[Uncle Erik]

Last night I picked up the April 2006 issue of Stereophile. This issue has their 500 recommended components. Under headphones, they list:

Class A
AKG K-1000
Sennheiser HD-650
Sennheiser HD-600
Shure E5c
Ultimate Ears UE-5c

Class B
Grado SR125
Grado SR325i
Sennheiser HD-580

Class C
Grado SR60
Shure E3c

Class K
Ultimate Ears UE10C
Sony MDR-7506

Class K refers to "keep your eyes on this product" and means that they are still evaluating them.

Anyhow, I'd like to know what Head-Fi thinks about these ratings. Discuss!

 

[smeggy]

If the E5c is a class A then there is something wrong with their ears.

 

[KyPeN]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik Last night I picked up the April 2006 issue of Stereophile. This issue has their 500 recommended components. Under headphones, they list: Class A AKG K-1000 Sennheiser HD-650 Sennheiser HD-600 Shure E5c Ultimate Ears UE-5c Class B Grado SR125 Grado SR325i Sennheiser HD-580 Class C Grado SR60 Shure E3c Class K Ultimate Ears UE10C Sony MDR-7506 Class K refers to "keep your eyes on this product" and means that they are still evaluating them. Anyhow, I'd like to know what Head-Fi thinks about these ratings. Discuss!

Class A
--No IEM will ever compete with open cans in sound quality alone in their own price bracket.
--No Grado? Please...

Class B
--325i in same bracket as 125? What?

Class C
--E3c and not E2c which seem to be comparable by how many people like them. Again, price =/ performance.


I'd take this with a grain of salt

 

[Alu]

I kept wondering: Where are the high-class Sony cans...and where is the K701? The same goes for Grado.

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

One always has to remember the historicity of the Streophile RC lists. They can only put some thing on the list they have reviewed. If a product is discontinued or changed significantly it drops of the list. And the rating is based primarily on what the reviewer at the time said---though JA has some say.

 

[seacard]

Somebody (read: HeadRoom) should do something like the Stereophile recommended component guide for headphones. I know HeadRoom currently does their 5 star value rating, but every headphone should have 2 ratings: overall quality and a value rating. Also, the scale should go up to at least 10, if not 100. HeadRoom is in great position to do something like this, since they have most headphones ever made there and they could get 3 or 4 employees per review, and average the three to come up with an overall rating (e.g. Sennheiser HD650: Overall - 85; Value - 75, or whatever).

 

[sonic32]

Where is the Stax Omega II? This is class A all the way...

 

[Nik]

What about the amps?

Best!
Nicola

 

[Salt Peanuts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nik What about the amps? Best! Nicola

Class A
Benchmark DAC1
Grace m902
HeadRoom Desktop
MF X-Can V3
Sugden Headmaster

Class B
RSA SR-71

Class C
HeadRoom Total Bithead

 

[Alu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic32 Where is the Stax Omega II? This is class A all the way...

I'm guessing that this is a list for dynamic headphones only.

 

[Salt Peanuts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic32 Where is the Stax Omega II? This is class A all the way...

They haven't reviewed Omega II's since 2001, so I suspect that they've taken them off the list (assuming they were on the list).

 

[Meyvn]

I think the list is crap. It's out of date (neither the SA5000 or K701 is either on the list or even being evaluated) and not even bothering with electrostatics. And honestly, IEMs should have their own category.

 

[cosmopragma]

Oh what a relief!
I just have to plug my K1000s into my Benchmark and abracadabra I'm listening to a Stereophile approved top notch Class A rig.
Why didn't you tell me about it before?
Would have saved me lots of money for better matching source/amp.

Just kidding.
I don't know about Stereophile, but german audio magazines don't care much about headphones at all.They are usually pretty clueless and it's more likely to find an article about power cables than about headphones.
Headphone audio generally isn't considered to be serious audio, they are strictly speaker orientated.

 

[jimmyjames8]

The great thing about Stereophile's Recco list is that when you go to sell something on their list you can say "Stereophile Recommended Component Class X". It has some cache with the masses. And in my humble opinion, Senn HD650's are class A all the way. Harumph!

 

[saturnine]

Stereophile reviewed the RS-1, wonder why it's not on the list?