Need help picking a pair of headphones

[Meetite]

Ah well okay then, I can understand that.


Still, I kind of feel like if you're making a couple-hundred-dollar puchase that you are hoping will last you for years to come, it would have been wise to give yourself more time to figure out that purchase >_<

Yeah, I know, it was stupid on my part

 

[Meetite]

I have done a bit of research and found that the Sennheiser hd 558s and hd 598s both run on the same drivers and just have different soundstage and feel (also the hd 558s have slightly better bass which, though i am not very big about bass, i like to have it now and then) so i am eliminating the HD 598s from the list

 

[goodyfresh]

  I have done a bit of research and found that the Sennheiser hd 558s and hd 598s both run on the same drivers and just have different soundstage and feel (also the hd 558s have slightly better bass which, though i am not very big about bass, i like to have it now and then) so i am eliminating the HD 598s from the list

I got a chance to listen to the HD558 in the store alongside the Sony MDR-1A and the PSB M4U1, just the other day.  Not gonna lie, the HD558 sound great.  They're definitely still a bit bass-shy. . .you'll generally find that in open-back headphones as opposed to closed-back, engineering-wise it's much harder to get a strong bass-response without a true seal being formed around the drivers.  I liked the sound of the MDR-1A better overall, but the HD558 certainly sound better in the upper-mids and treble.  Keep in mind though, they're open-backed, so they give NO ISOLATION whatsoever.

 

[Meetite]

  I got a chance to listen to the HD558 in the store alongside the Sony MDR-1A and the PSB M4U1, just the other day.  Not gonna lie, the HD558 sound great.  They're definitely still a bit bass-shy. . .you'll generally find that in open-back headphones as opposed to closed-back, engineering-wise it's much harder to get a strong bass-response without a true seal being formed around the drivers.  I liked the sound of the MDR-1A better overall, but the HD558 certainly sound better in the upper-mids and treble.  Keep in mind though, they're open-backed, so they give NO ISOLATION whatsoever.

You know, that frankly is a good argument for the HD7 DJs, since they are closed and are deffinetely gonna have a good bass as well as good mids and treble, hmmmmmmmmmmm,
 
im conflicted still

 

[goodyfresh]

I wouldn't go for the HD7 DJ's if I were you.  From what I've heard from folks, and what I've seen of their frequency-response graphs, they have an upper-mids and treble which is SWAMPED by the massive bass, and an extremely notable dip in the treble approaching 10khz.  So if you EVER like to really clearly hear the sound of good lead guitar, keyboar/synth, higher-pitched female vocals, and the like, the HD7 would be a pretty poor choice.

For all this stuff, I'd recommend check out the frequency response graphs and data-sheet downloads, as well as just general reviews, on the "innerfidelity" website.  THe guy even gives a very helpful guide on how to interpret the graphs.

 

[Meetite]

  I wouldn't go for the HD7 DJ's if I were you.  From what I've heard from folks, and what I've seen of their frequency-response graphs, they have an upper-mids and treble which is SWAMPED by the massive bass, and an extremely notable dip in the treble approaching 10khz.  So if you EVER like to really clearly hear the sound of good lead guitar, keyboar/synth, higher-pitched female vocals, and the like, the HD7 would be a pretty poor choice.

For all this stuff, I'd recommend check out the frequency response graphs and data-sheet downloads, as well as just general reviews, on the "innerfidelity" website.  THe guy even gives a very helpful guide on how to interpret the graphs.

Oh, thanks for telling me, that actually seems like a good reason to take it off the list and narrow it down to two

 

[goodyfresh]

  Oh, thanks for telling me, that actually seems like a good reason to take it off the list and narrow it down to two

If you are POSITIVE that you ONLY want to consider the choices you listed in your original post, I'd go with the HD558, for sure, between the two remaining.  It may not have isolation, but if you're going to primarily be using it while say, sitting at home, then taht shouldn't be an issue, and I can tell you from what I heard in the store the other day that the HD558 has GREAT sound.  Very natural-sounding.
 
That being said, don't just discount the Audio Technica ATH-M50x or the Shure SRH-840 in your price range, because they could fit PERFECTLY with the kind of use you are looking for, to be honest, if you're just willing to get away from being stuck on the idea of getting Sennheisers   I've had a chance to listen to both and I'd say they are just as good as the Sennheisers detail and dynamics wise, at least as far as my ears can tell.  The soundstage isn't as natural on them as on the HD558, btu the bass has better extension and hits harder.  But they have a less neutral freq-response than the HD558, for pretty much the same reason they have better bass.  And they do provide excellent isolation from outside noise, which the HD558 don't since they're open-backed.

 

[Meetite]

  If you are POSITIVE that you ONLY want to consider the choices you listed in your original post, I'd go with the HD558, for sure, between the two remaining.  It may not have isolation, but if you're going to primarily be using it while say, sitting at home, then taht shouldn't be an issue, and I can tell you from what I heard in the store the other day that the HD558 has GREAT sound.  Very natural-sounding.
 
That being said, don't just discount the Audio Technica ATH-M50x or the Shure SRH-840 in your price range, because they could fit PERFECTLY with the kind of use you are looking for, to be honest, if you're just willing to get away from being stuck on the idea of getting Sennheisers   I've had a chance to listen to both and I'd say they are just as good as the Sennheisers detail and dynamics wise, at least as far as my ears can tell.  The soundstage isn't as natural on them as on the HD558, btu the bass has better extension and hits harder.  But they have a less neutral freq-response than the HD558, for pretty much the same reason they have better bass.  And they do provide excellent isolation from outside noise, which the HD558 don't since they're open-backed.

Thanks for the advice, since you are really pushing me i will do a bit more research and if i can't come up with anything i'll just stick to the ones of selected

 

[Meetite]

  If you are POSITIVE that you ONLY want to consider the choices you listed in your original post, I'd go with the HD558, for sure, between the two remaining.  It may not have isolation, but if you're going to primarily be using it while say, sitting at home, then taht shouldn't be an issue, and I can tell you from what I heard in the store the other day that the HD558 has GREAT sound.  Very natural-sounding.
 
That being said, don't just discount the Audio Technica ATH-M50x or the Shure SRH-840 in your price range, because they could fit PERFECTLY with the kind of use you are looking for, to be honest, if you're just willing to get away from being stuck on the idea of getting Sennheisers   I've had a chance to listen to both and I'd say they are just as good as the Sennheisers detail and dynamics wise, at least as far as my ears can tell.  The soundstage isn't as natural on them as on the HD558, btu the bass has better extension and hits harder.  But they have a less neutral freq-response than the HD558, for pretty much the same reason they have better bass.  And they do provide excellent isolation from outside noise, which the HD558 don't since they're open-backed.

You know, you are right, considering how much people seem to love the ATH-M50x I will add that to the list and take off the HD 558s, however i still will need to decide between the ATX-M50x and the RS 165 (since the wireless would be really nice, the on-board volume buttons are nice, the ability to charge them on the stand is nice, and the ability to boost bass at a moments notice is useful too)

 

[goodyfresh]

The problem is that USUALLY, abilities like a built-in bass-boost come at the cost of sound-quality, and wireless functionality ALMOST ALWAYS seems to come at the cost of distortion-levels and such.  Although I'm not sure how those trends apply to the RS165 in particular, maybe they don't. . .Sennheiser has VERY good engineers, after-all. . .but I'd at least look into it.

 

[Meetite]

  The problem is that USUALLY, abilities like a built-in bass-boost come at the cost of sound-quality, and wireless functionality ALMOST ALWAYS seems to come at the cost of distortion-levels and such.  Although I'm not sure how those trends apply to the RS165 in particular, maybe they don't. . .Sennheiser has VERY good engineers, after-all. . .but I'd at least look into it.

Well the intended use for the RS 165s is with a TV, like for watching movies, so i assume they would have designed them to have very little distortion.
also, the bass boost is just part of the stationary stand unit (not the headphones), i believe the on board bass boost button merely sends a signal to the stationary unit to boost the bass, so it isnt being boosted directly on the headphones, since that probably wouldn't be good for sound quality

 

[goodyfresh]

  Well the intended use for the RS 165s is with a TV, like for watching movies, so i assume they would have designed them to have very little distortion.
also, the bass boost is just part of the stationary stand unit (not the headphones), i believe the on board bass boost button merely sends a signal to the stationary unit to boost the bass, so it isnt being boosted directly on the headphones, since that probably wouldn't be good for sound quality

Hmmm, I see.  Although actually that doesn't bode too well for distortion measurements. . .headphones meant for movie-watching or gaming generally arent' as focused on getting super-ACCURATE sound reproductions as headphone made for music.

 

[Meetite]

 
Hmmm, I see.  Although actually that doesn't bode too well for distortion measurements. . .headphones meant for movie-watching or gaming generally arent' as focused on getting super-ACCURATE sound reproductions as headphone made for music.

hmmm, maybe. i guess you are right.
the ATH-M50Xs are definitely at the top of my list right now so if i can't find something that would make me buy the RS 165s then i will definitely buy the ATH-M50Xs

 

[cel4145]

Well the intended use for the RS 165s is with a TV, like for watching movies, so i assume they would have designed them to have very little distortion.
also, the bass boost is just part of the stationary stand unit (not the headphones), i believe the on board bass boost button merely sends a signal to the stationary unit to boost the bass, so it isnt being boosted directly on the headphones, since that probably wouldn't be good for sound quality

Not sure what that means. The bass could be boosted on the receiver/amp in the headphone or on the base. Shouldn't make any difference, although I imagine it was easier to put a bass boost switch on the base instead of on the headphones.

What you'll want to think about is that with the RS 165, a good part of what you are paying for is the base with it's transmitter, and then the receiver and amp built in the headphones. So you typically can get better SQ from the best wired headphones in the same price range.

Oh, and are your current headphones on the Momentum On Ear or Over Ear? If the On Ear, the better model Over Ear are currently on closeout prices because of the new models:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Momentum-Black-Headphone/dp/B00AZZNXOK/

 

[Meetite]

Not sure what that means. The bass could be boosted on the receiver/amp in the headphone or on the base. Shouldn't make any difference, although I imagine it was easier to put a bass boost switch on the base instead of on the headphones.

What you'll want to think about is that with the RS 165, a good part of what you are paying for is the base with it's transmitter, and then the receiver and amp built in the headphones. So you typically can get better SQ from the best wired headphones in the same price range.

Oh, and are your current headphones on the Momentum On Ear or Over Ear? If the On Ear, the better model Over Ear are currently on closeout prices because of the new models:
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Momentum-Black-Headphone/dp/B00AZZNXOK/

Oh, you make a very good point, if that is the case then i think i am gonna stick with the ATH-M50Xs
 
and to answer your question i am using the over ear model, i got them for free from the now over "what's your momentum" contest