The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1410512 21-Oct-2015 14:29

NZtechfreak:
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joker97: Audeze lcd2s work for most music if not all. Accurate bass, lush bodied mids and sweet highs. But very uncomfortable on long sessions.

Would love a pair - or at least to listen - but understand them to be challenging to drive and will be a few hundred bucks over my budget ceiling at best!

You should definitely come to next years headphone meet! Great change to hear some awesome gear. Pics of this years meet here.

I actually bought a ticket, but something came up last minute and I couldn't make it...

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#1410687 21-Oct-2015 20:13

...I am wondering if I could stretch to the Audeze EL-8's - and whether they are worth stretching for!

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#1410983 22-Oct-2015 11:19

Woah!What an amazing difference these cans have made to my life!
Asus xonar dg with headphone amp and pxc 450s man just amazing. I know they are low end for a lot of you guys but for me this is stunning

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#1411059 22-Oct-2015 12:31

Item: ...I am wondering if I could stretch to the Audeze EL-8's - and whether they are worth stretching for!

I didn't like the EL-8s at all. They are missing a band of treble information that makes them sound a bit muffled at times to me, and seriously messes with cymbal sounds. Given you preferences I suspect you would not like the EL-8s, that said however, there is another person I know with similar tastes to me and ears I trust and he did actually like them, so YMMV. If possible try and audition them - Audio-Reference in Auckland has these available for audition.

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#1411061 22-Oct-2015 12:32

ludez: Woah!What an amazing difference these cans have made to my life!
Asus xonar dg with headphone amp and pxc 450s man just amazing. I know they are low end for a lot of you guys but for me this is stunning

Nice! It's really quite eye-opening when you experience your first real step up in sound quality. The danger now is that you're tempted to see how deep the rabbit hole goes... That's how I got started in all of this...

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#1411077 22-Oct-2015 12:55

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NZtechfreak:
Item:
NZtechfreak: I'm probably selling my PM-3 though... And my HA-2 as well, other purchases to fund!

The oppo's have now piqued my interest.

Concern with PM3 is the closed back sound - I like a wide, airy soundstage - and the PM2s are on the pricey side and would likely require a better amp/dac than I have (?)...which makes the, pricier still!

Unless you going for the modified PM-2 sold by Audio Zenith PM-X, I would steer clear of the Oppo higher-end cans - they are dark and smooth and the soundstage is not a strong point. They will not suit your tastes from what you have said so far.

The PM-3 is a different beast than their higher-end offerings, very even tonality and I would be surprised if you didn't like them, although coming from the Grado 325 the change-up may take some adjustment as they are certainly different than the 325. I enjoyed the 325 when I heard it, but they're amongst the most strident of the Grado's, so I can well imagine them unsuitable for longer listening sessions.

Thanks - useful info!

Given that you seem to know your stuff, if you had between NZ$600 to $1000 to spend on a new set of cans which would work well on my DacPOrt until I can afford an upgrade...what would you buy? Or at least recommend I audition!

As I said, I love the detail and the treble on the Grados but:

Uncomfortable physically on longer sessions
Harsh and fatiguing on some music types and recordings
Would like a bit more bass depth/resonance, but not a bass-head by any means.

OK, within your budget, and assuming open cans are on the table since you were contemplating getting an open can:

Final Audio Pandora Hope VI, $1000. Seriously good closed can and you will like the sound a lot if I can infer anything from your liking the Grado's. Currently on Massdrop. Comfort-wise I find them OK, however these are not the most comfortable cans amongst this list at all (on the heavier side).
Grado PS500e - I've not heard these, however they are widely reputed to be a bit of a departure from the standard Grado sound, less fatiguing.
Audeze EL-8 open - Addicted to Audio have an ex-demo pair within your budget right now, not my cup of tea.
AKG K7xx via Massdrop the next time it comes up there, I've not heard but is very highly regarded for its price:performance ratio. Comfortable.
Sennheiser HD650, will be too dark for your liking I think, may not be optimally driven from the DAC port. Comfortable.
Sennheiser HD700, good sale price at Addicted to Audio, not that well regarded and may not be optimally driven from the DAC port. Comfortable.
ZMF Blackwood - highly recommended, I really like this one, may be too difficult to drive with the DACport though and pushing budget. Not as comfortable as some of the others here, but not overtly uncomfortable.
At times the Beyerdynamic T1 and T5p will be available within your budget, would think you would enjoy both, the T5p has good quality bass but not quite enough quantity without applying EQ. Comfy headphones.
PM-3, I think this one you would enjoy, should be able to audition at Paul Money or A-V World in Auckland. Comfy also.

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#1411084 22-Oct-2015 12:58

NZtechfreak:

OK, within your budget, and assuming open cans are on the table since you were contemplating getting an open can:

Really appreciate you taking the time mate - plenty of food for thought there!

Will let you know how I get on.

ludez

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#1411092 22-Oct-2015 13:18

NZtechfreak:
ludez: Woah!What an amazing difference these cans have made to my life!
Asus xonar dg with headphone amp and pxc 450s man just amazing. I know they are low end for a lot of you guys but for me this is stunning

Nice! It's really quite eye-opening when you experience your first real step up in sound quality. The danger now is that you're tempted to see how deep the rabbit hole goes... That's how I got started in all of this...

Yeah what a massive step up!
So nice with a sound card

kiwitrc

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#1411111 22-Oct-2015 13:34

NZtechfreak:
ludez: Woah!What an amazing difference these cans have made to my life!
Asus xonar dg with headphone amp and pxc 450s man just amazing. I know they are low end for a lot of you guys but for me this is stunning

Nice! It's really quite eye-opening when you experience your first real step up in sound quality. The danger now is that you're tempted to see how deep the rabbit hole goes... That's how I got started in all of this...

Cough, WIDAC

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#1411113 22-Oct-2015 13:37

NZtechfreak:

Final Audio Pandora Hope VI, $1000. Seriously good closed can and you will like the sound a lot if I can infer anything from your liking the Grado's. Currently on Massdrop. Comfort-wise I find them OK, however these are not the most comfortable cans amongst this list at all (on the heavier side).

Saw these on Massdrop and they look really interesting...

Just some small worries on comfort - even with the type B pads - after reading the HeadFi thread plus the fact that they would be a "blind buy" with not much chance of an audition in NZ before hand...

That said, these will be a present, so perhaps an ideal way to take a bit of a risk!

NZtechfreak

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#1411273 22-Oct-2015 18:06

Arggh! Widac! Can you email my gmail with your address, currently locked into GZ mobile and can't see PMs.

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#1413095 24-Oct-2015 09:02

NZtechfreak:

Final Audio Pandora Hope VI, $1000. Seriously good closed can and you will like the sound a lot if I can infer anything from your liking the Grado's. Currently on Massdrop. Comfort-wise I find them OK, however these are not the most comfortable cans amongst this list at all (on the heavier side).

So after a lot more research (and these aren't this easiest to research - they seem a more esoteric buy!) I have pulled the trigger on the latest Massdrop @ $499 for the Sonorous VI's

Fingers crossed they will be all I hope.

Thanks again for the suggestions and advice.

networkn

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#1420554 4-Nov-2015 11:17

NZTF: http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/03/sennheiser-new-orpheus-headphones/

If you could order a set of those, so I can have a listen, that would be great ;)

NZtechfreak

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#1420675 4-Nov-2015 12:29

networkn: NZTF: http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/03/sennheiser-new-orpheus-headphones/

If you could order a set of those, so I can have a listen, that would be great ;)

Haha, sure!

...now, where did I put that lotto ticket?

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#1424639 10-Nov-2015 19:31

I'm trying to decide if I should get myself some decent headphones for travel. I've passed my PXC-250-II on to my wife (didn't use them myself for a recent trip to Oz).

I'd want ANC of course, but sound quality would have to be really good if they're pricey. Would be great if I could replace my NAD VISO HP50 and Sony MDR-10RBT and improve on build and sound quality in the process.

So I guess I'm looking for over ear (picking they're going to be over all for comfort), with ANC, great sound quality (good quality that improves to great quality with the use of my E18 DAC/Amp is okay), foldable for travel with a good protective case and Bluetooth with Apt-X, replaceable earpads and a replaceable cable isn't difficult to source.

B&W? B&O? Sennheiser? Bose? Or not worth it, and just travel with what I've got?

Appreciate any suggestions!

Cheers

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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