musicmind
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2006
- Posts
- 1,480
- Likes
- 19
Hi everyone
I have been reading the excellent posts on the forum to make my headphone purchase.
Thanks to all who take time out to post here
Most of my audio is in the form of mp3's of various quality, mostly 128-192kbps, listened to on my ipod photo 60Gb or my notebook computer. My most listened genres are instrumental jazz (eg. wes montgomery, pat metheny, coltrane) and rock. I dont intend to use a dedicated headphone amp, so I am considering the lower impedance headphone models.
I have to decide between various Sennheiser models, because that is the only brand I can find with some ease. I would love to try Grado, Beyerdynamic etc but unfortunately I cant so.
I first considered the HD201, because it was good value, but the unplesant issue of resonant sibilants (esssss sounds) put me off. My impression is that the Senn 5x5 series is much more comfortable, has better bass, treble clarity and better soundstage. They are more expensive than HD201 but I figure it is worth it if u take ur listening pleasure quite seriously
So I am left trying to decide between the HD 555 and HD 595. I want to make a once off purchase and wont be upgrading, since different models and makes are hard to come by where I live.
The HD 595 is twice the price for me as the HD 555. Even so, having read about the overall improved sound they offer, I am still willing to get the HD 595 for their long term enjoyment.
My question and concern is, will the added clarity and sound of the HD 595 become a "double edged sword" in that it will reveal the imperfections of my mp3's ? I do like high frequency clarity, which can make instruments sound great, but I am wondering whether I am going to have to EQ everything because the phones are too bright and make mp3s sound bad by being "too good" and exposing limitations of mp3 encoded music.
My current headset is the ipod buds which I feel are too bassy or veiled and lack high frequency clarity/air compared to my older pair of aiwa CD player buds.
I dont have the opportunity to test these phones, so I would value feedback from those that are using similar Senn models for unamped mp3 listening
Many thanks, cheers
I have been reading the excellent posts on the forum to make my headphone purchase.
Thanks to all who take time out to post here
Most of my audio is in the form of mp3's of various quality, mostly 128-192kbps, listened to on my ipod photo 60Gb or my notebook computer. My most listened genres are instrumental jazz (eg. wes montgomery, pat metheny, coltrane) and rock. I dont intend to use a dedicated headphone amp, so I am considering the lower impedance headphone models.
I have to decide between various Sennheiser models, because that is the only brand I can find with some ease. I would love to try Grado, Beyerdynamic etc but unfortunately I cant so.
I first considered the HD201, because it was good value, but the unplesant issue of resonant sibilants (esssss sounds) put me off. My impression is that the Senn 5x5 series is much more comfortable, has better bass, treble clarity and better soundstage. They are more expensive than HD201 but I figure it is worth it if u take ur listening pleasure quite seriously
So I am left trying to decide between the HD 555 and HD 595. I want to make a once off purchase and wont be upgrading, since different models and makes are hard to come by where I live.
The HD 595 is twice the price for me as the HD 555. Even so, having read about the overall improved sound they offer, I am still willing to get the HD 595 for their long term enjoyment.
My question and concern is, will the added clarity and sound of the HD 595 become a "double edged sword" in that it will reveal the imperfections of my mp3's ? I do like high frequency clarity, which can make instruments sound great, but I am wondering whether I am going to have to EQ everything because the phones are too bright and make mp3s sound bad by being "too good" and exposing limitations of mp3 encoded music.
My current headset is the ipod buds which I feel are too bassy or veiled and lack high frequency clarity/air compared to my older pair of aiwa CD player buds.
I dont have the opportunity to test these phones, so I would value feedback from those that are using similar Senn models for unamped mp3 listening
Many thanks, cheers