Upgrade from HD25-SP

[bumf]

I've been using my HD25SP for a long time now and I've been pretty happy with their sound and isolation. My source is my PC with an audigy 1 which I'll soon be upgrading to 0404 + pimeta.

I've been following the discussions on the HD25-1 and ATH-A900 but can't seem to make a decision. Things that annoy me about the HD25-SP are the tight supra-aural fit, the compressed soundstage and the lack of any deep bass. The A900 seems the logical choice but if the HD25-1 is just as good and solves the problems mentioned above then I'll be happy.

I'm open to any other suggestions for closed headphones up to £200. My tastes include mostly electronica / non-vocal stuff.

Hello btw.

 

[Jahn]

Welcome to head-fi and sorry about your wallet! If you want a closed can that does bass that fits over your ears (not on them) with comfy velour pads - might I suggest the DT770? Oh, and it has great soundstage, not as narrow as my Alessandros.

 

[Gundam]

The HD25-1's are the best cans under £200, IMHO.

Much better than the HD25SP's - I used to have the British Airways Concorde ones and used those for djing for years.

The HD25-1's share the same sonic signature/character but adds an even deeper and punchier bass together with greater refinement and detail. It really is a detail fiend, picking up plenty of information that the SP's missed. However, it does have a tight head-band.... But it is more comfortable and adjustable than the SP's...

The UK rrp for the HD25-1's is £180!!! But this place does them for just under £120:

http://www.djstore.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.pl?item=senhd25

There's a chap on the hifichoice forum selling a pair of used Sennheiser HD580's for £80. A bit of a bargain there as these are normally £180 RRP...

http://forum.hifichoice.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12292

Happy headphone hunting!

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

It took me about 2 weeks of stretching the HD25s using a movie sized box of Mike and Ikes before the head vice tension subdued itsself, so it is possible to get rid of it, it just takes a while

I think the HD25s are a more portable solution than the A900s or the DT770s.

FWIW The HD25s work well with electronica, but the DT770/80 spank them when they are amped well. The DT770 just becomes more and more exciting everytime I upgrade my PPA, but sound absolutely horrible when unamped, while the HD25 sounds good with little to no amplification, and slightly better with.

 

[BluesDaddy]

Well, I just got my HD25s today and have spent the last hour or so listening through my laptop that I use for work. For what it's worth, the laptop is absolutely silent at all volume levels with no source playing. The "head vice" is really not all that bad, IMO. My first impression is that they have signicantly greater clarity than the HD-490s I was using. The bass is also deeper with more detail - i.e. bass doesn't smear together into one note "oomph", and at first doesn't seem as pronounced. However, the first really low bass (listening to an RoIO of some Blind Boys of Alabama pretty well recorded) made me go "wow, that's nice" - something my other phones never made me do.

They're very lightweight and perfect for portables. My laptop drives them as loud as I would want them to go, though probably not as loud as some would like.

If first impressions count, these are great cans for under $150.

 

[bumf]

Thanks for the replies

Quote:

The HD25-1's share the same sonic signature/character but adds an even deeper and punchier bass together with greater refinement and detail.

That's just what I wanted to hear

I'm considering the DT770's but they dont look as nice as the 25's, which are also cheaper. Would the PIMETA be good enough to take the DT770s beyond the 25's?

 

[Jahn]

Well the DT770 is not portable, it's a big german can that will fit completely over your ears. But it's not the looks that count - a Pimeta will have enough juice to power these cans for you - get the 80 Ohm version tho. Even a cmoy has enough to power the DT770, but a pimeta should really bring out some niceness. i can't speak for the hd25-1, which sounds like a great unamped portable closed can solution. but there is a reason why i chose to get a dt770 over a hd25-1 for home - i've already got a grado-sounding can, and they are the MS2 and the KSC-35. the DT770 will be there for isolation and bass rockin' beats. my Solo will drive it - i have the 600 Ohm version, but the Solo should be able to tame it. when i used the cmoy i was using the 80Ohm version.

 

[episiarch]

Just FYI, if you're "pretty happy" with the sound of the 25SP's already, you'll be even happier with them after you add that PIMETA. Although they're no-amp-required headphones, they do get better with an amp.

By no means do I want to discourage you from getting higher-end headphones, and I'm not trying to contradict any of the other posters. But do be aware that with the new amp, you're going to be getting noticeably more out of the cans you already have.

 

[kyrie]

Note that the HD25-1, despite the increase in detail and extension over the SP, still has that "tight supraural fit" and the "compressed soundstage."

 

[saint.panda]

bumf, do you need portabilty?

 

[bumf]

I'm happy with the 25sp yes but they're falling apart

They'll still do for portable use so my new cans won't need to be portable.

Looking at DT-770 now but I can't seem to find an 80 ohm version except for the DT-770 m which says it's designed for drummers. Is it 250 ohm you mean?

Thanks

 

[saint.panda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumf I'm happy with the 25sp yes but they're falling apart They'll still do for portable use so my new cans won't need to be portable. Looking at DT-770 now but I can't seem to find an 80 ohm version except for the DT-770 m which says it's designed for drummers. Is it 250 ohm you mean? Thanks

If you don't need portability....then what about an open headphone? Grados and Alessandros have a similiar sound signature as the HD25 sp - but much better in sound quality.

There is a 80ohm version for sure.

 

[bumf]

Isolation is my main concern, since most of my listening is done at my computer.

If I were to get open cans which would you suggest? I've heard good things about the SR225, which is around the money I'd wish to spend.

 

[saint.panda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumf Isolation is my main concern, since most of my listening is done at my computer. If I were to get open cans which would you suggest? I've heard good things about the SR225, which is around the money I'd wish to spend.

There are many good open cans in this price range. It really comes down to your listening preferences. Grado SR225, Alessandro MS1 / MS2 all have a very upfront and in-your face presentation. The Sennheiser HD 580/600 are rather laid back, however, without sacrificing detail. The Beyerdynamic DT 880 is somewhere in between (this headphones needs a strong amp). For classical music and a more relaxed listening, the AKG 501 is said to be pretty good (never heard that one myself). The AT900 is a closed headphone and has a pretty good reputation as well (haven't heard this one either).
You will hear many good things about all the listed headphones so the best thing would be auditioning them yourself.