--The Headphone Thread--

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by ths, Nov 12, 2010.

  1. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Where art thou taquez
     
  2. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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    oh damn sorry

    youll love those headphones - did you get them new? while youre waiting on the amp you may as well start burning those in if they are brand new
     
  3. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Yes I got them new because I simply do not like buying used goods from people over the internet ( kinda stupid I know). I also received my amp today. I purchased the Schiit Asgard due to price/performance and it supposedly pairs well with Grados. I'll let you know my impressions as I spend more time with them.
     
  4. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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    shiit makes great products - good choice

    youll hear a difference with the amp more on other headphones because grados are all really low impedance
     
  5. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Do you use the stock pads on yours or did you replace them?
     
  6. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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  7. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Ok after spending some time with these I will now compare them to the sr 80is.

    In short superior in every way.

    The immediate difference I notice is the rs1is are much more open. The soundstage is much larger. The sound is more airy. In addition to better soundstage I hear more detail. Subtle nuances are more apparent and audible. Finally the bass is also better but the bass will never overpower. The midrange and sound signature are very much the same but with improved quality everywhere else.

    I wanted to step up to a high end set of headphones and see why people can get so invested in headphones as well as higher end audio in general. I jumped from an entry level pair to something much farther up the Grado lineup and I am quite happy with the improvements.
     
  8. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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  9. Biff Bridges

    Biff Bridges The words. You are good with the words man
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    I have the AD700's. They're great for watching tv shows on my computer or plugged in to a receiver while playing video games or movies with great sound quality and detail. Music also sounds good but since they are open, they are pretty weak on bass. Depends on what you're looking for. Very comfortable to wear for long periods and nice for the home because you can still hear things going on.
     
  10. Gotch Yarbrough

    Gotch Yarbrough Canada eh?
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  11. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Bump.

    Headphones just died. Please help Modzi THS.
     
  12. Dillingham

    Dillingham Well-Known Member
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    my new pair of image s4's should be in tomorrow, i've missed them so much since they've been stolen.
     
  13. ths

    ths Well-Known Member
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    what kind of headphone are you looking for? in ear, over ear, etc? what kind of music do you listen to?
     
  14. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Over ear and pretty much everything.

    Had Bose AE2 headphones previously (DON'T JUDGE ME THEY WERE A GIFT).
     
  15. ths

    ths Well-Known Member
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    if you want bassy headphones go audio technica m50s

    if you want guitar driven sound go grado

    if you want great soundstage (being able to hear individual instruments and be able to hear through multi layered stuff) go sennheiser
     
  16. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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  17. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Sounds like the Sennheiser's are the most balanced. I'll look there, thanks.
     
  18. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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    sennheiser has a ton of different models and they dont have a universal sound signature
     
  19. ths

    ths Well-Known Member
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    i have a pair of sennheiser 555 and i absolutely love them, i listen to a ton of electronic and bass heavy stuff, and while the bass sometimes is lacking in them, being able to hear through all the different layers of music is something i absolutely love. its the best for when youre stoned imo. you can hear little variances, like where exactly what sound is coming from, etc.
     
  20. ths

    ths Well-Known Member
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    bare in mind however that the 555 are open, meaning the sound leaks out of them, so unless youre in private dont use them.
     
  21. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Well I go from Sinatra to Gang Star to Joni Mitchell - I'm all over the place, so I'd ideally like to find something that has the most balance. Any suggestion around a $100 (little higher or lower doesn't matter).
     
  22. Hokiepride87

    Hokiepride87 Fanily Frist
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    The other day I found a pair of Phillips in ear (ear canal) headphones I bought for around $75 a couple years ago. I needed something to wear while running since I'm not going to run with my sennheiser 555's lol. The sound quality is incredible for in ear buds and they come with 4 different tips, 3 rubber tips for different sized ears and memory foam tips for a perfect fit. Those things NEVER fall out and sound great, I'll try to find the specific model for you guys.
     
  23. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    At that price range closed headphones are better imo. What are you going to be using them for? Anything other than home use and open headphones are out.
     
  24. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    I use them almost exclusively while traveling. I don't mind carrying a large pair though as I've always done it - can't wear the inner ear ones.
     
  25. Gotch Yarbrough

    Gotch Yarbrough Canada eh?
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    Yeah I was high and somehow missed all that stuff :facepalm:

    Got a shipping email today so all good so far
     
  26. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Open headphones would not be useful for traveling. You want something that will keep noise from both leaking out and in. I'd try and shop around for some Audio Technica m50s which I myself own and like. M50s are harder to find near $100 than they used to be. Now it seems Shure 840s are cheaper. These are praised as well balanced but I have never tried them. They are supposed to be good especially for the price.

    If you are willing to spend more you can get the Sennheiser hd 25-1 II for $200 which has superior passive noise isolation. This would be excellent for travel. Again I have not tried them but I have read many a great review. They are often recommended for portable use.
     
  27. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    I can spend $200. Is that the best way to go you think? Worth the extra ~$70?
     
  28. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    It depends what you want. They provide great isolation. The m50s isolation is really good in my experience but it is bested by the sennheisers. Probably should just get the m50 for the value and all around performance combo. Shop around for the cheapest deal.
     
  29. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Went with the m50's. Preciate everyone's help.
     
  30. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Alright gents, the wife needed 3 seconds in the m50's to decide she needed new headphones :loldog:

    She wants ones that are super compact and easy to carry but have good sound. On the ear but not over for ~$100.

    Thoughts?

    Preciate the help.
     
  31. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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    you may be able to find these for under 125 on ebay but id say these

    http://www.accessoryjack.com/Detail.bok?no=152

    audio technica es7
     
  32. Marty Kaan

    Marty Kaan By any means necessary
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    can't decide if i want to invest in a new krk system or get some headphones for while in my room
     
  33. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    There are cheaper options but for what she wants I say spend 200 and get the sennheiser hd25-1 II I talked about earlier. Compact, over the ear, reported to have great sound. The cheaper options may not be satisfying soundwise compared to the m50 or sennheisers.
     
  34. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Excuse my ignorance but what is a krk system?
     
  35. Marty Kaan

    Marty Kaan By any means necessary
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    studio quality speakers

    KRK VXT 6 studio monitors are epitomized by defined low end, articulate midrange and precise highs, delivering clarity and accuracy on par with many world-class speakers costing more. In addition, the VXT 6 monitor features several key design elements that have made KRK sounds a "studio standard". These include radiused edges for improved imaging and slotted ports that greatly reduce distortion caused by port turbulence. What's more, we've included some valuable and practical enhancements like a speaker protection circuit for added confidence, an auto on/off feature for improved convenience and upgraded driver and amplifier components to ensure peak performance in even the most demanding professional environments. Whether you are making critical mixing decisions or capturing the subtle nuance of a unique sound, you'll quickly discover that the VXT studio monitor is as precise about your work as you are

    http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=krk&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSNA_en___US366&um=1&hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1612&bih=818&wrapid=tlif131109492156110&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1133151353792946914&sa=X&ei=kbglTvayNY630AH0q5DkCg&ved=0CIABEPMCMAM#

    [​IMG]
     
  36. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    I figured they probably wouldn't be as good, but she doesn't need anything extraordinary. She listens to crap music anyway :loldog:

    Anything closer to $100? The hd25's would just be way too much for her.
     
  37. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    The thing is it is hard to get good sound out of portable style headphones. IEMs are just better equipped for portable listening. You could try those audio technicas but I don't know if they will impress like the m50s. She might be disappointed. Then again I do not know for sure.
     
  38. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Depends how much you are willing to spend on headphones. Quality speakers will need a receiver too which is an additional cost. Then again quality headphones need an amp. You can get near the best headphones for 1,000 dollars. Equivalent sound in speakers would be twice that much. Either option will need a quality source and amplification.
     
  39. Biff Bridges

    Biff Bridges The words. You are good with the words man
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  40. ths

    ths Well-Known Member
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    those in ear audio technicas i have are fucking legendary
     
  41. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Also, the fact that you can fold up the m50s and carry them in the pouch isn't portable enough?
     
  42. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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  43. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Hope she likes them as much as the 50s. Will be curious to see.
     
  44. psychogator11

    psychogator11 Member
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    what does a 1000 dollar pair of headphones do?
     
  45. Patface

    Patface Touch & Go Like A Dantonio Heartbeat
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    Me too. She doesn't have as good of an ear for music so I'm sure they'll be sufficient. She was kinda bitter there wasn't a compact version of those exact 50s though haha
     
  46. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    What does a Ferrari do? What does Peyton Manning do that Chad Henne doesn't? In short basically everything. More realistic sound, more details, more clarity, depending on model better sounding bass/treble/midrange. You ever listen to some cheap computer speakers and then some more expensive full size speakers? The difference is pretty large.
     
  47. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member
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    Also, Taquez, I don't know what it is about the Grado sound but it is just so awesome. It just sounds right, so natural, feels real to me. I don't care if the soundstage isn't huge like some Sennheisers. These sound like guitar oriented music should. They sound real.
     
  48. Taques

    Taques sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit
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    welcome to grado-fanboyism :cool:

    also the benefit of not needing an amp is great, plus i think the rs series look bitchin