njones0100
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2010
- Posts
- 20
- Likes
- 16
I'm going to be a little long-winded here, so if you would like to help me, but do not want to humor me, please skip to the bottom of this post.
Two years ago I was spending all of my time at my computer and listening to music, and my painful Sony on ear MDR-(something cheap) were very umpleasant to wear for more than an few hours at a time. Being a passionate lover of music, quality, and obviously comfort, was important to me. But my resources are limited (I'm on a tight budget, if you can call it that, and these types os purchases are somewhat rare), so I spent a great deal of time researching the market before making an investment.
I live in a rural country town in southern VA, and no one I am familiar with has ever heard of Sennheiser. Auditions are out of the question, I would probably have to travel something like 5 hours to find a store that had that sort of item on hand. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I ended up getting a set of HD595's that I am fairly happy with. Based on my very limited experience, I would say they have a few shortcomings, but I like their airy sound, particularly with some Steely Dan or Pink Floyd. In retrospect, at $180, they were probably overpriced.
Let me get that out of the way. In addition to the two aformentioned bands, music I routinely listen to includes: Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Daft Punk, George Winston, Phoenix, Jeff Buckley, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Fall Out Boy, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and a few hundred other alternative, light/classic rock, jazz, jass fusion and electronica groups/bands/artists.
I listen to many different genres representing many different styles and sounds. So I believe I need an all-rounder. Something with an uncolored, flat or "nuetral" sound.
I picked up a Headroom Total Bithead about a year after acquiring the 595's, primarily for it's price and USB input since most of my listening is done on my laptop. It helps, I definitely experience a "fuller" sound than I get from plugging the cans directly into my laptops headphone jack. I can certainly imagine that there are some much better amps out there, the 595's sound pretty much the same out of my Rockbox'd Clp+ w/ or w/o the amp, but it's hard for me to imagine spending $250+ on an amp in the not-too-near future. But who knows... the poison is in my blood...
I picked up some CX300's when I got the Clip+, and found the bass to be refreshing. I was aware that their sound was not as refined, but found the heavy, although boomy, bass to be more "fun" to listen to on occasion. I was so pleased that I got my girlfriend a pair. Anyway, I'm speaking about them in the past tense because mine recently died, and that's what spurred me on the hunt for a new set of phones.
I was originally just after a replacement for the ECH's, but now I'm thinking that I would rather have a full-sized set of preferably closed phones, and my girlfriend can use the 595's. You know, so we'll. Have ten foot cables for movies and what-not.
I was momentarily sold on the DT990 Premium 250 ohm's, but after reading the glowing and detailed reviews by LFF and others, I am very interested in the FA-003's; and tempted by the FA-002w's. Although, considering that the woodies retail for US$317, I'm thinking a higher performing set can be obtained for that dollar figure. I'll add that I'm probably going to pick up some DBA-02's in the near future to replace the CX300's as my portable phones.
Which, finally, leads into the first half of my question: Would a set of cans in the $300 price range be utilized by the equipment I am using?
Second half: I'm looking to upgrade from my 595's to a set with a mostly flat, but detailed response that is hopefully not lacking in bass but with a large soundstage. Preferably closed. And a million dollars. I would like a million dollars. Any suggestions?
For those of you who skipped to the bottom I am using a Total Bithead with my laptop or Rockbox'd Clip+.
Thank you for your time.
Two years ago I was spending all of my time at my computer and listening to music, and my painful Sony on ear MDR-(something cheap) were very umpleasant to wear for more than an few hours at a time. Being a passionate lover of music, quality, and obviously comfort, was important to me. But my resources are limited (I'm on a tight budget, if you can call it that, and these types os purchases are somewhat rare), so I spent a great deal of time researching the market before making an investment.
I live in a rural country town in southern VA, and no one I am familiar with has ever heard of Sennheiser. Auditions are out of the question, I would probably have to travel something like 5 hours to find a store that had that sort of item on hand. Anyway, to cut to the chase, I ended up getting a set of HD595's that I am fairly happy with. Based on my very limited experience, I would say they have a few shortcomings, but I like their airy sound, particularly with some Steely Dan or Pink Floyd. In retrospect, at $180, they were probably overpriced.
Let me get that out of the way. In addition to the two aformentioned bands, music I routinely listen to includes: Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Daft Punk, George Winston, Phoenix, Jeff Buckley, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Fall Out Boy, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and a few hundred other alternative, light/classic rock, jazz, jass fusion and electronica groups/bands/artists.
I listen to many different genres representing many different styles and sounds. So I believe I need an all-rounder. Something with an uncolored, flat or "nuetral" sound.
I picked up a Headroom Total Bithead about a year after acquiring the 595's, primarily for it's price and USB input since most of my listening is done on my laptop. It helps, I definitely experience a "fuller" sound than I get from plugging the cans directly into my laptops headphone jack. I can certainly imagine that there are some much better amps out there, the 595's sound pretty much the same out of my Rockbox'd Clp+ w/ or w/o the amp, but it's hard for me to imagine spending $250+ on an amp in the not-too-near future. But who knows... the poison is in my blood...
I picked up some CX300's when I got the Clip+, and found the bass to be refreshing. I was aware that their sound was not as refined, but found the heavy, although boomy, bass to be more "fun" to listen to on occasion. I was so pleased that I got my girlfriend a pair. Anyway, I'm speaking about them in the past tense because mine recently died, and that's what spurred me on the hunt for a new set of phones.
I was originally just after a replacement for the ECH's, but now I'm thinking that I would rather have a full-sized set of preferably closed phones, and my girlfriend can use the 595's. You know, so we'll. Have ten foot cables for movies and what-not.
I was momentarily sold on the DT990 Premium 250 ohm's, but after reading the glowing and detailed reviews by LFF and others, I am very interested in the FA-003's; and tempted by the FA-002w's. Although, considering that the woodies retail for US$317, I'm thinking a higher performing set can be obtained for that dollar figure. I'll add that I'm probably going to pick up some DBA-02's in the near future to replace the CX300's as my portable phones.
Which, finally, leads into the first half of my question: Would a set of cans in the $300 price range be utilized by the equipment I am using?
Second half: I'm looking to upgrade from my 595's to a set with a mostly flat, but detailed response that is hopefully not lacking in bass but with a large soundstage. Preferably closed. And a million dollars. I would like a million dollars. Any suggestions?
For those of you who skipped to the bottom I am using a Total Bithead with my laptop or Rockbox'd Clip+.
Thank you for your time.
