best headphones for vinyl?

[BoxBoxBox]

Most of my LPs are prog, right now I'm using cheap cans, my budget is anywhere from $300-$500. Thanks for help!

 

[tjohnusa]

I listen to 70's prog....you have taste my friend. I have Beyer DT990 pro's and love them. They have a very airy sound which make synthesizers sound sharp and the bass is detailed but not overpowering. It is my understanding the post 2005 model sounds even better. I cannot attest to any other high end can because I haven't heard any. I paid ~$160 for my cans and am very happy with them, not to mention they are very comfy! Good luck with whatever you chose. They are 250 ohm cans so you really should amp them unless your just going to use a headphone jack on an integrated amp or reciever, I have a little dot 2 tube amp and a little dot micro+ portable and they do the trick unless you want very loud levels.

 

[vapman]

I would reccomend the Sennheiser HD600 (maybe with a Cardas cable upgrade if you're up to it). The HD600's have a more laid back sound to them.

If you like brigher cans, think about the Grado SR-225 and 325i. I haven't heard the Grado RS-2's, but those are at the top of your range if you're looking to buy new. Grados aren't the most comfortable, but if you like the sound they can be amazing phones.

edit: what am i talking about, forget i ever said k701

 

[asebastian0]

Grado's are voiced with vinyl in mind as you can read in the John Grado interview... I haven't heard the rs-2 but can vouch for the rs-1 as being the best mate for vinyl I have ever heard. Ever. They have a tendency to make the good things about vinyl (rich, organic sound etc.) even better, and the bad things about vinyl (cracks, pops, etc.) less prevalent. My k701 on the other hand do the exact opposite and I find myself listening to ONLY the cracks and pops. I would second the used rs-2 nomination in that price range for or maybe sr-225 with the stipulation that I have only heard the rs-1 in my system. Maybe some others can chime in on the lower-tier grados.

 

[asebastian0]

oops, i had read your price range wrong...My vote at the high end of that range is for the RS-1 (used).

 

[ralphp@optonline]

Try to get an headphones which are all plastic - plastic headband, earcups, vinyl covered foam on the earcups, and even plastic drivers.

You won't believe the synergy with the vinyl source material, it's just absolutely uncanny and simply amazing!!!

 

[Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphp@optonline /img/forum/go_quote.gif Try to get an headphones which are all plastic - plastic headband, earcups, vinyl covered foam on the earcups, and even plastic drivers. You won't believe the synergy with the vinyl source material, it's just absolutely uncanny and simply amazing!!!

Nah mate, it's digital that sounds like plastic.

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Grado's are voiced with vinyl in mind as you can read in the John Grado interview... I haven't heard the rs-2 but can vouch for the rs-1 as being the best mate for vinyl I have ever heard. Ever. They have a tendency to make the good things about vinyl (rich, organic sound etc.) even better, and the bad things about vinyl (cracks, pops, etc.) less prevalent. My k701 on the other hand do the exact opposite and I find myself listening to ONLY the cracks and pops. I would second the used rs-2 nomination in that price range for or maybe sr-225 with the stipulation that I have only heard the rs-1 in my system. Maybe some others can chime in on the lower-tier grados.

Yes, this is what I would suggest as well. RS-1's for sure at about $400 used!

 

[TimmyMac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mckickflip /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would reccomend the Sennheiser HD600 (maybe with a Cardas cable upgrade if you're up to it) or AKG K701. The HD600's have a more laid back sound to them, while the K701's are very neutral and have no coloring at all to them. If you like brigher cans, think about the Grado SR-225 and 325i. I haven't heard the Grado RS-2's, but those are at the top of your range. Grados aren't the most comfortable, but if you like the sound they can be amazing phones.

Huh... K701's would be a terrible mate for vinyl... and HD600's not terribly good either. Seems like K701 and HD600/650 are becoming the default recommendation for anyone looking for anything in any price range. Not impressed.

 

[Zanth]

I've never heard AKG 701's but the HD650's with a zu moebius cable were wonderful when I was listening to vinyl. YMMV

 

[ralphp@optonline]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nah mate, it's digital that sounds like plastic.

I didn't said anything about the final outcome sounding like plastic, now did I? I just said (paraphrasing) that there's a synergy with the vinyl source material that's absolutely uncanny and simply amazing!!! No mention of plastic sound anywhere. Please don't put words in my mouth.

 

[robm321]

I would agree with the Grado recomdations and the Senn 600/Cardas. The K701 I wasn't impressed with as much...the Senn 600 gives a very lush sound while the Grado gives a rich sound with LPs.

 

[Audiofiler]

^
To the OP..in that price range, it would be hard to refute the RS series..

 

[spinali]

I find mid-classical, jazz, punk, and most pop work very well with my turntable. I'm less excited by electronica or anything that conveys warmth.

I'm not certain if a turntable is the major issue when it comes to good sound, however. It's largely forgotten in an age of DACs and CDs, but I my music collection seems to vary so much in sound texture that CD vs turntable vs DAC isn't the issue that ends up being the most salient to me.

Nearly half of my collection is vinyl, and it's still the best way to achieve the most even and pleasng sound quickly.

 

[Skylab]

If you have clean records in good shape, the DT990 is GREAT. But if your records are noisy, then the treble detail on the DT990 could be a liability. In that case, the Senn HD650's would be better.