[Keenan]

Hi,
 
 
I am planning to upgrade my gear (ath-m50 with pico dac amp), prefer headphone for vocal and pop ( mostly is j-pop such as kalafina)
I have did some research that some headphones is great in vocal, so there are some option for my gear.
 
 
Option 1, 
HD 600 
 
 
Option 2 
HE 400 but not sure is it good performance in vocal
 
Option 3
HE 500 but not sure pico dac amp able to drive this headphone.
 
Option 4
HD 650
 
I do not plan to upgrade my amp since i am planning to buy headphone with recable which may cost around $700 to 1000 range.
 
Or is that other headphone is good in vocal  and any advise for those options?

 

[NA Blur]

I think for your listening tastes the HE-500 or even a AKG Q701 would be fantastic.  I have had both the HD-600 and HD-650 and really did not like them in the long run because of the veil or I had to have the volume much too loud to get the sound that I liked out of them.  I say shy away from the HD-600/650.
 
The HE-500 is an awesome headphone for almost any type of music and it is well worth its price.  Between the Q701 and HE-500 I would go with the HE-500.  It will most likely be one of those headphones that you keep forever because it sounds so darn good.
 
If you do end up with the HE-500 the velour pads are the way to go.  For me the HE-500 rested a tad low on my ears so I had to lift up the headband an inch with some extra padding.  That improved the sound quite a bit as well.

 

[oopeteroo]

sony ma900 or sony cd900st maybe?

 

[Keenan]

Quote:

I think for your listening tastes the HE-500 or even a AKG Q701 would be fantastic.  I have had both the HD-600 and HD-650 and really did not like them in the long run because of the veil or I had to have the volume much too loud to get the sound that I liked out of them.  I say shy away from the HD-600/650.
 
The HE-500 is an awesome headphone for almost any type of music and it is well worth its price.  Between the Q701 and HE-500 I would go with the HE-500.  It will most likely be one of those headphones that you keep forever because it sounds so darn good.
 
If you do end up with the HE-500 the velour pads are the way to go.  For me the HE-500 rested a tad low on my ears so I had to lift up the headband an inch with some extra padding.  That improved the sound quite a bit as well.

Can Pico dac/amp can drive HE 500? because it is portable amp so i do not think it has enough power to drive HE 500.

 

[NA Blur]

The Pico will be a tad lean for the power hungry HE-500, but the headphone is an awesome upgrade and a more beefy amp would be something to look forward to.  That said the AKG Q701 is my other suggestion.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

If you're going to stick to your current amp, consider:
 
Hifiman HE-400
AudioTechnica AD900
AudioTechnica A900X
Beyer DT880 250ohm
Mr Speakers Mad Dogs

Very best,

 

[Lord Voldemort]

Quote:

Hi,
 
 
I am planning to upgrade my gear (ath-m50 with pico dac amp), prefer headphone for vocal and pop ( mostly is j-pop such as kalafina)
I have did some research that some headphones is great in vocal, so there are some option for my gear.
 
 
Option 1, 
HD 600 
 
 
Option 2 
HE 400 but not sure is it good performance in vocal
 
Option 3
HE 500 but not sure pico dac amp able to drive this headphone.
 
Option 4
HD 650
 
I do not plan to upgrade my amp since i am planning to buy headphone with recable which may cost around $700 to 1000 range.
 
Or is that other headphone is good in vocal  and any advise for those options?

I've auditioned the HD600/ 650 and personally preferred the HD598s for vocals (among other things). Never heard the HE-400 or the HE-500 but if you plan to listen to only a few genres, you don't need to spend hundreds to enjoy the music - and that's what this is all about. I remember reading from a HE-400 owner that he preferred the vocals on the 598s over the HE-400 by a good margin but the HE-500 is notable for having a better midrange than the HE-400. I'd also look into the T50rp Mad Dogs and maybe the Q701s. And actually, if you are willing to spend the money for a HE-500, why not also look into a modded Paradox which many claim to be better than the HE-500.
 
Again, I never heard any of the planar magnetics but I'm recommending based on reviews that I've read - and reviews you should look into as well. 

 

[Keenan]

I guess my option will down to 
 
1. HD598
2. AKG Q701
3.Beyer DT880 250ohm
4.AudioTechnica A900X
5. HD600 
 
Since i will go to hong kong next month, then i guess i will try these headphone.
 
It is hard to find a place to test high value headphone except monster....... in perth

 

[Keenan]

Quote:

Heya,

If you're going to stick to your current amp, consider:
 
Hifiman HE-400
AudioTechnica AD900
AudioTechnica A900X
Beyer DT880 250ohm
Mr Speakers Mad Dogs

Very best,

How was the comfort of the headphones that you recommend? which include HE 500. 
I hear that HE 400 and 500 is not comfort enough but velour pad will be better.
Mostly i listen music around 2 to 4 hours
 
Thank

 

[justin w.]

The HE-400 will be a better match in terms of power output with the Pico DAC/Amp than the less efficient HE-500

 

[whoelse]

Alessandro MS2i, forceful mid full of emotion!

 

[pinetrees]

Mids on the HD598 have kept impressing me over and over! Highly recommended!