Best heaphone for Vocal!

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by TheFighter, Nov 13, 2015.

  1. GelockS

    GelockS Friend

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    Call me crazy but I really like bright headphones for vocals (i.e. HE560s, Shure SRH940, Beyer T5p, heck, even my Spider Moonlight headphones).
     
  2. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    I like the LCD2's for vocals, but to be honest, I think the Mad Dogs have them beat (relatively speaking, as I will explain). Don't get me wrong, the LCD2's have that nice bass extension too, but I feel that it takes some of the spotlight away from its mids. Whereas with the Mad Dogs, it's more personal--- just you and the singer... lush, creamy, and oh so intimate.
     
  3. Max

    Max New

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    Nothing beats the HD650 for vocals to my ears. Pre-Fazor LCD-2 are a close second.
     
  4. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    That's easy, its the girls that say "yes"....

    But its tough to top a well driven HD650 when it comes to my lady crushes singing...

    But I also enjoyed the LCD2.2 rosewood, and many of the modded T50RPs of the world (ZMF, Paradox, and a blast from the past Thunderpants)
     
  5. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Hands down LCD-2s I'd say; but I haven't heard a good modded HD650 as yet ...
     
  6. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Would you mind to Elaborate @Eric Farrell ? I heard both LCD3 and SR009 but didn''t own them myself . and I have a HE-60 that'll come next week. :)
     
  7. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    If you are willing to spend less and look elsewhere:
    • AKG K500/501
    • AKG K240 DF/Sextett
    • Sennheiser HD598
    There are more options than the HD650. Thing is a well driven HD650 is a keeper. Solderdude proved that to me with his Kameleon.
     
  8. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    I thought the HD650, K501, LCD-2PF and HE-500 do vocals the best. Audio technica have some good vocal headphones but they are a little on the dry side for me to enjoy over something like the 650.

    There was one LCD-2 I heard in London a long time ago that sounded even better than the 650 but because they are not the most consistent, never found that sound again in one.
     
  9. Valolilol

    Valolilol Acquaintance

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    I had a try on the Q701 from AKG and female vocals were especially good to me, anybody feeling it too ?
     
  10. Sqveak

    Sqveak Friend

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    The 2K boost on the Q701, K701 & K702 can sweeten things up for sure.
    I have mixed feelings overall though.

    Female vocals are also quite nice on the AD900 and the budget friendly AD700.
     
  11. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    Vocals on the AKG K7 line are a bit too unnatural due to their upper mid peak and they are a bit too dry for me. The 65th Annie's were good though which is basically a cherry picked Q701 with memory foam pads. This smoothed out the uppers making things more natural and lush.
     
  12. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Female and slightly sibilant male falsetto vocals can be awful on stuff like AKGs, Focal Spirit Pro, and even the HD 600. Put on a digital version of Mercyful Fate's Don't Break the Oath with King Diamond's air raid siren. The original LPs were heavily de-essed in the mastering stage; the mid 90s, slightly compressed CD remasters(which still sound much better than the super thin early 80s CDs) were not. Anything slightly shouty can be painful with the wrong recording. Forget about Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin are an HD 650 band.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2015
  13. Shaffer

    Shaffer Acquaintance

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    I love my lightly modded K702s with vocals and everything else, really. Have a Kermit Green Q701 on the way. Can't wait!
     
  14. Ryanr1987

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    Even though they technically have an upper mid recession compared to the rest of the FR. The Nighthawk do something special in terms of vocal tracks. They have this seductive tone that overtakes you. They remind me of the pre fazor LCD-2 but even more liquid sounding.

    They took me a while to appreciate them fully but sadly most would dismiss them as being too warm and bassy before giving them a real shot.
     
  15. proflitoto

    proflitoto New

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    Almost anything by shure. SE846, SRH940 etc. etc. they're the vocals kings.
     
  16. Claritas

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    I still prefer K501 for vocals. HP1k is very good too, if you want a more intimate presentation.

    That said, I seldom switch headphones to listen to different genres: I keep wearing whatever I was wearing (most often Paradox and HD600).

    See also the CS thread on this topic.
     
  17. sszorin

    sszorin New

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    Please see this review which is a very good evaluation of W1000Z [although the reviewer fails headphones comparisons test] - http://headfonics.com/2015/05/the-ath-w1000z-by-audio-technica/2/
    Audio-Technica W1000Z, closed headphones, need to be paired with either a tube/valves amplifier or a hybrid one [tubes + solid state components] Also, depending on the shape and size of your head the frame arch might have to be slowly bended inside to get a good seal on your ears. The best of both worlds would be 'ALO Audio' portable hybrid amp - the Continental Dual Mono but it costs quite a lot. It is so good that it can be used as a desktop amplifier and also as portable one. Woo Audio is also developing a hybrid portable/transportable amplifier in about the same price range as the Continental Dual Mono.
    The EQ settings for W1000Z :
    A - 200Hz +3dB [plus 3dB]
    - 300Hz - increase by +6dB or +9dB, see which one sounds better for you
    - 400Hz +3dB
    B - natural bass : 30 Hz +3 dB,.. 40 Hz +3 dB, .. 50 Hz +3dB
    C - increased bass : 30 Hz +6 dB,.. 40 Hz +6 dB,.. 50 Hz +6dB,.. 60 Hz +3 dB,.. 70 Hz +3dB,.. 80 Hz +3dB,.. 90 Hz +3dB,.. 100Hz +3dB
    D - on tracks when treble is too hot - 4000Hz [4kHz] -3dB [minus 3dB] and maybe also 5000Hz [5 kHz] -3dB
    W1000Z's bigger sibling W3000ANV with its fabulous vocals presentation was a limited edition of only 2000 units made and is now available only as used headphones from collectors. It's price is about 2 and a half times greater than the price for W1000Z. The other options are Audio-Technica AD2000X, open headphones, they also have to be paired with tube or hybrid amplifier and Beyerdynamic T1 [the original version with cable which is not removable]. T1 has amazing natural and beautiful vocals WHICH ARE NOT RECESSED as with the other headphones [Audio Technicas also share this trait with T1]. T1 [the original model] is about the best headphones value for money. It can be bought for 800 dollars or even less. The competitors' headphones of this quality cost twice as much and more.
    T1 also need either a tube/valves amplifier or a hybrid one.
    The Audio-Technicas are vocals oriented and tuned headphones, they are for music with front presented vocals, like Classical, Country, Folk, Jazz, Americana, Pop, vocal oriented Rock, Blues, Gospel and similar. Practically 90% of music. They are not fit for Rap, Hip Hop, Techno or EDM with multi-layered bass [even though this techno/dance music with single bass track sounds very good with them], Dubstep and similar.
    ]
    The Audez'e headphones do not cut it due to problems with treble above 3000Hz. This insufficient treble makes vocals lack "air " and harmonic overtones. The same is with other planar magnetic headphones - Hifiman He-400 or He-500. The electrodynamic headphones still make best vocals.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2015
  18. techboy

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    Under 500 bucks HD 650.
     
  19. daytripper

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    There's so many headphones I haven't heard, but from the ones I either own or have experience with (in no particular order):

    Yamaha HP-1
    Yamaha YH-100
    HD 650
    Modded T20RPmkii
     
  20. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Wouldn't the HD800 easily be at the top of the list.

    I sold my LCD-2 & TH-900 solely off the fact that the HD800 was just on another level for vocal performance from them, even though it is much weaker in other parts.
    The only high end headphones (from what I read) can challenge the HD800 for pure top end vocals is the three times more expensive Stax SR 009 & the decades old & impossible to find AKG K1000.
     

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