[Whitebread]

I'm looking at these headphones for purchase. I listen to a many different kinds of music. Some of it is very bass heavy and some of it is more musical and not just massive bass and no highs.

I just want your opinion of the musicality and responce of these headphones. The can I purchase will be used with an IMP-400 and a Revo 7.1 for gaming.

 

[Whitebread]

TTT, I know there is at least 1 person in here that has tried at least 1 of these phones.

 

[Hiker]

Hey Whitebread

The only ones that I have tried that you have listed are the 497s. These were my first, higher-end headphones. They sound quite neutral to me and don't seem to very source dependent. They work well with my Audigy 2, Ipod, and pcdp. They are durable and I find them reasonably comfortable. Bass is strong and not bloated or boomy. Highs are nice too and aren't fatiguing. I would recommend these headphones to anyone. Considering they are in the same series as the 457s, I would disreguard those and go straight for the 497s.

 

[SptsNaz]

The hd 497 is definately one of the better beginner cans on the market... at least for the money (I've seen them go at this board used to 30$ and under). They are not the most comfortable, but are adequate. I haven't heard the Ultrasone, but it cost much more than the others.

 

[Whitebread]

Ok, well then I guess it's between the 497s and the Ultrasones. Yes the Ultrasones do cost a good bit more but that doesn't matter.

Anyone know anything about the ultrasones?

 

[Trounce]

Hah! I can't even believe the Ultrasones are in the same comparison! I own them and have heard the 497s. There is no comparison. The 650s blow them away. Far, far away.

The 650s are a tad bright, but they go deep deep deep. They are certifiably easy to drive, at 75ohms, and are very portable. Also, they have a liquid midrange that is very neutral. As I said, they low, and the impact is there: I was very surprised that the bass is almost as powerful as my Beyer 770s.

Overall, it's no contest. But, they are around 4x more expensive.

 

[blessingx]

Write off your first two options and then check your bank account.

 

[Whitebread]

hehe, well my bank account is more than able to purchase a pair of HFI-650s and then some. I was also gonna build a META42 with the cans I purchased. I also considered getting some other cans for home use. The HFi-650s would be used with a protable. I was thinking like a Beyerdynamic DT770 or DT880. What do you guys think?

 

[blessingx]

I'm really curious how you came up with those four options?

 

[Whitebread]

Actually, at first it was just the Sennheiser headphones, then I remembered about the HFI-650s and threw them in there not thinking about the "quality" level of the Ultrasones compaired to the Sennheisers. I guess that was silly.

 

[Whitebread]

Anyone have a suggestion for another phone? I need one that I can game with, listen to music and other audio on my computer and use with a standalone CD player. I'll be building a meta42, like I said above, to drive the cans.

 

[Davie]

I have the Ultrasone 650 Trackmaster (not DVD) and find them *too* bright. I therefore prefer the 497s. But if the brightness didn't bother me I'd agree that the 650s outclass the 497s. If you're using a meta and you have some $$$, why restrict yourself to these?

 

[Whitebread]

The HFI-650s would be for my portable, the META42 with a better phone would be for a home rig. I don't really want to be carrying about 700+ dollars of audio equipment when you consider some of the places I have to go.

 

[Trounce]

Well, now we're getting somewhere: the 650s are completely ILL-SUITED for portable use. See, they terminate with a monkey-tail-sized 1/4" plug, and use a 1/4-1/8" adapter to use with portable systems. However, this means that there is a large, rigid erected structure sticking out of your pocket, and if you were to move fast, the structure could break and leave the 1/8" connector INSIDE your player. It's just not practical.

I can post pictures if that did not make sense to you.

 

[Rizumu]

Quote:

Originally posted by Trounce However, this means that there is a large, rigid erected structure sticking out of your pocket

Quote:

I can post pictures if that did not make sense to you.

Anyway, my Trackmaster HFI-650 was terminated to a mini so I guess this is exclusive to the DVD edition?