Beatles & Floyd -- Recommend me a setup

[fugimax]

During the work week, I'd say I spend about 20-30 hours listening to a combination of The Beatles and Pink Floyd when I work. It's become music I've gotten used to and love.

Currently, I have ATH-ESW9's and a modded (discrete OPAMPS) ZERO headphone amp talked about here so much.

I'd really like to upgrade to a nicer pair of phones, but the generic categories of "rock", etc. don't really seems to capture bands like The Beatles/Floyd due to their excessive use of synth and strings as well.

I'm looking mainly for recommendations on headphones, but also open to hearing amp recommendations. Source is just optical-out of my Mac Pro at work.

Looking to move up in price range, if necessary, from where my ESW9's were.

 

[progo]

Senn HD650 does these two pretty well, assuming you don't own very badly compressed versions of your records. It blends and 'softens' the hard panning somewhat with the older records and does the dynamic Floyd very well. The strings get their share nicely.

 

[VALIENTE]

Try AKG K702 + Heed Audio Canamp headphone amplifier.

Click: AKG K702 Black - Full-Size Headphones | HeadRoom Audio

and

Click: - - - H E E D A U D I O - - -

This is a high-end package but I'm sure you will be happy with this one-time upgrade system.

 

[Roger Strummer]

I second the HD650 recommendation, it handles all of the Floyd amazingly well (from the psychodelic and space songs from their beginnings to their famous progressive compositions from The Wall). An amp recommendation I guess depends on your budget, but not going too expensive I've seen quite a few recommendations for the Purity Audio amps, and actually many others.

 

[AdamWysokinski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VALIENTE /img/forum/go_quote.gif Try AKG K702 + Heed Audio Canamp headphone amplifier.

I absolutely love listening to PF on my K701 with CanAmp, the sound is incredibly good - stage, separation, clarity, mids, details, background.. everything sounds as it should

Highly recommended!

 

[fugimax]

Thanks for the replies.

I've never owned an open headphone, but I'm interested to try. In case that doesn't work out (given that I'll be listening at work), is there a closed recommendation? I was looking at the Denon AD5000's, but wasn't sure how big of an improvement that would be over my ESW9's, or if they'd even work with my music well.

Also, open to more amp suggestions ... $300 - $500.

 

[chi2]

Considering the way the earlier Beatles albums were produced with almost 100% channel separation I strongly recommend an amp with a crossfeed circuit like the Meier and Headroom amps!

 

[the_equalizer]

Pink Floyd sounds amazing through the AKG K701's, now I really wonder if you'd want to be seen wearing them in the office, they're quite big; and I'm not really talking about they looking 'fashionable' or not. Unless you're the boss, of course

If you're wondering about closed cans, I also own a set of Denon D1001K and you wouldn't believe how good they sound for what they cost. They are also not as big as higher end headphones; I feel quite confident wearing them in the office. I can only assume that the superior models will sound better, but then again they'd be bulkier.

Oh, and I second the recommendation of an amp with crossfeed, you can always disable it if you don't like it (which I doubt).

 

[fugimax]

Thanks for more recommendations. Looks like I have a tough decision to make between the 701's and the 650's. Between those, is either one a clear winner? Which is quieter to the people that may be around you?

Also, what are people's thoughts on pairing either of those with one of the Compass amps from audio-gd? I have one of his HDAM's in my zero, and have a spare Sun and Earth hanging around as well.

 

[tintin47]

I would say neither the 701s or 650s. The 701s are, IMO, not very good cans in general and worse when you try them with anything including drums and guitar. The 650s have always been too warm for my tastes under most circumstances because they need to be amped extremely well to bring out their potential. That in mind, I would recommend the hd600 or grados. The 600s are a bit of a brighter version of the 650s that is very good with rock IMO. I would say that the beatles and pink floyd are definitely rock, and grados are awesome with them and rock in general.

 

[jazznap]

For "rock", I prefer my 600s over my 702. The 702s are more detailed, but also brighter, thinner (bad term, but best I can think of), and lighter on the bass. The 600s are warmer, fuller sounding, and handle electric bass better. Comparing the bass lines on Money between the two can, to me the 600 is the clear winner.

Also, the 600/650 pairs up with more amps. The 702s can be fickle with what they like and don't like. For rock, combining the 600/650 with a nice little tube amp is a great combination.

 

[Roger Strummer]

To say my opinion the 701 are bass light for the Floyd, it sounds too thinn. But between HD600 and HD650 I think it is more of a matter of preference, they are both great for PF and the Beatles. I chose the 650 because there slight treble roll off (I suffer from head aches induced by sound, that treble attenuation is ideal for me) and they're a little technically superior to the 600, but you won't go wrong with either of them.

BTW, all those options leak a lot of sound to the outside being open, although I thin HD6x0 leak a little more than K70x, but don't quote me on that, it's not like I've done some serious measurements about that.

 

[cwoo]

I really like my hd650s for pink floyd and the beatles. As mentioned above, you will definitely need a crossfeed to enjoy the beatles at their fullest. I just use a software crossfeed (headplug with winamp). This is a great option as you can adjust it depending on the song. Pink Floyd is mixed between the two channels quite well so only a low crossfeed setting is needed... the beatles are not and need a pretty high crossfeed setting.

I occasionally enjoy my Grados with Pink Floyd as they bring the guitar foward. Depends on the mood I am in. The grados aren't great for the beatles though, way too shrill at times. YMMV.

 

[fugimax]

So, after all the recommendations...

I went with the Denon AH-D7000's. I really did need a closed headphone it turns out (after trying out some open ones). Couldn't be happier right now ... well, until my Compass arrives from audio-gd.

(Side note: Guy down the way from me at work has HD-800's ... borrowing them soon.