How 'bout some low-end/cheapo HP talk

It has been interesting to go back and listen to some low-fi setups after acclimating a bit to higher end stuff. For reference, my version of high end, which probably barely qualifies, is Bifrost Multibit->Valhalla2->hd650.

So, I recently comparo'd the Shure SRH840 closed, ATH m50x closed, Senn HD558 and HD598 opens.

I was surprised to find that both Senns scale, at least to a degree, and the (Wyrd->) Modi2->Vali1 actually seemed to pair well with them. This setup sounded very pleasing to my ears, with a decent tonal balance, and mostly just losing on refinement and resolution.

I found that the closed cans mentioned didn't scale as much. I thought ATH m50x was the worst of the 4. I'm not sure that it deserves its reputation. I thought the low end felt disconnected from the low mids, and the treble was uneven. It sounded the most unnatural of them all. I easily preferred the srh840 to the m50x. The srh840 sounded a bit more resolving than the Senns, and the tonal balance is pretty nice and even, but not quite as satisfyingly natural as the Senns (very close though). I think the main complaint I had with the Shures is that there is something about them that sounds, well, despite them being slightly warm overall, there is a coldness/sterility in the lower end that makes them sound just a touch closed or slightly off. Still, the srh840's are the best closed cans I've heard at < $200. YMMV.

Picking between the senn hd598 and the shure srh840 is tough. I like the tonality of the Senns just a touch more than the Shure - the Senns do sound slightly more natural. But the Shures are close and have slightly better resolving capability.

Just my random $0.02.

 

I grabbed some Philips SHP9500 for $60. They're still sitting at shipping waiting for me to pick them up, but I'm interested to hear them since they're supposed to be good value cans.

 

Wow, had never heard of these. I am very interested in your report.

It's good to know about this low -end stuff for several reasons:

1) To be able to recommend inexpensive stuff to family/friends who you know aren't interested in getting involved in the insanity.
2) As a way to revisit and remember the things that various headphones don't do as well as your higher end gear. Or sometimes surprisingly maybe manage to get close to your higher end gear.
3) It's good to have a couple pairs of beaters - cans you don't care about getting destroyed or lost, etc, when traveling or whatever.

 

I'll be putting together a cheap headphone shootout soon, over 20 cheapies. Necessary because a lot of the older guides are outdated and the cheapie market moves fast

 

Suh-weet, please do!

 

Thanks for the impressions, Im4der - I liked the 558's when I had them - I found the 840's a tiny bit hard sounding - it was a small thing but it bugged me. Not as much as the headband though. If I had liked the sound enough to keep them I would have ripped it off.
I recently bought some Koss KSC75's - they're pretty awesome (as people have said for years) - I'd listen to them over the M50 all week.
I have a pair of Noontec Hammo S's that sound pretty good for a cheapo can. The pads are a bit small for full size cans but that seems fairly common these days.
Looking forward to a new cheapo headphone shoot-out, Ojneg!

 

Right - that's a good way to put it for the shr840's - they have something odd, and hard-sounding is about right sometimes. I suspect it has to do with a lack of bass extension leaving them a little high and dry.

I was surprised how much better the 558's sound from just a semi-decent external setup like the modi2 + vali1 hybrid tube amp compared to just lame-o laptop out. Probably shouldn't be surprising, but I just wasn't certain that they would benefit.

Noontec seems to be making good products in the lower price range - their on-ear model, the Zoro?? I thnk, has been pretty well received.

 

Off the market, but if anyone finds a second hand Philips Citiscape Uptown for less than $50 grab them and follow Solderdude's modding guide, I'm having a hard time finding a better sounding cheapie. The build is great, too.

 

Philips SHP9500 on the ears. These are a direct downgrade from the Sennheiser HD650, but they're damn good for $60. They're also incredibly comfortable.

I'd say they'd be a reasonable buy even at $150.

 

I like mine, but, bought in UK on my holiday there, it must have cost nearly a hundred quid (GBP), and many people would not call that cheap.

 

I assume the AKG K182 will fair well. Looks to be a simplified version of the K181 DJ UE, near as I can tell. Both street for ~$95.

 

With a good amplifier they can improve. A bit fragile in build but great drivers made by Philips.

 

I'l put this in the deals thread too - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noontec-HD-...e=UTF8&qid=1458378442&sr=8-1&keywords=noontec
It's a good point though - once you get to the £100 / $150 mark your nearly at second hand HD6XX prices - there doesn't seem much point in a AKG K612 or a HD558 at that point. It'd perhaps be good if a new cheapo cans comparo gives the sub $50 cans their props.

 

The Shure stuff sounds like your mids are warm but dead inside, like a vampire liquified your mids in a blender, drank them, and your listening to them with a stethoscope. They also falls apart at mixing volumes.

The Sennheiser HD 558/598 is good for around $100ish. I don't know if I would call anything else around that price point actually good. Just get a PortaPro/KSC 75.

A used HD 580 is still great and only about $150 bucks. Just swap the pads and you'll have the best $200 headphone too.

 

Add Sennheiser's PX-series. The stock PX100 (I and II), PX200 II and PX90 are a lot of bang for the buck in the sound department. I loved my PX200 II for on the go until I wanted more isolation.

 

My main headphone at the moment is the Superlux HD 681 Evo with some solderdude mods, pretty decent, but NEED the mods, but the best one below 100 bucks that I'v ever heard is the HD558, super sweet, comfortable, nice bass, smooth, really nice.

 

There are some great values in the IEM market. I got my Brainwavz B2 for less than double the price of my Carbo Tenore and I would much prefer them (the B2s) over an HD5X8.

 

I got a pair of k553s from massdrop at $125, and at the price they are outstanding value. For a cheap set of closed headphones, they have great soundstage and imaging. I imagine they would be pretty good for gaming, though for me gaming is poker or monopoly so ymmv. Very comfy, and easy to drive, so good for on the go use, although they look kinda dorky. Can't make me look any dorkier than I do already though, so no problem.

 

This hobby makes you a nerd. Enjoy the learning curve and reap the rewards Is the K553 your first AKG headphone?

 

How's the tone and frequency response? I'm looking for something closed sub $125ish but that is comfortable enough and non-offensive enough (ie laid back treble), to listen to for hours. I thought my QC15's could do the job, but after a couple hours, they start to fatigue my ears a little bit.