also couldn't find the HD558 anywhere, so...
I was also very curious about the Koss headphones, those are old cronies, but i never found a complete review on those.

The Pro4AA has 253 reviews on the US amazon site. Of course, those are amazon reviews, so... You know. They seem favorable, though. I am surprised you can't find the 558--it is a very popular Sennheiser model. The SHP9500 is a very nice sounding headphone, if you would be okay with open. Not sure what your return policies are in Brazil, but you could possibly always return one if you didn't like it (that is what we do in the US with amazon). A thought.
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 4:16 PM Post #8 of 10
  The Pro4AA has 253 reviews on the US amazon site. Of course, those are amazon reviews, so... You know. They seem favorable, though. I am surprised you can't find the 558--it is a very popular Sennheiser model. The SHP9500 is a very nice sounding headphone, if you would be okay with open. Not sure what your return policies are in Brazil, but you could possibly always return one if you didn't like it (that is what we do in the US with amazon). A thought.

I also found it weird i couldn't track any 558s to sell, i used to see those in better stores around the net, but it seems gone, weird.
As for the return policies, it sorta works, but not in the platform where the SHP9500 is available, which is some sort of Ebay clone that doesn't always offer a proof of purchase, the "Mercado Livre", but if ever find it in another store, i think i could give it a shot...
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 6:42 PM Post #9 of 10
I would say expensive Beats by Dr Dre for home and cheap 64 Audio tia forte for on the go.... 
L3000.gif

 
Seriously though, I would recommend Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro for home and a used IEM for OTG. You can actually get quite a lot of great deals over at the trade forums
 
Jan 30, 2017 at 7:11 PM Post #10 of 10
  I would say expensive Beats by Dr Dre for home and cheap 64 Audio tia forte for on the go.... 
L3000.gif

 
Seriously though, I would recommend Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro for home and a used IEM for OTG. You can actually get quite a lot of great deals over at the trade forums

Well, the used DT770s are double the price of any one of those in the list. I could take a look and see if i can find some used IEMs doe, haven't checked on those.
But oh boy, am i thinking a lot about buying the Koss PRO4AA, i remember seing those on a store when i was a kid. The project is 47 years old as of now, but i believe there must be a reason that a project this old is still in production.
Some people say that the sound signature on those is very dark, very warm, which, if i'm honest, is what i've been searching for a while.
I may be wrong, i never heard those in person...
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top