[dharma]

selection of audio recordings for subjective test, with lossless download

 

[dharma]

how to do (subjective) audio equipment test and evaluation.

 

[ubs28]

My test is very simple. How close does it sound to $150.000+ reference speaker setups? The closer, the better it is.

But other people obviously look for different things if you see how popular Beats headphones are.

 

[dharma]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_equipment_testing
 
objectivists are doing something like this:
http://www.rane.com/note145.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/gsmarena_lab_tests-review-751p4.php
or analyze equipment architecture like here:
like here http://www.rane.com/note110.html
 

subjectivists are mostly discussing of what recordings to use for testing a'la:
...'The idealized answer is a good recording of someone that you've heard live. Better yet, ..., a few recordings of varying density (solo piano, quartet, big band')...
...'I would use only a recording made with a minimalistic approach, as far as microphones are concerned, and a natural room ambiance - if this sounds great, everything else will, or simply reveal the limitations of other recording procedures'...
 
http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?/topic/61916-whats-the-best-jazz-cd-to-test-sound-equipment/
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/music-testing-audio-equipment-24230/
http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2014/09/best-music-albums-to-test-audio-system/
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/test-tracks-your-most-important-audio-tool
https://rateyourmusic.com/board_message?message_id=1915071

 

[harmonix]

My test is very simple. How close does it sound to $150.000+ reference speaker setups? The closer, the better it is.

But other people obviously look for different things if you see how popular Beats headphones are.

I can put that hope to bed right now - not way will it be able to image and layer things like a full range speaker setup.
Have yet to hear any headphone which is even close....

 

[Mike F]

  I can put that hope to bed right now - not way will it be able to image and layer things like a full range speaker setup.
Have yet to hear any headphone which is even close....

Absolutely agree. Headphones are headphones - great fun, and certainly they have practical advantages, but utimately simply not capable of what a speaker system can do.

 

[ubs28]

I can put that hope to bed right now - not way will it be able to image and layer things like a full range speaker setup.
Have yet to hear any headphone which is even close....

The HD 800 S with the Taurus MKII is the closest so far that I have heard. That is why I prefer the HD 800 S over the HD 650. But some people like the HD 650 over the HD 800 S because the HD 650 is laidback.

Headphones does have it's limitations, especially in the bass. Both have their strenght and weakenesses.

 

[Whazzzup]

With tt and th900 i get a head buzz from the base versus a body buzz from my mirage towers. My wife prefers the former

 

[guitarrules]

Is this for sale in the US?

 

[DWbirdseye]

On the plus side HPs offer excellent resolution, an intimate and private listening experience with fewer distractions.

 

[Mike F]

On the plus side HPs offer excellent resolution, an intimate and private listening experience with fewer distractions.

 
And so do many high end speakers, but headphones are much cheaper (even the expensive ones).

 

[harmonix]

The HD 800 S with the Taurus MKII is the closest so far that I have heard. That is why I prefer the HD 800 S over the HD 650. But some people like the HD 650 over the HD 800 S because the HD 650 is laidback.

Headphones does have it's limitations, especially in the bass. Both have their strenght and weakenesses.

It's not the bass really. You can have a pair of good monitors and you will see the same kind of imaging and layering
In fact monitors/bookshelves are easier to set up and place because of the lack of the bass.
 
Headphones are lighter, portable and doesn't annoy your neighbor or your family. So love em for that. But it is not fair to lead people into thinking or hopeing a pair of headphones can be like a pair of reference full range speakers. Tonality and texture - ok it get's close but the sense of space, imaging and layering no way
 
I have heard the HD800 (non s) - nope.
LCD 2 / 3 - nope. Stax - nope.
IEM's like Layla, Noble , Shure 1500's - nope nope and nope.

 

[up late]

the ol' headphones vs speakers debate. like the cable, burn-in, importance of source and subjective impressions vs objective measurements debates, it never gets old.

 

[iBrian]

the ol' headphones vs speakers debate. like the cable, burn-in, importance of source and subjective impressions vs objective measurements debates, it never gets old.

But your ears do! Waka waka!!

 

[up late]

slap me on the back and call me shorty!