General Headphone Advice

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Walderstorn, Mar 20, 2016.

  1. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    A good amp should be fine with either low or high impedance headphones. The special mention however is that amps with a high output impedance (could be any number of reasons) will have particular interactions with cans that don't have flat impedance curves. Typically, this results in a boost to the midbass.

    Headphones with high impedance or low sensitivity need more voltage swing, and thus may be good at "masking" noise issues in an amp. Higher impedance cans are also less prone to undesirable FR variations with amps that have a high output impedance, this making them feel cleaner or more neutral.

    That myth is a great example of "correlation is not causation".
     
  2. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Dynamic sounding supposedly means different things to folks.
    Lack of compression wise, very much so, the better dynamic driver headphones are much better at this.
    Some prioritize transient attack over dynamic range capability, planars are quicker and also have faster decay.

    The similarity of planar to BA is there, although I dare say good BA loses less ground in terms of dynamic performance to DD than expensive planar to good dynamic headphone. But BA-s tend to have more distortion than planars or dynamics drivers headphones, which is sometimes a variable for dynamic range evaluation. BA sounds dirtier than planar or dynamic driver.
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2017
  3. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Hello friends. Is there any area that audeze lcd3 can surpass hd800 (s)?
     
  4. deafdoorknob

    deafdoorknob Almost "Made"

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  5. WNovizar

    WNovizar Facebook Friend

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    Ah, Koji Nageno, designer of old Sony great headphones. IIRC together with CD900ST, he also created R10/CD3000, Qualia/SA5000, MA900 and its predecessor, MDR-F1.

    It's a BIG mistake from SONY to let Naotaka Tsunoda, instead of him, to design Z1R and Z7, and you can see how messed up Z1R/Z7 is, in comparison of Nageno-san creations
     
  6. Pillars

    Pillars Embarrassment to Colorado crew

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    This went unanswered but, I'd recommend the Ultrasone Pro 900. Really amazing for EDM. Even did well in other genres. Lots of sparkle, huge enveloping bass and it's the first phone that got me into hifi. Should have never sold it.. was a fun can :)
     
  7. Pyruvate

    Pyruvate Friend

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    The Fostex TH-X00 really tickles my itch for electronic music. Great complement for my HD650, which doesn't perform as well for the genre.
     
  8. Lurker

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    Hmm, Koji Nageno still is Sony's chief sound engineer. He probably still has a say in how the current headphones are tuned.
    Qualia/SA5000 was Naotaka Tsunoda's doing. MA900 was a development lead by Tomohiro Matsuo who also made the EX1000. Tsunoda wasn't deeply involved in the Z7 IIRC. However, he was the mentor of Shunsuke Shiomi who was in charge of the Z1R... atleast I think that's correct.
    To be honest I don't think the Z1R and even the Z7 are as bad some people like to claim.
     
  9. loplop

    loplop Acquaintance

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    I recently bought a pair of Focal Clear. Initially, I didn’t like them. However, given a few weeks I’ve adjusted and they are growing on me. However, while I adjust, and try to find the perfect amp to pair with them (they’re a horrible match for the vintage Sansui I pair with my LCDX, my iDSD BL is decent but doesn’t get the best out of them) I’m thinking I might get another flavor...

    I really like my e-mu Purpleheart’s for listening to 50s and 60s Jazz. Think early Blue Note, bright RVG, etc. I like the overall tonal balance and slight richness the Purples add to the brightness.

    I enjoy them, but wonder if there’s something “better” with a similar tonal range. Hopefully in a larger size, as the Purples are a weird on/over ear mix for my ear shape.. and a bonus for tighter non- bloomy in standup bass range.

    Suggestions welcome.
     
  10. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    im looking for the best under 500$ closed cans to use with my iphone for my bedroom and commuting.
    narrowed down to:

    Oppo PM3
    Fostex th-x00
    Meze 99
    Audio Technica ATH-A2000X

    which should I pick? and is there any other model I should consider?
    thanks
     
  11. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    From these 3 PM-3 would be and was my choice. Meze 99 has a rather nasty resonance due to headband construction. TH-X00 was more V-shaped than the Oppo, had worse isolation and the cable was too long/thick for on-the-go.
     
  12. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    PM3 is very nice for commuting. Good build and comfort. The sound is very relaxed and laid back.

    The Fostex variants are just awful for commuting because of that cable, overall size and fragile build made for home-use.
     
  13. Poleepkwa

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    Tried out the new Focal Listen Pro's yet?
     
  14. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    I think most everyone winds up buying a few sets of phones before finding that special one they can live with. Most of my listening early on in life was on very good vinyl based two channel systems so imaging and soundstage is important to me. Live with Maggies or Dahlquists for a few years and you know what I mean.

    Luckily I have not spent too much on phones. Oppo PM-3 were first not really that good but nice to have for traveling. My mistake was to buy a set of Elears based on InnerFidelity WoF which sound impressive at first until you realize the deficits. Should have just bought Senn 600s instead. Bought HD800S and finally have a set of phones I feel I can live with for a long time. Sure I will probably buy another set sometime in the future but I have other priorities right now, like hunting down Tung Sol 1626 tubes for my Kenzie.
     
  15. Ice-man

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    Try the sonarworks EQ for tbose pm3 the difference is fairly significant.
     
  16. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    Would definitely add Audeze Sine to the list. To me it sounds like a grown-up NAD HP50 ... Like good speakers in a good room. Yes the treble measures uneven but who will notice on a trans Atlantic flight? Search thingverse for 3D printed adapter rings to make them over-ear with MSR7 pads.
     
  17. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    For portable use, I actually enjoy the non-grown-up version of the hp50, at least for what I paid (<100). But I have pretty small ears.
     
  18. slankoe

    slankoe Tongue tastes of LH butthole

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    Anyone ever buy cable from Hivemind cables? I just bought a 6 foot to 1/4" for Utopia, went with their most expensive flagship. Figured if I'm spending 120+ for the freaking Lemo connectors I may as well go full-on with it and support a Canadian cable maker while I'm at it. The flagship model is a base price of 319 CAD, which is not too insane at all. They look great.

    No idea how long it takes to arrive, but if anyone is curious, talk to me and I can let you know how good they are. I'm thinking of doing a write up on Utopia once I've spent more time with them.

    I won't tell you how a cable sounds... I don't believe it is a perceptible difference. But maybe the money spent will trick me into hearing what I want. :)

    Anyone who knows how long they generally take and how the quality is for Hivemind, feel free to comment. I am interested to hear about ergonomics, as that's the number one priority.

    Cheers
     
  19. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    The guy is a friend of mine so I won't comment on quality. However, he's a new dad as of a couple days ago, so he *might* be a little slow on responding to new orders...
     
  20. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    What is it with cable guys and becoming new dads this year? :D

    Same thing for @Forza AudioWorks , judging from how long my order has been waiting to be shipped I wonder if he's getting any sleep at all.
     

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