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Post by stevemac on Jan 12, 2007 22:41:13 GMT
Hi all
After many years of dabbling with HiFi I have finally got into this headphone malarkey. As an addict of all things shiny, this is very dangerous.
Unfortunately I have little time to audition kit, so I have always relied on hunting through reviews for a common opinion and taken a chance. I have spent several hours reviewing this site and picking up pearls of wisdom, so thanks for all of the data you guys have logged.
I am also really impatient, so once the mind is made up, I want to buy. So I have already jumped in for the MF X-CAN V3 with MF PSU (looks neat with the MF A308cr).
After floating between Senn 650s and Grado 325i’s for a few days, I saw the thread on the AKG 701 and the decision was made (with a few hours in the evening browsing every review I could Google).
They arrived today, look gorgeous, sound OK but as they are burning in, I am not making and conclusions yet. I do however have a slight problem.
The reason why I went to headphones was due to the fact that the HiFi is in the lounge and I loose out to reality/celebrity TV most nights (I know, it is sad) so this would allow me to spend some time at least in the same room as my spouse and not sit there loosing the will to live (just to clarify, she is great but has crap taste in TV). The one thing that I did not pick up trawling through the threads was……….How much these things leak noise!!!!
It is not really viable for me to listen to music while the wife get's her eveing fix of trash TV.
I now realise that many of the good headphones (I do not feel like I know enough to call them ‘cans’ yet!) are open. So, finally, here is the question: -
Are the 701s more open than the Senn or Grado headphones and leak more noise?
Are there any closed Cans (did it) that offer the same level of quality? These would need to be complementary to the MF X-CAN.
From the point of the music, I will listen to most genre of music (except rock) and I have no desire to try and analyse the music to any great detail.
If you are still with this, cheers.
For those in any doubt, this is my first post.
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Post by southpaw on Jan 12, 2007 23:08:26 GMT
As a recovering addict of shiny electronics I understand the pitfalls of new hifi My girlfriend isn't bothered by my 701s but instead laughs at me each time i put them on. Mine are on about 50hrs now (sounding excellent) and every review Ive read says you need 300 - so hang onto them ! My senn 580s are not really any better for sound leakage but some of the more knowledged people around here might be able to tell you some more.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jan 12, 2007 23:13:19 GMT
more than Sennheiser not even close to the infamous "Grado Leak" that is SO pronounced not only can everyone around you hear what you are playing but when they make wise cracks like "what an idiot playing his misic that loud" or "man he has bad taste in music" you can startle that person when you respond "keep your remarks to yourself !" in my experience there are good closed cans available with the Sony MDR-7506 or V6 there with the best of them but none are as good for "hi fi" as are the open or semi open cans. One of the "semi-sealed" AKG models may be what you seek but a total seal will be tough if you want the same SQ
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Jan 12, 2007 23:15:45 GMT
Oh yeah,keep the wife but train her better
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xerxes
Been here a while!
Posts: 1,115
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Post by xerxes on Jan 12, 2007 23:43:26 GMT
I don't think that any of the open back designs will be "someone in the same room friendly", even closed back designs leak some sound if you like to crank it up a bit. Possibly the only really "leak proof" solution would be some IEMs (In Ear Monitors). I only have a pair of fairly cheap ~£30.00 Sennheiser IEMs, which are pretty much leak proof, but the sound quality is nothing special, certainly no where near a pair of full size headphones from the upper ends of the Grado, AKG, Sennheiser etc. ranges. Personally I've never tried them, but some say that some of the dearer IEMs from Shure, Etymotic and Ulimate Ears rival full size open backed headphones for sound quality.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 12, 2007 23:44:52 GMT
The reason why I went to headphones was due to the fact that the HiFi is in the lounge and I loose out to reality/celebrity TV most nights (I know, it is sad) so this would allow me to spend some time at least in the same room as my spouse and not sit there loosing the will to live (just to clarify, she is great but has crap taste in TV). The one thing that I did not pick up trawling through the threads was……….How much these things leak noise!!!! As long as they don't let the noise of "reality" TV in I wouldn't be the least bit concerned. Anyone that watches that crap won't be disturbed by the slight overspill from your listening pleasure.... both brain cells will be firmly focused in on Big Brother (or whatever pap for the masses programme she watches) Why not? You're the man in the house and you lay down the rules. Get "her" a pair of cheap closed back headphones and wire her into the TV (I'm being serious here by the way) the amount of threads over on Head-Fi that I read where MEN act like nancy boys fearing the wrath of her indoors if they dare to enjoy themselves..... bollocks! You're the man, act like one and lay down the ground rules.... if she doesn't like it dump her out on the street along with the telly. (she'll soon learn who's boss ) Basically, all open cans leak noise and they also let sound in so not ideal if you're forced into competing with reality TV being blasted out in all its cheap and nasty glory in the same room. plus you'll find yourself having to turn the sound up to levels that may damage your hearing just to drown out the crap that's coming from the telly. Probably not but the "quality" you're getting from your K-701 with added ambient reality TV bullshit noise versus a good closed can with no external noise......... The closed can will definitely be the better choice and offer you the best sound quality considering the operating environment, without doubt. If you can't A: control your wife (ie: send her to the bedroom to watch TV) B:listen in another room C:get your wife into closed backed headphones to listen to the telly through...... then closed back are DEFINITELY the way to go for domestic bliss..... there always has to be a compromise if more than one person is occupying the same room. Closed back 'phones that fit the bill, from my experience, would be Sennheiser HD 25/1 or AKG K271S you won't go wrong with either. Out of the two I'd "personally" go with the HD 25/1 as they're superb with the X-CAN V3.
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Post by stevemac on Jan 13, 2007 0:19:13 GMT
Gents
Thanks for the feedback and warm welcome.
Mike, you must meet my wife, you and her would get on like a house on fire...literally!
Fair play to the dragon, she did go upstairs to watch the TV but due to our open plan house, she could still pick up the leakage upstairs. Umm, maybe we need to move house?!
Xerxes, I did run for a few days on my Shure EC2s, they sound great through the X-CAN but are pretty tiring to wear and could not be a long term solution for me (especially with out an extension cable).
I won’t really let go of the 701s (not if they live up to expectations) and in reality I the Venus and Mars balance in the house is not that bad (I do wear long trousers, honest). I am just surprised at the amount of noise leakage having never being exposed to these before.
There are two pretty good options available it appears, investigate and buy some more shiny things or unleash the B&Ws, I think that may make the point.
Thanks again
Steve
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Post by merton on Jan 14, 2007 0:55:39 GMT
your gonna have to sell this junk you've bought an buy some proper in ear monitors and and amp for them...
from what i read the sure e4c and the xin supermarco go well together.
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
Posts: 135
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Post by Sol on Jan 18, 2007 12:24:25 GMT
For the time you two are side by side I would recomend a sealed can. IMO they do not sound the best but it is a compromised to open cans. IEM's offer the best but to some they are cumbersome, painful and unless you are willing to experiment and spend a lot of money it is a crap shoot. Ssshhhhh Don't tell the wife there are closed cans.
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Post by stevemac on Jan 19, 2007 21:08:54 GMT
Hey Sol
It's OK, I've shot her........ Well, it is only fair, I had spent a fortune!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 19, 2007 22:01:01 GMT
Hey Sol It's OK, I've shot her........ What with? A gun? A tad over the top don't you think? It's only music anyway. I'm sure you guys could have reached an amicable compromise without having to resort to shooting her.
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Post by stevemac on Jan 19, 2007 22:21:34 GMT
it's not my fault, it was all of you guys telling me to sort her out!
Headphones sound great though!!
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