For those that find the Alessandro MS-1 too bright

[Max F]

What cans would you recommend for approximately the same budget or slightly higher? BTW, I have my new pair for sell with some 545 pads (in the for sale forum).

These guys are just too bright for me. I'm pretty sensitive to high frequencies, but I thought that the MS-1 was supposed to be a mellower Grado. Too bright and not much bass, especially low bass. I'm not a bass head, but I miss it if its gone. My home system hits down to 25 hz with a subwoofer and my Mylarone X3s have good bass. I don't like boomy bass!

I guess I'm a more laid back person, however, I do love impact so I don't want boring phones. Right now I have the KSC75s and the Mylarone X3s and really like both, especially the X3s. Now, I'm looking for some full size cans for rock, jazz, thrash. Drums are the most important to me when I listen to music. They got to be strong, not in the background (unless they are meant to be their - like jazz) Also, I would like cans that can go low enough for stuff like Beck that may put on very low bass in their music. Soundstage would be nice too for my jazz, if that is possible at this price level. Nice detail would be good to, but no boost in the upper freq.

Thanks!

 

[judas391]

Sennheiser 595! Just bought em used for $180 CDN and they sound pretty good unamped.

 

[BrookR1]

The SR-80s actually sound a bit darker and the bass extends higher into the midrange and has more energy than the MS-1s. I had the same problem as you with my MS-1s and that's why I sold them. The SR-80s, IMO, are very acceptable and aren't nearly as fatiguing as the MS-1s. They have the added bonus of having more kick to them.

Another alternative would be pair of modded iGrados. Because they use flat pads, they sound a little darker than the SR-80s and the highs are present with sparkle, but are totally acceptable. They don't have quite the impact of bowled SR-80s, but have great sound stage and detail.

 

[jagathon]

The Denon D2000's do an amazing all around job on sound: I love the detail they offer and never get fatigued from the awesome articulation they can perform. They are the best of all worlds.

 

[Max F]

Yeah, I'm reluctant to try Grado's again since I really think that I'm probably just not into that sound. Plus, the whole pad rolling thing is kindof annoying especially for someone prone to obsessive fiddling. I want something that sounds great as is!

I wish I could listen to the Sennheiser 595 first. I'm really afraid that they will sound boring as some have put it. I want something that is not fatiguing and has punch! I'll do some more reading on the Denon.

 

[dissembled]

Cough: ATH AD700. Cough.

 

[xinoxide]

maybe look into the ultrasone HFI-2200, loosening up the headband and lessening the very slight isolation from the vented pads brings the bass down a bit, they have some pretty tight all around bass, and the drivers are gold, wich dampens the highs a bit being a softer metal. but they still sustain some damn good higher extension and high freq detail for having gold plated drivers.

ive even read that they have sort of a warmer tone to the music as the driver diaphragm is a bit heavier than in most, but i didnt hear it in my short listening time, not enough time for comparison. ive heard them on one occasion and i admit they werent broken in but for more than an hour.

i heard them with a track by 'Hird' called 'keep you kimi'. i was amazed at the positioning and natural feel. a sound i wish my proline 750 mod could acheive but the highs are just too shrill for this song.

also, the offset drivers make it easy to mold the sound to your own liking, with the open versions of their cans, the bass stays relitively the same considering the lack of portholes in the bufferboard. you can move the cups forward on your head, placing the driver further away from the eardrum and bringing down the audible highs and mids.

its all right
its all right
its all right
its all right

its all right
its all right


dark sky
rinse me with rain and ill cry
love tears blurring my sight, its all right
filled up
and want to be, empty
rinse me

...sorry, carried away in a moment of someone elses beautiful and passionate learning pains. :]

OR! if you decide to geth them, if you want, i can trade my ported bufferboards with your unported bufferboards, and you can uncover one of the portholes on each side to lower the bass even more.

 

[mwallace573]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max F /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wish I could listen to the Sennheiser 595 first. I'm really afraid that they will sound boring as some have put it. I want something that is not fatiguing and has punch! I'll do some more reading on the Denon.

The HD595 isn't at all fatiguing to my ears, but it may lack some punch, especially since you are coming from a MS-1. Unless you are willing to spend the money on a tube amp, which is what the HD595 really needs to shine, then I would look at something like an AD700 or A900.

 

[judas391]

If you're looking at soundstage and distinction between instruments, HD595 is your choice. I prefer my A900s though because they go louder unamped.

 

[Max F]

Actually, i was just lying here listening to my Mylarone X3s and I'm really quite happy with these through my Zune (Zune sounds great BTW). I can't hear my wife talking to me (which may be a good thing), but these are really nice sounding. Of course, I prefer to listen to my home stereo and speakers (Squeezebox - DEQ 2496 - Panny xr55 - Monitor Audio B4s with EQ'd subwoofer), but I can certainly live with these little canal phones if I don't want to disturb the wife and our new baby. BTW, I just discovered that my headphone out of my Panny really does suck, lol. Great digital receiver for speakers though.

I don't think I'll be getting any large headphones since I likely won't be happy with anything less than $200 and I would probably need and AMP. Since I don't really neeeed them (yeah i know...), thats too much for me to justify. At work I still have my KSC75 and have my X3s for travel and home use when needed. Thanks again!

 

[dissembled]

ONe thing that's putting me off against those is the fit issues I have with canal phones. SQ for canal phones is very, very fit-dependent.

 

[F107plus5]

A warning to you MS-1 owners who maybe DO find them to be too bright.

Beware of the MS2i!

Since the highs on the MS2i extend farther than on MS-1, the MS2i may appear brighter. The MS2i still has better mids and bass than MS-1, so it's not a case of the MS2i having louder highs, but the greater extension of the highs gives the impression of "more" treble, and I guess it is, just over a greater portion of the frequency spectrum and not in amplitude.

 

[nickrobotron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrookR1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The SR-80s actually sound a bit darker and the bass extends higher into the midrange and has more energy than the MS-1s. I had the same problem as you with my MS-1s and that's why I sold them. The SR-80s, IMO, are very acceptable and aren't nearly as fatiguing as the MS-1s. They have the added bonus of having more kick to them.

I completely agree with that. I've never read that anywhere else. I just thought I was crazy, so I kept my opinions to myself. I think the SR-80's were definitely more laid back than the MS-1's. Less efficient though. I don't think they make a better portable headphone.