[Pibborando]

I'm listening to that free binaural download of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performing Symphony No. 5 on my DT 880s and it's is AMAZING. Now, I've listened to this before. It was pretty cool, but right now it's just blowing my mind. Why, you ask? Well, I just tried loosening the headband on each side of my cans (by one click) earlier.

I was noticing that the top of my head was hurting after wearing my Beyers for not even an hour. I took them off, loosened them by one click on each side and now they're much more comfy. Less pressure on the top of my head, and the ear cups sit a bit lower on my ears.

When I listened to this recording before, it was hard to place the sounds in space. They mostly seemed to be coming from above me and I couldn't "project" them out in front of me in my mind. Since adjusting the fit, I can literally "see" with my imagination each section of the orchestra before me. The spacial positioning feels so much more real I'm almost creeped out. So THIS is why binaural is so amazing!

I'm guessing it's because the center of the drivers are now more directly aligned with my ear drums. I suggest everyone try playing with the fit and positioning of your cans if you have not. It can improve comfort and sound stage realism! And for those of you who have messed with this, which cans have improved the most from a simple adjustment?

Happy listening!

 

[vcoheda]

From the meier website:

headphone position

It's so easy, but did you ever test for the optimal position of your headphone? With many headphones the soundstage and the balance of sound are strongly dependent on the position of the driver to our ears.

Scientific research has shown that our perception of depth is increased when the driver is placed more forward and lower with respect to the entrance of the ear channel.

Experimenting doesn't cost you anything and may improve sound considerably.


Personally, i have never found any change in sound due to positioning; at least, that was noticeable.

 

[Elephas]

I find that the positioning of most headphones makes a big difference. There's a sweet spot that makes everything snap into focus, increasing clarity, notes separation, imaging precision etc.

The positioning of the HD25-1, ATH-ES7 and Grados is less critical than the K701, AD2000 or SA5000, for example, maybe due to their smaller size.

 

[robm321]

GS-1000, K701, and K-1000 all make a noticeable difference in regards to position.

The Senns didn't make as bit a difference to me.

 

[Crossfeed]

I like to have my HD650 as Jan describes it on his site. That is a bit more forward and a bit lower. With that setting I experience a much more "natural" sound stage. It feels like the sound comes from a stage in front of me instead of from left and right.

When I use my Proline 650 I have them in a more "normal" position due to their different placement of their drivers.

 

[2deadeyes]

I find a difference in sound with the L3000. A more forward position (earpads touching the back earlobes) leads to more impactful bass but @ the cost of a smaller soundstage.

 

[SysteX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pibborando /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm listening to that free binaural download of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performing Symphony No. 5 on my DT 880s and it's is AMAZING. [snip]

So far everyone has overlooked the most important question--who's Symphony No. 5? My money is on Beethoven or Mahler.

 

[Pibborando]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SysteX /img/forum/go_quote.gif So far everyone has overlooked the most important question--who's Symphony No. 5? My money is on Beethoven or Mahler.

Sorry. Tchaikovsky.

edit: You can get it here BTW for those who haven't heard it.

 

[holland]

I find it makes a difference, not only for comfort, but for isolation as well. Of course, it helps the audio as well, as indicated by Meier's link. I find the up and down didn't help much, but the fore and aft does. The up and down help with comfort though, particularly with headband pressure on the top of the head.

 

[mdarnton]

I always set my phones first, to where I like the sound and don't mind the fit, and then adjust the headband to that. It's just a habit that seemed to make sense.

 

[xnothingpoetic]

pk1 needs to be set just right or else it sounds really flat and/or little bass.

at least with my ears.

 

[dissembled]

One headphone can sound vastly different to various people (with identical sources/amps) due to positioning/ differing ear geometries. Makes me wonder why I bother with this site in the first place.

 

[epaludo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robm321 /img/forum/go_quote.gif GS-1000, K701, and K-1000 all make a noticeable difference in regards to position. The Senns didn't make as bit a difference to me.

Definitely. The K701 sounds so different changing the position that any noob can tell ...

 

[Zorander]

Always. Poor fitting/positioning never results in a satisfying listening experience.

 

[BushGuy]

Surely you must realize the headband of dt880,990, and 770 are made of a spring steel which is easily bent by hand to whatever works best for you. To generalize fitting the cups/drivers low on the ear and as forward as possible tends to work best..........and if you want to ameliorate bass that is too much (eg.770), fit the headphones to fit as loosely as possible.