Recommend headphones for this type of music...

[EsthetiX]

UNDER $200 (they could be used and 200 or less though)

I listen to a lot of electronic that doesn't necessarily focus on one dynamic range as most would expect for this type of music. I'm looking for cans that shine in all ranges not just base. I was looking at the dt 770's but I am afraid they may lack in detail and the bass may muddy up other dynamics. A lot of stuff I listen to you may need to hear it 2 or 3 times to catch some things because details are just so subtle.

Also, I need phones that are cable of playing bass but able to distinguish reverb since I listen to a lot of ambient spatial stuff where reverb is common.

1. Detail and clarity
2. Great sound in ALL dynamic ranges
3. Good for ambient spacey reverb and lush synths
4. Big sounding
5. Up close in your face rather than distant sounding

I know there was a recent similar thread but electronic music varies so widely and into completely different sub genres which makes me afraid to take advice from people who are thinking only about "loud funky bangin' techno".

http://darinepsilon.com/downloads/mi...nuary_2006.mp3

http://darinepsilon.com/downloads/mi...D_Mar_2005.mp3

not the most detailed examples I could find online but pretty damn detailed.

 

[EsthetiX]

I have sony v700's which are just far too muddy. Lack detail and clarity but certain stuff sounds good. Bass it pretty slammin. Also just got some K240's for music production to use in unison with my krk monitors. They are somewhat detailed but I don't enjoy them for pure listening.

 

[ericj]

I've been known to listen to trance from time to time. The tracks you linked to sound pretty good out of the fostex T40 that happens to be on my head at the moment, but these are discontinued (mk1) and modified so it's not like i can readily recommend them.

So, the trick here is, you're probably going to be happier with something open rather than something closed. It sounds like you need detailed mids, adequate and full but controlled bass, and highs that are anything but shy.

Did you get the K240-M or the K240-S? there's a big difference.

Maybe DT990?

 

[EsthetiX]

I got the k240S's. I actually meant to get k240M. So I'm now in the process of trading. But these are for mixing and monitoring purposes ONLY anyway. Not for enjoyment.

I only mentioned them so that people have an idea of what I am NOT looking for.

What are some of the differences between the 770's and 990's?

 

[ericj]

Well the 990's are open. While i wouldn't call the 770's bass 'muddy' the 990's have better controlled bass that doesn't interfere with the midrange as much. The 990's also have cleaner highs, and, well, they're open-backed, and thus sound more open.

 

[EsthetiX]

Yah, I was thinking open ones might be a better choice just because what I listen to focuses so heavily on spatial aspects and ambiance. I will look into the 990's.. hadent even considered them yet.

 

[xinoxide]

for starters the 990 is fully open, the 770 is fully closed.

i never really hear anything about the beyers having accurate sound resolution, ive heard mention of this about ultrasones quite a bit though, if your really looking for that level of accuracy, maybe look into a higher level ultrasone purchase.

 

[EsthetiX]

Actually these ones don't need to be as accurate (unless you interpreted clarity as accuracy). I just want nice to listen to.

Hmm what about these http://www.eclerdjdivision.com/produ...=2&sub=6&id=29 by ultrasone? I cant find any info on here! ??? The description looks like just what im looking for... good spatial/3d. I don't trust manufacturers descriptions EVER though lol

 

[EsthetiX]

It's hard to get headphones that can play this stuff the way it is meant to sound.

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xinoxide /img/forum/go_quote.gif for starters the 990 is fully open, the 770 is fully closed.

Fully open but the bass backwave is aggressively damped.

Owning as i do a QP85 (80's jecklins) and a 1984 DT880-S, which are truly fully open without anything interfering with the backwave, I have to point out that there's a difference.

Even then, the DT880-S has this big stripe of hard plastic that goes across the back of the grille, which probably serves to reflect high frequency backwave back to the front, where the qp85 has the same mesh grille and thin layer of open-cell foam in front of the driver as it does behind the driver.

The difference? less damping = more soundstage & less bass.

 

[ericj]

You know, I'm just trying the 'mirror universe' track with the QP85 right now, and I'm sorta tempted to recommend that you buy the world's last NOS Quart Phone 85.

The QP85 is a redesign of Joerg Jecklin's 'float' earspeaker frame. This is about as close as you can get to sticking your head between two speakers and still walk around with your hands free.

They need some burnin before the bass comes out, and even then the last octave rolls off because there is no backwave control, but it might still be enough for you.

Isolation? Never heard of it. these don't even have earpads per se. Just a little wedge of foam that rests against your neck behind your ear.

 

[xinoxide]

ive listened to the 'The Orb - Blue Room' on numerous cans when i was auditioning headphones at guitar center. and the blue room sounded best on the ultrasone prolines, this was a major deciding factor of my purchase. the price is worth it in my opinion. but besides certain artists, in electronic music there really isnt that much detail to listen for. everything alot of electronic artists put in their music as detail, is braught right up to your attention in the mix.

with genres like house and dnb, wich i am an avid litener of. i got very closely matched impressions over a large range of cans, its mainly only this ambient stuff that really differed.

im going to recommend a session of auditioning cans. its kind of hard for me to recommend a pair of cans at a price point youll like. I'd love to see you get into a pair of ultrasones, but i know what the lower end models sound like, and its nothing for ultrasone to be really proud of. And some of the $100-$200 cans ive auditioned sounded pretty empty overall.

Go to a guitar center and start giving some cans a listen with an ipod or a CD or something. To me that is really the only way to know.

 

[EsthetiX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xinoxide /img/forum/go_quote.gif Go to a guitar center and start giving some cans a listen with an ipod or a CD or something. To me that is really the only way to know.

yah... I guess that's a good idea. Perhaps I'll try that with my zen micro and my go-vibe when it comes in. The thing is.. Im afraid to make a decision like that right off the bat because i understand sometimes it can take a couple hours or more to get used to some headphones. Once you're used to them they can be much better than some other pair that initially sounded good.

As for the ultrasones they do look great but as a student, I'm just not ready to invest that kind of money quite yet so I need something to hold me over till then

 

[xinoxide]

i was in guitaqr center listening to headphones from a couple hours after they opened, almost until it came time to leave. i sat on the floor surrounded by headphones. they were pretty lenient about my trying on headphones. the only problem i had with auditioning headphones in a store was there was alot of people around. i was having trouble between 750's and 2500's open and closed variations of the same cans. and i ended up going with the closed prolines for monitoring porposes, wich has proven to have not been the best decision, but i still love my proline 750's to death.

 

[EsthetiX]

Hey, I just ended up going with the 770's. I found them new in box for the right price and couldnt justify not buying.