Looking for good headphones in my price range
Apr 25, 2015 at 2:40 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 20
Xylonized

Xylonized

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I'm looking to get a good pair of headphones and then attach a AntLion ModMic to them. I've got 170 dollars right now but I may be able to get up to 300. Please recommend some good headphones for me! 
 
I'd been thinking about HD 600s or Beyerdynaic DT 990s but I would like an opinion from one of the experts here.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 7:47 PM Post #2 of 20
xylonized said:
  I'm looking to get a good pair of headphones and then attach a AntLion ModMic to them. I've got 170 dollars right now but I may be able to get up to 300. Please recommend some good headphones for me! 
 
I'd been thinking about HD 600s or Beyerdynaic DT 990s but I would like an opinion from one of the experts here.
Click to expand...

 
I'm not an expert, but once in awhile someone with very little audio knowledge mistakes me for one.
Audio Technica ATH-AD900X open headphones, $170.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261832650623?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:03 PM Post #3 of 20
Found them for 158 on amazon. I also have been reading up and the Beyerdynamic DT 770s seem to be good. Which would you recommend? I see in your signature that you have the DT880 which is I presume similar.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:23 PM Post #4 of 20
What will you use your headphones with (make/model)? The higher impedance Beyers will require a headphone amp.

What do you want to use your headphones for? Music/gaming/movies? Which is most important?
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:24 PM Post #5 of 20
xylonized said:
  Found them for 158 on amazon. I also have been reading up and the Beyerdynamic DT 770s seem to be good. Which would you recommend? I see in your signature that you have the DT880 which is I presume similar.
Click to expand...

I like the Audio Technica ATH series because they are in the 40-Ohm range and work very decently without a dedicated headphone amplifier (but a little better with amp).
I would prefer the open DT880 or DT990, over the closed DT770s.
But I still prefer the sound of the Audio Technica headphones.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:33 PM Post #6 of 20
cel4145 said:
What will you use your headphones with (make/model)? The higher impedance Beyers will require a headphone amp.

What do you want to use your headphones for? Music/gaming/movies? Which is most important?
Click to expand...

I've got a custom built PC that I'll use with the headphones. I'm planning to buy a headphone amp since i only have the sound card built into my motherboard and the Astro MixAmp. I was looking into Bravo V2 headphone amp. It doesn't need to be portable but that would be a plus.
 
I would like to use them for music and gaming but music is more important. I'm replacing my Astro A40 gaming headset because they're not good at all for sound quality in my opinion. Music is more important to me with gaming coming in second and movies coming in last. I almost never watch movies but I'm constantly listening to music while studying, etc. 
 
I'm looking at a roughly 400 dollar budget for the amplifier and headphone now. 
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 9:30 PM Post #8 of 20
Your Astro mixamp has virtual surround. Do you use that? If so, might be best to get a Xonar DX or D1 for your PC. It has a good DAC and virtual surround. Then you can connect a headphone amp to it :)
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 10:52 PM Post #10 of 20
Yes. You connect the PC to the DAC, the DAC to the headphone amp. Or a separate DAC can be connected to a speaker amp.

The E10K is a good combined dac/headphone amp, although it might not be a good choice for more difficult to drive headphones like the 250 ohm Beyers. Note that the E10K has a line out that can be connected to speaker amp or powered speakers.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 10:52 PM Post #11 of 20
xylonized said:
  I'm looking to get a good pair of headphones and then attach a AntLion ModMic to them. I've got 170 dollars right now but I may be able to get up to 300. Please recommend some good headphones for me! 
 
I'd been thinking about HD 600s or Beyerdynaic DT 990s but I would like an opinion from one of the experts here.
Click to expand...

I went ahead and pulled the audio specs for my motherboard. I was reading up and some people say onboard audio can be good sometimes. 
 
Realtek ALC1150 Codec
Support for Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
  •  
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:13 PM Post #12 of 20
xylonized said:
  So the Audio Technica are better than the DT770 in your opinion? Does that change if I get the 250 ohms version of the 770 with a good amp?
Click to expand...

nope, I guess the A900X (closed headphone) having better vocals then the DT770 is my reason for liking the A900X more.
Or should I say recommending the AD900X (open headphone) more.
 
Here are some used ATH-W1000X for $275 or best offer (they sell in the USA new for $600).
Currently my W1000X are my preferred headphones (and I own 20 headphones).
http://www.head-fi.org/t/763669/audio-technica-w1000x
Gives you enough leftover in your budget for a (used, $40-$50) Asus Xonar DX sound card and FiiO E11K headphone amplifier ($60).
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:14 PM Post #13 of 20
cel4145 said:
Yes. You connect the PC to the DAC, the DAC to the headphone amp. Or a separate DAC can be connected to a speaker amp.

The E10K is a good combined dac/headphone amp, although it might not be a good choice for more difficult to drive headphones like the 250 ohm Beyers. Note that the E10K has a line out that can be connected to speaker amp or powered speakers.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! I'm leaning towards the Hifiman HE-400. I've read that it can even be driven by an iPod so I wouldn't need an amplifier/dac to start out. Would it be a good idea to get the HE-400s and then buy a Schiit Magni2/Modi2 combo later or would it be better to buy something like the E10K now?
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:22 PM Post #14 of 20
Thanks! I'm a bit nervous about buying used though. I've never had any audiophile headphones before and I don't know what I'll like. The best I've listened to is a Sony MDR-V6. I'll look into reviews for the W1000X. It's definitely a great deal for them.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:34 PM Post #15 of 20
xylonized said:
  Thanks! I'm a bit nervous about buying used though. I've never had any audiophile headphones before and I don't know what I'll like. The best I've listened to is a Sony MDR-V6. I'll look into reviews for the W1000X. It's definitely a great deal for them.
Click to expand...

 
I personally have had really good luck buying used headphones.
All my higher end headphones I've bought used. (two DT880s, two DT990s, T70, W1000X)
 
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