Does getting $500+ headphone overdo it

[benc2020]

I enjoy listening to musics while on the bus or on the train. Or whenever I can relax. So most of the time i listen to musics on the phone. Most of the music are in mp3 format and some in flac. And most of the mp3 are in 320. I have a few in 128 and some 192 adnd 256. I am currently using a $200 Bose headphone. I think the headphone is ok. But i wanna see if I can try something better. I recently see the Sennheriser HD650. It looks pretty nice. Even it comes with the Adapter jack 3.5mm, I wonder if a phone is powerful enough for it . Also, would i really feel WOW if I use that headphone to listen to musics on the phone without an amp? or maybe i should try the HD 600 instead? Thanks.

 

[Me x3]

  I enjoy listening to musics while on the bus or on the train. Or whenever I can relax. So most of the time i listen to musics on the phone. Most of the music are in mp3 format and some in flac. And most of the mp3 are in 320. I have a few in 128 and some 192 adnd 256. I am currently using a $200 Bose headphone. I think the headphone is ok. But i wanna see if I can try something better. I recently see the Sennheriser HD650. It looks pretty nice. Even it comes with the Adapter jack 3.5mm, I wonder if a phone is powerful enough for it . Also, would i really feel WOW if I use that headphone to listen to musics on the phone without an amp? or maybe i should try the HD 600 instead? Thanks.

Yes and no.
 
HD600 and HD650 are similarly hard to drive. You can use them plugged directly into a phone but you'll have to max out the volume to reach normal listening levels. They'll sound good anyway, but won't show their full potential.
 
You should also consider that these are open back headphones which means they do not provide isolation, so there's little point in using them on the bus/train.
 
For home use without an amp you should consider:
- Sennheiser HD598
- AudioTechnica AD900X
- Soundmagic HP-200.
 
If you want a quality closed back headphone to use on the bus/train as well as at home, you should consider:
- Focal Spirit Professional
- Focal Spirit Classic
- Nad Viso HP50
- Soundmagic HP-150

 

[benc2020]

these are open back headphones which means they do not provide isolation

 
Did you mean they just don't isolation the outside noise or other people can hear whatever i listen to clearly? because i wouldnt wanna disturb the surrounding. Because when i see the HD600, it's like there are speakers facing out.

 

[Me x3]

 
Did you mean they just don't isolation the outside noise or other people can hear whatever i listen to clearly? because i wouldnt wanna disturb the surrounding. Because when i see the HD600, it's like there are speakers facing out.

 
When using HD600/HD650 you'll hear outside noise pretty much the same way as you hear it when you are not wearing headphones.
 
They also leak sound, so if you raise the volume, the people around you will hear your music.
Not loud, but yeah they will be able to tell what kind of music you are listening to.
 
Open headphones are intended for indoor use in quiet places. Otherwise the experience is ruined by the outside noise.

 

[VGoghs earfrmsc]

Have a look into the B&W P7 and/or OPPO PM 3, both are closed back.

 

[thejammonster]

Regarding the title of the thread - if you have the money, $500+ is not overdoing it even for just mp3 files. There are measurable differences between brands and models and it usually corresponds to price. Not always, but usually. It's going to come down to preferences in genre, sound signature, listening environment, budget, and more. If you have any place nearby to listen to some different options (even if there isn't a great selection) it will really help to say "I liked how this sounded but I didn't like these things about it..." and give people here a better idea of what you may like.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by benc2020 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

Did you mean they just don't isolation the outside noise or other people can hear whatever i listen to clearly? because i wouldnt wanna disturb the surrounding. Because when i see the HD600, it's like there are speakers facing out.

 

Both. Open back headphones let more sound leak in, which means you need to crank it up so you can hear your music in order to overcome the noise floor, and in the process broadcast what you're listening to all over a public area, on top of destroying your eardrums.