Clutz
Tells us when we're offset.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2002
- Posts
- 2,483
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- 13
These are the four heavy hitters I have in my headphone line up. Some people will think that including the RS-1s in the same line up is unfair because they cost more than double the other three. In fact, you could probably get HD595, HD650 and K701 in very good used condition for the price of a pair of new RS-1s. They can think whatever they like - This is my review.
My non headphone inclined friends often ask me why I have so many different pairs of headphones - they seem totally baffled by the requirement for multiple pairs of multi-hundred dollar headphones. I've tried explaining it to them, but I haven't got very far. They're not judgemental about it - just confused. They ask which of the four pairs are the best - to which I follow with "Well, it's very difficult to say which is the best - the best answer I can give is, that it depends". Frequently they then follow the first question with what would I pick if I had to pick only one pair of headphones out of the four? It's a good question- and I'll get back to it.
Instead of writing a comprehensive review, I'm going to list some of my favourite artists, and beside them indicate which pair headphones I would pick for them. Then following this I'll indicate what pair of headphones I would go with if I could only have one pair, and try to justify it. The order of the list below doesn't reflect anything, except the order in which things came to my mind.
1. Radiohead. Favourite group of all time. I have > 50 of their LPs, EPs, and Singles. I love their guitar rock, I think it's brilliant but I also love their more electronic stuff. AKG K701
2. The Cure. Darker than Radiohead- but rich, textured layers in much of their music - especially the more recent stuff. HD650
3. Nine Inch Nails. Don't really know what to say here, so just AKG K701.
4. The Tragically Hip. My first favourite band. Some people think these guys have gone down hill since Fully Completely or Day for Night. I think their music gets better and better. Grado RS-1.
5. Coldplay. Because they've become so popular, they're best described as pretty generic post-alternative pop rock. I'm almost embarassed to say I like them. The only solace I can take from it is I was listening to them before they were well known. HD650
6. Gorillaz. Funky somewhat trippy band lead by the front man of Blur. HD650.
7. Blur. This is harder because their genre of music has evolved so much over time. They started out firmly in brit-pop, moved towards a sort of low-fi sound, and then more recently almost a world music influenced pop rock. HD650.
8. Interpol. We're starting to see a trend here? HD650.
9. Marilyn Manson. Mr. Twisted himself. Over the top, but I like it. HD650
10. Sloan. Sloan is a highly under appreciated band, regardless of how much their music is appreciated. RS-1.
11. Smashing Pumpkins. Definitive 90s modern rock. Perhaps not as influential as Nirvana. HD650.
12. Nirvana. Just mentioned above! RS-1.
13. The Flaming Lips. Write a catchy song about pink robots, and you'll get me everytime. HD650.
14. Sting and the Police. Is it appropriate for a late 20 something male to love Sting this much? HD650
15. Travis. HD650
16. Tool. RS-1
17. A perfect circle. RS-1
18. Steve Earle. RS-1
19. Dixie Chicks. RS-1
20. Sigur Ros. HD650/AKG K701
21. Sarah McLachlan. AKG K701
22. Pixies. RS-1
23. Muse. HD650/AKG K701
24. Modest Mouse. HD650/AKG K701
25. Massive Attack. K701
26. Mark Knofler. RS-1
27. Keane. HD650
28. Johnny Cash. RS-1
29. Gordon Lightfoot. RS-1
If you want to see my musical tastes in a bit more depth, check out last.fm my username is twtch.
Overall pick? RS-1. I wanted it to be the HD650s - and I certainly think for those 29 artists, the HD650 makes up the majority of the picks- but the RS-1s are just more fun.
My non headphone inclined friends often ask me why I have so many different pairs of headphones - they seem totally baffled by the requirement for multiple pairs of multi-hundred dollar headphones. I've tried explaining it to them, but I haven't got very far. They're not judgemental about it - just confused. They ask which of the four pairs are the best - to which I follow with "Well, it's very difficult to say which is the best - the best answer I can give is, that it depends". Frequently they then follow the first question with what would I pick if I had to pick only one pair of headphones out of the four? It's a good question- and I'll get back to it.
Instead of writing a comprehensive review, I'm going to list some of my favourite artists, and beside them indicate which pair headphones I would pick for them. Then following this I'll indicate what pair of headphones I would go with if I could only have one pair, and try to justify it. The order of the list below doesn't reflect anything, except the order in which things came to my mind.
1. Radiohead. Favourite group of all time. I have > 50 of their LPs, EPs, and Singles. I love their guitar rock, I think it's brilliant but I also love their more electronic stuff. AKG K701
2. The Cure. Darker than Radiohead- but rich, textured layers in much of their music - especially the more recent stuff. HD650
3. Nine Inch Nails. Don't really know what to say here, so just AKG K701.
4. The Tragically Hip. My first favourite band. Some people think these guys have gone down hill since Fully Completely or Day for Night. I think their music gets better and better. Grado RS-1.
5. Coldplay. Because they've become so popular, they're best described as pretty generic post-alternative pop rock. I'm almost embarassed to say I like them. The only solace I can take from it is I was listening to them before they were well known. HD650
6. Gorillaz. Funky somewhat trippy band lead by the front man of Blur. HD650.
7. Blur. This is harder because their genre of music has evolved so much over time. They started out firmly in brit-pop, moved towards a sort of low-fi sound, and then more recently almost a world music influenced pop rock. HD650.
8. Interpol. We're starting to see a trend here? HD650.
9. Marilyn Manson. Mr. Twisted himself. Over the top, but I like it. HD650
10. Sloan. Sloan is a highly under appreciated band, regardless of how much their music is appreciated. RS-1.
11. Smashing Pumpkins. Definitive 90s modern rock. Perhaps not as influential as Nirvana. HD650.
12. Nirvana. Just mentioned above! RS-1.
13. The Flaming Lips. Write a catchy song about pink robots, and you'll get me everytime. HD650.
14. Sting and the Police. Is it appropriate for a late 20 something male to love Sting this much? HD650
15. Travis. HD650
16. Tool. RS-1
17. A perfect circle. RS-1
18. Steve Earle. RS-1
19. Dixie Chicks. RS-1
20. Sigur Ros. HD650/AKG K701
21. Sarah McLachlan. AKG K701
22. Pixies. RS-1
23. Muse. HD650/AKG K701
24. Modest Mouse. HD650/AKG K701
25. Massive Attack. K701
26. Mark Knofler. RS-1
27. Keane. HD650
28. Johnny Cash. RS-1
29. Gordon Lightfoot. RS-1
If you want to see my musical tastes in a bit more depth, check out last.fm my username is twtch.
Overall pick? RS-1. I wanted it to be the HD650s - and I certainly think for those 29 artists, the HD650 makes up the majority of the picks- but the RS-1s are just more fun.
