[JaZZ]

You know: it's not only inter-channel phase relation which counts for localization, but also phase and frequency response within the single channels. It's been said that one factor may be responsible for the imperfect reproduction of binaural recordings: the individual shapes of the outer ear. I'm not so sure. However, even with high-class headphones (my electrostats, HD 600, ER-4S) there was no in-front localization to speak of with the samples I've heard so far. The best result was with the ER-4S. But even with these the whole acoustic environment seemed to be behind my neck -- an unpleasant experience, certainly no natural «soundstage».

 

[KellDammit]

from what i understand, localization is a function of psychoacoustic interpretation of what the ear sends to the brain. the haas effect is a good example of how relatively easy it is to fool your brain's localization processing scheme. it is also fairly easy to trick the brain into perceiving ambience/depth/distance. i'd assumed the outer ear would have a lot to do with upfront or behind localization..tho Jazz's comment on "behind the neck" canalphone imaging kinda shoots that one outta the water...lol
a good stereo recording should be a lush 3-d soundscape...on speakers OR cans, but anymore it seems to be something of a lost art. guess it gets lost in the 40hz "boom".

somewhere, i'd read a story about a guy who'd had surgery of some sort and was on some drugs that bypassed the part of his brain that interpreted/processed sound. his discriptions of everyday sounds without the brain's "interference" was pretty freaky, if a bit unsettling...on the upside, cheap can users rejoice! noone is actually hearing what's really happening anyway!

kell

 

[ProFingerSk8er]

Quote:

Originally posted by JaZZ I agree with others here: the Portapros and probably the whole Koss family make a nice wide soundstage for a supraaural headphone. If only the bass was a bit less dominant. But what are sound controls for...

protapros with less bass = ksc35, i believe protapros only sound wider and bassier because they'r pressed against your ears compare to ksc-35s clips

 

[RickG]

Man, taste certainly changes here at Head-fi. I own a multitude of headphones and amps. I no longer list all this stuff in my profile (for reasons of efficiency); however, I must state that I find it downright amazing that no one is talking about the AKG K 501.

I guess you could say that the 501 has been lambasted for thin bass response (duh, right MacDEF?

) as well as a need for abundant power to sound their best, but, the sound-stage is fat...wide...and simply UNREAL . As a matter of fact, many call the 501’s sound-stage “artificial” 'cus it seems to extend outside the head, beyond the ear-cups.

I've got phones with better detail retrieval, palpable bass, and instrument imaging, but I'd have to say that the K 501 is a great candidate for “king of sound stage”...whether it's real or not!

 

[blessingx]

Quote:

Originally posted by RickG I must state that I find it downright amazing that no one is talking about the AKG K 501.

Maybe because the title (and definition in the thread)?