Full size cans for Home, er-4p user

[nadavnaz]

I recently got er-4p's, and I'm very satisfied with them. But it's a bitch sitting at home with them stuck in my ears all day long.

Therefore, I wanna get full size cans for home listening. They don't have to be AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the 4p sound signature. A change would be appreciated. But they're basically supposed to be in the same direction, clear articulate dynamic and precise.

My budget is basically up to 250$-300$, but I want to know how expensive it gets before I get close to the er-4p's reference quality with bigger size cans. Soundstage will obviously be better, but good, musician's reference quality, clear instrument separation is important to me.

I listen mostly to Jazz and Classical music, so huge booming bass isn't important to me as well balanced clear and musical bass-response that will allow me to hear the Double-bassist's playing, or the continuous line in Bach's music. Same goes for the rest of it.

I don't have the luxury of a headphone amp, so I use my EMU-0404usb's headamp, which I now understand isn't at all that great. But these headphones will be a birthday gift from my parents, and I'm only 16. So if I get a job, I get an amp. Other than that I'm pretty much avoiding amps right now.

I use lossless audio as a source...

How would the AKG K702 pair with my so-so built in amplifier?

Many thanks.
Nadav

 

[nc8000]

If you can find a Koss A/250 used (it's out of production) you are imho very close

 

[nadavnaz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc8000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you can find a Koss A/250 used (it's out of production) you are imho very close

I prefer a new model, with warranty. It's not about trying to get really close to what the er-4p does. It's about being in the same state of mind.


I reckon that 250-300$ cans aren't commercial bass bloated beasts anyhow... But some are more suitable for dynamic music that doesn't go through as much processing ("art music"(classical), jazz etc.) than others.

It is kind of funny getting hi-end earphones as the first full size pair. But hell with it, who cares. I can probably find full size cans here in Israel too, so I won't have to guess completely.

 

[Chrysoberyl]

I'm an ER4p user,and I use Sennheiser Hd600 at home with the same EMU 0404 that you have.Very satisfied so far,it sounds really good.I like very much the AKG K601 as well,and the K501(a little bit too thin sounding though),but the amp in the EMU is really not enough for them with some recordings.I'd go for an Hd580 or an Hd600.

 

[moonboy403]

On the cheap: AKG K501 (~$150)

However, you should look into Stax SR-Lambda + adaptor combo for around $300. It's got everything you ask for and more. However, you need some sort of speaker amp or receiver to power it.

 

[AmanGeorge]

As an Ety devotee myself, I think a K702 would be a great pick for you. It shares many of the same strengths as the Ety ("clear, articulate and precise" definitely describes the K701/2), adds soundstage and a little bass, has excellent instrument separation, but still has a sound signature that is fairly different from the Etys - it's a little drier and more laid back, not as in-your-face. These sound excellent with jazz and classical (IMO they're the best you can do for classical in this price range, and they do jazz as well as anything else depending on the "flavor" of sound that you like).

I say go for it, the K702 sounds like it will be an excellent match for you.

 

[nadavnaz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonboy403 /img/forum/go_quote.gif On the cheap: AKG K501 (~$150) However, you should look into Stax SR-Lambda + adaptor combo for around $300. It's got everything you ask for and more. However, you need some sort of speaker amp or receiver to power it.

Thanks, I have heard good things about them, but I don't have equipment that can handle these kind of cans...

The AKG K701 looks good to me. Now I have to see how it actually sounds in reality.

I'll look up hifi stores in haifa. Are they fairly popular at stores?

Would they be driven fine by the amp in my 0404usb? (Obviously it's a low end amplifier by audiophile standards. But I'm referring to volume level alone.)


I'd appreciate any other opinions. As I said, I like the ety's but I would like something similar to them, so you don't have to pinpoint the earphone that sounds best... Just general recommendations. How're the AKGs compared to sennheisers, stax? Grado, dennon?

 

[AmanGeorge]

Here are all the comparisons I can give you...

I have owned at some point:
AKG K701, Sennheiser HD 650, Grado 325, Beyerdynamic DT880, Denon D5000, Sony MDR-SA5000, Sony CD3000.
Of those, I like the AKG, the Denon, and the two Sonys - I have sold (or plan on selling) the others and the Sony MDR-SA50000. If you're interested, that headphone is an excellent one, and the closest possible to the Ety sound signature.

All the following is IMO (others will differ, and of course this is from the perspective of someone who likes the K701):

K701 vs. Sennheiser HD650: K701 is brighter, drier, bigger soundstage, more detailed, quicker. 650 is warmer, more lush, slower, viled midrange.

K701 vs. Grado 325: K701 is drier, bigger soundstage, better bass, less fatiguing, more laid back. Grado is more aggressive, brighter, more in-your-face, but to my ears sounds "incomplete" in terms of its frequency response and a little fatiguing.

K701 vs. DT880: K701 is drier, bigger soundstage, less bass (although they're equally "bright", I think, if that makes sense), better mids, quicker. DT880 has better bass impact, slightly recessed midrange, and is slower.

K701 vs. D5000 (stock): Night and day. K701 is drier, bigger soundstage, much less bass, more prominent mids, more laid back presentation. D5000 has much more bass (moar base! - this is usually enjoyable to my ears, but can sometimes be too much), is warmer, less prominent midrange, but still quite detailed and quick.

K701 vs. SA5000: K701 has bigger soundstage, more laid back sound, slightly more "natural"/"airy" sound to my ears. SA5000 has more bass and a slightly more aggressive midrange. I would qualify this again by saying that I thought the Sonys were really excellent, but that I was very attached to the strengths of my K701s and decided I couldn't justify both.

K701 vs. CD3000: K701 has a slightly bigger soundstage, more sparkly highs. CD3000 has better bass, slightly recessed midrange, is a little slower, but... the CD3000 is magic. How can you compare something to magic?

 

[mypasswordis]

Aman, did you listen to the K501 at the meet? What did you think of it compared to the K701?

I own an Ety ER-6i and an Altec Lansing iM716 (supposedly worse sounding version of ER-4) and I liked the K501 while I still had it. Fairly similar sound signature to the IEMs I just mentioned but with a (sometimes overly) large soundstage and more refinement. Most prominent traits of the K501 are the clarity and the airiness.

 

[AmanGeorge]

Hey, I did listen to the K501 and I think my (brief) impressions were sadly similar to Shane's (Telix)... they weren't for me. They sounded a little boring to me compared to my K701, but a lot of people seem to really love them so they may be a good option as well, although the K701 is a bit easier to track down.

 

[nc8000]

The K701 is no doubt a fine headphone with a huge soundstage but I find it oh so boring and dry to listen to. Also I'm pretty sure it requires better amplification than a sound card to give what it can give.

 

[AmanGeorge]

Heh, it's interesting to me that we share a deep love of the Etys but don't agree about the AKGs... every ear is different I suppose!

 

[theBigD]

K701 is a great headphone like the ety in sound signature with excellent soundstage. Buy 1 used for 200 then put some money together to get an amp. The compass sounds good with 701. also i hear the heed can amp and purity audio kicas caliente. You will love the sound these headphones produce for classical and jazz. I didnt even know i liked jazz till i got these headphones! Now 1 of my favorite artist is patricia barber.

 

[Skin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadavnaz /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks, I have heard good things about them, but I don't have equipment that can handle these kind of cans... The AKG K701 looks good to me. Now I have to see how it actually sounds in reality. I'll look up hifi stores in haifa. Are they fairly popular at stores? Would they be driven fine by the amp in my 0404usb? (Obviously it's a low end amplifier by audiophile standards. But I'm referring to volume level alone.) I'd appreciate any other opinions. As I said, I like the ety's but I would like something similar to them, so you don't have to pinpoint the earphone that sounds best... Just general recommendations. How're the AKGs compared to sennheisers, stax? Grado, dennon?

K701. The biggest complaint about the K701/2 is the lack of Bass. As i own ER-4s myself im sure this wont bother you much. By the way the only difference between the 701 and 702 is the cable and color.

Some people also find them uncomfortable for extended listing due to the design of the headband which has bumps in it that create pressure points instead of evenly distributing the weight. Absolutely try before you buy if you can.

Also keep in mind that the 701 is open backed so someone in the next room watching TV will bother you. This may be a factor since you're use to the complete isolation of the IEM. Something like the Senn HD650 would require a dedicated Amp and isnt nearly as revealing as the ER4. Grados can be very nice for the money, especially something like the Sr-60. I'd consider the SR60 as a later purchase to compliment a k701. Much more bass, or i should say, bass presence, than the AKG and ER4, and good detail. The D5000 has nice detail but far far more Bass than anything mentioned. This might bother you if you've grown to appreciate finer detail.

You'd probably really like an SR-Lambda but the problem is they've been selling high lately (you'd need to buy used to stay in your budget). You'd also need a dedicated stax Amp, no question, unless you have a power amp for an adapter.

 

[apnk]

How about a Grado MS2i? The Ety's are fast and the MS2i's are fast, but with harder hitting bass slam!