The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1429606 17-Nov-2015 13:12

Stu:
NZtechfreak: Regards an ANC headphone with truly great sound and comfort? Doesn't exist. The Polk UltraFocus 8000 are the best sounding ANC headphone I've heardheard, but not the most comfortable. If the ANC and travel aspects are important I'd be looking at the QC25. I believe they sound better than their predecessor.
Would something like the Oppo PM-3 passively block enough noise to negate the need for ANC? Could they be an option for travel? Maybe I'll just have to keep my eyes on Bose pricing over the next couple of weeks. Cheers

If you're listening to music any reasonably sealed can will block out sound for you, the leakage the other way may annoy your neighbours however. The PM-3 aren't too bad for sound isolation, but that depends on the seal the cups form - they are slightly on the smaller side, so for me with mildly larger ears they are partially on-ear and don't isolate as well as they might for others. The Senn Momentum 2.0 seal better with a larger internal dimension to the cup and memory foam cushions. If you are talking passive noise reduction when not listening to music then none of them will be that good, but they will take an edge off the airplane noise (~75-80dB in the cabin generally speaking).

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#1429709 17-Nov-2015 15:16

Interesting thread. Total heaphone/audio newbie here.

Being a hardcore gamer (Day of Defeat 1.3), I'm looking at upgrading my Logitech G430 (excellent bang per buck gaming headset) to the Audio Technica ADG1 Open-back ($329-95 Computer Lounge). Seen some pretty decent reviews on YT.

My questions:

Would the FiiO Kilimanjaro2 E11K Amp ($94-99 Rapallo) be a worthwhile spend/combo? Mainly used for PC with occassional mobile phone listening.
Is there currently a product on the market that can switch between open-back and closed-back? Something similar to this http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/61702226 @ 32m 40s.

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Stu

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#1429821 17-Nov-2015 17:47

NZtechfreak: If you're listening to music any reasonably sealed can will block out sound for you, the leakage the other way may annoy your neighbours however. The PM-3 aren't too bad for sound isolation, but that depends on the seal the cups form - they are slightly on the smaller side, so for me with mildly larger ears they are partially on-ear and don't isolate as well as they might for others. The Senn Momentum 2.0 seal better with a larger internal dimension to the cup and memory foam cushions. If you are talking passive noise reduction when not listening to music then none of them will be that good, but they will take an edge off the airplane noise (~75-80dB in the cabin generally speaking).

Thanks once again @NZTechfreak. More to think about.

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#1430182 18-Nov-2015 09:21

Stu: Maybe I'll just have to keep my eyes on Bose pricing over the next couple of weeks. Cheers

Perfect timing! Down to $375 - Assuming you are Ok with having them in White...

http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/bose-quietcomfort-25-apple-white-dsnz-c10115

Stu

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#1430186 18-Nov-2015 09:30

As per this thread :-)

Also available in black and white for Android.

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#1430212 18-Nov-2015 09:51

Stu: As per this thread :-)

Also available in black and white for Android.

Hope you enjoy em!

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#1430213 18-Nov-2015 09:53

Cheers. So do I!

I'm sure they'll handle the required task well.

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#1431439 19-Nov-2015 22:36

OK - fair warning - YOUR WALLET IS AT RISK IF YOU READ ON!

Just got my Head Fi rig to " Vaguely Sensible Nirvana" status. Metrum Acoustics Octave Mk II NOS DAC and Metrum Acoustics Aurix amp, driving Mr Speakers Alpha Dogs.

Slight issue to be resolved with the DAC - the USB units they were using until very recently do not play nice with El Capitan and a driver solution is awaited. I can replace the USB module with the newer one but that is EUR150 plus shipping etc. So I am awaiting an SPDIF cable that has a 3.5mm SPDIF on one end (for the iMac) and a normal one on the other (for the Octave). If you plug in the USB, the Mac just does not recognise it as being there at all.

At the moment therefore I have only the Aurix running with a normal 3.5mm headphone plug to RCA cable. Hardly the best but at least I can play a bit! The SPDIF cable won't be here until Monday.

Sound is good right now but I am itching to know what the DAC will do.

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#1431548 20-Nov-2015 09:33

Geektastic: OK - fair warning - YOUR WALLET IS AT RISK IF YOU READ ON!

Just got my Head Fi rig to " Vaguely Sensible Nirvana" status. Metrum Acoustics Octave Mk II NOS DAC and Metrum Acoustics Aurix amp, driving Mr Speakers Alpha Dogs.

Slight issue to be resolved with the DAC - the USB units they were using until very recently do not play nice with El Capitan and a driver solution is awaited. I can replace the USB module with the newer one but that is EUR150 plus shipping etc. So I am awaiting an SPDIF cable that has a 3.5mm SPDIF on one end (for the iMac) and a normal one on the other (for the Octave). If you plug in the USB, the Mac just does not recognise it as being there at all.

At the moment therefore I have only the Aurix running with a normal 3.5mm headphone plug to RCA cable. Hardly the best but at least I can play a bit! The SPDIF cable won't be here until Monday.

Sound is good right now but I am itching to know what the DAC will do.

Just to prepare my wallet, how much of an investment are you in for the above approximately? I've been looking at the Mr Speakers Ether closed back cans >.<

NZtechfreak

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#1431565 20-Nov-2015 09:55

hamstring:
Geektastic: OK - fair warning - YOUR WALLET IS AT RISK IF YOU READ ON!

Just got my Head Fi rig to " Vaguely Sensible Nirvana" status. Metrum Acoustics Octave Mk II NOS DAC and Metrum Acoustics Aurix amp, driving Mr Speakers Alpha Dogs.

Slight issue to be resolved with the DAC - the USB units they were using until very recently do not play nice with El Capitan and a driver solution is awaited. I can replace the USB module with the newer one but that is EUR150 plus shipping etc. So I am awaiting an SPDIF cable that has a 3.5mm SPDIF on one end (for the iMac) and a normal one on the other (for the Octave). If you plug in the USB, the Mac just does not recognise it as being there at all.

At the moment therefore I have only the Aurix running with a normal 3.5mm headphone plug to RCA cable. Hardly the best but at least I can play a bit! The SPDIF cable won't be here until Monday.

Sound is good right now but I am itching to know what the DAC will do.

Just to prepare my wallet, how much of an investment are you in for the above approximately? I've been looking at the Mr Speakers Ether closed back cans >.<

I have the Ether C (well, both Ethers for that matter). Nice can, especially if you really need/want closed, where high-end pickings that are truly good are slim. If you want a listen to the Ether C me and a couple of other guys probably having a little mini-meet tomorrow. I will also have the LCD-4 there for that... now if you really want to frighten your wallet that is the thing to show it.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

hamstring

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#1431569 20-Nov-2015 09:58

Oh damn! The LCD-4 would be amazing and yes my wallet would run scared and I would run from my wife. I don't think I can make it tomorrow unfortunately which really sucks as I'd love to hear those cans.

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#1431630 20-Nov-2015 11:15

hamstring:
Geektastic: OK - fair warning - YOUR WALLET IS AT RISK IF YOU READ ON!

Just got my Head Fi rig to " Vaguely Sensible Nirvana" status. Metrum Acoustics Octave Mk II NOS DAC and Metrum Acoustics Aurix amp, driving Mr Speakers Alpha Dogs.

Slight issue to be resolved with the DAC - the USB units they were using until very recently do not play nice with El Capitan and a driver solution is awaited. I can replace the USB module with the newer one but that is EUR150 plus shipping etc. So I am awaiting an SPDIF cable that has a 3.5mm SPDIF on one end (for the iMac) and a normal one on the other (for the Octave). If you plug in the USB, the Mac just does not recognise it as being there at all.

At the moment therefore I have only the Aurix running with a normal 3.5mm headphone plug to RCA cable. Hardly the best but at least I can play a bit! The SPDIF cable won't be here until Monday.

Sound is good right now but I am itching to know what the DAC will do.

Just to prepare my wallet, how much of an investment are you in for the above approximately? I've been looking at the Mr Speakers Ether closed back cans >.<

The DAC and amp about $2750 and the headphones about $800.

The good/bad thing is that the electronics will comfortably accommodate headphones costing a lot more without not being 'enough'...!

Geektastic

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#1433568 23-Nov-2015 21:47

Got the DAC hooked up with SPDIF.

Still burning in the DAC (Cees at Metrum says it needs 100 hours before it will be performing at full awesomeness) and of course the amp too but the sound is truly spectacular.

I'm trying really hard not to get the itch to audition their $5,000 DAC called the Hex!

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#1433636 24-Nov-2015 01:28

Where did you order the Ether C's from?

NZtechfreak

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#1433652 24-Nov-2015 06:48

Direct from MrSpeakers.

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