|
Post by mtbfan101 on Oct 16, 2011 17:04:07 GMT
Hey everybody,
I obsess over music, yet I know very little about the mechanics of amps, headphones, etc. However, I believe I have narrowed the headphones down to a pair of Senn HD 595's. They seem to be popular among the audio community. My real problem is deciphering between all the amps! Here is what I am contemplating between(by the way, i'm on a budget--college kid): 1) JDS Cmoy/BSG Cmoy- I have read pretty solid reviews about these, and I like the price point 2) Neco Soundlab Cmoy- It is a little more expensive, but the reviews seemed to be fantastic. 3) Mini3- This was even more expensive, but I hear this amp gives more advanced amps a run for their money. 4) I recently discovered Ibasso on this site. I don't know much about them, but they seem popular.
I am also up for any recommendations! Also, if you feel that the Senn's are obsolete, feel inclined to recommend a better pair!
Extra Info: For an amp I would like to stay under 150, and for headphones I would like to stay under 200. I don't listen to much rap so bass isen't vital--I do like bass though. I listen to a lot of indie rock, chillwave, folk, classical, classical motets, instrumentals, and some electric. I also plan on downloading rockbox to my nano so I can play flac files, as I have read mp3 is a lossy file. If that is not possible I here ALAC files are good, too.
Thanks a lot,
Pat
|
|
|
Post by pandapops on Oct 16, 2011 17:43:59 GMT
I can't offer any advice on a particular portable but would say that its well worth looking at the for sale section of headphone forums, you can check that the seller has a decent rep and probably save at least 30% on the amp. For example a headfier has an iBasso D4 for 180Aus $ + post.
|
|
|
Post by clausdk on Oct 16, 2011 18:01:50 GMT
Hey everybody, I obsess over music, yet I know very little about the mechanics of amps, headphones, etc. However, I believe I have narrowed the headphones down to a pair of Senn HD 595's. They seem to be popular among the audio community. My real problem is deciphering between all the amps! Here is what I am contemplating between(by the way, i'm on a budget--college kid): 1) JDS Cmoy/BSG Cmoy- I have read pretty solid reviews about these, and I like the price point 2) Neco Soundlab Cmoy- It is a little more expensive, but the reviews seemed to be fantastic. 3) Mini3- This was even more expensive, but I hear this amp gives more advanced amps a run for their money. 4) I recently discovered Ibasso on this site. I don't know much about them, but they seem popular. I am also up for any recommendations! Also, if you feel that the Senn's are obsolete, feel inclined to recommend a better pair! Extra Info: For an amp I would like to stay under 150, and for headphones I would like to stay under 200. I don't listen to much rap so bass isen't vital--I do like bass though. I listen to a lot of indie rock, chillwave, folk, classical, classical motets, instrumentals, and some electric. I also plan on downloading rockbox to my nano so I can play flac files, as I have read mp3 is a lossy file. If that is not possible I here ALAC files are good, too. Thanks a lot, Pat you do not gain much by amplifing the HD959
|
|
|
Post by mtbfan101 on Oct 16, 2011 18:16:56 GMT
To pandapops, thanks for the advice, and I will definitely check that out!
To clausdk, I did a little reading based on your statement, and I turned up some mixed reviews. Most people agree that the HD 595's don't need an amp but benefit from them. A lot of people seemed to agree that something like a good cmoy(such as JDS or BSG) or a T4 Ibasso would be a sufficient power source to benefit from their full range. Would you agree with this?
|
|
|
Post by clausdk on Oct 16, 2011 18:52:12 GMT
To pandapops, thanks for the advice, and I will definitely check that out! To clausdk, I did a little reading based on your statement, and I turned up some mixed reviews. Most people agree that the HD 595's don't need an amp but benefit from them. A lot of people seemed to agree that something like a good cmoy(such as JDS or BSG) or a T4 Ibasso would be a sufficient power source to benefit from their full range. Would you agree with this? They are designed to work without an amp. they do gain a bit, but nowhere near the likes of its bigger brother HD650.. The 595 is a very good phone for what it does, it plays very well, but it does not rise toogether with the rest of your chain like other more demanding phones does.. When all is said it will become a little bit better especially if it is underpowered now, but I somehow doubt that as they are one of the easiest good phones to drive well..
|
|
|
Post by mtbfan101 on Oct 16, 2011 23:58:51 GMT
Ahh, thank you so much. I wish I could go for the 650's, but they're out of my price range. I might get around to trying JDS's CMOY just to see if I can get a better sound, but I am in no rush to spend extra money on something I don't need. Do you think the HD 595's are a good choice for the price?
P.S. I asked the very same question on another forum, and I pretty much got laughed out, so I appreciate your patience with my general lack of knowledge regarding this topic.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 17, 2011 8:15:15 GMT
I've read somewhere that you can change the (cheaper) 555 to a 595 by taking out some wadding, it is then identical to a 595. If I can find the link, I'll post it here. EDIT: Easier to find the link than I thought: here it is.
|
|
|
Post by pcourtney1 on Oct 17, 2011 9:40:38 GMT
oh that is really bad form coming from Senn, I understand why they do it, but it is really pathetic in the cold light of day me thinks !
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 10:17:22 GMT
I’ve spent a pleasant hour or so doing something I’ve never done before Playing my Sansa Clip into my DIY Banzai C-moy (See JohhnyBlue’s thread – I bought and built the same one) and then out through my Sennheiser 595’s. As I write I ‘m listening to “You Better Hide” from Yello’s Touch and it’s as smooth, sexy and beguiling as it sounds through my full-size set up. There’s the temptation to keep looking at the little C-moy and the Clip sitting together and thinking “I surely can’t be getting this huge sound from these titchy little things, can I?” I really like the 595’s even though there doesn’t seem to be much love for them here on R.G. I think they sound civilised and refined and classy and just get on with playing music. I must admit though that I have not heard the 600 or the 650 to compare, but then I note you say that these phones are above your budget anyway. In fact reading JohnnyBlue’s post about the 555, I would heartily endorse what he says. You get 80% of the quality of the 595 for about 50% of the price and with a simple mod you can apparently make them indistinguishable from each other. As I say I’ve got (and regularly use) a pair of 595’s and have tried them driven by a DIY C-moy and they sound excellent. As Claus says they are very easy to drive – with my 2x9v battery driven C-moy, I can drive them to huge volumes without distortion. You would not be disappointed. Jeff
|
|
xerxes
Been here a while!
Posts: 1,115
|
Post by xerxes on Oct 17, 2011 10:30:44 GMT
I think it's odd that the 555 and 595 are so similar. I've had both the 555 and 595. I really like the 555, like most of the Sennheiser's I've tried, to my ears they have a similar overall tone to the HD650 which I love, rich, warm, plenty of bass and unfatiguing, just slightly less "refined" than the HD650.
However, I really didn't like the HD595, the only Sennheiser headphone I've tried that I didn't like. The bass is thin and I found the top end to be very shrill. I tried burning them in, but it didn't seem to help and I gave up on them after a couple of weeks and sold them.
Pat, if you can, try the 595 before you buy, it has a very forward presentation compared to all the other Sennheiser headphones I've heard. Some people may not like the warm, relaxed Sennheiser house sound, but I think very few would find it unpleasant or unlistenable. However, the 595 is voiced quite unlike most Sennheisers and if you are like me you may actually dislike them quite a bit and find them unpleasant and pretty much unlistenable.
I love the HD650 and you can find them for around £250.00 which is a bit above your budget, but I haven't heard enough headphones to know what I would buy for under £200.00. You may well love the 595, lots of people do, but I would urge you to try them first.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyBlue on Oct 17, 2011 10:59:46 GMT
Xerxes
Never heard either of the 555/595s but presumably the mod linked above is reversible.
E.K.Bluesboy
More points dropped this weekend, not that it matters much, looking at the table.
And, back on topic: I love the tin you've got the Banzai kit in! (I also agree about the sound: I've spent a small fortune on headphone amps since the DIY job, but I'm always disappointed when I dig it out again to find how good it sounds!)
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 17, 2011 11:01:51 GMT
Hi Pat, I tend to agree with Owen (Xerxes) regarding the HD-595, they are possibly the ONLY midrange Sennheiser 'phone that I can't get on with. I am 50 years old and my high frequency perception will be nowhere near as accute as yours but "I" find the HD-595 very bright and totally unlike the melliflous presentation of say the HD-600 / 650 so I'd imagine they would be even brighter to a younger pair of ears. Of course YMMV (your mileage may vary), ears are as unique as fingerprints and no two pairs are the same which quite simply means we all hear things slightly differently... what may sound "bright" to some may be described as "clear" by others.... unfortunately, no one size fits all when it comes to headphones and the ONLY way you will know what suits YOUR own personal pair of ears it to try them. Don't pay much attention to people on forums who all gang together favouring one type of headphone and laugh you out of the joint if you mention anything different... they are sheep, they follow the pack and are mostly trying to justify their purchase by all agreeing with each other.... "yeh, I agree they are great", "me too, they are great", "I agree with all of you, they are great", "wow, these headphones are great"...... Don't follow the pack because the pack are all simply patting each other on the back to gain reassurance that they have done the right thing choosing XYZ headphone. Detach from the pack and use your own ears to decide what is right for you. At the end of the day, you have to live with them and they will be personal to you so go ahead and listen to as many 'phones as you can before deciding which pair sounds best to YOUR ears. The HD-595 may very well be superb to some ears (including yours) but please try before you buy. If you would like the HD-600 smoothness with a really deep bass line then please also consider the Beyer DT-990 pro (250 ohm) they would be my recommendation (to myself) they do most things very well and very little to complain about. They are built in Germany and built like tanks and have good synergy with a wide variety of amps. All the best and welcome to the forum. Mike.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 11:20:42 GMT
E.K.Bluesboy More points dropped this weekend, not that it matters much, looking at the table. Yes . . . I was a bit disappointed but as you say, it doesn't matter much (at the moment anyway) E.K.Bluesboy And, back on topic: I love the tin you've got the Banzai kit in! (I also agree about the sound: I've spent a small fortune on headphone amps since the DIY job, but I'm always disappointed when I dig it out again to find how good it sounds!) I know John . . . for that post I went from a set up that cost me the thick end of £1000 directly to my C-moy using the same cans and thought "Bugger Me!! Yes there's a difference, a noticable difference . . . but £1000 worth of a difference?" BTW, found the tin on Ebay for quid! The law of diminishing returns is alive and well and living in our C-moys.
|
|
|
Post by mtbfan101 on Oct 17, 2011 15:18:23 GMT
To JohnyBlue, I checked out that link you posted. That's pretty remarkable that you can make a $150 difference with some foam . I appreciate you pointing that out to me, as I am beginning to reconsider the 595's all together now.
To xerxes, you're definitely right bout trying it before you buy it. I am worried that I will be unsatisfied with the lack of bass that I keep hearing about when reading the reviews of the 595's. There are no stores, to my knowledge, that cater to audiophiles in this particular area. I'll have to do a little bit of research.
To PinkFloyd, once more, I appreciate that lack of hostility on this forum. I actually feel like I'm learning haha. Secondly, I appreciate the headphone recommendation, and I will look those up right after this post. I did some reading and found that the AH-D2000 are pretty good cans. By reviewers, they are far more dynamic than the 595's and they demonstrate more bass. What would your opinion be of these? Does anyone have experience with the D2000's? I found a reputable dealer selling them for $200, new in the box.
|
|