What is your choice for the best headphone for femal vocal?

[hawat]

I'm a fan of the cardigans and I was wondering what would be the best headphone for this type of music and voice ? something under 500$ please.
I currently use the hd650 and cd3000 ,they are good but i'm hoping to find something better for female vocals.
I think I need the cans with the best mids possible.

 

[arspy87]

IMO, Grados have wonderful mids. I've used the SR80 and SR125.

 

[Glod]

Perhaps not only a question about the phones but also about source, amp and cables, considered you apparently have some experience from different phones? Have you had the opportunity to try other sources, amps and even cables? What was your impression? IMHO, they can make a dramatic difference.

 

[apostate]

I love my Senn 595s for female vocals. Listening to something like Alison Kruass or Diana Krall coming through them is simply amazing. I've compared them with Senn 590s, Grado 80s and 125s and like the 595s best in that area though the time I got to spend with the others was limited.....

Ant

 

[jjcha]

I've heard a fair number of the top cans, and when I think of female vocals/mids, I think of the HD650. Smooth and effortless. Though I just borrowed some Grado RS-1 and found its mids to be absolutely lovely.

Have you tried the R10?

Best,

-Jason

 

[Enverxis]

RS-1 / MS-Pro is the best ive heard so far.

 

[hawat]

I only have some 20 $ monster interconnect at the moment for the denon and for the source i tried with the denon dcm 370 and the emu 1212m connected with cheap cables, my headamp is the G&W T2.6F. I don't know if getting a better cd-player/external dac would make more difference than getting a completely different headphone.
Like i said the sound wasn't bad but i just want better, I feel my type of music may not be best for the phones I have tried.
I heard the r-10 were wonderful for femal vocals but the last pair I saw went for like 2k$ and that is way out of my league, maybe for when I'm a bit more headdicted

.
I actually like the hd650 more than the cd3000 with femal vocals but i'd like something a bit less dark , more emphasized on the voices and involving.
So far it seems that the rs-1 or hd595 would be the best choice. The hd595 is cheap but I wonder if i could find rs-1 under 500 in europe.
Also i tend to listen to my headphones for a very long time can you do that with rs-1 ?

 

[jjcha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawat I actually like the hd650 more than the cd3000 with femal vocals but i'd like something a bit less dark , more emphasized on the voices and involving.

Heh, I certainly find the RS-1 more involving than the HD650.

You owe it to yourself to try them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawat Also i tend to listen to my headphones for a very long time can you do that with rs-1 ?

You know, I was really concerned about the Grado fit - every Grado I had tried before hurt my ears. But the RS-1 I borrowed are well used, so the pads are a touch worn/softer and the headband is nicely stretched out. They're not as comfortable as the HD650/CD3k, but they don't bother me for long listening sessions. Actually, I slept with them on fine the other night. But lots of people complain about this, so it might be different for you.

Best,

-Jason

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha Heh, I certainly find the RS-1 more involving than the HD650. You owe it to yourself to try them. You know, I was really concerned about the Grado fit - every Grado I had tried before hurt my ears. But the RS-1 I borrowed are well used, so the pads are a touch worn/softer and the headband is nicely stretched out. They're not as comfortable as the HD650/CD3k, but they don't bother me for long listening sessions. Actually, I slept with them on fine the other night. But lots of people complain about this, so it might be different for you. Best, -Jason

Whoa there tiger, My rs-1 are your sleeping buddies, damn! The rs-1's have two timed me

Funnily enough my rs-1's feel more comfy than my other Grado's I am not sure why. The only other Grado I have which is just as comfy when used as a sleeping buddy is my 225's.

I like the 650+zu combo quite a lot. I just find the rs-1's nutso bass more appealing

 

[joelongwood]

Of the cans I have, RS-1/RA-1 combo does female vocals like no other. Detailed with just the right amount of warmth.

 

[overlunge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRedwings19 Funnily enough my rs-1's feel more comfy than my other Grado's I am not sure why. The only other Grado I have which is just as comfy when used as a sleeping buddy is my 225's.

I guess part of it being it's the weight and the bowl pad does soften well after some use.

I agree with other's suggestion of RS1 although I have not auditioned CD3000 before. RS1 is upfront and involving but if the music gets busy, can be a bit fatiguing... (and worse if not amped well) IMHO, I must add.

My 2 cents for your thread.

Best of luck,
Overlunge

 

[hawat]

Oh yes the word i was looking for is warmth if only the cd3000 had more of it and a tiny less treble I wouldn't try to replace it.
They are my favorite from the cans i own for almost everything except for femal vocals a la cardigans wich is my favorite type of voice

.

I can't afford to add the ra-1 at the moment.
I see that you also have the denon 370 and a few tube amps Joelongwood, how do you think the rs-1 would perform with this setup and a headphone amp using 6922 tube?

 

[EdipisReks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawat Oh yes the word i was looking for is warmth if only the cd3000 had more of it and a tiny less treble I wouldn't try to replace it.

i never looked for reduced treble, but i got the added warmth i wanted by buying a PPX3. the Singlepower amps have great synergy with the CD3000's, and i think it's a fantastic combo for female vocals.

 

[mega]

Out of all the headphones ive heard, id say:

Sennheiser HD650 and ATH-W100..female vocals sound so smooth, lush and effortless with these two cans.

If you want something more involving and less dark, id definetly recommend the ATH-W100's. They have the smooth, lush mids like the HD650's, but they are somewhat more involving, with the slightly brighter upper mids.

 

[adhoc]

imo the 2 best cans for female vocals i've heard so far would be the rs-1 and the k501.