[haarism]

So I was looking around and noticed that the Ultrasone Hfi 780 were in my price range and much discounted at b and h photo as compared to headroom
 
now I had a few questions
 
I'm upgrading from my SRH440s and here are my options so far in no particular order
SRH840
ATH-M50
and now the Hfi 780
EDIT: the hd 595 has been added to the mix however it's open backed and i'm mostly going to be using them at school, so if you guys wouldn't mind telling me how it'd work out for me
 
si I wanted to know how the 780s compared against the other headphones and I'm listening to mostly indie folk and rock, alternative, progressive metal, some classical and jazz and very little rap and hip hop or electronic
 
I am going to be using them most often from nothing more than an ipod touch 4th generation
 
tons of thanks for all detailed responses, regular amounts of thanks to not so detailed ones =]

 

[Sophonax]

Given your musical preferences, I would probably stay away from the Ultrasones.  Like you, I listen to mostly rock, metal, and acoustic material.  I've had a few pairs of Ultrasones (HFi-680, HFi-780, Edition 8) and I never thought rock was their strong point, largely due to the fact that Ultrasones seem to have recessed mids and prominent treble and midbass.   They didn't sound bad with rock, but it definitely wasn't anything to write home about, either -- their sound signature struck me as being one that would be much better for electronic or hip hop / rap music.
 
I still haven't tried the M50, but I have tried the SRH-840 and can say that it is a very good headphone for the price.  Shures are typically known for their good mids, and the SRH-840 is no exception, making it great for rock and acoustic music.  Just FYI, if you've got a Guitar Center somewhere nearby, you can check with them -- they typically carry both the M50 and SRH-840 and will let you demo both headphones in the store.
 
As for the HD595, that's another one I haven't tried.  However, they seem to me to be pretty significantly larger than the other headphones you're considering, potentially making them a bit cumbersome for portable applications, especially compared to the SRH-840 and HFi-780, as these headphones have earcups that can fold flat for transport.  Also, open back is probably not the best option at school -- you'd have to crank up the volume so that you could hear them in noisy places, and conversely everyone around you would then be hearing your music as well.  I think you'd be better off with one of the closed sets instead.
 
Hope that helps!

 

[haarism]

thanks a lot for that detailed response ( no pun intended)
there is a long and mcquade near by and i do remember seeing ath-m50 lying around i might go someday and check em out
ill be buying from b and h photo since theyre prices are easily the best and canadian shipping is 8 dollars
ill wait for more replies.
the srh 440 is a little lacking in the bass i feel is this the same case with the 840?
also how much different is the 840 in terms of size and weight and other aesthetics because i want to actually feel like i got new headphones and from pictures theyre pretty mch the same

 

[Sophonax]

Yeah, I found the SRH-440 to be a bit light on bass too.  The SRH-840 does have a somewhat fuller bass response, but it's definitely not a bass monster by any means.  Also, it's a little bit bigger and heavier than the SRH-440, but aesthetics are pretty similar -- the SRH-840's build seems to be of somewhat higher quality, but visually they're definitely cut from the same cloth.

 

[haarism]

so would you guys recommend the 840s over all the other ones?

 

[haarism]

Now I just saw the AKG K271 and 240 MK II how are those compared to these? they are pretty much the same price at a store nearby

 

[Argyris]

I think the choices are starting to overwhelm you. 

 Sight unseen (or unheard, as it were), I'd say your best option moving forward would be the 840. This is mainly because your only stated problem with the 440 is the light bass (I'm in the same camp as you on this issue sometimes). Purely design-wise, the 840 is a heavier 440 with better pads, so you'll likely feel right at home. Many people claim that the 840 and 440 share a "family resemblance," with the 840 having more bass and lower midrange depth. In other words, it sounds like you want a "perfected 440," not something totally new.
 
If you do go this route, I'd be very interested to hear your impressions of one versus the other.

 

[Lorspeaker]

the shure840 has a slight warm forward mids, overall quite balanced and bodacious kind of presentation.
( read as it isnt lean and analytical )
y i sold it was becos it was heavy and hot on my head and i cant listen to it for long periods.
 
one can to check out is the Audio Fischer FA-003.....
its got a long thread in this forum and many many fans. do check it out.
i cant have enough of it actually. every time i put it on, i felt its like sound coming from a  very expensive headphone.
 

 

[grm9860]

New to the forum...  I've had the same HD540's for as long as I can remember, and they were just coming apart. So, after some research I decided on the HFI-780's.   Due to time constraints, I purchased through Amazon from what I thought was a reputable supplier.   I thought Ultrasone were made in Germany, but both the box and the cans are labeled "Made in Taiwan"'?  Have I been scammed?  Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Sophonax]

 
Quote:

New to the forum...  I've had the same HD540's for as long as I can remember, and they were just coming apart. So, after some research I decided on the HFI-780's.   Due to time constraints, I purchased through Amazon from what I thought was a reputable supplier.   I thought Ultrasone were made in Germany, but both the box and the cans are labeled "Made in Taiwan"'?  Have I been scammed?  Any help would be appreciated.

 
I think all but the highest-end (i.e. the Edition series) Ultrasone headphones are probably manufactured in Taiwan; you probably weren't scammed.  Ultrasone engineers their products in Germany, but manufacturing for most of them is done elsewhere.
 
Oh, and welcome to Head-Fi!

 

[haarism]

Quote:

 
Quote:

New to the forum...  I've had the same HD540's for as long as I can remember, and they were just coming apart. So, after some research I decided on the HFI-780's.   Due to time constraints, I purchased through Amazon from what I thought was a reputable supplier.   I thought Ultrasone were made in Germany, but both the box and the cans are labeled "Made in Taiwan"'?  Have I been scammed?  Any help would be appreciated.

 
I think all but the highest-end (i.e. the Edition series) Ultrasone headphones are probably manufactured in Taiwan; you probably weren't scammed.  Ultrasone engineers their products in Germany, but manufacturing for most of them is done elsewhere.
 
Oh, and welcome to Head-Fi!

cheap labour?

 

[Sophonax]

 
Quote:

cheap labour?

Well I'm sure it's cheaper than Germany...

 

[grm9860]

Thanks!  I feel better.  Burn in has begone... 


 
Quote:

 
Quote:

New to the forum...  I've had the same HD540's for as long as I can remember, and they were just coming apart. So, after some research I decided on the HFI-780's.   Due to time constraints, I purchased through Amazon from what I thought was a reputable supplier.   I thought Ultrasone were made in Germany, but both the box and the cans are labeled "Made in Taiwan"'?  Have I been scammed?  Any help would be appreciated.

 
I think all but the highest-end (i.e. the Edition series) Ultrasone headphones are probably manufactured in Taiwan; you probably weren't scammed.  Ultrasone engineers their products in Germany, but manufacturing for most of them is done elsewhere.
 
Oh, and welcome to Head-Fi!