Which headphones to get?

[PurpleAngel]

Deciding between Sony MDR-XD400 ($63), EQUATION AUDIO RP-21 ($100?),
Sennheiser HD-280 ($84) and Garbo SR80s ($$$).
Will use the headphones on my Onkyo HT-R640 receiver,
for New age/Classical music, cable TV and DVD movies.

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacoboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Deciding between Sony MDR-XD400 ($63), EQUATION AUDIO RP-21 ($100?), Sennheiser HD-280 ($100) and Garbo SR80s ($$$). Will use the headphones on my Onkyo HT-R640 receiver, for New age/Classical music, cable TV and DVD movies.

HD-280s are decent for TV and DVD watching, Grado SR-80s are generally best for rock music and they don't do well on classics.
I have never tried RP-21s and XD400s, so I can't say anything about them.
My Audio Technica A900s are great for that use, except for classical music.

I would recommend DT880s, as I'm eyeing them for next purchase.
Also, take a look at AD series in audio-technica such as AD1000 or AD900 etc - they are great all-rounder which doesn't require an amp.

 

[-=Germania=-]

May I reccomend the AKG K271?

I find that they are excellent detailed phones that still manage a headstage for classical pieces. The price of one used is well within your range.

Personally, I have found that I just LOVE the Audio Techinca Sound Sig because of the magical mids it has on every classical piece that I throw at it.

The 280's might be a bit too shrill for DVD's, but would prolly perform well on everything else.

I have the SR80's on my head right now and while they do sound very good for rock, they just do not have the staging.

The RP-21's are a bassy set that perform very well overall.

 

[wrecked_porsche]

Audio Technica ATH-ES7 are great for new age music! I know because I listen to a lot of new age/chill out/jazz with my ES7.

I remember there were a few threads waaay back in early 2007 discussing the ES7, HD280 and RP21. I think we kinda came to the conclusion that the ES7 and RP21 are roughly on par but the HD280 were placed below these two.

Just remember, if u get the ES7, you need about 500~600hrs hours of usage on them for it to sound its best. It was muddy and bloated out of the box, I hated them. I now LOVE 'em.

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrecked_porsche /img/forum/go_quote.gif Audio Technica ATH-ES7 are great for new age music! I know because I listen to a lot of new age/chill out/jazz with my ES7. I remember there were a few threads waaay back in early 2007 discussing the ES7, HD280 and RP21. I think we kinda came to the conclusion that the ES7 and RP21 are roughly on par but the HD280 were placed below these two. Just remember, if u get the ES7, you need about 500~600hrs hours of usage on them for it to sound its best. It was muddy and bloated out of the box, I hated them. I now LOVE 'em.

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about ES-7s!
Apprently new ESW9s are amazing as well- I have not tried myself, but many people rave about it so far

 

[wrecked_porsche]

Oh one more thing:

Welcome to Head-Fi! Sorry about the wallet...

 

[wrecked_porsche]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh yeah, I completely forgot about ES-7s! Apprently new ESW9s are amazing as well- I have not tried myself, but many people rave about it so far

If I didn't already have an ES7, I'd be all over the ESW9 by now.

Instead, I'm saving up for the AD2k...

Yeah, I know, I know, Audio Technica fan boy here... I can't help it, I love their sound sig...

 

[Jaska]

I would shift more attention to AKGs. I like the suggestion of the K271S, but if you don't have objections to open headphones, something like a K501 should be a good fit as well.

 

[wrecked_porsche]

But won't the K501 lack some bottom end freq? To me, when I heard it, it sounded yucks to me! I need bass to carry new age music, there are lotsa exotic drums in the new age/world music genre. And to ME, they are important to carry the rhythm.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[-=Germania=-]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrecked_porsche /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, I know, I know, Audio Technica fan boy here... I can't help it, I love their sound sig...

I totally hear you on that....it is just unfortunate that I live stateside price-wise.

I <3 My ES7's with a passion. I sold my 580's and blindly bought the ES7's (I had a vintage set of AT-701's to judge on). IMO one of the best decisions I have ever made. I just couldn't take the slowness, veil, and reccessed mids. The 580's are very good, but you cannot wear them in public and they just lack the ability to do great things without balancing and a great amp. When they have that, they are very hard to beat. Overall the ES7's are amazing and def. worth consideration.

I doubt that there are many better values in Headphones right now. That being said from someone who has SR80's and im716's. They come highly reccomended!

 

[Jaska]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrecked_porsche /img/forum/go_quote.gif But won't the K501 lack some bottom end freq?

In my opinion, not really. I'd recommend them before I would the K701, which I spent considerable time with recently and didn't like at all.

The arguments about the bass in the K501 and K271S go way back, and it really seems to be a subjective thing. Given the right source and amp, I don't find anything lacking in these two headphones. And I do own DT770/80s for comparison

.

The HD580 would probably be another good choice, though harder to drive than the rest of the pack. It's rare that people cite lack of bass quantity in the HD580, and weirdly, the measurements in that department are almost identical between the HD580 and the K501.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Right now the Sennheiser HD-280 are looking good, it's about the only headphones that are good and can buy them locally.

oops, changed my mind again, looks like the Audio-Technica AD-500s have better base.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Mail ordered the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500s, should arrive by this Friday.

 

[scatterbrain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacoboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Deciding between Sony MDR-XD400 ($63), EQUATION AUDIO RP-21 ($100?), Sennheiser HD-280 ($84) and Garbo SR80s ($$$). Will use the headphones on my Onkyo HT-R640 receiver, for New age/Classical music, cable TV and DVD movies.

I totally recommend the Garbo's!!

 

[PurpleAngel]

I've seen a few reviews were people did not find the Garbos comfortable on their head.
The Audio-Technicas seem to fit people's skulls and work well on whatever is driving them.
And the Audio-Technica's ATH-AD500s seem to be on sale at a few places.

I'll try to post a review of the AD500s, if anyone is interested.

The Audio-Technics arrived today (Sat).
Having them on makes me feel like Princess Lea.
They are really light on the head and ears, I could have them on for hours.
I listened to all the music channels on Dish Network, plugging into a low budget Samsung DVD player that had an optic feed from the Disk Network box, everything sounded great to my untrained ear.