[strata]

no you guys dont do that here...

anyhoo after reading through this website and headphone.com for a couple days to educate myself ive finally decided to ask for some advice...

ok hittin all points:
im a poor college student but i like music enough to want to spend $150-200, i have alot of music on my computer so im basically going through it (Thinkpad R32, soundmax generic soundcard... it doesnt make chirpy sounds as you scroll websites, kinda reassuring) so maybe that would do... or perhaps upgrade (a dreaded word, i surmise) to an external soundcard...

i would not mind getting a headphone amp, either now or eventually,

i do have a pioneer NS-7 home thingy link

after reading through websites like this one i dont know what to call it... hi-end consumer? anyways i DID not pay that much for it

i also have a did it myself guitar tube amp that has a headphone jack so both of which i suppose could be possibly used as a amp right now...

I listen to guitar, indie rock, post rock, some experimental electronic (glitch, hip hop)

so i gather that i should be looking at some form of sennheiser 580 or 590 (which i found at a local store and were really comfortable, i wasnt allowed to listen though), also some guy's selling the 590 "brand-new" for 150 on ebay ...

or a Grado i suppose depending on my amping... or one of those AKG's that headphone.com mentions but no one here ever talks about

ok so heres to making everyone look like this guy ->

 

[strohmie]

Sounds like you'd do pretty well to get some Grados considering your music preference. The SR225s come most recommended at the price you're looking at, and don't specifically need to be amped.

 

[Geek]

A Grado would be a good choice for an open can; HD580s are found by many to be too boring for rock music but they're at a store close by so you could always give them a try - the 580/600 is my favorite all-around headphone for music and gaming, but it needs a reasonable amp to sound good and that would put it over your price range (I dished out almost $1500 on an amp for those phones!). Basically Grados will make the music more intimate and thus lively whilst Sennheisers will distance the music in an attempt to increase realism.

If you want to go closed, look at the Beyer DT250-80 or AKG K271 which are between $150 and $200 most of the time. Closed phones might have some colorations but they have excellent isolation so you won't get bothered by ambient noise. Neither of these two phones require a dedicated amplifier, and both are comfortable (K271s are significantly more comfortable in my experience).

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Jasper994]

Judging from the quick listen I got of the Grado's they wouldn't be a bad choice. I Personally have the 590's and love them for all sorts or music but be aware, they are slightly bright (I believe that most people say that of the Grados as well). I also like the HD 280Pro's for a closed can. Isolation is excellent, low end is spectaular and they become very comfortable with a little bit of break in.

 

[psyco1]

If you're going to be in a dorm, I'd recommend getting closed cans, it could save a lot of friction in the long run.

As far as closed go...

The Audio-Techinca A900 is in your price range, closed, efficient enough for non-amped use, has a big soundstage as opposed to most closed cans, and is a great rock can. They feel like two big pillows on your head.

The AKG K271 is in the same general price range,closed, efficient enough, more neutral sounding, has a more laid back sound and has a smaller soundstage than the A900. Not as comfortable as the above, but not bad.

The Ultrasone HFI-650 is another closed can and runs 10-20$ less than the above and is efficient enough. I haven't heard it but most people that have like it.

The Beyerdynamic DT 250-80 is another closed one that people recommend.

 

[Matt]

...you have a sub-par source and the Grados are going to reveal all of it's grit, glare and grime. They are on the brighter side, to be sure.

I have been on multiple buying sprees, going from the whole Grado line (80's through RS-1s), Sennheiser HD600's, Etymotic Research ER-4S's, Stax Classic System II, etc. on down to JMT mint tin amps, MDR-V6's and cheap Sony VITEs and overall I have found that if you have strict-ish budget, you will derive the most bang-for-the-buck satisfaction with OK cans, an OK amp and a great source. So, if you must use your laptop, research great external USB or FireWire sound output devices with great DAC's, etc., get an OK amp and an OK pair of cans (Grado SR-60's with an OK amp and a great source is almost certainly going to be *far more pleasing* than Grado SR-225's from a crap headphone output jack).

There is the whole allure of the exotic headphone and the exotic amp around here with newbies, to the detriment of the mother of the whole chain, the source. As ever, garbage in, garbage out. Grados are a great suggestion, but they make trash sound even trashier, so pair them with a great source.

- Matt

 

[Hiker]

I'd recommend something like the M-Audio Sonica or the Echo Indigo to improve your source. Then you would be able to have a better variety of higher end headphones that would work well in your situation.

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt (Grado SR-60's with an OK amp and a great source is almost certainly going to be *far more pleasing* than Grado SR-225's from a crap headphone output jack)

I agree with your philosophy on the importance of the source, but I've heard Grado SR60's actually *screech* before... they can be very shrill sometimes, and in fact my pair is up on Ebay right now... just can't listen after the super clean (albeit a bit splashy) upper mids and highs of my Denon cans.

 

[Matt]

...a decent amp they screetched? Hmmm...well, Grados are great starter cans, and this dude has $200 (I'll bet he'd stretch if we pounded it into him enough).

So, what if he did some used SR-80s (figure $70 - 80), then an OK amp (a JMT altoids for around $50 - 60) and then...wait a minute, that leaves us with $80 for a source, at best. Well, I suppose you could do OK for that on a computer, no?

I wonder how the line-out of the iMic (or some other similar windows-based product) would be...probably cheapy sound, even though it's "great for the price!") Hell, I don't know anything about soundcards...plus this dude has a laptop, suggesting external gear...isn't there that PCMCIA card hi-fi soundcard thingie? It's probably expensive...


- Matt

 

[Hiker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt Hell, I don't know anything about soundcards...plus this dude has a laptop, suggesting external gear...isn't there that PCMCIA card hi-fi soundcard thingie?

Look up a few posts. There I posted a link for the PCMCIA card (Echo Indigo) as well as an M-Audio Sonica which is external.

 

[Rizumu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt (Grado SR-60's with an OK amp and a great source is almost certainly going to be *far more pleasing* than Grado SR-225's from a crap headphone output jack).

I absolutely agree. If there's one thing I can't stand from headphones, it's listening to them under-driven by a crappy source. I can't listen to my SR200 from my soundcard, instead I opt for the SR60. I say get a good system with the SR60 (or SR80 if you can manage it), rather than a bad system with the SR225. You can always upgrade your phones later. Build that foundation first.

 

[Matt]

...post, I've been talking about using a JMT mint tin with some good (but cheap) Sony VITE's (NOS MDR-W07's) with my Music Hall MMF-5 and Creek OBH-8 w/PS upgrade and enjoying the hell out of it.

- Matt

 

[usc goose]

Quote:

Originally posted by strata i also have a did it myself guitar tube amp that has a headphone jack so both of which i suppose could be possibly used as a amp right now...

my bass amp would work great as a headphone amp. except for the fact that it outputs in mono. even when i input in stereo. that was a bummer to find out. does yours output stereo?