mistersprinkles
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2006
- Posts
- 82
- Likes
- 23
Hey folks,
I've been a member of head-fi for a long time but I haven't made many posts. I was over on canuck audio mart asking about headphones and they told me to come here.
I'm looking for an over ear headphone to use with my Marantz PM5005 integrated amplifier being fed by a TEAC UD-301 DAC. I am considering buying a "real" headphone amp in the future. For now though, let's start with the headphones.
I was considering buying Sennheiser HD650's on sale from Bay Bloor Radio for $499 CDN. I was told, however, that the Hi-fi man HE400i's would sound better, and would cost the same amount of money from Headphone Shop in North York on Yonge St.
I'm here to ask what you guys think I should buy.
Currently I am using an old, decrepit Grado SR 80 from about 2005 or so. They are quite decrepit... and they don't have the sound I'm after. Not surprising from a $130 headphone. I used to have Grado SR 225i's but they were stepped on and crushed by a hefty friend in a tragic
accident and they are no longer with me. I also had some quite decent Denon headphones I can not remember the model of but I had to sell them when I fell on hard times. They cost me about $340 + tax when I bought them. They sounded good, but again, not quite the sound I was looking for.
I have KEF Q300s for my speakers hooked up to the Marantz PM-5005. Despite the sound being low-fi/chi-fi... or perhaps, mid-fi at best, I quite enjoy the sonic signature of this setup.
I am looking for headphones which are warm, with good bass extension, and without the tinny, overly bright highs of the Grado that has plagued my life for the past ten years. I want something that sounds good across a range of different musical styles as I have very eclectic tastes.
I listen to everything from metal to classic rock to indy to really mellow stuff like Diana Krall, Lail Arad, Lana Del Rey. I also like electronic stuff, particularly stuff made in the 80s and early 90s, and 80s pop. I realize that it is almost impossible to find a headphone/speakers that will shine equally well
with all these different musical styles, especially at such a low price point, but I'd like something that is at least a jack of all trades, if a master of none.
I don't know what the output impedance capabilities of my PM5005 amplifier are, and again, it is not an end-game solution. I will be buying a proper amp in the future. But for now, I need to buy something with consideration given to the admittedly limited capabilities of a $500 USD integrated amplifier.
The sound of the Marantz PM5005 is very warm and a little dark. I don't know if that helps you guys in selecting headphones for me or not.
I'd like to keep the price under $600 including taxes for these headphones. The HE 400i will already put me over that at $623 after taxes from headphone shop (vs $499 for the Sennheiser HD650) but I'm ok with going over budget by 23 dollars if it means I get better sound.
Please advise me, Head-Fi people.
Pablo
I've been a member of head-fi for a long time but I haven't made many posts. I was over on canuck audio mart asking about headphones and they told me to come here.
I'm looking for an over ear headphone to use with my Marantz PM5005 integrated amplifier being fed by a TEAC UD-301 DAC. I am considering buying a "real" headphone amp in the future. For now though, let's start with the headphones.
I was considering buying Sennheiser HD650's on sale from Bay Bloor Radio for $499 CDN. I was told, however, that the Hi-fi man HE400i's would sound better, and would cost the same amount of money from Headphone Shop in North York on Yonge St.
I'm here to ask what you guys think I should buy.
Currently I am using an old, decrepit Grado SR 80 from about 2005 or so. They are quite decrepit... and they don't have the sound I'm after. Not surprising from a $130 headphone. I used to have Grado SR 225i's but they were stepped on and crushed by a hefty friend in a tragic
accident and they are no longer with me. I also had some quite decent Denon headphones I can not remember the model of but I had to sell them when I fell on hard times. They cost me about $340 + tax when I bought them. They sounded good, but again, not quite the sound I was looking for.
I have KEF Q300s for my speakers hooked up to the Marantz PM-5005. Despite the sound being low-fi/chi-fi... or perhaps, mid-fi at best, I quite enjoy the sonic signature of this setup.
I am looking for headphones which are warm, with good bass extension, and without the tinny, overly bright highs of the Grado that has plagued my life for the past ten years. I want something that sounds good across a range of different musical styles as I have very eclectic tastes.
I listen to everything from metal to classic rock to indy to really mellow stuff like Diana Krall, Lail Arad, Lana Del Rey. I also like electronic stuff, particularly stuff made in the 80s and early 90s, and 80s pop. I realize that it is almost impossible to find a headphone/speakers that will shine equally well
with all these different musical styles, especially at such a low price point, but I'd like something that is at least a jack of all trades, if a master of none.
I don't know what the output impedance capabilities of my PM5005 amplifier are, and again, it is not an end-game solution. I will be buying a proper amp in the future. But for now, I need to buy something with consideration given to the admittedly limited capabilities of a $500 USD integrated amplifier.
The sound of the Marantz PM5005 is very warm and a little dark. I don't know if that helps you guys in selecting headphones for me or not.
I'd like to keep the price under $600 including taxes for these headphones. The HE 400i will already put me over that at $623 after taxes from headphone shop (vs $499 for the Sennheiser HD650) but I'm ok with going over budget by 23 dollars if it means I get better sound.
Please advise me, Head-Fi people.
Pablo