fe2cruz
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2011
- Posts
- 20
- Likes
- 12
Just got my first real headphones: Pioneer Monitor10.
Real stereo separation.
Bass doesn't linger; its just sharp and present.
Strings, vocals and Rhodes pianos sound great.
Has good pleather with no scuffs and plenty of life.
The foam shows wear; requires a sweet spot when placed on my head for no leaks.
The right can's mounting arm has a glued crack but its not visible, loose or troublesome.
I just got them in the mail today and they reek of mothballs so they are coated in baking soda
to try to remove the odors. Aside from the minor used equipment issues they sound fantastic.
I can hear all the overtones and harmonics in great recordings and all the warbling compression
and imperfections of mp3s and bad recordings. Its perfect for mixing and classical music. Fits
my needs much better than the Realistic, MDR-V6, HD201, and various in ear headphones I've
used before.
Since the Monitor 10 already sounds great to my ears, I'm wondering if I'd get anything
from a headphone amp? I understand amps can add their own color and power, but since I
already like the neutrality of the Pioneer Monitor 10 is an amp really needed? Straight out of a
laptop or mp3 player they are softer than most headphones, but still loud enough since all the
nuances and stereo separation come out clearly; low frequencies fall away only when the
volume is turned very low. Out of a true head unit or audio interface they reach proper and
accurate loud and low volumes without any lost frequencies. On my Sherwood S-7000 amplifier
I feel like there is some proper power driving the Monitor 10. I can reach some ear-bleeding
levels when using this old '70s amp's headphone output. Would a proper headphone amp be
any different or better? They are too bulky to be portable so I'd never use them without my
audio interface or Sherwood amplifier.
Should I just buy an open back headphone that would actually benefit from an amp instead?
I haven't found a reasonably priced open air vintage headphones, however I'm still curious
about the open back experience and other hi-fi options. I've thought about visiting a music
store or some other hi-fi dealer to audition some high end cans.
I live in southern california and found this list from this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/219099/so-cal-grado-dealers
If anyone else has suggestions please forward the info.
The Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and a headphone tube amp have caught my attention.
Refurbished cans don't seem too pricey. From what I've read its a neutral can with a nice big
soundstage. Would I like these as much as my Monitor 10? Are they durable and reliable?
Its the cost of the tube amp that seems scary. Would a cheaper DIY or portable be more
practical for a beginner like me?
Currently I'm hunting for more vintage headphones to compare and collect: Pioneer SE-50 &
other similar old headphones + a headphone mixer for shared multiple headphone listening.
I love cheap old stuff that is designed well and lasts a long time. Beyerdynamics seem out
of reach, and old AKGs seem too hard to find. If an open back and amp is really superior
to a Monitor 10 for mixing and classical music then I might hold off on buying these cheaper
cans and a mixer.
Real stereo separation.
Bass doesn't linger; its just sharp and present.
Strings, vocals and Rhodes pianos sound great.
Has good pleather with no scuffs and plenty of life.
The foam shows wear; requires a sweet spot when placed on my head for no leaks.
The right can's mounting arm has a glued crack but its not visible, loose or troublesome.
I just got them in the mail today and they reek of mothballs so they are coated in baking soda
to try to remove the odors. Aside from the minor used equipment issues they sound fantastic.
I can hear all the overtones and harmonics in great recordings and all the warbling compression
and imperfections of mp3s and bad recordings. Its perfect for mixing and classical music. Fits
my needs much better than the Realistic, MDR-V6, HD201, and various in ear headphones I've
used before.
Since the Monitor 10 already sounds great to my ears, I'm wondering if I'd get anything
from a headphone amp? I understand amps can add their own color and power, but since I
already like the neutrality of the Pioneer Monitor 10 is an amp really needed? Straight out of a
laptop or mp3 player they are softer than most headphones, but still loud enough since all the
nuances and stereo separation come out clearly; low frequencies fall away only when the
volume is turned very low. Out of a true head unit or audio interface they reach proper and
accurate loud and low volumes without any lost frequencies. On my Sherwood S-7000 amplifier
I feel like there is some proper power driving the Monitor 10. I can reach some ear-bleeding
levels when using this old '70s amp's headphone output. Would a proper headphone amp be
any different or better? They are too bulky to be portable so I'd never use them without my
audio interface or Sherwood amplifier.
Should I just buy an open back headphone that would actually benefit from an amp instead?
I haven't found a reasonably priced open air vintage headphones, however I'm still curious
about the open back experience and other hi-fi options. I've thought about visiting a music
store or some other hi-fi dealer to audition some high end cans.
I live in southern california and found this list from this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/219099/so-cal-grado-dealers
If anyone else has suggestions please forward the info.
The Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and a headphone tube amp have caught my attention.
Refurbished cans don't seem too pricey. From what I've read its a neutral can with a nice big
soundstage. Would I like these as much as my Monitor 10? Are they durable and reliable?
Its the cost of the tube amp that seems scary. Would a cheaper DIY or portable be more
practical for a beginner like me?
Currently I'm hunting for more vintage headphones to compare and collect: Pioneer SE-50 &
other similar old headphones + a headphone mixer for shared multiple headphone listening.
I love cheap old stuff that is designed well and lasts a long time. Beyerdynamics seem out
of reach, and old AKGs seem too hard to find. If an open back and amp is really superior
to a Monitor 10 for mixing and classical music then I might hold off on buying these cheaper
cans and a mixer.