Xan7hos
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2007
- Posts
- 1,156
- Likes
- 15
The HD280s were my real entry to legitimate headphones, and initially, I found them lifeless as well, with a very flat sound. After I recieved my Grados, I also found that they lacked detail as well as a bass presence.
Now, I've read about tac mods, and I've read about that magical 5+ year burn in thing. Haven't done both. But recently, around a year ago, after playing with a FiiO E3 and E5, which definitely gave a warmer sound and a livelier tonal feel to both my Grado SR-125 and Senn HD280, I began to notice how much detail (lack of veiled sound/rolled treble) the HD280 had as well as a deeper bass. Nowadays, even without an amp, they still retain these traits. I'm not sure if it's because of burn-in or not (there was a period where I used them exclusively on my guitar amp, which I suppose is a great burn in tool), but to me, they sound very balanced with great bass quality and extension, with just enough detail. It does not sound bright at all to me. Nowadays, they're my beater cans that I can toss around. They have great isolation, and honestly I feel like I can listen to any genre music without feeling like there's a lot missing (especially when amp'd). But it's also a jack of all trades as I like to use them when mixing audio when messing with Final Cut via stereo jack out of a Mac due to how ease of drivability.
Now, I've read about tac mods, and I've read about that magical 5+ year burn in thing. Haven't done both. But recently, around a year ago, after playing with a FiiO E3 and E5, which definitely gave a warmer sound and a livelier tonal feel to both my Grado SR-125 and Senn HD280, I began to notice how much detail (lack of veiled sound/rolled treble) the HD280 had as well as a deeper bass. Nowadays, even without an amp, they still retain these traits. I'm not sure if it's because of burn-in or not (there was a period where I used them exclusively on my guitar amp, which I suppose is a great burn in tool), but to me, they sound very balanced with great bass quality and extension, with just enough detail. It does not sound bright at all to me. Nowadays, they're my beater cans that I can toss around. They have great isolation, and honestly I feel like I can listen to any genre music without feeling like there's a lot missing (especially when amp'd). But it's also a jack of all trades as I like to use them when mixing audio when messing with Final Cut via stereo jack out of a Mac due to how ease of drivability.