Help me decide! :(

[andy43]

I can't decide on which headphone I would like to purchase. I have about $400 to spend on an amp and headphone combo. The cheaper the headphone, the better the amp. I'll try my best to describe the headphone I want:

-Tight bass that reaches low (not loose or boomy!)
-On the dark side (maybe neutral, but definitely not bright)
-Upfront sounding (not far away sounding)
-Good mids
-Comfortable

The bass doesn't have to be huge, just loud enough that you can hear it and low enough so you can feel it. With the above spec's, I've eliminated the following:

-Beyer DT770/990 (boomy bass, too bright)
-Beyer DT880 (too bright)
-Grado's (ditto)

I'm mainly looking at Senn's, the Denon D2000, and Audio Technica's. Would the Denon's be too flubby in the bass, or is it tight? I listen to a lot of stuff, so a good all-arounder is ideal. But my main music is rock, electronic music, and metal.

 

[Ruckus]

I'm not sure how you feel about refurbished. But from an earlier topic about the HD580s, I found the HD600s for this price. They are out of stock on the HD580

http://www.getpartsonline.com/hd600.html

And then a good headphone amp suggested by this forum. I think that's what I would do if I had 400 set aside for headphone and amp.

EDIT: I listen to same music as you. With the AD900 the source is going to make most different. From other reviews, the amp does not make significant difference to warrant a purchase. But better the source, better the sound.

Good luck finding.

 

[JJ3810]

Upfront sounding probably eliminates the Senns. The K701 might not give you the bass you're looking for nor the comfort (headband). I'd probably suggest the Denon D2000s. Probably run you about $300. These seems to come as close to what you've listed as anything else I can think of.

 

[andy43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ3810 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Upfront sounding probably eliminates the Senns.

Well, what would you say the most upfront sounding Senn is then? I'm feeling really strong on Senn's signature sound, so I could get around the openness of them (I think). But a more "in the music" feeling is what I'm after.

 

[JJ3810]

I have the 580s and the 650s so if you like Senns I'd suggest the 650s. They're darker and have more bass slam than the 580s. Oh yeah, they're more expensive too. The 595s would be more "upfront" but I had them and didn't like them as well as the 580 which I've since added the 600 earcups and the 650 cable. But the 650 is Senn's best headphone and sounds like it.

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy43 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can't decide on which headphone I would like to purchase. I have about $400 to spend on an amp and headphone combo. The cheaper the headphone, the better the amp.

What source do you have or what is your budget for a source? This should be considered along with your headphones/amp purchase.

 

[andy43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif What source do you have or what is your budget for a source? This should be considered along with your headphones/amp purchase.

Right now I just have a Chaintech AV-710 soundcard, so I'm looking for an amp/DAC combo along with the headphones.

I'm looking more into the AKG k701's. From what I hear, the bass is exactly what I'm looking for: tight, punchy and not overpowering. Is it going to be one of those headphones that's hard to amp?

 

[antonyfirst]

In the first post, you described the Altec Lansing iM716. Too bad it's a IEM.

 

[big-fi]

i'd recommend k701.

they have just the right amount of bass.
you need an amp though.

 

[andy43]

It's mainly come down to these headphones, so I have to decide between:

-Denon D2000 (should I just buy them already?

)
-AKG K701
-Sennheiser HD580

I'm mainly worried about the bass. All of the above headphones should have good mids and treble. I want the bass to be tight, controlled, and extend low. I'm worried that the Denon's bass will be too loud and uncontrolled. The K701 is looking very tempting right now.

 

[HFat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy43 /img/forum/go_quote.gif -Tight bass that reaches low (not loose or boomy!) -On the dark side (maybe neutral, but definitely not bright) -Upfront sounding (not far away sounding) -Good mids -Comfortable

There are going to be very few if any headphones that get 5 out of 5 right.

If you were willing to EQ, you wouldn't need 2 anymore and you'd lower the bar for 1 and maybe 4 too. Just sayin'...

 

[HFat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy43 /img/forum/go_quote.gif -Sennheiser HD580

Somewhat loose bass, somewhat uncomfortable and definitely not upfront: these Senns are (among) the worst offenders when it comes to artificial distance IMO. Mids are nothing to write home about either considering the price and the competition... IMHO of course.

I've got no experience with the other two.

 

[1Time]

I suggest the following:

1) Determine your total budget for all 3, headphones, amp, and source.

2) Determine these 3 components after receiving recommendations for all 3 of them TOGETHER AS A SYSTEM. Post as many threads as it takes to get some good SYSTEM recommendations, not recommendations for only parts of a system.

3) Spend no money until all three components have been determined.

 

[andy43]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Somewhat loose bass, somewhat uncomfortable and definitely not upfront: these Senns are (among) the worst offenders when it comes to artificial distance IMO. Mids are nothing to write home about either considering the price and the competition... IMHO of course.

So is it the same with the HD600/650? If modded (HD600 grill, HD650 cable) would it still have loose bass? If so, I think I've eliminated that, then.

I'm looking for a headphone that puts me in the music. Don't IEM's do that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Time /img/forum/go_quote.gif I suggest the following: 1) Determine your total budget for all 3, headphones, amp, and source. 2) Determine these 3 components after receiving recommendations for all 3 of them TOGETHER AS A SYSTEM. Post as many threads as it takes to get some good SYSTEM recommendations, not recommendations for only parts of a system. 3) Spend no money until all three components have been determined.

Well, I said in the first post that the cheaper the headphone, the better the amp. And all the headphones I'm looking at aren't picky about synergy, except for the HD580 which is pretty much out of the water now.

But for all the headphones I would probably go for a Go-vibe or Bithead. If I did decide to go for something cheaper like the HD580, I'd get a Corda Move.

 

[1Time]

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy43 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I said in the first post that the cheaper the headphone, the better the amp. And all the headphones I'm looking at aren't picky about synergy, except for the HD580 which is pretty much out of the water now. But for all the headphones I would probably go for a Go-vibe or Bithead. If I did decide to go for something cheaper like the HD580, I'd get a Corda Move.

It will help others make their most useful recommendations if you provide a total budget for all 3 components: headphones, amp, and source.