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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Networkn
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#710009 31-Oct-2012 18:18

http://www.dakmart.com/p9817/SELDD-SENNHEISER-HD650-HD-650-HEADPHONES-WITH-WARRANTY/product_info.html

Better to buy Second hand or Refurb do you think?

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#710013 31-Oct-2012 18:20

Refurb.

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#710018 31-Oct-2012 18:39

NZtechfreak: What other headphones have you got, or had a chance to listen to? If the LCD-2 are the first you've listened to of that kind of quality you will likely be blown away, and want to jump on them straight away, but that isn't to say they are the best for your needs (something like the HE-6 would possibly be more your speed).

I've had varying Sennheisers and IEM's over the years but nothing of uber quality. I auditioned my mates Beyerdynamics DT880's, they were ok but didn't blow me away.

At the moment just borrowing a pair of low spec Sennheiser's whilst I decide what to get

Yeah, been looking at the HE-6's from afar, might read up more on them

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#710117 31-Oct-2012 22:37

So I read the Hi-Fi Summer buying guide which I thought was well put together and accessible on the whole. I find it nigh impossible to understand the terminology they use to describe sound like "tight", "sparkly", "loose" etc, it's like listening to someone describe wine!

One thing that did come up was the HE400's vs the HD650 and actually the RS220's vs the HD600/650. The reason I would consider the RS220 is because even though it's well above my budget, I already have a set of RS170's I could sell and that would offset some of the cost, and because they are so well reviewed, I may be able to kill two birds with 1 stone. It would be a bit fiddly moving the set between upstairs (In the bedroom so I can watch TV whilst my wife sleeps, and downstairs when I listen to music.

Anyone got the HE400's? Would someone from Auckland be willing for me to borrow a headphone amp for a week so I could play with the various sets of phones I already had and compare it to my STX and see if I notice much of a difference?

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#710141 31-Oct-2012 23:28

networkn: So I read the Hi-Fi Summer buying guide which I thought was well put together and accessible on the whole. I find it nigh impossible to understand the terminology they use to describe sound like "tight", "sparkly", "loose" etc, it's like listening to someone describe wine!

One thing that did come up was the HE400's vs the HD650 and actually the RS220's vs the HD600/650. The reason I would consider the RS220 is because even though it's well above my budget, I already have a set of RS170's I could sell and that would offset some of the cost, and because they are so well reviewed, I may be able to kill two birds with 1 stone. It would be a bit fiddly moving the set between upstairs (In the bedroom so I can watch TV whilst my wife sleeps, and downstairs when I listen to music.

Anyone got the HE400's? Would someone from Auckland be willing for me to borrow a headphone amp for a week so I could play with the various sets of phones I already had and compare it to my STX and see if I notice much of a difference?

I had the HE400 briefly, I pre-ordered it before release in January. I only had it a brief while since I had one of the ones in the first batch where the QC wasn't up to snuff and the left channel kept cutting out (that has since been sorted). In the time I had it where it was working I was pretty amazed, although at that stage it was the first very good set of headphones I'd ever listened to so I had no other points of reference (basically everyones first set of $300+ cans blows them away I think, those impressions aren't that worthwhile because of that). I would really love to try them again and see what I think now actually... I think its fairly likely you would be very happy with them. I really liked the detail, soundstage, imaging and mids/treble of the HiFiMan orthos in comparison to my LCD-2s.

My HeadAmp Pico USB DAC/amp is currently not in use since I'm using the RSA Intruder, so you could borrow that if you wanted.

In relation to the jargon that surrounds audio this is required reading: http://www.head-fi.org/t/220770/describing-sound-a-glossary

It's like any other jargon really, once you start learning your way around it you'll find it quite an accessible and succinct way of communicating and understanding peoples audio impressions and reviews.

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Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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#710159 1-Nov-2012 01:11

NZTF yah I would love to borrow something to see what difference it makes, compared to say my stx etc.

This made me cry:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/631682/he400-vs-hd650

$500 for the AMP, $400 for the HP's and DAC at $470 pretty close to $1500 for sound that brought the hairs on his arm on end!!!

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#710168 1-Nov-2012 07:30

it's all in the source and the cans ...

yes the DAC and the amp makes a difference, but to a limit ... i reckon the $500 is the absolute limit for the DAC and amp together but i may be wrong

a longer read if you have time

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#710562 1-Nov-2012 18:18

Well my wifey has been watching me frown and pore over many articles and mutter under my breath about amps etc, and suggested if the HD650's won't blow my mind, then to find some combination I love and she will up the budget accordingly :) She looked a little perplexed when I showed her the Stax 009 and told her I would need a 5K electrostatic Amp to pair it with.. It seems to me, that pretty much from the HD650 Upward regardless of brand, an Amp becomes quite an essential purchase. I have been having sideways looks at the LCD-2 though :)

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#710565 1-Nov-2012 18:25

Have you considered audio gd nfb 12.1 or schiit bifrost - asgard

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#710570 1-Nov-2012 18:32

networkn: Well my wifey has been watching me frown and pore over many articles and mutter under my breath about amps etc, and suggested if the HD650's won't blow my mind, then to find some combination I love and she will up the budget accordingly :) She looked a little perplexed when I showed her the Stax 009 and told her I would need a 5K electrostatic Amp to pair it with.. It seems to me, that pretty much from the HD650 Upward regardless of brand, an Amp becomes quite an essential purchase. I have been having sideways looks at the LCD-2 though :)

I have the LCD-2, if you want to audition those while collecting the Pico at some stage (fair warning though you may regret listening to them, as they are likely to damage your wallet and your marital harmony).

I have quite a few other nice headphones too, if you really want to tempt fate...

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#710573 1-Nov-2012 18:39

nztf:: It may actually do your marital harmony more harm as I can't see your wife being happy if I never leave :)

I think having a look, to do better (as opposed to different) than the HD650's the LCD-2 seems to be the next step and at a grand + $400 for a decent amp to drive it, I realistically can't justify that kind of spend until I see how much I use something a little more accessible pricewise.

Having said that, it seems like you have plenty of ways to upgrade the sound on the 650's such as amps and cables, so I will see if amps might be a good starting position. Do you have idea recommendations on budget or units that will be a reasonable upgrade over my Asus STX?

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#710675 1-Nov-2012 21:21

I'm going to reply to most of your PM here networkn. LCD2 vs HD650's a tough one for sure. I spent ages comparing them, in the end I decided I slightly preferred the LCD2 especially for music with bass. The HD650s I liked for classical and anything without much bass that's really precise. I do think it's really personal preference between those two headphones though.

Both seem work better with an amp. I've used the LCD2 with an iPod, and from a DAC/amp, it just seem to have more guts coming from an amp. For years I thought headphone amps were a waste of money, but with harder to drive headphones they do have some benefits. It's not night and day, but they're better with than without. No point having them without a good source/dac, so don't just amplify your iPod.

Don't get suckered in by an expensive amp/dac, I doubt I could hear the difference between a $200 unit and a $2000 unit. My home made unit that cost $500 sounds identical to the commercial headroom $2000 balanced desktop amp to me.

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#710748 1-Nov-2012 22:53

I've found another contender, anyone have any experience with the Shure 1840's?

NZtechfreak

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#710760 1-Nov-2012 23:20

No experience with Shure headphones myself sorry.

Pulled the trigger on some Ultrasone Signature Pros tonight, will be interested to see how they fare in my high-end closed cans shootout.

HE-6 might be next month.

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#710762 1-Nov-2012 23:22

NZtechfreak: No experience with Shure headphones myself sorry.

Pulled the trigger on some Ultrasone Signature Pros tonight, will be interested to see how they fare in my high-end closed cans shootout.

HE-6 might be next month.

Let me know when they arrive, then I can come and visit :)

May I be nosy and ask where you source your cans?

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