The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1064493 12-Jun-2014 22:01

Hi all,

I'm on the search for the most comfortable headphones you can buy. Open or closed. Ideally easy to drive (I have an RSA Predator amp). Decent sounding. Budget around $1300 max (the HD700s are on my list)

Currently I own the Denon AH-D5000. Very comfortable for up to a couple of hours.

The Sennheisser HD800 were great from memory. So I'm assuming the HD700 would be even more so due to the lighter weight? Also have the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear on my list to try out (only 140g!)

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Batman

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#1064502 12-Jun-2014 22:13

that would hve to be the beyerdynamic dt series

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#1064538 12-Jun-2014 22:53

Yes the Beyerdynamics. The HD650 is also supremely comfortable, and with a decent headphone you would likely want an AMP and DAC :) $1300 would get you pretty much all that

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#1064567 13-Jun-2014 00:14

In terms of comfort I'd certainly rate the Beyers up there (had the T5p and T1). Some of the Senns like the HD800 and HD650 also highly regarded for comfort.

For your budget you may want to also consider the upcoming HiFiMan headphones like the HE-560, which is a very light planar magnetic headphone with a suspension headband.

The Oppo PM-1 I can also vouch for where comfort is concerned, having spent some time with them at the headphones meet a few weeks back (they are outside your budget at new prices though).

I'd steer clear of the Bose to be frank. If they're anything like the Q15 they may be very comfortable indeed, however for the asking price you'll find much better SQ elsewhere.

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#1064570 13-Jun-2014 00:19

NZtechfreak: In terms of comfort I'd certainly rate the Beyers up there (had the T5p and T1). Some of the Senns like the HD800 and HD650 also highly regarded for comfort.

For your budget you may want to also consider the upcoming HiFiMan headphones like the HE-560, which is a very light planar magnetic headphone with a suspension headband.

The Oppo PM-1 I can also vouch for where comfort is concerned, having spent some time with them at the headphones meet a few weeks back (they are outside your budget at new prices though).

I'd steer clear of the Bose to be frank. If they're anything like the Q15 they may be very comfortable indeed, however for the asking price you'll find much better SQ elsewhere.

Oh my those PM-1 which I've never heard of until your post look AMAZING. I wants to listen to them so badly. Buy a pair and Invite me over :) Maybe on second thoughts you better not, or I might buy one.

How would you compare them to the T1's?

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#1064580 13-Jun-2014 00:27

networkn:
NZtechfreak: In terms of comfort I'd certainly rate the Beyers up there (had the T5p and T1). Some of the Senns like the HD800 and HD650 also highly regarded for comfort.

For your budget you may want to also consider the upcoming HiFiMan headphones like the HE-560, which is a very light planar magnetic headphone with a suspension headband.

The Oppo PM-1 I can also vouch for where comfort is concerned, having spent some time with them at the headphones meet a few weeks back (they are outside your budget at new prices though).

I'd steer clear of the Bose to be frank. If they're anything like the Q15 they may be very comfortable indeed, however for the asking price you'll find much better SQ elsewhere.

Oh my those PM-1 which I've never heard of until your post look AMAZING. I wants to listen to them so badly. Buy a pair and Invite me over :) Maybe on second thoughts you better not, or I might buy one.

How would you compare them to the T1's?

For comfort and build quality they are amazing. Seriously, that build quality - the articulating hinge on the headphone band has to be felt to be believed. They're pretty sensitive too, and I thought they sounded pretty darn good even out of the Dragonfly portable DAC/amp from my Note 3.

Bearing in mind my time with them is limited and I have not heard them from my desktop rig for proper comparison to other headphones I'm familiar with, I would say they're more akin to the Audeze house sound than the T1, which is to say a very unfatiguing listen, but not the final word in treble/resolution/transparency. Quite a contrast to the T1, and I think I'd still prefer the T1 myself, but I'm less sensitive to treble/sibilance than you are. You can probably contact Billy at Computer Lounge to audition them, as he was the person who brought them to the meet. Goes without saying your wallet may be imperiled should you listen to them (I might possibly be able to talk Billy into letting me borrow them for a short while too).

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#1064588 13-Jun-2014 00:45

Just came across this thread so I had to reply.
I have an all in none HP PC, a Galaxy Note 3 and Assus Transformer Win 8 RT tablet.
Im not a gamer. not really into music-use spotify occasionally.
Im quite happy with my Earphones that Samsung have given me with with previous devices- several Note versions.

I just just got back from OE and noticed heaps of people wearing the same Samsung white earphones through Europe.
My other interesting problem is that I am somewhat deaf- worse now that I still havnt recovered after my 24 hr flight earlier this week.
Will better head phones suit me??

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#1064591 13-Jun-2014 00:58

psychrn: Just came across this thread so I had to reply.
I have an all in none HP PC, a Galaxy Note 3 and Assus Transformer Win 8 RT tablet.
Im not a gamer. not really into music-use spotify occasionally.
Im quite happy with my Earphones that Samsung have given me with with previous devices- several Note versions.

I just just got back from OE and noticed heaps of people wearing the same Samsung white earphones through Europe.
My other interesting problem is that I am somewhat deaf- worse now that I still havnt recovered after my 24 hr flight earlier this week.
Will better head phones suit me??

...and thus begins the slippery slope...

Suffice to say there is a whole other world of audio quality out there if you've been accustomed to bundled earbuds!

Your hearing loss is likely to be in the higher frequencies, so you may find headphones that are a little brighter are an asset for your hearing.

You need to give us a budget to work with, because otherwise we might suggest things like the Stax SR009 :)

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#1064593 13-Jun-2014 01:03

NZtechfreak:
psychrn: Just came across this thread so I had to reply.
I have an all in none HP PC, a Galaxy Note 3 and Assus Transformer Win 8 RT tablet.
Im not a gamer. not really into music-use spotify occasionally.
Im quite happy with my Earphones that Samsung have given me with with previous devices- several Note versions.

I just just got back from OE and noticed heaps of people wearing the same Samsung white earphones through Europe.
My other interesting problem is that I am somewhat deaf- worse now that I still havnt recovered after my 24 hr flight earlier this week.
Will better head phones suit me??

...and thus begins the slippery slope...

Suffice to say there is a whole other world of audio quality out there if you've been accustomed to bundled earbuds!

Your hearing loss is likely to be in the higher frequencies, so you may find headphones that are a little brighter are an asset for your hearing.

You need to give us a budget to work with, because otherwise we might suggest things like the Stax SR009 :)

Or these:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/hometheatre/componentview.asp?partid=21751

I just about fell over when I found them online ;)

Though that was nothing compared to the $49,000 DAC someone tried to sell me today :) The look on the guys face when after he had done his pitch, when I reached toward him with my platinum card, deadpanned was priceless. To his credit he did ask after a long 10 seconds or so, if I was serious :)

I did set him straight though :)

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#1064595 13-Jun-2014 01:05

I have no idea really. $200-400 a starting price perhaps or am i being unrealistic??

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#1064597 13-Jun-2014 01:07

psychrn: I have no idea really. $200-400 a starting price perhaps or am i being unrealistic??

You will get a very nice set of HP's or an exceptional pair of IEM's for that price range. It's a pretty generous first step forward I'd say :)

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#1064598 13-Jun-2014 01:07

Meh, the Abyss ain't all that - I heard them from an Auralic Vega into a Cavali Audio Liquid Glass and thought my HE-6 sounded better from a Luxman L507U speaker amp :)

Worth mentioning that in the past the company that make the Abyss were caught putting their heat shrink on the terminations of another companies $30 audiophile USB cable, and then selling 'their' cable for $400USD...

That said the Abyss is a fine sounding headphone, but for me it's not worth the absurd premium they ask for it.

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#1064599 13-Jun-2014 01:09

NZtechfreak: Meh, the Abyss ain't all that - I heard them from an Auralic Vega into a Cavali Audio Liquid Glass and thought my HE-6 sounded better from a Luxman L507U speaker amp :)

Worth mentioning that in the past the company that make the Abyss were caught putting their heat shrink on the terminations of another companies $30 audiophile USB cable, and then selling 'their' cable for $400USD...

That said the Abyss is a fine sounding headphone, but for me it's not worth the absurd premium they ask for it.

Yah I'd heard that, I was just giving him an example of what money can be spent chasing the elusive perfect sound.

I really must go to bed, but I got a new Bifrost DAC today and now my Crack amp is working (Wasn't anything wrong with it as it turns out), I want to quit going to work so I can play all my music back.

There is very little in the world more pleasant than hearing new sounds/instruments in a track you have played 1000 times before. Hairs on my arms and neck have been up a few times tonight.

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#1064600 13-Jun-2014 01:10

Well this has got me thinking in anycase. trial and error is obviously the way to go,

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#1064601 13-Jun-2014 01:11

networkn:
psychrn: I have no idea really. $200-400 a starting price perhaps or am i being unrealistic??

You will get a very nice set of HP's or an exceptional pair of IEM's for that price range. It's a pretty generous first step forward I'd say :)

Yep, you'll get a very fine pair of headphones for that budget.

I just got the NAD HP50 from Paul Money HiFi, absolutely stellar headphone for $399 and will sound great from your sources even without amplification (naturally you're welcome to come audition mine if you're in Auckland any time).

If you prefer IEMs I can sell you my UE900 for a good price within your budget :)

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