Which pair should I start with?

[Aman]

Hi guys,

I am new to this hobby and have a question to ask:

I was going to be purchasing a pair of HD650s but I then was discouraged by the 'laid back' sound and the upmost necessary need for an external amp. While I do not mind getting a headphone amp, I am not satisfied with this news about the laid back sound, as my listening tastes include the following:

Aerosmith, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Any Techno/Electronica, Lynrd Skynrd, The Who, David Bowie, and The Eagles

As you can see, this is mainly towards the more heavy side. Does anyone have a good pair of headphones (they have to sound better than these god-awful Bose TriPort headphones I am using now) that don't require a LOT to drive (a headphone amp is fine, but not one that will cost 600 dollars because I can't afford a lot of spending here

) and ones that will accompany my style of music they can recommend?

Any suggestions are highly valued and appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Aman

 

[plainsong]

It really depends on your source. for instance, from the brief two hours I spent with the HD650s and my source, the Nad C542, the Senns got along great with Pink Floyd and the like. Who said the Senns can't rock? I think that if you get a source it gets along with, they are capable of rocking if the information is there in the recording.

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainsong It really depends on your source. for instance, from the brief two hours I spent with the HD650s and my source, the Nad C542, the Senns got along great with Pink Floyd and the like. Who said the Senns can't rock? I think that if you get a source it gets along with, they are capable of rocking if the information is there in the recording.

My source will be high-quality OGG and lossless sound files from my computer with a high-quality soundcard (Audigy 2 ZS) -- I am considering purchasing a Meta42 headphone amp.

What do you think of that setup?

 

[sacd lover]

I listen to a lot of this same stuff and I use senn 650's. With the right combination the 650's can rock, however, my source and amp may wake up the senns to a good degree. The headphone I really like for rock and blues is the grado sr-225 with flat pads. Very potent and forward with good bass and excellent dynamics. I used these headphones for years prior to getting the senns. They arent the most comfortable headphone but they are one of the best for rock. The sr-225 is under $200 and works well with or without an amp.

 

[pnrgi]

if your in to that open sound i would look at the grado 225's, which are supposed to be the best rock headphones for the money. and if your in to the closed isolated sound, look in the ATH-A900's. and if your looking to spend the big bucks i hear the sony CD3000 are one of the best.

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnrgi if your in to that open sound i would look at the grado 225's, which are supposed to be the best rock headphones for the money. and if your in to the closed isolated sound, look in the ATH-A900's. and if your looking to spend the big bucks i hear the sony CD3000 are one of the best.

those ATH-9000s look great. I love the comfort of my Bose TriPorts, but, like usual, the sound quality SUCKS, especially for the price.

Those closed headphones look great .. where do you suggest buying those at the lowest price? I found Audiocubes.com, but they look to be overpricing everything. Good reviews, however, by their buyers

Do they require a lot of driving power? Or can they survive without an amp for a short period of time until I can afford one?

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[fewtch]

Consider Sennheiser HD-590s... I haven't heard them, but they seem to be well regarded in the "rockin'" category.

 

[skitlets]

seems the a900 is the closed unamped can for its price.

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skitlets seems the a900 is the closed unamped can for its price.

Well, again, I am on a budget. I probably can't afford a good headphone amp for a while. I heard that just about all senn's need a good amp to drive them and give them the best possible sound. Do you think that I could take the full advantage of the HD590s without the amp, and then just further 'up' that experience with the amp? Otherwise, I may look towards a closed-can headphone instead.

will the A9000s sound even BETTER with the amp? Or will I just be wasting money?

Thanks again, guys!

 

[devwild]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aman Well, again, I am on a budget. I probably can't afford a good headphone amp for a while.

From my limited experience:

I agree that the Grados are great headphones for your listenning style. I've certainly enjoyed them to no end for that purpose.

For comfort reasons, I would suggest considering the Senn HD595 alongside the Grados. They are easy to drive, and are by no means as laid back as other Senns. I personally consider them closer to Grado in sound than to any previous HD5xx I have heard, And they are far more comfortable than Grados after a few hours, even with different pads.

And neither of these headphone choices need an amp to sound great, which is a big plus for that "budget" word. That's exactly why I just bought the 595... it's a very nice headphone that will sound it's best when I get around to new equipment, but I am certainly enjoying them plenty strait out of my stereo/pc.

I will say, for pure sound/price value, Grado is a great, great deal.

cheers,
dev*

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by devwild From my limited experience: I agree that the Grados are great headphones for your listenning style. I've certainly enjoyed them to no end for that purpose. For comfort reasons, I would suggest considering the Senn HD595 alongside the Grados. They are easy to drive, and are by no means as laid back as other Senns. I personally consider them closer to Grado in sound than to any previous HD5xx I have heard, And they are far more comfortable than Grados after a few hours, even with different pads. And neither of these headphone choices need an amp to sound great, which is a big plus for that "budget" word. That's exactly why I just bought the 595... it's a very nice headphone that will sound it's best when I get around to new equipment, but I am certainly enjoying them plenty strait out of my stereo/pc. I will say, for pure sound/price value, Grado is a great, great deal. cheers, dev*

hey! Thanks for your lengthy and descriptive post!

I really get discouraged by uncomfortable headphones, however. And especially after using the Bose TriPorts for so long, I don't think I could ever adjust to another headphone like the Grados.

But you say that the Senn HD595 is the best for me out of the entire Senn series, if I have you right? If you think that comfort is another main goal of mine, that the Senn HD595s would be a better choice over the Grados?

Thanks for the advice!

Aman

 

[devwild]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aman But you say that the Senn HD595 is the best for me out of the entire Senn series, if I have you right? If you think that comfort is another main goal of mine, that the Senn HD595s would be a better choice over the Grados?

In my personal opinion (and yes, I'm listenning to Coda for the first time with the 595's right now because of your thread

) yeah, I would say they are your best choice among the Senns easy.

dev*

 

[Stringreen]

The Grados are easier to drive and have a warmer sound.

 

[bangraman]

I would say if you're not planning to purchase an amp for a while, then the A900 is the phone to consider. It won't be constrained by any lack of power on your soundcard. It's comfortable (although hotter in summer, being a closed phone) and if you have issues with fans the isolation takes the edge off it.


The impact, staging, and frequency extension of the phone is suited to all sorts of music, from rock to classical. As I've said many times, it's a true all-rounder.


I don't have experience with the HD595... perhaps it's something I should look to review into in the near future.

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman I would say if you're not planning to purchase an amp for a while, then the A900 is the phone to consider. It won't be constrained by any lack of power on your soundcard. It's comfortable (although hotter in summer, being a closed phone) and if you have issues with fans the isolation takes the edge off it. The impact, staging, and frequency extension of the phone is suited to all sorts of music, from rock to classical. As I've said many times, it's a true all-rounder. I don't have experience with the HD595... perhaps it's something I should look to review into in the near future.

Okay, so right now the options are between an open-sound HD595, or a closed-sound A9000. They both seem to have relatively the same price, but it looks like the A9000 will run best without an amp, but with an amp it appears that it will still sound even better. I like closed phones better than open, so maybe that should be my choice, and it appears, like I said, that the A9000s are much more comfortable. Plus, I like the single-sided chord.

If the A9000s are all-around headphones, then I think I may just get them because I will be watching DVDs with these phones and playing the occasional video game...

Plus, I'll save me a few extra bucks and at the same time get even better performance when I buy an amp... Unless I'm missing something.

Thanks for all the advice guys! Tell me what you think of that setup

Thanks again!

Aman