[Facade19]

Hello all.

I just signed up here after having been recommended at another forum to post my questions here. Now I know that there are tons of threads in where new members introduce themselves and ask for recommendations for headphones. However since there are already a dozen of these threads, I actually would like my thread to be different. Instead of me asking for recommendations, I rather want to know what the differences are between open and closed headphones, and the advantages/disadvantages each bring.

Plus I would also like to know what sort of music would be better suited for each type of headphones (for instance I enjoy classical music from large symphonic works to instrumental solos). The best aid I could receive however would be links to webpages that could explain the ins and outs of headphones and a general introduction to newbies like me. Thank you very much.

 

[Toby M]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=222555

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3123748

As for what sounds good with what type of music that's down to preference and the specific headphone.

 

[no1likesme]

For your tastes I think open phones as they generally have wider soundstage. I would look into the sennheiser 580 600 or 650 for classical.

 

[Facade19]

Thanks for the replies.
Now I am understanding a bit more about the difference between open and closed. As far the recommendations on the Sennheisers go I appreciate them, but way beyond my budget or willingness to spend.

 

[TheVinylRipper]

Most people's memory for the way things sound is usually quite poor.

IMHO, the only way to really tell the difference between sound reproduction units, be they speakers or headphones, is to audition them side by side really quickly.

Bring your own music, music with which you are familiar, music which you consider to be well recorded and which represents that which you most like listening to.

A difference of just a few dB in loudness will make a big difference in the way people perceive a given sound reproduction unit, with the louder unit usually being chosen as the "better sounding one". Try to audition headphones all at the same volume, something which is difficult because headphones vary quite a bit in their sound output for a given setting on the amplifier.

If you like classical music then you probably have a good idea what live music sounds like. Try to choose headphones which sound the most like a live performance of the same piece to your own ears.