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Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2002
- Posts
- 94
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After several years of denying the steady decline of my hearing, I finally "fessed up" and now have a set up digital hearing aids on the way. I've also resigned myself to the fact that I will have to wear headphones to get the most out of music from now on.
I've always been what you might call a "low buget audiophile"; I make a point to purchase the best equipment (with a good cost/performance ratio) within my means. To this end, the speakers I purchased years ago and would still be satisfied with if it weren't for my decidedly non audiophile ears, are a set of Paradigm Titans. At the time, they were, hands down, the best speakers availible *for the money* (and very may still be with the current version 3's). They're driven by a modest Sony STR-D790 integrated amplifier; it certainly isn't high end in any sense , but again, was a good choice at the time.
My hearing loss is as such that I no longer sense the clean highs and smooth, airy vocals the Titans are capable of producing without cranking to volume to earsplitting, neighbor enraging levels. To put it simply, my left ear can no longer detect an upright bass, the overall sensitivity is depressed by about 40db with a big dip right in the middle of speech frequencies, but I still retain high frequency acuity. My right ear is depressed by about 20 db ( with a similar dip), but there is a sharp rolloff at the high end where the crispness of trumpets and cymbals reside. The end result is when I listen to music with my headphones, I adjust the balance to about 50% to the left, leave the bass flat (with my phones, which I'll get to) and turn up the treble to max @ +10db.
The headphones I currently use the most are an old pair of Rat Shack Pro-25's (rebranded Koss KTX-Pro's, I believe) I picked up on clearance for $17. At 17 bucks, these phones are surprisingly good and are far better balanced than most others in the range. The problem is, with my hearing loss, their adaquate upper ranged is not enough for me any more and at the volumes I play them at, complex music (symphonic, for example) becomes muddled.
In theory, the ideal set of phones for my ears would have good bass (the Pro-25s are fine in that respect) clear, open mids and accurate, crisp,bright highs, even when driven hard. I'll probably end up adding an EQ with discrete settings for Left/Righ channels, but I'd like to get headphones that are already a step in the right direction.
I used to strive for very neutral, open sounding equipment, but with my crappy hearing, that ideal has gone out the window. I'm not sure if any headphones will be open and airy, considering my Pro-25s which used to be "in your face", now seem distant and unsatisfying in the midrange. I've historically prefered the feel and sound of open phones, but that may not be in my best interest anymore.
After spending hours in the archives here, I think I've compiled a good starter list of sub $150 cans to audition. I think Etymotics might be the ultimate solution for me, but at this time, they are unobtainable because of the price.
The few phones that might fit the bill from their descriptions here, at least, are:
Koss Porta-Pro's
Sennheiser 525
Grado 80/125 (the 125's seem particularly intriguing out of the bunch)
And maybe AKG 401/501. but they may be too flat for my needs.
The headphones will be used for all kinds of music, movie and television listening, but they should really shine for (in order of preference) Jazz (Miles Davis, Some Kind of Blue!!!, Mingus, Coltrane, Parker & Monk), female vocals (Fiona Apple, Bonny Rait, Sarah Mclaughlan...), Electronic/Ambient/Trip-Hop like William Orbit, Orbital, Hive, Massive Attack, Mono, and symphonic pieces.
I know I've thrown down the mother of all gauntlets, but does such a headphone as I've described, for under $150 (cheaper, the better) exist? How well do any of the can's I've listed fit my description? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Phreon
I've always been what you might call a "low buget audiophile"; I make a point to purchase the best equipment (with a good cost/performance ratio) within my means. To this end, the speakers I purchased years ago and would still be satisfied with if it weren't for my decidedly non audiophile ears, are a set of Paradigm Titans. At the time, they were, hands down, the best speakers availible *for the money* (and very may still be with the current version 3's). They're driven by a modest Sony STR-D790 integrated amplifier; it certainly isn't high end in any sense , but again, was a good choice at the time.
My hearing loss is as such that I no longer sense the clean highs and smooth, airy vocals the Titans are capable of producing without cranking to volume to earsplitting, neighbor enraging levels. To put it simply, my left ear can no longer detect an upright bass, the overall sensitivity is depressed by about 40db with a big dip right in the middle of speech frequencies, but I still retain high frequency acuity. My right ear is depressed by about 20 db ( with a similar dip), but there is a sharp rolloff at the high end where the crispness of trumpets and cymbals reside. The end result is when I listen to music with my headphones, I adjust the balance to about 50% to the left, leave the bass flat (with my phones, which I'll get to) and turn up the treble to max @ +10db.
The headphones I currently use the most are an old pair of Rat Shack Pro-25's (rebranded Koss KTX-Pro's, I believe) I picked up on clearance for $17. At 17 bucks, these phones are surprisingly good and are far better balanced than most others in the range. The problem is, with my hearing loss, their adaquate upper ranged is not enough for me any more and at the volumes I play them at, complex music (symphonic, for example) becomes muddled.
In theory, the ideal set of phones for my ears would have good bass (the Pro-25s are fine in that respect) clear, open mids and accurate, crisp,bright highs, even when driven hard. I'll probably end up adding an EQ with discrete settings for Left/Righ channels, but I'd like to get headphones that are already a step in the right direction.
I used to strive for very neutral, open sounding equipment, but with my crappy hearing, that ideal has gone out the window. I'm not sure if any headphones will be open and airy, considering my Pro-25s which used to be "in your face", now seem distant and unsatisfying in the midrange. I've historically prefered the feel and sound of open phones, but that may not be in my best interest anymore.
After spending hours in the archives here, I think I've compiled a good starter list of sub $150 cans to audition. I think Etymotics might be the ultimate solution for me, but at this time, they are unobtainable because of the price.
The few phones that might fit the bill from their descriptions here, at least, are:
Koss Porta-Pro's
Sennheiser 525
Grado 80/125 (the 125's seem particularly intriguing out of the bunch)
And maybe AKG 401/501. but they may be too flat for my needs.
The headphones will be used for all kinds of music, movie and television listening, but they should really shine for (in order of preference) Jazz (Miles Davis, Some Kind of Blue!!!, Mingus, Coltrane, Parker & Monk), female vocals (Fiona Apple, Bonny Rait, Sarah Mclaughlan...), Electronic/Ambient/Trip-Hop like William Orbit, Orbital, Hive, Massive Attack, Mono, and symphonic pieces.
I know I've thrown down the mother of all gauntlets, but does such a headphone as I've described, for under $150 (cheaper, the better) exist? How well do any of the can's I've listed fit my description? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Phreon
