HamSandwich
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2009
- Posts
- 7
- Likes
- 10
I have read some of the other posts regarding particular types of headphones (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/rec...ubstep-452034/), however the reasons I need them and other factors might be a bit different. I didn’t want to repeat a similar post, but I am clueless as to where to start as far as fulfilling my criteria.
I’m new to the audiophile market, and over the past few months I’ve been getting more and more into music. I originally listened to mostly indie and some hardcore, but I feel that I’ve “expanded” my interests and branched out into other forms of music (lately, electronic). I have a cheap pair of no-name headphones (EarHugger), and recently the left headphone went out. I figured it was time to upgrade, and seeing as my new hobby is music (playing around with FL Studio, too), I figured I might as well upgrade to something of better caliber.
I’m not on too tight of a budget, but I would prefer to stay under $150. But, I wouldn’t mind getting as close to this number as possible, since I will have these for awhile. If need be, $200 would be the absolute max. I wanna get the most for my money. I’m reluctant to add an amp simply because it will cost more money (obviously) and I don’t know if I would be able to tell the difference in quality since I’m just getting into it. However, I do want some headphones I’m going to be keeping for years and years (I take good care of my headphones). But, if I must get an amp, I’m willing to go for it (just not a $150 amp or something, especially if it cost more than the phones). These will be exclusively for home use, as well, so portability is not a problem. Sound isolation isn’t a problem either, neither from external sound nor from my phones out into the environment. I live alone, so there is no problem with noise. They will be plugged into my soundcard (Sound Blaster Audigy). Don’t know for sure how powerful it is, but I figure just as much as most soundcards. Rarely, they might be plugged into an iPod/iPhone, but this will be few and far between, if at all. A long cord would be good (6’-10’), and I’d only be using an 1/8” plug. I’d be listening for hours, so something comfortable would be good. I’d prefer circum-aural to supra-, but I’m willing to go either way.
For music, I’ve recently been into a lot of electronic stuff (dubstep, DnB, IDM, industrial, trance, some glitch stuff) but also enjoy ambient/atmospheric music to listen to while at the computer or while staring at the dream machine (you should look into these if you haven’t—cool stuff). I have some indie music, though I don’t listen to it as much as I used to. I have very little rock and rap, so anything emphasizing these two genres is at the bottom of the priority list (though I hear Pink Floyd is good…so I might eventually give that a try
). I have some music that has orchestrated parts in it, but I never listen to only orchestrated pieces, so a soundstage emphasizing that is not a big deal. I like good warm bass, too, but it doesn’t need to be overbearing and elongated, though. I’d like it to be sturdy and a bit punchy, but not overpowering the highs. Mids I’m on the fence with, and as long as they are audible, it works for me. I want highs but without a lot of semblance. Since I listen to electronic music that makes use of these (trance, IDM, glitch), I’d like them to have a crisp sound, but not edgy. I’d like an open sound, so open headphones would be nice (no need to close them since I’ll be listening at home), but if there’s a good pair of closed ones, don’t exclude them. I also game, but that really isn’t a big factor as far as sound goes for me (I don’t watch movies with headphones, so that isn’t important to me, either). Examples of artists include:
-Stendeck, Blonde Redhead, The Matches, Aphex Twin, Biosphere, Wisp, Zomby, Broker/Dealer, Burial, Scuba, Eluvium, Seefeel, Ochre, Autechre, Moon Wiring Club, Psapp, Reso.
I’ve looked at Grado sr80i’s and Sennheiser HD555’s. It seems the Grado’s wouldn’t do me justice as far as my criteria. Any other suggestions would be wonderful. I don’t really have access to any shops to listen to headphones (unless anyone knows some in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans, LA area, or in the Atlanta, GA area…please!), so I’d prefer to buy a pair and keep them instead of returning over and over (I feel odd about doing this to a business, anyway). However, if that must be the case, so be it.
Thank you!
-HamSandwich
Edit: Made a typo in the title---oops.
I’m new to the audiophile market, and over the past few months I’ve been getting more and more into music. I originally listened to mostly indie and some hardcore, but I feel that I’ve “expanded” my interests and branched out into other forms of music (lately, electronic). I have a cheap pair of no-name headphones (EarHugger), and recently the left headphone went out. I figured it was time to upgrade, and seeing as my new hobby is music (playing around with FL Studio, too), I figured I might as well upgrade to something of better caliber.
I’m not on too tight of a budget, but I would prefer to stay under $150. But, I wouldn’t mind getting as close to this number as possible, since I will have these for awhile. If need be, $200 would be the absolute max. I wanna get the most for my money. I’m reluctant to add an amp simply because it will cost more money (obviously) and I don’t know if I would be able to tell the difference in quality since I’m just getting into it. However, I do want some headphones I’m going to be keeping for years and years (I take good care of my headphones). But, if I must get an amp, I’m willing to go for it (just not a $150 amp or something, especially if it cost more than the phones). These will be exclusively for home use, as well, so portability is not a problem. Sound isolation isn’t a problem either, neither from external sound nor from my phones out into the environment. I live alone, so there is no problem with noise. They will be plugged into my soundcard (Sound Blaster Audigy). Don’t know for sure how powerful it is, but I figure just as much as most soundcards. Rarely, they might be plugged into an iPod/iPhone, but this will be few and far between, if at all. A long cord would be good (6’-10’), and I’d only be using an 1/8” plug. I’d be listening for hours, so something comfortable would be good. I’d prefer circum-aural to supra-, but I’m willing to go either way.
For music, I’ve recently been into a lot of electronic stuff (dubstep, DnB, IDM, industrial, trance, some glitch stuff) but also enjoy ambient/atmospheric music to listen to while at the computer or while staring at the dream machine (you should look into these if you haven’t—cool stuff). I have some indie music, though I don’t listen to it as much as I used to. I have very little rock and rap, so anything emphasizing these two genres is at the bottom of the priority list (though I hear Pink Floyd is good…so I might eventually give that a try
-Stendeck, Blonde Redhead, The Matches, Aphex Twin, Biosphere, Wisp, Zomby, Broker/Dealer, Burial, Scuba, Eluvium, Seefeel, Ochre, Autechre, Moon Wiring Club, Psapp, Reso.
I’ve looked at Grado sr80i’s and Sennheiser HD555’s. It seems the Grado’s wouldn’t do me justice as far as my criteria. Any other suggestions would be wonderful. I don’t really have access to any shops to listen to headphones (unless anyone knows some in the Baton Rouge/New Orleans, LA area, or in the Atlanta, GA area…please!), so I’d prefer to buy a pair and keep them instead of returning over and over (I feel odd about doing this to a business, anyway). However, if that must be the case, so be it.
Thank you!
-HamSandwich
Edit: Made a typo in the title---oops.
