Help! Did I make a mistake?

[olaveti]

I'm a home audio/home theatre guy who's just discovered head-fi (in the sense of both the forum and the hobby) in the past 2 months. I've been lurking a lot, doing research, etc., and thought I'd picked a good entry level phone in the HD 497. I listen to various types of music, but lately it's mainly trance and house (just finished a Ph.D. on rave culture and am big-time into the music). I bought a 497 locally, burned it in, liked the sound enough, but it just did not isolate enough on the bus and on the street. So, I returned it and ordered my original choice, the HD 280PRO, from Etronics. It will be delivered here today. I know both the 497 and the 280 are very large to be worn in public, but I've never been one to worry too much about appearances, so I was going to try the 280 anyway. However...

I just read the "I like that graph Headroom has on their site" thread, and the 280's appear to have one of the worst FR profiles of any headphone mentioned. I'd seen HeadRoom's graphs before, but when you look at the 280 side by side with others, it looks pitiful. I don't mind having to do a bit of EQing, but man, the low end and the top end appear to be extremely rolled off on the 280. Did I make a mistake? Should I not even open the box today and just return them? I'm looking for a neutral, closed, portable phone under $100 that can be easily driven un-amped with a Nomad and that has good isolation. A small profile on the head would be nice but I can live with ear muffs if it means good sound. Can anyone offer advice? Should I try the 280s? Or should I just return the box unopened to Etronics and order something else?

 

[go_vtec]

Go with HD280 and worry no more (I sound like Yoda

). Frequency response measurements only give you appriximate idea of overall characteristics of headphones...useful for approximate guide, but nothing more. Our hearing is NOT FLAT nor LINEAR... that is why listening is the ultimate test or measurement. If you can spare few more $$, you can go for HD-25 which is a significantly better than HD-280 pro (in my humble opinion).

Other alternative will be Sony MDR-V6, but it isn't really neutral. Then again, what is a true neutral phone at $100 range? I liked V6 more than HD280. V6 sounds tad bit brighter and more bass, and it is not perfect, just like HD280. Nothing really is perfect in this headfi world!

 

[gorman]

I'd say listen to them and judge for yourself. If you are pleased with what you hear, no need to worry about FR. Those charts are interesting, can suggest something, but should not be held as THE truth on headphones.

Even if they were the truth... if you like what you hear, who gives a damn about a chart?

 

[NotoriousBIG_PJ]

I found them horrible to wear walking around. why?

a) ugly as anything
b) the cord creaks as you walk which I found really annoying
c) the sound: they sound honkey in the mids to me and the bass might be tight but there isn't that much of it, especially out of portable devices

Biggie.

 

[olaveti]

Thanks for the advice so far. Go-vtec, when you say to get the HD25, do you mean the 25s or the 25SPs? Are the SPs better than the 280 vis-à-vis sound quality?

 

[go_vtec]

Quote:

Originally Posted by olaveti Thanks for the advice so far. Go-vtec, when you say to get the HD25, do you mean the 25s or the 25SPs? Are the SPs better than the 280 vis-à-vis sound quality?

I meant 25s, NOT 25SPs. HD25 sounds much better in sound quality-wise (from my memory) and frequency plot.

 

[Jahn]

HD25-sp is not considered a good phone. The HD25-1 is. Based on using search function, not personal experience (caveat).

 

[Murdoch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_vtec Nothing really is perfect in this headfi world!

Isn't that the truth!

 

[BowerR64]

There are many things i dont like about the HD280s i wish i would of never bought them.

That cord is a annoying and to long
The clamp is to much and feels like a vise (you will hear everyone complain about this)
The sound, to me it lacks bass and at times is very harsh
really big and bulky

I think i would of been better off with the HD25