[syNRG]

Hello friends,
 
looking for someone to tell me what they think of these 2 headphones. I'm looking for something that's very neutral and accurate. The Alpha Dog is a bit more expensive, but if price wasn't a factor, and just based on sound which one would you guys pick? 
 
Thanks

 

[KG Jag]

I heard the Alpha Dogs at the recent Austin Head-Fi meet.  I have heard several HE-400's and have heard two very different sound signatures--apparently depending on the version of the HE-400 you get.  One type of HE-400 has a bass heavy sound signature.  Another has a much more neutral sound signature, but its mids were not quite neutral of natural. 
 
I'd get the Alpha Dogs over the HE 400  However, if you can afford them, get the HE-500 over both.

 

[Makiah S]

  I heard the Alpha Dogs at the recent Austin Head-Fi meet.  I have heard several HE-400's and have heard two very different sound signatures--apparently depending on the version of the HE-400 you get.  One type of HE-400 has a bass heavy sound signature.  Another has a much more neutral sound signature, but its mids were not quite neutral of natural. 
 
I'd get the Alpha Dogs over the HE 400  However, if you can afford them, get the HE-500 over both.

I wonder how does the Alpha Dog compare to the HE 4? I had the HE 400, didn't like it. I had the Mad Dog, did not like it.
 
And now I own and very much LOVE the HE 4 

 

[syNRG]

  I'd get the Alpha Dogs over the HE 400  However, if you can afford them, get the HE-500 over both.

Thanks for the input! Not sure if I can get the HE-500 :/, might save up some more?
 
Also, would a Fiio E11 power any of these effectively? That's currently the only amp that I own, but I'm willing to get another one in time if I need to

 

[KG Jag]

 

  I'd get the Alpha Dogs over the HE 400  However, if you can afford them, get the HE-500 over both.

Thanks for the input! Not sure if I can get the HE-500 :/, might save up some more?
 
Also, would a Fiio E11 power any of these effectively? That's currently the only amp that I own, but I'm willing to get another one in time if I need to

I doubt it--I would certainly not pair it with the HE-500.  Someone with the E11 and the one or both or the other two cans will know better than I about those pairings.

 

[rubinstein]

And now I own and very much LOVE the HE 4 

 
 
What amp do you use to drive HE 4?

 

[Makiah S]

   
 
What amp do you use to drive HE 4?

Audio GD NFB 10ES2 with balanced out to the HE 4

 

[Eric_C]

  Not sure if I can get the HE-500 :/, might save up some more?

 
Wait, wait, wait. The HE-500 is the same price as an Alpha Dog:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/Mrspeakers-Alpha-dog-Alpha-Pads-Balanced-TRS
https://head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=102
 
You were actually thinking about comparing the HE-400 to Mad Dog, weren't you?
These 2 are also the same price:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/MrSpeakers-Mad-Dog-Alpha-Pad-Fostex-T50RP-headphone
https://head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=115
 
Plus you said in your original post that the "[Mad] Dog is a bit more expensive", which means you were looking at the Universal Mad Dog:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/MrSpeakers-Universal-%20Mad-Dog-Fostex-T50RP-Headphones
If you don't have a balanced amp, there is no need for a Universal MD.

 

[syNRG]

Wait, wait, wait. The HE-500 is the same price as an Alpha Dog:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/Mrspeakers-Alpha-dog-Alpha-Pads-Balanced-TRS
https://head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=102

You were actually thinking about comparing the HE-400 to Mad Dog, weren't you?
These 2 are also the same price:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/MrSpeakers-Mad-Dog-Alpha-Pad-Fostex-T50RP-headphone
https://head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=115

Plus you said in your original post that the "[Mad] Dog is a bit more expensive", which means you were looking at the Universal Mad Dog:
https://www.mrspeakers.com/MrSpeakers-Universal-%20Mad-Dog-Fostex-T50RP-Headphones
If you don't have a balanced amp, there is no need for a Universal MD.

Hahahaha I thought someone would pick up on it. I did mean Apha Dog since I have the opportunity to get it at a reduced cost. In Au the Apha Dog is around $770Usd retail but the He400 can be bought for $450Usd from a reputable store in both cases. So I wanted to know what was better since I could purchase either.
But yes the He500 is the same as the Alpha Dog, but no discount for me on that

 

[syNRG]

Also can someone recommend a relatively cheap headphone amp that will power the Alpha Dog? I use a Sansa Clip, and would like to use them on the go but size is something that does not bother me.

 

[Eric_C]

For on-the-go, you might as well just rule out all Hifiman headphones already. They're open back; would you really want to deal with the annoyance of hearing external noise, and getting on everyone else's nerves, while listening to music?

 

[syNRG]

How about for the Alpha Dog. I think I'm going to take the advice to get the Alpha Dog, they are a nice closed set, and they're not to bulky and they look nice. An amp that's good enough for those?
This is going to be my first orthodynamic headphone, and before this site, I had never even heard of this type of headphone. 
Can someone also explain if there is a difference between planar magnetic and orthodynamic? Or are they just different ways of saying the same thing?
Thanks!

 

[Makiah S]

  How about for the Alpha Dog. I think I'm going to take the advice to get the Alpha Dog, they are a nice closed set, and they're not to bulky and they look nice. An amp that's good enough for those?
This is going to be my first orthodynamic headphone, and before this site, I had never even heard of this type of headphone. 
Can someone also explain if there is a difference between planar magnetic and orthodynamic? Or are they just different ways of saying the same thing?
Thanks!

My understanding is Planars and Orthos are the same thing, I could be wrong. But both need a powerful amp. Something like the Fiio E12 would be a good start or a used iBasso Pb1 [in which case go for a balanced Alpha Dog] would be another good option 

 

[TMRaven]

Orthodynamic is the brand name of a Yamaha-brand planar magnetic series in the 70s/80s.  People just casually refer to planar magnetics as orthodynamics these days.  I can't fault them, because it's essentially the same as calling any type of tissue a kleenex, or any type of acrylic panel plexiglass.  

 

[syNRG]

Thanks Raven and Mshenay for the replies. BTW are those old Yamaha orthodynamic headphones any good? I've seen quite a few online on ebay for a reasonable price, but I'm not sure if they're that great. I mean are they like the Fostex T50rp, which I heard aren't that great without modding, or are they better?