What would you tell to someone trying to get into this hobby?

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Zenophix, Mar 24, 2016.

  1. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Assuming we're past the "don't" part (people have that covered adequately), I'd say start off with something cheap- maybe a Fulla 2 and some 650s, and then concentrate on the music for a while. Get your music in order, clean, uncorrupted lossless copies of the music you love, and a sensible workflow for wrangling it, and back it up safely (since we're not paying for turntables and things yet).

    Listen to your music, make friends with it again. Wherever you go gearwise from there, you'll be in good shape to actually enjoy it, as it won't just be about angry equipment wars.

    Oh, and beware advice, especially on HF, but whatever crap I say, too.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Listen to music, not gear.
     
  3. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Yep, that's what I was getting at. Listening to the equipment and only ever playing "Jazz At The Pawn Shop" is.. well, it's not good.

    Oh, and BEWARE THINGS THAT SAY "DIGITAL REMASTER" on the cover. I was about to rip a CD, and noticed that little sticker on the cover and thought "WTF, I bought this in the 90s". Then I remembered that it was lost for a while and I rebought it.

    Here's the remaster:

    http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/47710

    ..and here's the original mastering:

    http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/36188
     
  4. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    However, I am now listening to some of the same stuff that I used to play on an old boombox.. and it sounds fantastic. Rediscovering favourite music on massively better gear than you used to have can be such utter luxury. Not going to pretend that there isn't pleasure in it.
     
  5. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    I personally would not advice him to get into all the specifics. try to buy the stuff for him so he cannot start to obsess or want different gear.
    so far, ive been able to get a friend into this hobby without him ever looking for gear, so he still is only focused on the music.
     
  6. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    My advice would be to start with a great source and build from there. GIGO is real.
     
  7. Yeskey

    Yeskey Friend

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    I'd invite them to a meet to sample all the flavors and then we'd pick a happy medium.
     
  8. JimL

    JimL Tongues KG's hairy starfish for fun

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    1) Try as much gear as you can, see what you like before you buy. Use as wide a variety of music that you listen to as possible.

    2) Focus on headphone models that have been around for several years without changing, e.g. Sennheiser HD 600, 650, 800, Koss ESP950, etc. If a headphone is still selling a decade after it was introduced, with no revisions, it is because it is MUSICALLY worthy. Also, you should be able to buy them used for a decent price.

    3) Choose your amp based on your selection of headphone.

    Most of all, enjoy!
     
  9. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Buy Nothing but those Schlong Awarded gears. Those are tested and approved by many SBAF members here so those are definitely safer bet for newbies...

    (P.S.) Do get into HF hype train.. Burned many times and this is from real experience...
     
  10. KILLthemALL

    KILLthemALL New

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    don't do it
     
  11. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I'd say do it. It can be very rewarding.

    Assuming a desktop headphone setup on a "low/reasonable to a normal person" budget is the goal and they are living in the USA:

    If a product has been around quite a while and gets a lot of praise/recommendations from a number of sources that is a good sign.

    Read about the differences between HD600 and HD650. Pick one and watch the Amazon prices (New - Amazon US and UK and Used like New from Amazon Warehouse Deals - US). When the version of your choice is $300 or less buy one. You can return it easily if you do not like it. One of these could be the last headphone that you need if the goal is simply enjoying music. If you like the HD650 read about and consider the mods. If you like the HD600 you may want to upgrade the cable to a HD650 cable for about $22, or maybe not. If you decide to go balanced, HD6X0 can be cheap (DYI) or reasonable (buying built).

    Buy a Modi Multibit - $250. Leave it turned on. This could be the last DAC that you need if the goal is simply enjoying music.

    Read about Schitt amplifiers. Choose one that looks like it best meets your sonic goals and budget. If you live in Hi-Fi shop/buddies wasteland as most of us do: If you want to listen to various Schitt amps, either take them up on the trial period (it will cost a bit) or live with one for a while and try another. Resale value is good. Consider buying used, you may break even if you decide to sell.

    You probably will be listening through a laptop. Go lossless with your music files. Try USB through a proper cable. Schiit or Belkin Gold have a reputation for being a proper cable for around $20. If you enjoy what you hear, great. If not, oh boy, you are probably looking at spending some money. Or keep an eye out on "the good thing that comes to those who wait".

    Choose music software. If you want to go free, Foobar2000 is popular (for good reasons). You may want to read up on some more options.

    Enjoy listening to music on your setup.

    If you get the bug to buy more, Fostex THX-00 is a really nice complementary headphone to HD6X0. PonoMusic Player (balanced) has a really nice sound and is not nearly as hard to live with as you may have read. I've seen them new as low as $200 from Pono on Father's Day 2016 and $250 on Amazon, off and on. It is more commonly around $320.

    If you get the bug for something, wait and wait some more. Give it time and see if that desire subsides. Don't buy something just because it is a great bargain. All of those great bargains add up.

    Anyway, that is what I'd tell them.
     
  12. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Great answer, @Dino. Sort of the anti-HF.

    I persevered with Foobar until I bought Sonarworks, and then discovered that Foobar's VST host plugins are broken and more or less abandoned, so tried a demo of JRiver. I'm so glad I did.. I know it's not free, but you can find discounts online with a little google-fu, and it's such a nice interface. It has really enhanced my enjoyment of listening to music- plus it means I can wrangle Sonarworks or a nice EQ plugin for headphones where I don't have Sonarworks, if I'm in the mood.

    YMMV, of course. Foobar is fine for a lot of folks, in WASAPI (especially event WASAP) mode. It's nice and light, and it works.
     
  13. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I was going for "reasonable to a normal person" and a lot of normal people I have been around do not want to pay anything at all for most software.

    In my "You may want to read up on some more options." comment I was thinking of JRiver, in particular. :)
     
  14. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Yeah, I am not disagreeing with you at all, I think you're spot-on. I was just sticking my oar in- I think my experience was precipitated by a 40% off Sonarworks code :cool:

    I'd also say that the availability of cheap/good network attached storage is a massive boon these days, it makes storing that lossless library a little less nerve-wracking, while I am wittering on about "options"...
     
  15. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I forgot one thing that I'd mention that I think is very important. If you are into older (especially pre-1994) music see if you can get into reading about the masterings. If not, it may be too much work. If you find it interesting, it can make as much (or more) difference than equipment selection.
     
  16. tinara

    tinara New

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    Choose a path in the hobby : Understand how all those magical boxes and headphones works or Build your system and live with it. Realize it isn't a choice but just an endless crossroad looping on itself. Enjoy and learn what you want. Play with your ears and brain. Listen with both. Listen with none. Music before gear.

    It's just like any hobby. It mixes what your want (listen to music) and how do you achieve to it (gear). After a lot of going back and forth between those two, you will reach your equilibrium or your steady-state based on how you want to live your hobby.
     
  17. TjH

    TjH New

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    Wow, that last one is good advice for life in general.
     
  18. bangengeman

    bangengeman New

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    Trust your ears, not other people. Other people are great sources of advice to lead you to what to buy, but you'll still decide on which sounds best to you.

    Your wallet, bills, and paycheck will not forgive you if you make the wrong choice.

    That said, it's just gear. If you really like a song, it should sound great whether you're on crappy buds or on the SR009.
     

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