[crocandy]

This is my quest. Which headphones suck you into the experience and make you think that you were at the recording of the music?

I have recently purchased a Hornet M, ALO Jumbo Cryo and am now hearing things like fingers sliding up the fret board, but i want more. My Grado SR80s are knackered and i'm feed up with using a combination of twisting the wires and hoilding the ipod/amp at strange angelsto get both sides of the phones working.

Budget £200 - i know the usual suspects wil be mentioned, but in order to listen to any quality phones its a 2hr round trip and i beleive even then i'm limited to just sennheiser. Please could you also consider IEMs as my wife is fed up with leakage (sound leakage that is

)

Music - Mainly Indie Rock like Muse, Kasabian, Oasis, Sterophonics etc. (80%)
Dance, Classical and R&B make up the other 20%
Home use 90% - Portable 10%

On a diffrent note my wife wants the BOSE triport IEMs for her birthday cost£69. I have no intention of waisting my money on these but recommendations for IEMs around that price for her would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Andrew

PS if this has been asked before i apologise. If you post the link i will gladly use it.

 

[GreatDane]

You could stay with Grado and get SR225(£190 ??) For IEMs my preference is etymotic. ER6 or for more money the ER4S, these should fall within your budget.

 

[stewtheking]

For under £200, I would reccomend some Ultrasones. I prefer my closed-back PROline 750's, but as a grado fan, you might prefer the slighly heavier and more extended treble of the 2500's. You can get both fairly reasonably priced, shipped from "iheadphones", which is the first google uk link for "ultrasone".

And for £70 IEM's, the classic options are the ER6i and the e2c, both of which are fairly heavily discussed here.

 

[rb67]

Grado SR-225's would do the trick or Etymotic ER-4P if you want IEMs. I find both very involving and enjoyable. For your wife, maybe the ER-6i's would do.

 

[ricmat]

I would go for some used SR325... they are just great!

 

[terance]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricmat /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would go for some used SR325... they are just great!

second'd

 

[ZARIM]

I like this: "Since Head-fi I have spent: $ 600+ and probably $50,000 more on a divorce if my wife finds out!!!".
but i think you only need pairs of mylarone 3(IEMs), SE310 or Denon C700(IEMs) and you are all set.

 

[crocandy]

Thanks for your help.

Is it worth just going for an IEM like Westone 3 or Shure 530 rather than a full headphones. I do like the Grado sound but am not worried about trying other makes like HD600 or HD650.

Never having used an IEM befor how good is the sound compared to a fullsize can?

Ta
Andrew

 

[ZARIM]

It's all depend but i think some IEMs like SE530PTH(heard sound AKG cans), Triple-Fi 10Pro(heard sound like grado but soundstage is bigger and fuller than SE530)) and upcoming Westone 3 are definitaly close to fullsize headphones. They sound fuller and bigger than most IEMs and shows rich details.

 

[F107plus5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocandy /img/forum/go_quote.gif This is my quest. Which headphones suck you into the experience and make you think that you were at the recording of the music?

Oh Yeah! That's an easy one! My HD600 WERE there at the recording of the music! Yes! My very own set of HD600 were used by Billinkansas to assist in the recording of pipe organ music right after he had so beautifully set up and/or rebuilt said majestic instruments! And I even have some of the CDs he recorded while using my own personal set of phones! Wahoo!!....he has a second pair as well.

He graciously took them with him for the recording sessions just prior to selling them to me! Cool, huh!

...yeah; we have mutual friends in organ recitals and in organ recordings and like that, so yup, these cans sure do it for me!!

 

[dissembled]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocandy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for your help. Is it worth just going for an IEM like Westone 3 or Shure 530 rather than a full headphones. I do like the Grado sound but am not worried about trying other makes like HD600 or HD650. Andrew

Why would you not include the Senns? The HD555 ($100) & HD595s are prominent for their soundstage which, IMO is the most important factor for immersion.

These models are also livelier, and are more forward than their other siblings.
Just my thoughts anyway.

 

[boomana]

I have a Hornet/ALO/i pod and imod. There are a couple options. If you'd like a different sound, you might want to pick up a used pair of HD580s. They'll be less expensive than the 6x0s and they'll sell quickly if they don't end up being for you. I personally love my 650s, and the 580s were my first headphone. If you're coming from the Grado sound, on the positive side, you'll be blown away by the soundstage and depth, and the comfort level of the headphones surrounding your ears adds to feeling of being more "in the music" imo. On the negative side, you may notice dampening to the sound, or what others refer to as a veil. It doesn't bother me, and doesn't take away from the positive qualities, but it's real. I don't hear it when I'm listening with my home amp, but I do with the Hornet. I ended up selling my Ultrasones as I didn't really like the higher-end mids and highs, but I agree with the previous poster that they might be perfect for what you like.

Another option would be to hang onto your SR80s and get your ipod modded. It's a nice difference, but then again, maybe headphones first.

 

[Jahn]

i had one of those moments today just walking to work with the portable rig. "The Boy with the Thorn in his Side" by The Smiths popped on in a random shuffle and I was totally taken aback - haven't heard that one in a while and i was sucked in - heard chops by Johnny Marr I don't remember ever hearing before.

I'm going home tonight and learning that tune!

 

[Culverin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocandy /img/forum/go_quote.gif My Grado SR80s are knackered and i'm feed up with using a combination of twisting the wires and hoilding the ipod/amp at strange angelsto get both sides of the phones working.

first suggestion, fix your sr80's? sounds like you've got a bad connection along the wire/plug.

 

[Jahn]

being overseas, I recommend you check here-

www.alessandro-products.com

and get the MS-2. they ship it for US $299 free shipping worldwide! and the pound is strong against the dollar right now... in my mind, it's a better can than the SR325.