[geepondy]

Hi,

Just discovered this wonderful thread and can see how easy it would be to spend lots of money. For now though I'm looking to upgrade my Radio Shack Pro35 headphones that I mainly use to listen thru the PC. I mainly listen to cds, mp3s, DVDs and gaming thru the PC. I use the headphone jack that is provided on my Altec Lansing 4100 control pod and the computer itself uses a soundblaster Audigy card. I originally wanted to at least listen to a pair of Grado's SR-80s but dang they are hard to find locally. Now I see CompUSA has a 20 percent off deal on all headphones and they carry the Sennheiser HD497s. How do these phones rate for my needs? Are they a big drop off from the Grados I mentioned above? And of course would listen to other comparable recommendations. Also on audio review I see reviews on the HD-595's but none on the 597s, are these essentially the same headphones? Thanks a bunch for any replies.

 

[blessingx]

Welcome to Head-Fi, keep your hand on that wallet.

The 497's are a great upgrade. I prefer the Grados, but not by much. The Senns are good for the price and if you can get them cheaper, they're even better. Compare though what are normal Senn prices, not MSRP. Amazon and HeadRoom are good pricing lookups... and the latter as sponsor a good place to shop.

Where is local? Maybe someone can suggest a place to try Grados or any others.

Suggested the 497's to a friend recently. She loves them.

 

[Davie]

I prefer the 497s to the Grados. I think they're pretty evenly matched in terms of quality and that individual taste accounts for preference one way or the other.

The 497 is one of the first headphones I bought after joining head-fi and it is still one of my favorites. It's versatile, meaning it does well with all kinds of music and sources. It's a big improvement over those Pro35s.

 

[geepondy]

I just bought the HD 497s at Comp USA for $55 after the 20 percent coupon (available for printing from their web site). I have been listening to a Fleetwood Mac cd thru the PC and yes they are a marked improvement over what I have. Much better separation, particularly on the higher ends. Without having listened to any other headphones I have to think these are a very good value for the money. Of course now it makes me wonder even how much better HD580s for an example, would be over these. I want to experience the feeling of sitting between a huge pair of tower three way speakers if that is possible. Still I'm quite satisified with the purchase of these phones.

 

[averydonovan]

I was using the Pro 35's before I got here too. I bought, and then returned, an HD497 (not enough bass for me, I later got the Sony V6's). But all this talk of getting them 20% off makes me want to get a pair again to see how my perceptions of headphones have changed, but my wallet is still recovering from my recent computer upgrades. And I really don't need another set of headphones...I just have to keep telling myself that

Glad to hear you like your HD497's geepondy. They are quite an upgrade from the Pro 35's.

 

[Hiker]

Quote:

Originally posted by geepondy I just bought the HD 497s at Comp USA for $55 after the 20 percent coupon (available for printing from their web site). I have been listening to a Fleetwood Mac cd thru the PC and yes they are a marked improvement over what I have. Much better separation, particularly on the higher ends. Without having listened to any other headphones I have to think these are a very good value for the money. Of course now it makes me wonder even how much better HD580s for an example, would be over these. I want to experience the feeling of sitting between a huge pair of tower three way speakers if that is possible. Still I'm quite satisified with the purchase of these phones.

Oh my, upgraditis already! I have the 497s and enjoy them a lot as my computer headphones. I have had them for about a year and were my first high quality set of cans. I also have the SR-80s and are quite happy with them as well. I don't use one pair for a certain type of music and the other for a different type. I just use them both for everything depending on which ones I feel like listening to (although they have taken the backseat since ive gotten etys). Congrads on your new find and soon to be much lighter wallet.

 

[kcits]

Quote:

Originally posted by geepondy Of course now it makes me wonder even how much better HD580s for an example, would be over these. I want to experience the feeling of sitting between a huge pair of tower three way speakers if that is possible.

well curiosity got the better of me and i ended up buying the 580s a few months ago (i temporarily had the 497s for a few days), and unfortunately (

) i think they do have what you're looking for... mwaahaha

.... the 580s have a much larger soundstage/headstage, much better instrument separation, much smoother high-end...

i wouldn't want to fuel any upgraditis...

the 497s are still very good though

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by kcits mwaahaha .... the 580s have a much larger soundstage/headstage, much better instrument separation, much smoother high-end...

I have to ask about this instrument separation thing. Since all headphones have two separate earpieces (left and right) and there's no leakage (except with the AKG K-1000, but that's an unusual case), how are you gonna get better "instrument separation" with one model over another... I don' git it...

 

[kcits]

instrument separation is definitely different between 'phones; just listen to something like the hd-212pros (whose instrument separation is quite bad), then listen to the 580s and it's such a night & day difference.. you can't really compare.. -- instruments don't blend into each other nearly as much and you can hear room reverberations and reflections much more easily. it's like they're spread around your head at a larger angle and exist within their own space of air. i used to have the 212pros (for a few months) and temporarily had the 497s for a few days.

i'm not really sure what aspects of headphone design affect things like this.. although i think part of it has to do with the amount of space between your ear and the driver. try pulling your 'phones a few millimetres away from your ear, and you might notice a more spacious kind of sound (not sure if this effect works with all 'phones though...)

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by kcits instrument separation is definitely different between 'phones; just listen to something like the hd-212pros (whose instrument separation is quite bad), then listen to the 580s and it's such a night & day difference.. you can't really compare.. -- instruments don't blend into each other nearly as much and you can hear room reverberations and reflections much more easily. it's like they're spread around your head at a larger angle and exist within their own space of air. i used to have the 212pros (for a few months) and temporarily had the 497s for a few days.

Oh, OK... what you're calling instrument separation, I think I'd just call detail (macro- and micro-dynamics). Macrodynamics would involve overall ability to discern individual instruments and such clearly, while microdynamics would involve e.g. the way a trumpet sounds, whether you can clearly hear the "pulses" that make up a trumpet note or whether it sounds too smooth (or at the other extreme, more like a synthesizer)... also, attacks on piano notes and things like that.

I think headphones differ most obviously in terms of macrodynamics... if you're into (or ever get into) vinyl tho, microdynamics vary drastically between cartridges, and a small change in VTA or tracking weight can make a major difference.

 

[kcits]

yep that's pretty much what i mean

imho, soundstage/instrument separation & "airiness" is one of the most important factors in headphones (just my preference i guess.)

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally posted by kcits yep that's pretty much what i mean imho, soundstage/instrument separation & "airiness" is one of the most important factors in headphones (just my preference i guess.)

Well... I like "airiness" and enhanced soundstage for casual listening, but prefer a more analytical, detailed and forward sound sometimes (for that, I'll plug in a good pair of closed cans). Who could live with just one pair of headphones?

 

[kcits]

heh well i guess after owning the 212pros, i'm kind of obsessed with an "airy" and spacious sound now, after having to listen to the "claustrophobic" sound of the 212s for a few months. but yeah, it really depends on what your preference is