High End Cans That Crank?

[Blorton]

<--- See Avatar. Note tagline.

I was born with a bit of hearing loss. Please no lectures about the dangers of high volumes. I've been living with significant amounts of boost for decades just to "function" in society.

Even though it might seem to not be the case, my ears are extremely well trained and low to mid-fi stuff just doesn't do it for me.

Anyways - I'm looking for recommendations on high end cans that retain their clarity, detail and punch when driven to obscene levels. I'm just finishing up the first week with a pair of 225's, and while they are great with slower and most uptempo songs, they wash out on very busy tracks. Since I just love the sound, would a higher-end Grado work better?

Also, I've recently had the chance to listen to a pair of HD650's, a K1000, and even a Leatherhead(nice!) driven by nice chains. Of those, the Leatherhead was most impressive, but that's out of my price range for the time being. I really liked the K1K as well, but I'd need to have them mounted in cups to be able to use them.

I should mention that what some would consider "too bright" sounds good to me, as my loss is greater in the higher frequencies.

Music tastes run from Crue to Krall, with lots of diversions. I don't do country, rap, or trance. (Finally bought Los Lonely Boys' debut cd today, can't wait to get home and give it a listen.)

Equipment-wise, this is all coming out of a Denon DRA-395 with a marginal cdp. Working on getting an Eastsound CD-E5 next, then comes probably a Dynahi. Or maybe I'll skip those and get the MiniMax.

Any comments or pointers would be most appreciated!

Thanks!
Dan

 

[Zanth]

A higher Grado would to the trick with a better amp that can provide the proper current to keep them going, otherwise, they will sound congested on very busy tracks.

You may want to try some Sony Qualias but again they are out of your price range. The lower model the 5000's, they could be it for you! Or perhaps the Sony CD3000's?

Of course, there are in ear monitors, they actually could provide the best enjoyment for you, though do you use a hearing aid while listening with headphones?

 

[Jahn]

Mile Highs club? Get the RS-1, or the Sony SA5K. Ranges from 300 for the Sony to 450 for the Grado used. Plenty of highs to be had there, and plenty energetic for rock.

 

[SunByrne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanth A higher Grado would to the trick with a better amp that can provide the proper current to keep them going, otherwise, they will sound congested on very busy tracks.

I have to second this. Your profile says your amp is the Boosteroo, which will not cut it--you really will need a dedicated heaphone amp to do this well, no matter what cans you decide upon.

 

[radrd]

Maybe you should get a new amp before you toss those 225s aside. Methinks they might be exactly what you want with something like a Gilmore Lite instead of a *cough* Boostaroo.

 

[Jahn]

225 are definitely up there in PRaT land, so the mushy response you are getting might indeed be due to the amp. But even unamped those things should rock, so maybe you're just not a Grado guy? Get a DT770 and they will blow the remaining bits of your eardrum off with its piercing highs (and yes the bass). Edit - but with the Boostaroo you might be hard pressed to push the DT770.

 

[kevin gilmore]

Probably out of your price range But the stax 4070 are sealed back
electrostatics, have huge outside isolation and because of that absolutely
tremendous spl levels. In excess of 110db and very clean.

 

[wwmidia]

ER4B turns out in my mind as it boosts high frequencies and is generally believed to be too bright - exactly what you want. But it's not a pair of cans. What's more, it is designed as a hearing aid at first. I think it would be suiltable to your requirement.

 

[Blorton]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

(Fwiw, the boosteroo is strictly for portable use, running with the koss plugs. - don't need hifi on the motorbike or while working out.) For serious use, I've been running the headphone plug on the denon receiver. Seems to be clean and strong enough most of the time.

Zanth - I never use the hearing aids with headphones, the combo sounds hideous.

I did try out the E5C's recently, and even with them going into my custom earmolds, I felt they lacked presence. (The same molds with the koss plugs really pump it out.))

I'm not tossing the 225's - yet. I'm giving them a month before I decide. Honestly, I *really* like their sound. More low bass would be nice, but I don't want to give up their "voicing". Certainly they will go nowhere before I spend some time with them connected to a good amp.

Fwiw, I did rig up a second headphone plug to listen to them through my receiver's secondary speaker outputs, but there's funky impedance issues keeping things from sounding right. Did notice just a touch more bass presence though...

I've vowed to upgrade the cdp before the amp, but that's getting hard to do with all these great amp deals floating around.

I do have a pair of 7506's here that have been with me for a couple of years that I liked, even though they aren't a high-end product. They have a certain sound on things like Krall that I really dig. I had been thinking about the SA5K, but saw some bad mouthing of it here. I could save up and justify the Qualias, but that fixed headband thing is a big turnoff.

On the Grados - I'd love to try out their higher end models, but am confused on the special versions. Should I go for the RS-1 or some of the esoteric cans that Joe made? Can someone fill me in on those? (There should be a dummy's guide to Grados out there. Heh.) PS-1? HP-1?

I'm guessing I should forget electrostatics, eh? I've been tempted to give the Koss a whirl for shiggles.

Anyways - thanks a bunch for the feedback.

Dan

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blorton On the Grados - I'd love to try out their higher end models, but am confused on the special versions. Should I go for the RS-1 or some of the esoteric cans that Joe made? Can someone fill me in on those? (There should be a dummy's guide to Grados out there. Heh.) PS-1? HP-1? Dan

The HP-1 won't crank. Joe is more mellow than John - if you want the gibbering highs get a RS-1 instead of a HP series can.

 

[NightWoundsTime]

"Team Source First" might not serve you quite as well. You demand a lot out of your headphones and a good amp is going to bring those 225's alive. Look for something in solid state, maybe a gilmore offering (http://www.headamp.com) or the Channel Islands VHP-1 (http://www.ciaudio.com). My VPH-1 drives the 225 to extreme volumes without getting muddy. It's also a tad on the bright side so it would probably be ideal for you. Add the upgraded power supply and you'll have a huge well of power to draw from. I may be selling mine so if you're interested drop me a PM.

 

[cosmopragma]

Why don't you just utilize a modern digital equalizer to tailor the frequenzy response of what headphone ever to your needs?
That's what I recommend to ageing audiophiles that are complaining about loosing interest in music since it doesn't sound that good anymore.There are some extremely happy grandfathers around here.I think your situation might be comparable.
It won't work with every headphone, there has to be enough headroom.IEMs are capable of providing extreme SPLs at low distortion, you are used to in-ear stuff anyway and you could keep the extreme high sound levels to your own ears, your spouse wouldn't like to listen to the noise of open headphones at an average listening level of 95 dB.
You've auditioned an IEM already, and everyone here would have told you when asked that the E5 is the wrong choice in your situation.The E5 is well known and often criticized for it's recessed treble.

 

[cosmopragma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blorton <--- See Avatar. Note tagline. Please no lectures about the dangers of high volumes.

Sorry, I apologize in advance, but I have to address the danger issue.I'd like to recommend another DSP-effect.Probably the last thing you want to experience is tinnitus on top of your hearing loss.
When you listen at a very high average level to very dynamic music like classical or some soundtracks you get peaks beyond 115 dB.You should use a limiter DSP to limit the peaks.
I mean, do what you want, but don't accuse us later of having ruined your hearing.

 

[Zanth]

I disagree. HP-1's certainly will crank. You simply need a strong amp for them. They are the hardest phones to drive aside from the K1000's. However, they are out of production, more difficult to come by etc. Now, the PS-1's...heh, oh baby! They will knock you clear across the room

Or at least it will sound like they did! Still in production (but for how much longer who knows?) and can be purchased exclusively through our very own Todd The Vinyl Junkie! I HIGHLY recommend them, though, before dropping 1400 on a pair of phones, I would really recommend trying another amp out for the 225's first. I am not familiar with the Denon at all, it may well be a fine amp, but without knowing, my advice is to fork over 3-400 on an amp first, RA-1, Gilmore Lite etc, try that out, then if you still don't have what you are looking for, go straight for hte PS-1's and just forget about everything else: )

 

[philodox]

The K340 with a really powerfull amp are something else. Loads of detail and I think they only really come into their own if you turn the volume up _way_ high.