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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 13:46:16 GMT
This may be of interest to UK members: Classic FM magazine has a direct debit subscription offer.... 6 months for £23.28 and this includes a pair of Sennheiser HD219 headphones. This is a magazine I do buy from time to time; it has one or two cover CDs each month. The offer is effectively 'buy the headphones (at a good price) and get free magazines and cover CDs'. All one needs to do is cancel the direct debit after 6 months - or keep it up you like the mag. For info go to: www.themagazineshop.com/all-titles/classic-fm and enter the promotional code M1211P. The offer expires 31 Dec 2011. I have just done this - will report back when the 'phones arrive. Details on the 'phones are at: www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/home_en.nsf/root/private_headphones_hifi_wired-headphones_504784Looks like a good 'traveling' headphone - sealed back, on-the-ear design. regards, Derek
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 17:35:52 GMT
Derek, that looks a cracking deal! They seem to sell for around 45-50 squiddleys online, so at £23 plus 6 magazines and maybe one or two C.D.'s it looks like a no-brainer Nice one Jeff
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2011 18:30:13 GMT
They look to be in the same family as the HD238 (now 239) that I have and like a lot. As Jeff said, plus the CDs = no brainer. Good find
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Post by UzminiNu on Nov 30, 2011 0:54:39 GMT
Meeh.. there was a similar offer for a "hi-tec" glossy mag. they offered the Phonak Audeo PFE 012 if you subscribing for 20£ the 6 months. LOL.deal of a century> . in the end they were only 150 earphones and more than 2000 subscribers:D. So i got the Phonak's from Amazon at the Friday deals.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2011 13:40:26 GMT
Awww ... don't spoil my fun.
I believe and hope that Classsic FM magazine is pretty trustworthy. If they underestimate the demand for this offer the small print says they can substitute an item of similar value. However you get an option to cancel in this circumstance.
So - you get the 'phones or you just say 'no'. Expecting delivery around the time of the first mag which will be, IIRC, the Feb 2012 issue delivered on or around 3 Jan.
Derek
P.S. Classic FM mag has at least one cover CD each month; last month's had two. CD1 was Dvorak's 'New World' with the London Phil conducted by James Loughran. CD 2 was a compilation of best recordings of the year.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 10:33:09 GMT
Meeh.. there was a similar offer for a "hi-tec" glossy mag. they offered the Phonak Audeo PFE 012 if you subscribing for 20£ the 6 months. LOL.deal of a century> . in the end they were only 150 earphones and more than 2000 subscribers:D. So i got the Phonak's from Amazon at the Friday deals. The HD219s have arrived and will give them a go later on this morning; just have my laptop with me but it'll do for first impressions. Regards, Derek
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 10:45:57 GMT
The packaging is bad - one of those welded tight 'clamshell' jobs. I had to wreck the packaging to get the phones out... and then there is no bag or anything inside to keep them in.... so now we have one pair of naked phones plus a heap of useless plastic. Cable (1.4m) is sort of a bit stiff and the plug is standard mini jack but with no 1/4" adaptor.....
and now to listen....
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Dec 14, 2011 10:53:29 GMT
So what's the evidence like? Money well spent? Btw, the HP sent by Classic FM mags, right?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2011 11:36:02 GMT
So what's the evidence like? Money well spent? Btw, the HP sent by Classic FM mags, right? Yes, that's right. The Classic FM mag subscription offer. First listen is VERY favourable.... remembering I am just using my laptop. Have tried them with the latest 24-96 re-issues of Stevie Wonder's Innervisions, DSOTM, St Louis Phil / Gershwin and John Mayall. No complaints about the SQ at all... top end is finely detailed and clear with no 'edge' that you'd either have to get used to or hope disappears after a lengthy burn-in . I have never tried on-the-ear closed back phones before; on my ears at least the 219s give a totally effective seal... and if anything the seal is too good. Have you ever tried ear canal phones (I have the Sennheiser X300s) and noticed how head movement noises, chewing, swallowing etc are all exaggerated? It's the same effect with these 219s the seal is SO good. Great for traveling on a noisy bus or plane... but not so sure for general, at-home, listening. Bass is a little loose, but not unpleasantly so (could be the laptop sound card), and extended. Mid is... mid is.... well I can't recall anything about the mid and I was only listening 15 mins ago! That must be plus point then. My only problem then - assuming I continue to like them on subsequent listening and that they sound cool with my X-DACv3 - is that the offer with Classic FM mag is SO good; £23 including the six copies of the mag + CDs. At this point I can't tell how thrilled I'd be if I paid, say, 45 pounds or so. I think I'd still be positive. I'll post more comments tomorrow when I'm at home with the 'big system'. regards, Derek
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funk1969
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Some things are so easily overlooked...
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Post by funk1969 on Dec 14, 2011 11:54:02 GMT
A discount on a HD600 would be nicer but then I should expect a year long subscription...
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Dec 14, 2011 14:23:06 GMT
For Derek, if he doesn't have a travelling HP, this is really money well spend. For me, for travelling and office PC, I don't need a really highend HP. Anything that makes good sound will do. So a cheap earbud like Philips that sound good will already suffice. Only at home where all hell breaks loose literally as we become critical and makes people like Ian wonder why we audiofools can't just listen to the music.
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Post by UzminiNu on Dec 14, 2011 19:25:35 GMT
A discount on a HD600 would be nicer but then I should expect a year long subscription... more a Life Time subscription having a look at the prices for a HD600.LOL. The HD219 is a very good deal if someone needs a pair of semi portable closed headphones. And the additional glossy mag to have a read in the toilet.
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Dec 15, 2011 9:01:03 GMT
A discount on a HD600 would be nicer but then I should expect a year long subscription... more a Life Time subscription having a look at the prices for a HD600.LOL. The HD219 is a very good deal if someone needs a pair of semi portable closed headphones. And the additional glossy mag to have a read in the toilet. Also + a classical CD every month, if I'm not wrong, to encourage the brown bananas to come out faster ..........
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funk1969
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Post by funk1969 on Dec 15, 2011 12:24:09 GMT
255 euros for a new HD600 is quite good given the price/performance ratio...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2011 13:30:22 GMT
Bass is a little loose, but not unpleasantly so (could be the laptop sound card), and extended. Mid is... mid is.... well I can't recall anything about the mid and I was only listening 15 mins ago! That must be plus point then. My only problem then - assuming I continue to like them on subsequent listening and that they sound cool with my X-DACv3 - is that the offer with Classic FM mag is SO good; £23 including the six copies of the mag + CDs. At this point I can't tell how thrilled I'd be if I paid, say, 45 pounds or so. I think I'd still be positive. I'll post more comments tomorrow when I'm at home with the 'big system'. regards, Derek Have spent some time today with the Sennheiser HD219's on the main system (variety of sources + X-DACv3) and I'm not pleased. The 'loose' bass I referred to; it's very odd. Upper bass is boosted significantly so low bass is obscured by this. And I hear a strange effect... almost as though the bass is 'out of phase'. The result is that the bass very much inside the head, with all else as it should be. I have also become aware, now, of the top end. It's too harsh and tinsely. A harshness not as pronounced as in the Superlux HD 661s, but it's there nonetheless and I don't like it. The previous model, the HD281, was said to be rolled down at the top - maybe the kids on the street didn't like that so Sennheiser brightened them up a bit. So, in non-demanding, noisy situations (i.e. not settled at home for some serious audiophile listening) where the lifted upper bass and the peaky treble will help the sound rise above any outside distractions then OK... but are they worth 45 pounds? Nope. Definitely not The HD-681 by Superlux is still 'King Budget' in my book - if you can stand the bulk and the gaudy red trim why go elsewhere for an affordable 'closed back 'phone? So I'll stick with my: 1. Grado SR60 for main listening 2. HD-681s when I need minimal sound leakage 3. Senny CX-300s for traveling (hopefully flying off to Pefkos mid may!! ) 4. My (under ten quid!) Sennheiser MX270s for dealing with the 3:00 a.m. insomnia attacks If the seriously cheap MX270s are so well judged.. why can't the HD-291s be better at such a competition ridden price point? Now what's my Ebay password again.... ? D.
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Dec 16, 2011 2:19:14 GMT
Sorry for the noob question. Where's Pefkos?
Btw, don't forget to burn in for at least 100 to 200 hours before critical evaluation of whether you like it or not.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Dec 16, 2011 12:02:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2011 11:40:35 GMT
Sorry for the noob question. Where's Pefkos? Btw, don't forget to burn in for at least 100 to 200 hours before critical evaluation of whether you like it or not. Sometimes things are so wrong that 'burn in ' wont help. I will rest them up for a few days and come at them again with a fresh mind. Pefkos (Pefki is the greek spelling) is (now) a resort beach on the island of Rhodes. Clear water, sandy beaches, friendly bars. Not a noisy place; there are a couple of bars were you can drink until the small hours but the noise does not spill out on to the streets. It's a laid-back, informal place. Lee Beach bar for lunch where the grilled sword-fish is a must-have. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PefkosDerek
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Dec 18, 2011 10:36:03 GMT
Wonderful looking Greek resort there! Thanks for letting us know. Btw, Greeks also have good hifi taste like the Danes and British. So if have the opportunity, don't forget to "disturb" their hifi retail shops as well.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2012 10:45:42 GMT
Btw, don't forget to burn in for at least 100 to 200 hours before critical evaluation of whether you like it or not. OK, so I have changed my mind . It was 9 months or so since I received these 'phones as part of that magazine subscription offer.* Since then I haven't used them a huge amount but I took them on holiday last June and used them every day by the pool (BTW didn't go to Pefkos, went to Fuerteventura). I use them a few times a week too, to listen to music via laptop while the TV is showing programs I don't appreciate (right, that's most of the time then ;-) . I have also taken them out around town. Although I didn't enjoy these 'phones when I got them, I couldn't ignore their convenience. They fold flat so fit in my laptop bag easily, they have good insulation from external sounds so 'out in the street' or listening while the telly is on appropriate. Which means that, by default, I gave them more use than I first thought them worthy of. The bass has improved though it's still a little plummy, but this elevation of the bottom end suits using them in a noisy environment. And the top end has calmed right down. Happy now :-) Derek * Classic FM mag folded so my subscription has been transferred to 'Gramophone'
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