nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Jan 23, 2017 14:44:20 GMT
To prepare my classes I work at home in the same place my girlfriend and four childeren are. I have a Sennheiser hd580 for many years but I want a good closed headphone.
After quite a lot of (online research) I bought a Audio Technica m50x. But now after a week of use I am returning it. The "leather" touches my ears and starts to irritate (a lot). I guess I am spoilled by my hd580 with it's very large cups and "velvet" cushions. I really loved the sound of the m50x.
So now I'm back to square one with only the knowledge that the m50x is not for me.
Can you help a bit with suggestions?
What I want (random order): - large, over ears headphones - good sound quality (I'm used to the hd580 and have a complete MF set with Quad esl-63 at home) - I'm not a bass head - impedance not to high for an iPhone - Not too expensive. Around 150 euro (the m50x was 150 euro) - Wired headphone - portable is not important - availability is preferred because this time I want to try before I buy.
Short list: - Sennheiser hd-280 pro - AKG K92 - AKG 271 mkII (velvet earcups!!) - Sennheiser Momentum (twice the price of an Audio Technica m50x) - Beyerdynamic DT770
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 24, 2017 13:40:38 GMT
IF you can get hold of a pair of Sennheiser HD250 linear ll they are just what you're looking for.... superb 'phones with toe curling deep bass.
Mike.
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Jan 25, 2017 9:35:14 GMT
IF you can get hold of a pair of Sennheiser HD250 linear ll they are just what you're looking for.... superb 'phones with toe curling deep bass. Mike. Ok, that's an option but only second hand. Is the Beyerdynamic dt770 a good one for my short list?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 25, 2017 12:47:18 GMT
IF you can get hold of a pair of Sennheiser HD250 linear ll they are just what you're looking for.... superb 'phones with toe curling deep bass. Mike. Ok, that's an option but only second hand. Is the Beyerdynamic dt770 a good one for my short list? Definitely! Nice for bass.
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nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Jan 25, 2017 16:26:48 GMT
The HD280 earpads are like sandpaper, and the fit is claustrophobic. The Momentum is a 'lifestyle' sound, with recessed highs. The AKG's I don't know, but I'd be very pessemistic. Based on my nearly 200 headphones reviewed, I know of nothing closed-back as hi-fi as the renowned HD580 for less than double that amount. MrSpeakers Mad Dog comes to mind. Wow, sandpaper is not a qualification I read very often. Do you know the Audio Technica m50x? I liked the sound but not the comfort. They are 150 euro so I think it can be possible to find something similar but with a good fit around my head/ears.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 25, 2017 19:33:37 GMT
It's also sensible to buy a pair that will suit your headphone amp Nando so the next question is.......... what headphone amp will you be using to drive them?
Mike.
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nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Jan 25, 2017 21:30:09 GMT
It's also sensible to buy a pair that will suit your headphone amp Nando so the next question is.......... what headphone amp will you be using to drive them? Mike. Well... I have a x-cans v1 which has yet to undergo your mod. But The headphone has to be good with an iPhone too. So impedance cannot be very high.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 27, 2017 20:21:38 GMT
IMO the X-CANS (V1) does not drive low impedance 'phones to their best ability (16 - 32ohms) so I would tend to steer clear of anything between 16 to 32 ohms. The 80ohm version of the Beyer DT770 works superbly with the V1, great synergy and a damned good match for each other. The X-CAN was primarily designed to be used with headphones in the 120 - 300ohm range..... 120 ohms was the industry standard when the V1 was designed and very few 'phones back then were 32 ohms so, as I say, I would pretty much rule out anything that is less than 50 ohms. The 80ohm DT770 is spot on with the V1 as are the Sennheiser HD25-1 ll (70 ohms) I own both so have a lot of experience with them and they are both superb with the V1. Both will be fine with the iphone, The DT770 will be the most comfortable. I like to keep my recommendations down to one or maybe two tried and tested headphones with a particular headphone amp...... I know the X-CAN V1 inside out and the ONLY closed back headphones I would use with it are the DT-770 (80ohm), the HD25-1 ll (70 ohms) or the HD 250 ll Linear (300 ohms / discontinued). Here is the original thread on the HD 250 ll Linear, they are f**kin' classics! rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/4434 Absolutely MAGICAL sonics but wouldn't be any use with your iphone.... the best closed back headphone ever made IMO. Hope this very short, short list, helps you mate. Out of the two that are still available I can't recommend one over the other as they are both different..... the only thing I can say is that you are looking for "over the ear" 'phones so that makes the 80ohm DT-770's a natural firm recommendation on all counts Hope this helps, All the best, Mike.
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nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Jan 28, 2017 15:47:18 GMT
The HD280 earpads are like sandpaper, and the fit is claustrophobic. The Momentum is a 'lifestyle' sound, with recessed highs. The AKG's I don't know, but I'd be very pessemistic. Based on my nearly 200 headphones reviewed, I know of nothing closed-back as hi-fi as the renowned HD580 for less than double that amount. MrSpeakers Mad Dog comes to mind. Ik am just home from a test session with the Sennheiser hd280 pro. I liked the sound very much. Flat response, the music is what it is en I like that. The isolation is very good. The fit is much beter than the Audio Technica m50x because the ear shells are larger. But I don't like the material of the cushions. That last argument was enough not to buy them. If I look at the SD569 I think this might be a good fit because the cushions are not made from fake leather. So the short list is a little shorter: - Sennheiser HD569 - AKG 271 mkII (velvet earcups!!) - Sennheiser Momentum (twice the price of an Audio Technica m50x) - Beyerdynamic DT770 Off the short list - AKG K92 (fake leather) - Sennheiser HD280 pro (fake leather) - Audio Technica m50x
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 28, 2017 22:02:35 GMT
Did you audition the headphones with your V1 amp? If not, what you'll get is not what you heard Best regards, Mike.
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nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Jan 29, 2017 18:51:24 GMT
Did you audition the headphones with your V1 amp? If not, what you'll get is not what you heard Best regards, Mike. Very true - there are people who believe that an amp is "just an amp", a wire with gain. But impedance and other electrical issues in the coupling between headphone and amp changes the sound, sometimes a lot. Even Peter Walker thought of his amp's as straight wire with gain... And that's what an amp should be. And, no I didn't bring my MF x-cans with me. I want it to sound good with my macbook pro. It might be better with an seperate amp but I don't bring that thing with me to work.
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nando
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The Frying Dutchman
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Post by nando on Feb 1, 2017 12:27:27 GMT
I ordered the Sennheiser hd569 and Beyerdynamic dt770 pro 80 Ohm .
I can return both and get a refund within 2 weeks.
Now I have to decide if one of these two is a keeper.
My first impressions is that the dt770 has a more flat response than the hd569, which sound more boomy. Comfort wise the dt770 is very good already. I think the cushions will soften a little with more usen (true?) The material on the cushions of the hd569 is kind of unusual for a headphone I think. I havn't seen this before. It is soft and nice.
Both headphones are big enough for my ears so that's a good thing.
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
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Post by nando on Feb 4, 2017 14:04:43 GMT
So now I have made a decision after listening to the dt770 and hd569 on my x-cans v1. The sound isn't very much different but after some long time wearing both cans the dt770 start to irritate. The "problem" is the shape of the dt770 which is round and the top and bottom of my ears touch the cushions. I might be a nitpicker but one has to choose. Maybe I'm to used to the sennheiser shape like the hd580 I have used for many years.
The dt770 looks very durable and being an 1980's product costomer support is guaranteed.
When I listened to Kind of blue (Miles Davis, dhuh) the hd569 was more musical, more like a coherant sound. But with other music the difference was not big.
Only thing I don't like about the hd569 is the cables. There is a short 1,2m cable with small connector, mic and button for mobile. But the long cable for home use has a big connector soldered to the cable. This one will be used most by me on my macbook but the macbook has a small connector. With an adapter it will be a very clumsy thing alltogether. But the hd 569 has a detachable cable so I'm looking on ebay for a replacement.
The low impedance (32Ohm) of the hd569 doesn't seem a problem for the x-cans V1. It's a bit louder than the 80ohm dt770 but not a problem with the volumeknob.
So the DT770 is going back.
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Apr 23, 2017 17:58:46 GMT
I bought the Sennheiser hd380 pro as well. There I like very much too! Darn, these go low.
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Post by rfan8312 on Sept 22, 2017 16:55:37 GMT
If there's any chance you could go up to 210$ the Sony MDR-1A is a nice choice. I've tried them a few times at a nearby store. Very comfortable and nice sound.
They are 169USD used on Amazon.
Also, "the most modded headphone on Earth" the Fostex T50rp MKIII sells new for $130.
This is the headphone that sound designer Mr. Speakers created his famous Alpha Dogs and Alpha Prime from, just by making some mods to.it and selling those for hundreds of dollars.
If you go on YouTube and watch " Z reviews Fostex MK III" you will hear him gush about how good this headphone Can be once you replace the stock pads, with something called alcantara pads. He says the headphone is transformed with just that one mod. In the video he has headphones on the desk with that cost thousands of dollars and incredibly expensive amps with him.but he loves these Fostex T50rp MKIII more than his HD650.
I'll be getting myself a pair at some point just from that review alone and from knowing it's sound d can change dramatically from simple mods and it costs 130 USD. With the Shure Alcantara pads it's 170.
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Post by rfan8312 on Sept 22, 2017 17:08:55 GMT
Sorry. I see the Fostex on Amazon for 130 USD, but most sellers have them at 160. Tyll Hersten offers some of the pros and cons of these headphones, most damningly, and it's true, they are not efficient meaning they need alot of power so your phone or home stereo may not be enough to get them playing loud without a headphone amp. Sorry. I see the Fostex on Amazon for 130 USD, but most sellers have them at 160. www.innerfidelity.com/content/diyers-delight-fostex-t50rp-mk3
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