Eagle_Driver
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2001
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Well, I got back from the Chicago (actually, suburban Elmhurst) stop on the Headroom World of Headphones tour. It took me quite a bit of bike-riding to get to the show. But since I wasn't interested in electrostatics (I do almost all of my headphone listening on the road - DUH!
) I first tried the headphones on the rack in which I got to compare all of them connected to a Headroom Home amp (the CD player had some re-recorded big-band jazz playing from it).
First, I compared the Sennheiser HD 580, 590 and 600. It was only after I listened to the 580 that I noticed the brightness of the 590. I can't ********* believe how much smoother the 580 is compared to the relatively "forward"-sounding 590!
(And I thought I loved my 590!) And the 600 is similar in sound to the 580, only better.
The Grados - SR-225, SR-325 and RS-1 - all sound a bit bright to my liking. 'Nuff said 'bout Team Grado.
Next, I listened to the Sonys - MDR-CD2000 and MDR-CD3000 - but I wasn't particularly impressed. That impression became apparent after I listened to the AKG K#01 series headphones (K401 and K501). The CD2000 sounded similar to the K401 - but at nearly twice the price!
And the CD3000 actually sounded worse than the Sennheiser HD 580/600 and the AKG K501 to my ears, to boot! (FWIW, IMHO the AKGs don't lack bass, contrary to what some Head-Fiers had said.)
Going to fully closed-cup headphones, I listened to the Beyerdynamic DT 250-80 and DT-831 - but I definitely preferred the 250, as the 831 sounded a bit thin. But like most other closed-cup headphones, even the 250-80s suffered from slightly recessed highs.
After that I met Tyll (yep, the president of Headroom) - and I explained why the Sennheiser HD 590 was so much brighter than the HD 580. (I didn't notice the 590's brightness when I first got mine, but only after listening to the 580 did I notice the added brightness.)
Next, I tried the portable Etymotic canalphones (well, I tried only the ER-4# series; I skipped the ER-6 altogether) - and boy, I heard a loud "thunk" (the sound of my jaw dropping to the floor)
even though I tried them directly from the headphone-out of a Panasonic SL-CT470 PCDP. I just couldn't believe how much or how deep that bass was on the ER-4P! (Well, maybe the 4P was a bit too "Duh!-m-Bass"-sounding for my liking.) But even the ER-4S was more than loud enough for my tastes. But the best thing about the Etys is that I had no trouble whatsoever getting a proper seal (with the default rubber tips), unlike what some people had to go through just to fit those canalphones in their ears. And though I haven't really met him in person, why did acidtripwow call the ER-4P "crap"?
Finally, I did try the Sennheiser HD 212PRO - which didn't impress me, partly because I was so much used to somewhat bright-sounding headphones. I also tried the Sennheiser 580 directly out of the hedphone jack of *my* Sony D-EJ1000. To my amazement, they're loud enough and sound good enough for my tastes - but an amp will REALLY make the 580 sing.
That's all I will be talking about for now. I'll check back tomorrow morning (or maybe later tonight) for any impressions from other Head-Fiers who may have attended the show.
cya l8r
Randall
First, I compared the Sennheiser HD 580, 590 and 600. It was only after I listened to the 580 that I noticed the brightness of the 590. I can't ********* believe how much smoother the 580 is compared to the relatively "forward"-sounding 590!
The Grados - SR-225, SR-325 and RS-1 - all sound a bit bright to my liking. 'Nuff said 'bout Team Grado.
Next, I listened to the Sonys - MDR-CD2000 and MDR-CD3000 - but I wasn't particularly impressed. That impression became apparent after I listened to the AKG K#01 series headphones (K401 and K501). The CD2000 sounded similar to the K401 - but at nearly twice the price!
Going to fully closed-cup headphones, I listened to the Beyerdynamic DT 250-80 and DT-831 - but I definitely preferred the 250, as the 831 sounded a bit thin. But like most other closed-cup headphones, even the 250-80s suffered from slightly recessed highs.
After that I met Tyll (yep, the president of Headroom) - and I explained why the Sennheiser HD 590 was so much brighter than the HD 580. (I didn't notice the 590's brightness when I first got mine, but only after listening to the 580 did I notice the added brightness.)
Next, I tried the portable Etymotic canalphones (well, I tried only the ER-4# series; I skipped the ER-6 altogether) - and boy, I heard a loud "thunk" (the sound of my jaw dropping to the floor)
Finally, I did try the Sennheiser HD 212PRO - which didn't impress me, partly because I was so much used to somewhat bright-sounding headphones. I also tried the Sennheiser 580 directly out of the hedphone jack of *my* Sony D-EJ1000. To my amazement, they're loud enough and sound good enough for my tastes - but an amp will REALLY make the 580 sing.
That's all I will be talking about for now. I'll check back tomorrow morning (or maybe later tonight) for any impressions from other Head-Fiers who may have attended the show.
cya l8r
Randall