which: senn (px100 or hd201) + ksc 35/75 VS. Grado sr60

[zachary]

Hi,
I am new here and to headphones in general. I have been reading this forum for a couple days now and now I have a question. I have an iriver ifp series mp3 player and a Panasonic MASH stereo at home. A couple years back I got a Koss UR20 and it seals sound pretty well and I think they sound OK, but now(after being here a couple days) it seems that I can definitely upgrade even for a low cost. I don't need to seal sound, but it would be a plus. For excersing, I just ordered a Sporta Pro. But now I want to add another headphone, and I could even add another one later. My question: Should I get a sennheiser px100 or hd201 (both seem to have decent reviews) and ksc35/55/75 (which together cost around $65.00) and then later down the line I can upgrade again. OR should I just go straight to a grado sr60 (around the same price). What do you think?

Nice to be here!

Zach

 

[zaack]

SR60 would be the best bet, next is the senn HD497/Beyerdynamic DT231 Pro, then any of the PX/KSC line.

HD201 if your want full size and closed (i think).

Ety ER6 or Shure E2C for canals.

 

[kramer5150]

grado and be done with it

 

[Silfer]

Which ipf player? The Grado plug doesn't fit properly in my ifp899 and my guess is that it won't fit in the 79x series either.

My advise headphone wise. HD201 for closed can and ksc75/35 for open. I never heard the HD201 but apparently it's pretty good and the koss phones come so close to SR60s that I would go for the 75 + close cans for the money.

 

[warpdriver]

SR60's following closely by HD497, and then PX-100 a close third.

 

[MdRex]

Grado SR60

I like mine alot.

 

[mektarus]

What kind of music are you listening to? I'd say the Grados are your best bet followed but KSC35's (add a 75ohm adapter and make even better) or portapros. The 497's are technically very good headphones but I find them uninvolving and boring while the Grados and Koss' have a much higher fun factor.

 

[JB.]

zachary- nice to see you've done your homework.

In my experience, the KSC-35 is probably the single best headphone ever in terms of performance for the price, followed closely by the SR60.
Since you’re new to headphones you might benefit the most from starting small. The SportaPro’s were a good first choice, and you’ll enjoy them out of your iRiver. Your home source, on the other hand, is a problem. The headphone jack on your Panasonic is a disaster- its’ lack of juice and noisy floor will likely make any decent headphones sound like a pair of Cody’s. You don’t need to do anything about it now, just be ready to upgrade your source before you consider spending big money on an expensive pair of cans.
That being said, some headphones are better than others at being able to provide good sound despite a mediocre source. The best in my experience are, again, the KSC-35’s and SR60’s. I would speculate that the HD201’s may also be somewhat forgiving.
Because you already have a nice pair of portables with the SP’s, I would recommend you try the HD201’s or the SR60’s, or both. They will be an excellent starting point from which you can begin to find out for yourself your taste in headphone sound/fit/style etc.

Keep in mind that people that are new to headphones, even if they love music and try to “listen harder” than others, will hear very little difference between the “very good” phones discussed in this thread and the “great” phones you will inevitably get if you stick around here long enough. The real trick is not to rush it and to be mindful of the qualities you enjoy in each pair of phones that you hear.

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silfer Which ipf player? The Grado plug doesn't fit properly in my ifp899 and my guess is that it won't fit in the 79x series either. My advise headphone wise. HD201 for closed can and ksc75/35 for open. I never heard the HD201 but apparently it's pretty good and the koss phones come so close to SR60s that I would go for the 75 + close cans for the money.

Good point on the IFP design. Yes, it's the same issue with the IFP-79x series. I had to buy to mini right angled plug in order to use SR60 with my player.

ex: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=252319&is=REG

 

[zachary]

Thanks evry1 for their replies. I dont have time to write a long post now, so Ill be back later. Just one quick question: what is a 75 ohm adapter

and where can you get it?

Z

 

[South_Korean]

whats so good about the px series?

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by South_Korean whats so good about the px series?

"I didn't know that I had them on" kind of comfort, and pocket portability.

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachary Thanks evry1 for their replies. I dont have time to write a long post now, so Ill be back later. Just one quick question: what is a 75 ohm adapter and where can you get it? Z

Check out Kramer's thoughts in second reply here: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...hlight=adapter

 

[South_Korean]

i dont wear over head outside unless im in a bus with friends cuz then i could take them making fun of me

 

[zachary]

After reading up a bit more I think I have decided to go with the KSC 35/75 and HD201. This will allow me to appreciate the uprgrade now and then get another upgrade in the future that I will be able to select more wisely after learning my tastes better and I will enjoy that upgrade, too. Then I will have a (modest) collection of decent/usable cans with different uses/stregnths (like sealed/open, portability, or heavier bass etc...) Does this make any sense

?
I will probably go this route unless you have any objections.

Zach