The Usual Headphone Advice Banter

[j0sh]

I've been an avid reader/rare poster for a while now. My wallet is fattening up and a b-day is soon approaching which means a new pair of desperately needed headphones is calling me out. I'm looking for a can that I can use at the computer mainly that will deliver but also 1 that will really shine when I hook it up to my home stereo. There's also a possibility of me purchasing an amp in the future. I listen to a lot of rock and electronic. I've got a window of ~$250. Enlighten me, please.

 

[DevilDog]

Are you going to listen only to music or will gaming and movies be thrown in there as well?

 

[j0sh]

There will be the occassional game here and there, but music is the primary function.

 

[darkninja67]

What type of rock??

 

[j0sh]

Rock: Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Pink Floyd, Beta Band, Tool, A Perfect Circle, NIN, Super Furry Animals

Electronic: Air, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Daft Punk, M83, Massive Attack, The Album Leaf, William Orbit, Zero 7

Those are just some of the main artists. Hope those help.

 

[darkninja67]

I guess AKG K701s. Any industrial??
Maybe some Grado SR-225s?

EDITED FOR GRADOS!

 

[j0sh]

No industrial really. I've owned a pair of Sennheiser HD-600s in my life, but sold them. I love the feel of Senn's, and I don't really picture myself with Grado's.

 

[darkninja67]

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0sh No industrial really. I've owned a pair of Sennheiser HD-600s in my life, but sold them. I love the feel of Senn's, and I don't really picture myself with Grado's.

Senn 600s huh? Those are some nice cans. I see you with the AKGs though.

 

[j0sh]

I don't really know much on AKG's. What model would you suggest? I also love the looks of the ATH Woodies, but I don't know how their sound quality is, however.

 

[slug]

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0sh Rock: Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Pink Floyd, Beta Band, Tool, A Perfect Circle, NIN, Super Furry Animals Electronic: Air, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Daft Punk, M83, Massive Attack, The Album Leaf, William Orbit, Zero 7 Those are just some of the main artists. Hope those help.

I actually share your taste in music and love most of the bands you listed. I really enjoy my SR-225's and I think they would be a good fit for you seeing as they sound great unamped and only improve when paired with a good amp later.

 

[j0sh]

Isn't comfort an issue with Grado's? Or would you suggest a certain set of pads for them?

 

[slug]

I use both the bowls and the hd414 pads and I find them both comfortable. I think it depends on how tight you have the headband when it comes to comfort in grados. I have never really had a comfort issue with my SR225's and I also use the A900's which are amazingly comfortable.

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0sh Rock: Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Pink Floyd, Beta Band, Tool, A Perfect Circle, NIN, Super Furry Animals Electronic: Air, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Daft Punk, M83, Massive Attack, The Album Leaf, William Orbit, Zero 7 Those are just some of the main artists. Hope those help.

If you can stretch the budget just a little, I'd say AKG K701s for sure. You basically named my rock preferences. They will blow you away on most/all of those bands, especially Tool and Radiohead. Just make sure you get some proper amping; a PA2V2 will do you fine for now, but eventually you may want to add something beefier. Grados are great for rock, as most say, but I think they'd be a bit too harsh for bands like TMV, whose recordings are on the harsh side to begin with. Very well recorded, but harsh. If you DO go with Grados, get the HD414 pads. I find the bowls completely unwearable for more than 45 minutes, but the HD414 (quarter modded, preferably) sound and feel better. You may want to dye them black if you get them, though; they're bright yellow.

 

[j0sh]

How are the AKG's for electronic? Will they perform okay unamped?

 

[kramer5150]

Can you get a K701 for $250?

Do you need isolation?
What kind of sound are you looking for?... bass heavy or bright? In your head sounding or very spatious and distant?

Are you the kind of music listener who is always picking apart notes and sounds in your head, straining for every last musical detail and nuance?... or are you just tapping your feet and grooving to the music?

I'm bored, so here are some of my general comments:

MS1, warm, balanced, easily the most tame SR series Grado, easiest to like. Doesn't quite have the sub-bass extension of some of the other cans on this list. Sounds best with bowl pads and a tube amp. Second cheapest can on this list. Nice all - rounder, no major strengths or flaws. My biggest complaint: Comfy pads make it sound conjested.

HD580, mushy, distant, nice spatial separation but center stage is a little vacant. NEEDS robust amplification, under-amped sounds like fart. Recession from 3500-5500 Hz makes guitars sound mushy and devoid of dynamics. My biggest complaint: upper midrange recession, gets boring after a while.

DT770, closed, bassy. Nice forward upper mids. Good soundstage for a closed can. Recession from 550-900 Hz makes guitars sound thin. Sound reminds me a lot of a mid-fi 5.1 home theater. My biggest complaint: Lower midrange recession, just isn't quite balanced enough for my tastes.

K240s, bass heavy, muddy at times, needs robust amplification. very comfey, although pleather earpads get very sweaty. Cheapest can on tihs list. My biggest complaint: Muddy signature makes it a little hard to pick out details.

SR225, Take the MS1, and boost upper mids and kick drum. Comes with bowl pads. Sounds best with tube amplification. My biggest complaint: Just a a little pricey IMHO. New they sell for a little over $200. Ive seen used MS2s sell for $250.

K501, spatious, nice detail resolution, No bass. More than any other phone on this list, needs amplification.... warm bassy amplification. My biggest complaint: no bass = no fun.

MS2, DING DING DING!!! Winner!!! Used the MS2i model sells for $250. MS2 is about $50 less, used. Easy to drive. Nice sub-bass and treble extension. Can be a little bright, but thats a matter of taste, and nothing some warm amplification can't solve. The most detail revealing can on this list. Nice spatial image, not as "in your head" sounding as the SR225, yet not as distant sounding as the HD580/K240s.

You might also want to consider the SR325i, used. Ive never heard one though.

biggest piece of advice I can offer is to get out and listen to them. Let YOUR ears guide you. What sounds good IS good.

Phwew!!