When was your first headphone "WOW" and what caused it?

[bowlofjokes]

I have yet to be Wowed. i have yet to even listen through a headphone amp. I guess the best I heard was a pair of HD-600 connected to a portable cd player.....far from a wow. I'm still a virgin in headphone world. Where can I lose it. I don't have any dealers in CT I have found and no tour is coming here either.
30yrs old and still no wow....help

 

[Little J040]

First time putting on ER-4s with supermacro v.1 and ipod

 

[jclinton46]

Several millennia ago I heard music through a friend's Koss Pro 4AA. Until that time my experience was limited to cheap all-in-one stereos except for regular drool tours thru a nearby stereo shop filled with MacIntosh, Marantz, AR, etc. Wow for the sound then a wow later for the headache the tight headband and heavy cans gave me.

Many years later ('77) with more educated ears I bought Audio-Technica AT-706 "condenser" cans. They were comfortable and had a great sound comparable to my AR-3a's that were forbotten after a move from a house to a small condo. Wow! Used the heck out of them for years.

I had another wow with my first CD player. Never knew I could get such clean sound without a ritual 3 minute preening. (Cleaning the "grooves" before playing) And the sound was still just as good after hundreds of plays!

With older, less discerning ears I don't know if any Wow's are left but I am optimistic.

 

[3lusiv3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbirkett For me, it was probably the DT531. I was amazed that such a cheap headphone could sound so good, and hold its head up with pride alongside the bigger players. To this day I still believe it can, as its my only headphone.

I thought you bought the HD 650? Didn't you prefer the HD 650?

 

[Jazper]

first headphone wow(probably a few months ago): AV710-> dtpakiller amp -> MS1s
Metallica, for whom the bell tolls - S&M album

Most incredible headphone WOW(in the last week): AV710->M³(opa637/627)->MS1s
Rebecca Pidgeon - Spanish Harlem (download link on this page: http://www.fix-it.org/thread418.html )

Literally had goosebumps on the second one.. was that amazing. I think.. to be honest, that was what really showed the potential that the MS-1s had. I knew they were great for rock.. but to convey such emotion/resolution....was blown away.

Liked it so much that I immediately ordered the cd online.

 

[pbirkett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3lusiv3 I thought you bought the HD 650? Didn't you prefer the HD 650?

I did, but didnt find it bright / forward enough for my tastes, even with a fairly bright amp/source. And even considering this, I didnt find the DT531 all that far behind!