The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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

1 | ... | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | ... | 121

93 posts

Master Geek

#1683154 6-Dec-2016 10:20

Geektastic:

Anyone managed to try a pair of the new Sony 1000x?

My pair arrived from Amazon yesterday, so I'm listening to them at the moment.

Loving the sound quality and the noise cancellation.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1701999 12-Jan-2017 12:50

networkn:

So I am just LOVING these HD800S now.

So another month in, are they still providing you with joy?

I have upgrade-itis again and have been considering looking at the HD800s OR (given that I have some decent standard-driven 'phones already) looking at my first Planar Magnetic pair and going with something like the Oppo PM1.

Looks like AVWorld have both in stock, so might head out for a listen in the coming weeks and then think about a Schiit-stack of some description.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1719034 12-Feb-2017 18:05

So I had a listen to both the HiFiMan HE560 and the Oppo PM1 the other week.

I like them both - PM1 a bit more exciting and "in your face" and the HE560 a lot wider and more airy...very detailed.

I think the PM1 are more similar to my Sonorous VIs in some ways and the HE560 a little more "reference" and with a more open backed sound.

Both on my list with a lean towards the HE560, but concerned about build quality from what I have heard.

I haven't listened to the HD800S yet and would quite like to demo some of the Audeze - LCD2 or X perhaps?

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1722320 18-Feb-2017 17:01

I feel like the tumbleweeds are blowing through this thread, but I will plough on regardless...

So, I listened to the LCD2, LCD3 and HD800S today:

LCD2 were..."good". Really solid and reminded me somewhat of my current Sonorous! I liked them, but wouldn't bother with them given that they are similar to what I have already...at twice the price!

HD800S were almost exactly what I expected - incredibly detailed with a huge soundstage and really punchy bass at the expense of getting a little close to "harsh" on a few artists and exposing weak recordings without mercy. I think I could really like these.

LCD3 - was a mistake listening to these as I really thought they blew the other two away - and so they should at that price. When I listened to these I actually stopped analysing the sound and got really into the music instead - listening to tracks all the way through and thoroughly enjoying myself. By far the most "musical" of headphones I have listened to.

...thing is, could I ever justify the cost? Would be better spending that money on upgrading my speakers (not that there is anything wrong with them) so is certainly something interesting to think about.

Would definitely consider upgrading to the HiFiman HE560s ahead of the LCD2s at that price and over my current cans, but still really leery on reliability and quality control. HD800S are definitely on the list...

Hmmm.

hamstring

37 posts

Geek

#1722339 18-Feb-2017 17:34

You're looking at some amazing headphones. The 560s are half the price but getting 'lost' in the music sure has a definite value over 'another' set of headphones. I guess if the 560s fill a gap for certain types of genres it could be cool but I'd be looking at the LCD3s myself. Or while we're at it HE 1000s :D

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1722347 18-Feb-2017 18:00

hamstring:

You're looking at some amazing headphones. The 560s are half the price but getting 'lost' in the music sure has a definite value over 'another' set of headphones. I guess if the 560s fill a gap for certain types of genres it could be cool but I'd be looking at the LCD3s myself. Or while we're at it HE 1000s :D

Was going to listen to the HE1000s when i tried the 560's but ran out of time sadly... or maybe it was for the best!

hamstring

37 posts

Geek

#1723096 20-Feb-2017 15:39

Item:

Was going to listen to the HE1000s when i tried the 560's but ran out of time sadly... or maybe it was for the best!

Hahaha! Probably! Cha-CHING!

Also, see if you can try the Focal Elear and Focal Utopia. They really blew Tyll at innerfidelity.com away and that's not that easy.

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1723115 20-Feb-2017 15:54

I haven't really been active because I have been so busy. I don't see much above my HD800S that I could improve on, other than wanting to try a balanced amp like the Liquid Carbon, or better still the Liquid Glass.

I have 4 sets of nice phones and 2 sets of nice IEM's. 3 AMP's and 2 DAC's. I like my Crack the best, but I must admit my Mojo and iDSD Micro are both excellent.

If something revolutionary comes out, I'm always keen to see it. I like the Next Big Thing, but hard to believe there is much above my HD800S that isn't just bias

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1723136 20-Feb-2017 16:22

I thought I should ask if anyone has any of Cavalli Audio Amps they would be prepared to let me borrow for a week. Happy to pay a security deposit if required.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1723173 20-Feb-2017 18:00

networkn:

If something revolutionary comes out, I'm always keen to see it. I like the Next Big Thing, but hard to believe there is much above my HD800S that isn't just bias

It is very hard to tell from a preliminary listen in a store, but IMO the difference between the HD800S and the LCD3 was clear and was like the difference between Mind and Heart.

The HD800S were ferociously revealing and accurate and brilliantly detailed...but maybe a little cold? The LCD3s could be accused of having a "signature sound" or colouration more so than the Senns...but they had real soul and were more musical IMHO.

I think if they were roughly the same price and I wasn't worried about reliability, I would buy the LCD3s every time...but for $1.4k more and a bad reputation for driver failure, I am still chewing this one through.

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1723176 20-Feb-2017 18:04

Yeah, I've not heard the LCD3's. I might do that one day when I am near CL.

The T1's were magic from the first time I heard them, same with the 650's I have as well, though both were used when I got them which I believe would make a difference.

Your description of the LCD3's really appeals to me.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1762095 12-Apr-2017 12:00

So in the end I opted to stick with my Final Audio Design Sonorous VIs (such a stupid name...) for now and I upgraded my speakers for my hifi instead!

Might revisit the headphone thing on my 40th this year...

As an aside (and in a shameless cross post from the ANC Headphone thread) I just upgraded my trusty Bose QC25s (now bequeathed to Mrs Item) and upgraded to a pair of Sony MDR-1000x when I was in Melbourne this week.

Got a good deal in a sale from the brilliant Addicted to Audio store and with my GST return and current exchange rate I will have paid about NZ$500. Really loving them so far - they (IMHO) sound clearly better than the Bose and the ANC is as good. The wireless and cool touch controls are the icing on the cake.

I did actually demo the Sennheiser Momentum 2 and the very lovely KEF/Porsche Design Space Ones as well and found:

The Senn's sounded slightly better/different than the Sony's to my ears but were crazy uncomfortable for me!
The KEFS sounded by far the best, but the noise cancelling wasn't as good as the Bose or the Sony, they were more pricey and they were wired only
The Sony's were the best all-rounders, a definitive improvement on the QC25's and worked best for a very specific purpose - i.e. mobile and travel listening. If I want better SQ I always have my onorous VIs at home...

I will leave you with a (stock) picture of my lovely new Canton Vento 886's...

networkn

Networkn
32349 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1762096 12-Apr-2017 12:02

Wow they look spectacular.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1762143 12-Apr-2017 12:28

networkn:

Wow they look spectacular.

I am very much enjoying them - they are a German designed and made brand and a bit of a left-field choice, but after listening to a bunch of others, they definitely worked for me. In some ways they share some sound characteristics with the HD800s (detail, clarity, punch, sometimes a little ruthless with bad recordings etc)...must be a German signature!

Considering they cost me not much more than the LCD3s would (I did get a good deal) and I do more of my listening through speaker than 'phones at the moment, I am happy with my decision.

hamstring

37 posts

Geek

#1763784 13-Apr-2017 13:14

Yeah, those look amazing!

1 | ... | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | ... | 121