Vanarian
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2012
- Posts
- 91
- Likes
- 13
Hi guys, it's my first post here but I've been following you for a bunch of time as a reader... though I don't know a lot. I'm seeking an upgrade, maybe not as audiophile as someone would say, but something that will fill me with joy. So I need your help because I don't want to waste my money on a pair of cans that I wouldn't like.
To go straight to the main point, please scroll down till the end of my post
Here is my little experience :
I listen to a lot of music kinds, dubstep, rap, rock, metal, alternative, jazz, disco, orchestral symphonic, electro, house, r&b, etc... my first step to headphones was made with a set of Sony, maybe something like MB300 (don't remember the exact name...). At this time I owned a Creative Zen X-FI, didn't have the luck to know the better rated old design. But still it was -and it is- a very good portable player, from my POV. I don't use it anymore because of a defect, the screen is covered with dust. I may check it one day. Anyway...
I've had a first experience with a pair of Beats Studio (owned by my sister) about three years ago? I did found it wonderful at this time. Coming from my little Sonys, the gap was as obvious as coming from standard earphones to well built average headphones. I discovered a new kind of soundstage, with a punchy bass, vivid highs... I loved it.
When I got back to my Sonys I was confused because it was not "what I wanted" anymore. Stil a good set, I can't deny them.
Right now I've a pair of JVC SA360, almost the same thing than my Sonys. The two cans are near its end, I almost broke them. By the time I learnt that Beats are overpriced for design and brand, and it seems that I can get better for lesser bucks. There starts the research.
Now I've come across Beats Solo, Beats Solo HD, a pair of Shure, a Sennheiser which I don't remember the name, and recently Beats MIXR, Sennheiser HD25 and Focal Spirit One.
What I get from testing all these cans is :
Beats Solo/HD aren't suited for me at all. Soundstage is almost inexistant, it is too weakly built for me. Shure cans were what I'd call cold, totally neutral... and i really HATE this. I couldn't stand them, maybe for professionnal environnment it'd be great, but for listening pleasure it's one of the worst I've heard. Personnal opinion again, I prefer listening to lifefull and warm sound. The first pair of Sennheiser wasn't better, same thing than the Shure. To say, my JVC was a lot better for listening.
Past the two last weeks, I've finally had the opportunity to test the so famous Sennheiser HD25, newcommer Focal SPirit One and Beats MIXR (plus a Beats PRO). I tested everything straight from an iPhone 4, not really good from what I've read from Head Fi but it was all I had in my pocket at the moment.
The Beats MIXR? These cans sound great to me. It seems to have a "V" shape, but still it is a lot of fun to listen, punchy and vivid, not a wide soundstage but a lot better in every aspect than my JVC and Sony anyway. Beats PRO are almost the same, reminded me a lot of Studio. Still, overpriced, and if better exists, that's what I'm seeking here.
Then goes the Focal Spirit One. French brand, I'm french, well reviewed so I had to test it. I love its accuracy, vivid mids and highs. But it lacks of bass, I find it somewhat weak. Note that I tested it in two environnments, one silent, one strongly noisy, and it was equally performant and accurate. Really great set of cans, but not for me because I find it boring without more powerful bass.
Then come a well-known set : the Sennheiser HD 25. It is vivid, provides a good pack of bass, good accuracy as well (though I'd go for Focal if it was only for accuracy). I can understand why it has so many good reviews, the sound is even warm, nothing like the preview Sennheiser I had tested. I enjoyed it a bit.
But finally it isn't a pair of cans I'd pay 200$ for, because it lacks of soundstage. To me, it lacks the "black" background I enjoyed with Studios, though it is lifeful and definitely better at performing music itself. HD25 doesn't mix high, med and bass like the Solo, it is distinctive and accurate. But it sounds... kind of "closed in a little piece" no matter the music I listened with it.
Finally getting in the thread main title! What can I get to suit my hearing? I'll check for an AMP to match the new pair of cans, with what it will require, but before that... I must choice a pair of cans
I've read great feedback on Ultrasone products, HFI design being probably what I'd seek. But I don't know them at all. All I know is that one is closed, which means isolation inside and outside, and one is open, which means leaking inside and outside, but way more charism, warmth, soundstage and accuracy? What would be the best compromise if my first criteria was listening pleasure, and second was isolation? I haven't had any open pair to test before, so I don't know how much it leaks in and out. Out, I don't really care... what makes me worry is more about IN. For example, is it usable in a street? Or would noise nuisance alter the music?
Then what must I do, open cans, closed cans? Ultrasone HFI or anything else?
Here you go, I hope that I've been enough understandable (not my primary language, sorry for mistakes by the way). Thanks by advance guys!
[Post edited because I thought it didn't reflect the title]
To go straight to the main point, please scroll down till the end of my post
Here is my little experience :
I listen to a lot of music kinds, dubstep, rap, rock, metal, alternative, jazz, disco, orchestral symphonic, electro, house, r&b, etc... my first step to headphones was made with a set of Sony, maybe something like MB300 (don't remember the exact name...). At this time I owned a Creative Zen X-FI, didn't have the luck to know the better rated old design. But still it was -and it is- a very good portable player, from my POV. I don't use it anymore because of a defect, the screen is covered with dust. I may check it one day. Anyway...
I've had a first experience with a pair of Beats Studio (owned by my sister) about three years ago? I did found it wonderful at this time. Coming from my little Sonys, the gap was as obvious as coming from standard earphones to well built average headphones. I discovered a new kind of soundstage, with a punchy bass, vivid highs... I loved it.
When I got back to my Sonys I was confused because it was not "what I wanted" anymore. Stil a good set, I can't deny them.
Right now I've a pair of JVC SA360, almost the same thing than my Sonys. The two cans are near its end, I almost broke them. By the time I learnt that Beats are overpriced for design and brand, and it seems that I can get better for lesser bucks. There starts the research.
Now I've come across Beats Solo, Beats Solo HD, a pair of Shure, a Sennheiser which I don't remember the name, and recently Beats MIXR, Sennheiser HD25 and Focal Spirit One.
What I get from testing all these cans is :
Beats Solo/HD aren't suited for me at all. Soundstage is almost inexistant, it is too weakly built for me. Shure cans were what I'd call cold, totally neutral... and i really HATE this. I couldn't stand them, maybe for professionnal environnment it'd be great, but for listening pleasure it's one of the worst I've heard. Personnal opinion again, I prefer listening to lifefull and warm sound. The first pair of Sennheiser wasn't better, same thing than the Shure. To say, my JVC was a lot better for listening.
Past the two last weeks, I've finally had the opportunity to test the so famous Sennheiser HD25, newcommer Focal SPirit One and Beats MIXR (plus a Beats PRO). I tested everything straight from an iPhone 4, not really good from what I've read from Head Fi but it was all I had in my pocket at the moment.
The Beats MIXR? These cans sound great to me. It seems to have a "V" shape, but still it is a lot of fun to listen, punchy and vivid, not a wide soundstage but a lot better in every aspect than my JVC and Sony anyway. Beats PRO are almost the same, reminded me a lot of Studio. Still, overpriced, and if better exists, that's what I'm seeking here.
Then goes the Focal Spirit One. French brand, I'm french, well reviewed so I had to test it. I love its accuracy, vivid mids and highs. But it lacks of bass, I find it somewhat weak. Note that I tested it in two environnments, one silent, one strongly noisy, and it was equally performant and accurate. Really great set of cans, but not for me because I find it boring without more powerful bass.
Then come a well-known set : the Sennheiser HD 25. It is vivid, provides a good pack of bass, good accuracy as well (though I'd go for Focal if it was only for accuracy). I can understand why it has so many good reviews, the sound is even warm, nothing like the preview Sennheiser I had tested. I enjoyed it a bit.
But finally it isn't a pair of cans I'd pay 200$ for, because it lacks of soundstage. To me, it lacks the "black" background I enjoyed with Studios, though it is lifeful and definitely better at performing music itself. HD25 doesn't mix high, med and bass like the Solo, it is distinctive and accurate. But it sounds... kind of "closed in a little piece" no matter the music I listened with it.
Finally getting in the thread main title! What can I get to suit my hearing? I'll check for an AMP to match the new pair of cans, with what it will require, but before that... I must choice a pair of cans
I've read great feedback on Ultrasone products, HFI design being probably what I'd seek. But I don't know them at all. All I know is that one is closed, which means isolation inside and outside, and one is open, which means leaking inside and outside, but way more charism, warmth, soundstage and accuracy? What would be the best compromise if my first criteria was listening pleasure, and second was isolation? I haven't had any open pair to test before, so I don't know how much it leaks in and out. Out, I don't really care... what makes me worry is more about IN. For example, is it usable in a street? Or would noise nuisance alter the music?
Then what must I do, open cans, closed cans? Ultrasone HFI or anything else?
Here you go, I hope that I've been enough understandable (not my primary language, sorry for mistakes by the way). Thanks by advance guys!
[Post edited because I thought it didn't reflect the title]
