Why different headphones for different types of music?

[Dusty Chalk]

Actually, in my case, it's more mood than music. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a dry presentation, so I pull out my HP-2's. Otherwise it's my DT770's mostly, occasionally the A100Ti's.

 

[GregBe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 Head-fi 'ers are unique in that the vast majority understand the different strengths and weaknesses in each model. In just about any other audio culture (including high end loudspeakers) its "Brand X rules and Brand Y bites "... Brand royalty and brand snobbery is the theme of the day. Not here though!! Head-fi'ers rock!! they know better than to favor nameplates and logo plates.... and let ones ears hear the difference first before slinging brand preferences. i think thats why you see so many multiple can users. I like both my DT770 and MS2 for their different properties, although the MS2 rules my kingdom. Going to add an HD580 shortly!!! my HD280 with a little EQ trebble cut is my flattest most accurate can.

That is one thing that I noticed here. It seems that for the most part, people have differing opinions, but can respect a good headphone, and someones choice for how that can sounds to him. It seems that on the speaker/subwoofer forums, everyone trys to validate their purchases, and prove why their brand is the "right" sound.

Greg

 

[Arainach]

You can use one Headphone for everything. For now my only Audiophile-quality pair is the Sennheiser HD580s, and they sound great on everything - I love them for Rock, Symphonic, Jazz, Choral, and they're even the best I have for Techno. But I won't pretend that they're the world's best for all those Genres. It's like saying "Why do people have different kinds of cars for different tasks - why don't they just get one car and go everywhere in it?" Sure, your trusty Pickup will get you everywhere but it may not be as comfortable or fit as many people as a Minivan or go as fast as a sportscar. Different headphones are better for different sounds, no question about it.

EDIT: Damn, someone beat me to the car analogy. How'd I miss that post?

 

[augustwest]

Look at it like this, "different tools for different jobs".

Or another way, "it's the same reason you have both a wife & a girlfriend", more variety.

- augustwest

 

[tola555]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirosia senns for veil, grados for pain

 

[Ingo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregBe That is one thing that I noticed here. It seems that for the most part, people have differing opinions, but can respect a good headphone, and someones choice for how that can sounds to him. It seems that on the speaker/subwoofer forums, everyone trys to validate their purchases, and prove why their brand is the "right" sound. Greg

This is true for the most part. This is the tamest forum I have ever been a part of. I've seen a Bass Fishing forum get rowdier than this one ever has.

There are people every once in a while that try to impose their preference onto others, however. It seems like this happens more often with the low/middle-fi phone discussions.

 

[dknightd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregBe "music is music and all that matters is accuracy"

This is a nice ideal.
Quote:

Originally Posted by GregBe "It is ok to prefer a warm or bright speaker, but neither is correct".

This pretty much sums it up. No speaker or headphone is perfect.
Also some days you might like a bright headphone, other days a warm one. Somedays you might like one with extra bass to make up for the fact that your chest is not getting thumped by the music.

As great headfier once said, somedays you want chocolate ice cream, sometimes vanilla, somedays with nuts and fruit (well they said something like that)
Quote:

One thought that I had is that with headphones, you can actually have different cans for different purposes, whereas it is not practical in the speaker world, both from a cost standpoint, or from a convenience standpoint.

yep
Quote:

Also, which phones would you consider neither warm nor bright, but more technically accurate?

I'm not sure about technically accurate, but for the price the senn hd650 seems to be the best all around headphone for my tastes

 

[dknightd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ephemere I can't say it any better than Leonard Norwitz and Peter Qvortrup. Please read question #6 in the linked article.

I think I've read this before - or something similar.

I always liked, "If you answered "yes" to question #3, you probably require the services of an audio exorcist; for if the purpose of your music playback system isn't to involve you emotionally, then why aren't you shopping at Sears?"

 

[zhenya]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ephemere There are two reasons that some folks recommend different headphones for different types of music: They're listening to headphones with serious deficiencies. They actively seek audio reproduction systems that color the sound. On the other hand, if you value transparency find a sufficiently transparent headphone then it will be your best bet for all music. I can't say it any better than Leonard Norwitz and Peter Qvortrup. Please read question #6 in the linked article. If it intrigues you then read on. It's a great article that addresses many of the points that come up over and over again in this forum.

That answer feels to me like you're trying to give an answer that is completely objective, but in the end really isn't. Most recorded music is heavily colored by the time it makes it to the end-user. Because there are so many different takes on the proper way to "engineer" an album, it is inevitable that some phones will match some recordings better than others. Just because a headphone is neutral doesn't necessarily mean it is conveying the original music better than another phone...it might convey the recording engineers interpretation of the music more accurately, but then where does that leave us? This also leaves out the fact that certain phones, like our Ety's, may be great in some circumstances, but they are rarely, if ever what I reach for at home where I don't want or need all that isolation.

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhenya That answer feels to me like you're trying to give an answer that is completely objective, but in the end really isn't.

Yup, the "actively seek out headphones that color the sound" quote gets me. Ever look at the frequency response curves for headphones (or speakers)? None of them are flat, none are perfect, coloration is inherent with all of them. Given coloration, some will be better than others for a particular sound and we haven't even considered all the other sound characteristics that vary, just the frequency response...

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingo There are people every once in a while that try to impose their preference onto others, however. It seems like this happens more often with the low/middle-fi phone discussions.

There are some good reasons for that:
1) Most of the people who are playing with high end phones are not the sorts of people who let others impose their views. They tend to be quite able to verbally defend their position and they tend to have the experience with a range of gear that let's them back up their positions.

2) Many of the people in the high end discussions have been posting back and forth often enough that they know each other, know each other's tastes and respect each other's opinions.

3) People in the high end discussions tend to be older and more accepting of other's viewpoints.

4) People in the high end discussions tend to have more than one set of equipment and because of this they aren't as emotionally invested in their gear.

Lots more but those are a few gross over generalizations...