New guy looking for a nice set of cans.....

[chillihead]

Ok, here's my story. I am just getting into the scene here and want to spend a little cash to get a nice setup at home. Ideally I am looking for a set of cans I can use with my computer and possibly solo at times with a dedicated amp. Or both!

I have several questions but will try and condense everything into the shorter version. Because of my home situation with the wife and child, I need a (closed) set for private listening.

I have looked at both the Sony MDR-5000 series and the Audio-Technica W1000 series both of which strike me as quality built headphones. Most of the time I listen to alternative rock which involves a lot of snappy bass and good midrange. I currently own a pair of Sennheiser HD570's which are (OK) but lack in both departments, and they are open design. I also tend to listen to my music very loud so distortion is a big issue for me at top decibel. The 570's really have no Bass impact. And I have read the higher end Senn's are not really designed for bass but more for high tones.

*I would like to get a dedicated amp to run these guys. Tube design.

I noticed Creative Labs also released a new line of sound cards called the X-FI Series, which seem to be top notch. Anyone have any experience with these new cards? Worth the purchase price?

Finally most of my music is on the computer and in *mp3 format. 128 Bitrate. I am debating moving all my music to at least 256 Bit for better quality.
Suggestions?

As far as spending, I am looking into the neighborhood of $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 for both the cans and the amp. Is that enough?

Thanks guys!

 

[Jahn]

Welcome to Head-fi, sorry about your wallet! Looking at your preferences, this is what I would recommend-

Grado SR325i. Nice deep bass and slam, great rock can.

A solid state amp, not a tube amp. In fact I would just go with the integrated amp in the Apogee MiniDAC. That way you can use the usb to connect to your computer and don't have to get a new soundcard either. The MiniDAC is over 900, but you're saving on an amp and a card, so it's like you get 2 for the price of one here. This DAC has great synergy with Grados and helps keep things warm while the Grados rock out.

So there you go, for around $1200 tops. Then you can take your rig and run far far away and don't look back for your own good!

 

[Homeless]

just make sure you re-rip your music...128 just will not do...

 

[chillihead]

Quick response here!

I was also reviewing the Beyerdynamic DT 880 with Balanced Cardas Upgrade Cable from HeadRoom. They reviewed it as having punchy bass and good mids.

 

[OceanEnthusiast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillihead I also tend to listen to my music very loud so distortion is a big issue for me at top decibel.

be careful. i dont think anything here will be distorting, so no need to worry about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillihead The 570's really have no Bass impact. And I have read the higher end Senn's are not really designed for bass but more for high tones.

actually i think this is really not true. the bass on headphones such as hd580 (it's relatives are hd600 and hd650) is actually quite deep and very present. the low end is definately not thin. however, the sennheiser's are a little slower, smooth and deep but not nearly as snappy as other phones. to me, bass 'impact' means a lot of different things. you probably don't want just a lot of low end (i think the sennheisers have quite a bit low end), but you also want the bass to be really quick.

someone will probably mention grados to you. a lot of people say grados have more bass impact. i agree, it's very tight bass and can kick pretty good. however, the sennheisers are actually a bit deeper, and also have a little more quantity of bass, at least in my rig. while the senns are somewhat tight, they're not nearly as tight and as fast as the grados. since the grados are so fast and tight in the bass (and have decent amount of bass volume), i think this is why people refer to them as impactful. even though the senns have deeper bass and more volume of bass, the grados are not lean in bass at all, IMO (specifically i am referring to the one i own here, the 325i).

wow, that probably confused the crap out of you.

im not making a recommendation for either, just explaining the bass on the senns. if anything, i'd say phones like the hd580 and family are designed the opposite as you said: for low tones, rather than high ones (although really it does all tones pretty well).

Quote:

Finally most of my music is on the computer and in *mp3 format. 128 Bitrate. I am debating moving all my music to at least 256 Bit for better quality. Suggestions?

with a quality headphone, especially something like grados, 128 bits will sound like a cheese grater on your ears. for me, 128bit on hi-fi headphones is unlistenable and very distorted with a lot of artifacts. seriously. definately move to lossless, or at least high bit rate. on cheap stereo equipment the difference isn't as pronounced, but 128 sounds awful on decent phones, and you'll notice.

Quote:

As far as spending, I am looking into the neighborhood of $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 for both the cans and the amp. Is that enough? Thanks guys!

thats a good amount, you may not even need to spend that much if you'd rather not (did i really just say that?). but this amount of cash puts in you the area of grado RS-1's ($700) and a $400 amp, if you wanted to. but i'd reserve at least $400 for the amp, and if you want tubes, you'll probably want to spend significantly more.

i mentioned grado's and senn's because that is what i own. with your budget there are definately a lot of other headphones to explore. let us know what you get!

 

[OceanEnthusiast]

one thing i want to mention. for laying out that amount of cash, i really recommend you find a dealer and go listen to some headphones. even if you have to reserve a weekend and drive for 2 hours each way to a decent showroom, you should. i think the last thing you should do is mail order everything based only on recommendations. go listen to something! sry for the dbl post.

 

[chillihead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanEnthusiast one thing i want to mention. for laying out that amount of cash, i really recommend you find a dealer and go listen to some headphones. even if you have to reserve a weekend and drive for 2 hours each way to a decent showroom, you should. i think the last thing you should do is mail order everything based only on recommendations. go listen to something! sry for the dbl post.

Very good advice! I really would love to find a place near me that I can audition several types with the music I listen to.

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillihead Quick response here! I was also reviewing the Beyerdynamic DT 880 with Balanced Cardas Upgrade Cable from HeadRoom. They reviewed it as having punchy bass and good mids.

before going balanced, which would require a pricey balanced rig, why not try the stock DT880 with an ANT Amber amp? Duncan loves this combo, PM him for impressions, or do a search for them!

 

[kramer5150]

Holy cow thats a wad of cash...

My suggestion:
MS2 or HF1. HF1 is the more dynamic of the two, but its also more colored and less accurate than the MS2. MS2 seems to have a little more sub bass extension relative to upper bass impact.

Headroom micro DAC + one of their amps.

I really like my millet hybrid, and would not hesitate to recommend the Heardoom model, or one of the DIYs that pop up in the F/S forum.

**edit**
The DT880 also sound stellar with the forementioned headroom gear

Garrett

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 Holy cow thats a wad of cash... My suggestion: MS2 or HF1. HF1 is the more dynamic of the two, but its also more colored and less accurate than the MS2. MS2 seems to have a little more sub bass extension relative to upper bass impact. Headroom micro DAC + one of their amps. I really like my millet hybrid, and would not hesitate to recommend the Heardoom model, or one of the DIYs that pop up in the F/S forum. Garrett

Yep i was going to recommend the MS2 as well, but they i thought if he goes with the Apogee, he might want a can with a bit more bite, so i suggested the SR325i. If it was something like the Solo, I'd recommend the MS-2 over the SR325i for sure.

 

[Inkmo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillihead I also tend to listen to my music very loud so distortion is a big issue for me at top decibel.

Hmm. if he is already listening loud enough to distort, do you think you guys really ought to be recommending him equipment that won't distort at even higher dB?

Chilli: I would cut this habit out while I'm young (like I did), or in the future it may not matter whether you have hi-fi equipment. You won't be able to hear it for the ringing in your ears. Ask some of the old guys around here about their tinnitus.

To help you get more into the low dB spirit, I'll drop another bit of info my audiologist told me. The reason why a live show sounds better through earplugs and why music sounds better at low volumes is because your ears distort that info when the sound is too loud. Just like electronics, your ears can only take so much energy before things just don't come through right. Lowering things to the 65-85dB mark will allow you to listen more critically than just blasting. Also, if you are concerned about impact, the feeling of impact (for me at least) tends to return after your ears have adjusted to the low dB.

Anyways.. I'll quit preaching. There is a lot of helpful info on the internet and in this forum about safe listening practices, and also a lot of truly frightening info about hearing loss. I hope you enjoy your new setup when you get it, and I hope you remain able to enjoy it on into old age

 

[tola555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillihead Finally most of my music is on the computer and in *mp3 format. 128 Bitrate. I am debating moving all my music to at least 256 Bit for better quality. Suggestions?

Minimum is 192 for me. If less I can sense its not right (treble and low bass is cut off) and more is not so noticed. Bigger is better.

 

[grawk]

If you're going to listen at really high volumes, you should get headphones that don't reproduce highs, in order to save your ears. If you decide to listen at more reasonable levels, I'd second the Apogee recommendation, but recommend HF1s instead of 325is, because I hated the 325is.

 

[chillihead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inkmo Hmm. if he is already listening loud enough to distort, do you think you guys really ought to be recommending him equipment that won't distort at even higher dB? Chilli: I would cut this habit out while I'm young (like I did), or in the future it may not matter whether you have hi-fi equipment. You won't be able to hear it for the ringing in your ears. Ask some of the old guys around here about their tinnitus. To help you get more into the low dB spirit, I'll drop another bit of info my audiologist told me. The reason why a live show sounds better through earplugs and why music sounds better at low volumes is because your ears distort that info when the sound is too loud. Just like electronics, your ears can only take so much energy before things just don't come through right. Lowering things to the 65-85dB mark will allow you to listen more critically than just blasting. Also, if you are concerned about impact, the feeling of impact (for me at least) tends to return after your ears have adjusted to the low dB. Anyways.. I'll quit preaching. There is a lot of helpful info on the internet and in this forum about safe listening practices, and also a lot of truly frightening info about hearing loss. I hope you enjoy your new setup when you get it, and I hope you remain able to enjoy it on into old age

Sound advice! I like my ears.