wolf18t
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2008
- Posts
- 305
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- 11
This is my first post on this board, but I read it since a few weeks. In fact I read this board since I started the build my AMB beta 22 amplifer. Now that my amplifer is almost finished (only need a case) I began to listen to it with my old Sennheiser HD560 ovation and I think they need a well deserved retirement.
So I plan to get new headphones, but which ones? As a reference, I found my HD560 too lean with no low bass extension. I like the midrange and highs but it can be a bit less less sibilant. As a more modern reference I tried my friend's Shure SE530: soundwise I found them muffled or dark compared to my HD560, the highs were definitely too rolloff for my taste and weak soundstage.
Over 15 years ago when I bought my HD560 I also tried the (then) quite new on the market Grados (don't remember which model, they were priced a little higher than HD560) and found them too bassy (too much upper bass) and there was no soundstage at all. If they have the same sound signature today I will eliminate them.
Here is in order preference the qualities I'm looking for:
1) Good tonal balance with a controlled and extended bass.
2) Transparency, I must feel that the performers and intruments are there and not behind a curtain
3) Good soundstage, not necessarily ultra wide or deep but precise and focused even on complex musical passage
4) I'm no detail freak but I like to here things I cannot hear in my car...
In the loudspeaker world I generally prefer electrostatic or ribbon sound (ML, Maggies, Newform Research which I own) than boxes but there are exceptions like some higher end PROACs and JMLabs...
My musical preference is rock of all time, all genre and I really like acoustic and live material. I also listen from time to time to classical.
My current audio music gear is the following:
Source --> California Audio Lab Icon MKII HDCD (power Boss)
Interconnect --> Some Straightwire don't remember which model
Amplification --> AMB beta 22 active ground (Solid State Class A)
To date I consider the folowing headphones which are in my price range (<300$)
1) BeyerDynamic DT880 (2003 or 2005?)
2) Sennheiser (HD600 or HD650?)
3) AKG 701 (maybe too lean and sibilant?)
4) Other? Except higher end source components I've never been a japanese fan in audio world. Maybe I could change my mind on headphones (Denon, Sony etc...)
Thanks
So I plan to get new headphones, but which ones? As a reference, I found my HD560 too lean with no low bass extension. I like the midrange and highs but it can be a bit less less sibilant. As a more modern reference I tried my friend's Shure SE530: soundwise I found them muffled or dark compared to my HD560, the highs were definitely too rolloff for my taste and weak soundstage.
Over 15 years ago when I bought my HD560 I also tried the (then) quite new on the market Grados (don't remember which model, they were priced a little higher than HD560) and found them too bassy (too much upper bass) and there was no soundstage at all. If they have the same sound signature today I will eliminate them.
Here is in order preference the qualities I'm looking for:
1) Good tonal balance with a controlled and extended bass.
2) Transparency, I must feel that the performers and intruments are there and not behind a curtain
3) Good soundstage, not necessarily ultra wide or deep but precise and focused even on complex musical passage
4) I'm no detail freak but I like to here things I cannot hear in my car...
In the loudspeaker world I generally prefer electrostatic or ribbon sound (ML, Maggies, Newform Research which I own) than boxes but there are exceptions like some higher end PROACs and JMLabs...
My musical preference is rock of all time, all genre and I really like acoustic and live material. I also listen from time to time to classical.
My current audio music gear is the following:
Source --> California Audio Lab Icon MKII HDCD (power Boss)
Interconnect --> Some Straightwire don't remember which model
Amplification --> AMB beta 22 active ground (Solid State Class A)
To date I consider the folowing headphones which are in my price range (<300$)
1) BeyerDynamic DT880 (2003 or 2005?)
2) Sennheiser (HD600 or HD650?)
3) AKG 701 (maybe too lean and sibilant?)
4) Other? Except higher end source components I've never been a japanese fan in audio world. Maybe I could change my mind on headphones (Denon, Sony etc...)
Thanks