[bindibadgi]

I'm looking to get some open headphones for home listening, and I want something which will really do justice to Yes. In reality I have no money, but let's pretend I can spare ~$200 for some used phones.

I've been thinking about some Senn HD-580, or Beyer DT-880 but I have no idea what would be better (or if I should really look elsewhere).

These will be from PC with Chaintech AV-710 -> NAD 3140 Amp if that helps.

Any ideas? Oh, also, I like stuff built like a tank, so it's gotta feel pretty solid (I expect the Beyers will win here). Oh yeah, and there's pretty much zero chance of me auditioning any of these, unless someone who lives in Canberra would like to meet up.

 

[Toby M]

I'm in Canberra but I don't have any of these

 

[Capital R]

I would actually recommend Allessandro's. My Grado's do Yes pretty well, but I would think that a somewhat more balanced can would be better, which is why I recommend some Allessandro's. Perhaps some MS2i's?

 

[d-cee]

what's Yes?

I have the HD580s and DT880 and would reach for the DT880s over the HD580s any day

 

[speedball]

yes is a rock band

 

[Toby M]

Btw Duratone Hifi in Phillip/Woden have the HD600's, which are supposed to sound very similar to the HD580's (they use the same drivers I think).

They're very friendly there so they'd probably let you try em out. I don't think they stock Beyers but I know they have lots of Sennheisers and some AKG's, definately K701's and probably some others. Their website is http://www.duratone.com.au/

 

[varro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bindibadgi /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm looking to get some open headphones for home listening, and I want something which will really do justice to Yes. In reality I have no money, but let's pretend I can spare ~$200 for some used phones. I've been thinking about some Senn HD-580, or Beyer DT-880 but I have no idea what would be better (or if I should really look elsewhere). These will be from PC with Chaintech AV-710 -> NAD 3140 Amp if that helps. Any ideas? Oh, also, I like stuff built like a tank, so it's gotta feel pretty solid (I expect the Beyers will win here). Oh yeah, and there's pretty much zero chance of me auditioning any of these, unless someone who lives in Canberra would like to meet up.

Buy Grado SR225, nothing else can't really compete if you are listening to Yes or similar music. I think you will be disappointed if you buy the senns or beyers compared to the Grados, although they are better phones if you listen to other music types like jazz or classical.

 

[varro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toby M /img/forum/go_quote.gif Btw Duratone Hifi in Phillip/Woden have the HD600's, which are supposed to sound very similar to the HD580's (they use the same drivers I think). They're very friendly there so they'd probably let you try em out. I don't think they stock Beyers but I know they have lots of Sennheisers and some AKG's, definately K701's and probably some others. Their website is http://www.duratone.com.au/

They have the same drivers, the only difference which affects the sound is the grilles.

 

[tbonner1]

I love Yes and have been to many concerts.

I would use the Senn's to get the soundstage right.

 

[Toby M]

Quote:

Originally Posted by varro /img/forum/go_quote.gif They have the same drivers, the only difference which affects the sound is the grilles.

Interesting

I've been thinking about getting 580's and putting HD600 grills on them. I see them around so cheap seems like a bargain.

 

[F107plus5]

I can be no help at all here! I have both the before-mentioned MS2i AND the HD600, and I reach for them both pretty much equally these days! I couldn't possibly suggest one over the other except to mention that the MS2i has the slight edge when it comes to predominately exciting rock-style music, at least to my older ears.

 

[Jon118]

Grados have always done very well with Yes in my experience, but I would probably go for the Alessandro's and hope that tamed the overly sharp highs of the Grados.

 

[grndslm]

ATH-AD700 or ATH-AD900 depending on how much you're willing to spend.

 

[sbulack]

Yes has been one of my favorite bands since I first heard "Close To The Edge" back in 1973. I've been to three of their live concerts (TFTO, Relayer, and Magnification), and I now own all of their CDs, which are often in my play rotation. I own the SR225, the HD580 and HD600. To my ears, the SR225's are, by a good margin, the phones to listen to Yes with. They give the "Grado Magic" with, not only the electric strings of (Howe, Rabin) and Squire and the drums of Bruford or White, but the gossamer vocals of Anderson as well. "Heart of the Sunrise" or "Starship Trooper" through the SR225's is a real treat for a YesHead to hear, well, for THIS YesHead, anyway. The memorable keyboard parts of Kaye and Wakeman are handled competently by the SR225 as well - from the solid grind of the Hammond organ to the airy strains of the Melotron. The audio quality of the Yes recordings is not the best, unfortunately. Without equipment on the expensive side (a decent vinyl rig and/or tube amp), the best sound I've achieved with my Yes CDs (to my ears, in my rig, ...) has been with the SR225's. Recently, I discovered a setup which is even better, by a good margin: the TTVJ Portable Millett Hybrid Amp + Yuin PK1's. However, that goes well beyond the $200 budget limit. Within that limit, I vote for SR225's. And my favorite pad with the SR225? The VWAP-modded Senn HD414 pad. It's important that the pad be washed at least every 3-6 months to keep its loft, which I find important to prevent the normally full bass from becoming overly dominant and to maintain the airy beauty in the highs.

 

[bindibadgi]

Wow, I kind of expected this thread might die before it lived, this being a rather specific question. The response has been great! I'll do some reading on the MS2i and SR225, and I'll take a trip down to Duratone. I will have to convince them to let me try the HD-600 (and perhaps the K-701) through an old amp if they have one in their used section. I went once before and they pushed the HD-280 (!) so hard they almost wouldn't let me listen to anything else. At the time I was after closed cans, and they tried to tell me that the HD-595 was closed! I guess I got the wrong guy. Also, he played a rather questionable classical piano recording through a nasty splitter to every headphone on the rack. I don't want that. I'll see if I can convince them to let me try it my way.