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Originally Posted by phkd /img/forum/go_quote.gif
i don't know... have you heard the htx7's? if you haven't yet, you may be surprised!
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I've heard them. They're great-sounding and well-built for the price. The Grados still win, no contest.
Quote:
Originally Posted by moogoob /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Forget retro styled, get true retro.
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That can be a great solution, but it requires some time online. The dangers are that
1. most of the coolest-looking vintage headphones have crap paper-cone drivers and sound dreadful. They're also heavy and uncomfortable. 4 or 8 Ohm ratings are the telltale here, avoid them like the plague they are;
2. most of the good-sounding vintage options can't be satisfactorily driven without a dedicated amp;
3. parts and repair are often a problem. Try finding earpads for a B&O U70;
4. the few vintage options for which none of these things is a problem are almost all well-known around here, and increasingly command prices just as high as new headphones. Witness the planar inflation of the last year or so, or the ridiculous prices demanded for a K340 or Sextett.
However, with some time reading the boards and dedication beyond "I think retro headphones look cool," good deals are always still findable, and you can still build a fantastic rig for little money if you know what you're doing. But unless the reader plans on making this a hobby, I refer him to the Grado and Panasonic pics above. Good choices, easy to find, easy to drive.