newb open headphone question

[kenneth_kpe]

well im gonna get myself a senn hd555 and its a open back design i think ?? would the sound leak out too much ? you know... would it bother the person seated behind me at the office ?

 

[AzN1337c0d3r]

probably

 

[kenneth_kpe]

oh no!! thats not good!!

what if i dont turn up the volume too much ???

((

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth_kpe oh no!! thats not good!! what if i dont turn up the volume too much ??? ((

Hi kenneth_kpe,

That's largely depending on how far away the person is behind you and how quiet the environment is. Open headphones aren't the most courtious thing to be used in crowded and quiet place (i.e. library)


Overlunge

 

[EdipisReks]

if environmental noise is an issue, why are you set on getting the 555?

 

[kenneth_kpe]

well i didn't know much about the headphone design until last night

hehehe just been starting reading around... so if i really dont want to disturb anyone else around me i should not get the 555

what are my other senn options ? same sound quality but no err.. sound leak ?

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth_kpe well i didn't know much about the headphone design until last night hehehe just been starting reading around... so if i really dont want to disturb anyone else around me i should not get the 555 what are my other senn options ? same sound quality but no err.. sound leak ?

Closed headphones from Sennheiser, well, models like HD201, HD25-1, and maybe HD280 (please correct me if I'm terribly wrong)... Do a search and there should be a fair amount of impressions/reviews on them.


Overlunge

 

[kin0kin]

depends on where you are using, and the ambient noise level. I have no idea how badly the 555 leaks, but some headphones really leak alot...e.g. the HD570, any grados, the senn HD6x0. If you are using in a library, forget about it. they sound like a mini radio, I could hear the lyrics of some songs quite clearly with the 570.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

well im using the 201 right now and i was already set on upgrading to a 555 for better sound quality ?

hehe

this just makes me sad... is the leak that bad with the 555 ? i am yet to try the 555 this weekend and here (where i live) its not a good practice to try and not buy hehe especially with electronics

hmmm think think!

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth_kpe well im using the 201 right now and i was already set on upgrading to a 555 for better sound quality ? hehe this just makes me sad... is the leak that terrible ? i am yet to try the 55 this weekend and here (where i live) its not a good practice to try and not buy hehe especially with electronics

I think it's only fair for you to try before you buy (that's if situation allows). I personally have no tried HD-555 myself, however I'm basing my comments on the HD-650 in the past, the music on 'the other side' of the open headphone is just noise for others around you. Most of time you cannot hear what's the person is listening to, it sounds like a radio not tuned to the right frequency or a malfunctioning speaker that can only generate a certain frequency.

Go closed design unless you must....


Overlunge

 

[kenneth_kpe]

i see il try to talk the store owner into letting me try it out first

ahh a good comparable means to test if the sound leak is too much...

lets say i have a closed headphones (the senn 201) at the volume i always listen to (around 50 percent) when i remove the headphones and place it on the table the person behind me isn't bothered by the sound coming out of the phones (removed from my head and sitting on the table) is the sound leak comparable to that ? or louder ?

o ya im still thinkin on the 555 because i cant find a lcoally available can that matches it's acceptance rating around here

hehehehe

 

[mysticaldodo]

I've the HD 595 and they leak slightly more then my HD 650. I think the HD 555 would probably be the same.

You might want to try AKG 271 as another 'closed' option

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth_kpe i see il try to talk the store owner into letting me try it out first ahh a good comparable means to test if the sound leak is too much... lets say i have a closed headphones (the senn 201) at the volume i always listen to (around 50 percent) when i remove the headphones and place it on the table the person behind me isn't bothered by the sound coming out of the phones (removed from my head and sitting on the table) is the sound leak comparable to that ? or louder ? o ya im still thinkin on the 555 because i cant find a lcoally available can that matches it's acceptance rating around here hehehehe

The sound leaked from the back of driver will be less in volume but (at least IMHO) more annoying than anything... Have you ever hear a sound that's in low volume and kept wanting to make sense of the words/instrument, to me that's more annoying, more distracting than a headphone being placed on the table with sound coming out of the drivers.


Overlunge

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hahaha i see i see i think i have no other choice but try it this weekend, i sent the owner a text message and i think its okay with him! hope it doesn't leak too much with the volume im used to listening music to! im really set on getting those headphones !

hehehehehehe