The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1064603 13-Jun-2014 01:14

networkn: 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.

YES! Wonderful experience for the music lover! That's what got me hooked on all this :)

If you were going for the elusive perfect sound, I would start with the Stax SR009 paired with the Blue Hawaii Special Edition amp and a source like the PS Audio Direct Stream :)

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#1064604 13-Jun-2014 01:14

NZtechfreak:
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 :)

Hmm that NAD looks nice and reviews well. How would you compare it to similar priced cans?

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#1064605 13-Jun-2014 01:15

NZtechfreak:
networkn: 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.

YES! Wonderful experience for the music lover! That's what got me hooked on all this :)

If you were going for the elusive perfect sound, I would start with the Stax SR009 paired with the Blue Hawaii Special Edition amp and a source like the PS Audio Direct Stream :)

LOL! Start with that? I'd imagine that is end game.

NZtechfreak

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#1064606 13-Jun-2014 01:16

networkn:
NZtechfreak:
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 :)

Hmm that NAD looks nice and reviews well. How would you compare it to similar priced cans?

For new headphone prices and for the money I seriously do not think you can do better right now.

Put it this way, I sold my beloved T5p and 'traded-down' to the HP50!

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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#1064607 13-Jun-2014 01:18

networkn:
NZtechfreak:
networkn: 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.

YES! Wonderful experience for the music lover! That's what got me hooked on all this :)

If you were going for the elusive perfect sound, I would start with the Stax SR009 paired with the Blue Hawaii Special Edition amp and a source like the PS Audio Direct Stream :)

LOL! Start with that? I'd imagine that is end game.

If the goal is perfect sound, why wade around in the small pond with the minnows :)

I hope Psychrn googles the prices on the gear I mentioned to get a picture for just how eye-watering the prices are on an end-to-end top of the line desktop rig! I would like a still picture of the look on his face...

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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#1064609 13-Jun-2014 01:20

NZtechfreak:
networkn:
NZtechfreak:
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 :)

Hmm that NAD looks nice and reviews well. How would you compare it to similar priced cans?

For new headphone prices and for the money I seriously do not think you can do better right now.

Put it this way, I sold my beloved T5p and 'traded-down' to the HP50!

Where would they sit comparing them to HE-400's and HD650's would you say ?

Actually I am not sure I want to know given the price of the T5P's compared to the other two I just mentioned.

That's weird I just saw that the T5P and the T1's are RRP the same price. I thought the T1 was the flagship?

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#1064612 13-Jun-2014 01:26

networkn:
NZtechfreak:
networkn:
NZtechfreak:
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 :)

Hmm that NAD looks nice and reviews well. How would you compare it to similar priced cans?

For new headphone prices and for the money I seriously do not think you can do better right now.

Put it this way, I sold my beloved T5p and 'traded-down' to the HP50!

Where would they sit comparing them to HE-400's and HD650's would you say ?

They're in a slightly different category, being closed cans designed with the intention of being driven by portable sources without amplification, so in a sense not directly comparable.

A well-driven 650/400 is probably a better headphone overall on technical merits, depending on musical tastes and so forth (at least in the realms of soundstage and resolution), but as an all rounder and with portable use in mind the HP50 is superb.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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#1064614 13-Jun-2014 01:29

networkn: Actually I am not sure I want to know given the price of the T5P's compared to the other two I just mentioned.

That's weird I just saw that the T5P and the T1's are RRP the same price. I thought the T1 was the flagship?

Again, different categories.

The T1 is without a doubt a better headphone than the T5p, and by a reasonable margin presuming the use-case is not portability focused.

The T5p is a better headphone than the HP50 on many levels - soundstage, imaging, resolution - but for my portable use I realised I don't really need the final word in those qualities in order to be happy. The HP50 is no slouch in any of those areas either, and the sound is more toe-tapping and less analytical, which for portable use suits me fine.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

trollyolyoly

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#1064768 13-Jun-2014 11:19

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.

Thanks for all the replies!

DT880 (low'ish ohm) seems best suited to me - Only 296g with plush earpads. Will try get a pair on my head, along with Senn HD600/650.

No love for the HD700 for comfort?

geekiegeek

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#1064791 13-Jun-2014 11:39

I have the HD700 and find them just as comfortable as my HD650 maybe more so as the 700s feel lighter on the head and don't clamp as hard as the 650s.

trollyolyoly

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#1064796 13-Jun-2014 11:47

geekiegeek: I have the HD700 and find them just as comfortable as my HD650 maybe more so as the 700s feel lighter on the head and don't clamp as hard as the 650s.

Thanks so much for the reply.

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#1064819 13-Jun-2014 12:08

geekiegeek: I have the HD700 and find them just as comfortable as my HD650 maybe more so as the 700s feel lighter on the head and don't clamp as hard as the 650s.

Agree with this, but personally I'd take the 650 over the 700, I prefer the warmer fuller sound signature.

livisun

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#1065854 15-Jun-2014 08:06

Ah! the NAD hp50, heard so much about them! is it worth running to store to buy while i wait for my beyers t1?? i need some portables, dont really want to have an portable amp with my iphone

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#1065857 15-Jun-2014 08:13

livisun: Ah! the NAD hp50, heard so much about them! is it worth running to store to buy while i wait for my beyers t1?? i need some portables, dont really want to have an portable amp with my iphone

If you're after a pair of portables the HP50 comes heartily recommended. Might also want to check out the KEF M500, currently sold on Trademe for half price.

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#1065858 15-Jun-2014 08:22

NZtechfreak:
livisun: Ah! the NAD hp50, heard so much about them! is it worth running to store to buy while i wait for my beyers t1?? i need some portables, dont really want to have an portable amp with my iphone

If you're after a pair of portables the HP50 comes heartily recommended. Might also want to check out the KEF M500, currently sold on Trademe for half price.

HAHA every time you post, my dreams of a property portfolio get further and further away :)

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