The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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# 715879 12-Nov-2012 14:34

timmmay: It's like amps, sometimes people hear what they want to hear. I've heard more headphones than most people, I have pretty good hearing, I've just never noticed it.

Do you need those special monster cables to hear it? ;-)

I also seem to recall (from a discussion some time ago) that you couldn't hear any difference between mp3 and lossless. You make some strange statements regarding high end audio for someone who reviews this stuff.

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timmmay

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# 715882 12-Nov-2012 14:37

geekiegeek:
timmmay: It's like amps, sometimes people hear what they want to hear. I've heard more headphones than most people, I have pretty good hearing, I've just never noticed it.

Do you need those special monster cables to hear it? ;-)

I also seem to recall (from a discussion some time ago) that you couldn't hear any difference between mp3 and lossless. You make some strange statements regarding high end audio for someone who reviews this stuff.

That's correct, on a good source (ie DAC/amp) I can't tell say a 256kbps mp3 from flac. There have been double blind studies that back this up.

The difference between a poor mp3 and a good mp3 is huge. The difference between an iPod and a good dac/amp is pretty good. Good mp3 vs good flac is very difficult to tell. I'd be surprised if many people can consistently tell in a blind listening test.

NZtechfreak

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# 715896 12-Nov-2012 15:10

timmmay:
geekiegeek:
timmmay: It's like amps, sometimes people hear what they want to hear. I've heard more headphones than most people, I have pretty good hearing, I've just never noticed it.

Do you need those special monster cables to hear it? ;-)

I also seem to recall (from a discussion some time ago) that you couldn't hear any difference between mp3 and lossless. You make some strange statements regarding high end audio for someone who reviews this stuff.

That's correct, on a good source (ie DAC/amp) I can't tell say a 256kbps mp3 from flac. There have been double blind studies that back this up.

The difference between a poor mp3 and a good mp3 is huge. The difference between an iPod and a good dac/amp is pretty good. Good mp3 vs good flac is very difficult to tell. I'd be surprised if many people can consistently tell in a blind listening test.

The quality of mp3 encoding made headway in the last ten years. I suspect most people (myself included amongst that number) are actually unable to detect a difference in blind testing. When you consider the source players and headphones most people are listening from the majority of the time, I doubt that most peoples gear is revealing enough to demonstrate differences even when they are present.

I only listen to FLAC, but thats mostly because I can, and for the reassurance that if anything is there in the recording to be heard at least I know my source material won't be the rate limiting step.

I can accept though that on certain parts of certain songs with certain encoding, with high enough quality gear, a difference may be possible to be heard between high bitrate mp3 and FLAC. The guys that really get me are the ones who think they can tell 16/48 apart from 24/192. It always fascinates me that they also seem to be the only people who categorically refuse to test their assertions with a blind test (Foobar 2000 has an ABX plugin that will let you do your own blind test, for those who are interested to try it).

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timmmay

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# 715900 12-Nov-2012 15:19

Maybe one day when I'm super bored I'll try that plugin!

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# 715955 12-Nov-2012 17:27

Look some people can tell one wine from another, some can see wonders in art that look like a splash ... Sine can appreciate downstage and some right brains can't. It's all in the right brain ... Either you got it or you can't ... Mind you some people are tone deaf

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

Batman

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# 715956 12-Nov-2012 17:28

Try explaining the colour green from red to someone blind and you'll know what I mean

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

networkn

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# 716014 12-Nov-2012 19:24

Well I have them, but I haven't tried them yet as they smell ... Funky! Anyone know a good method for cleaning them or de-oderizing them? Other than that they are spotless and in perfect condition as best I can tell.

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# 716020 12-Nov-2012 19:32

What kind of material are the pads?

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networkn

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# 716033 12-Nov-2012 19:42

I think they are called velour. I am extremely anxious to ensure I don't change the sound signature permanently or cause any damage to them. I'd order new pads, but they are about $120. I thought about just setting them up near a fan and seeing if "airing" them out will help, but as my wife pointed out, that won't get rid of sweat etc.

networkn

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# 716070 12-Nov-2012 20:56

Warm Soapy Water according to the Manual.

Next on my list of purchases will be :

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Razer-Tiamat-71-Gaming-Headset/18624166/

I think it will take some time to justify the need :)

I have tried the HD650's for the first time, and I think I'll need an AMP. They sound excellent, but I am missing the level of detail present on my audition, though I'll be unhappy if I need to spend $1500 to get that same sound.

Well after an hour of listening I am really starting to dig these HP's.

Gemini

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# 716144 13-Nov-2012 07:25

cauld:
geekiegeek: Sennheiser fanboy here. Actually just paid a visit to their concept store in Kuala Lumper last week.

Sennheiser here (mainly) too.

HD25 MkI's - DJ Headphone
HD465 - My primary listening to music while working at home phones. Too big to travel well

For exercise I have recently picked up a pair of Polk Audio Ultrafit 3000's
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/ultrafit3000
Audio snobbery and profuse sweatiness don't typically mix. These are the best I've found yet. 4 months in and not rooted yet so not bad for durability. Audio is the best I've had from sports phones (usually go through 1-2 pairs a year)

Can I ask where you got your Polk phones from?
I'm looking at the Ultrafit 2000 but can't see em on pricespy

NZtechfreak

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# 716146 13-Nov-2012 07:33

networkn: Warm Soapy Water according to the Manual.

Next on my list of purchases will be :

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Razer-Tiamat-71-Gaming-Headset/18624166/

I think it will take some time to justify the need :)

I have tried the HD650's for the first time, and I think I'll need an AMP. They sound excellent, but I am missing the level of detail present on my audition, though I'll be unhappy if I need to spend $1500 to get that same sound.

Well after an hour of listening I am really starting to dig these HP's.

You won't need to spend that much, I have a selection of amps you can try, none of which cost that much.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

siyuan

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# 716147 13-Nov-2012 07:36

networkn: Warm Soapy Water according to the Manual.

Next on my list of purchases will be :

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Razer-Tiamat-71-Gaming-Headset/18624166/

I think it will take some time to justify the need :)

I have tried the HD650's for the first time, and I think I'll need an AMP. They sound excellent, but I am missing the level of detail present on my audition, though I'll be unhappy if I need to spend $1500 to get that same sound.

Well after an hour of listening I am really starting to dig these HP's.

You are welcome to try my O2 amp to see if this affordable amp satisfies you.

NZtechfreak

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# 716395 13-Nov-2012 14:02

Bah, so annoying!

At lunchtime I dashed away from work to collection my HE-6 from the airport, then dashed home to get the RSA Intruder and 6.5mm-->3.5mm adapter and USB OTG adapter. Arrive to work with 15 minutes left in order to listen to a few tracks from the HE-6, discover I left the 6.5mm-->3.5mm adapter at home. Fracking annoying. Will have to wait until this evening.

I hope my amps have enough power to drive the HE-6... Getting some balanced adapters to connect to the balanced outputs of the Xonar and the Intruder, hopefully if I have issues with driving it from my amps on a single-ended connection that will help (since it doubles power output to each channel from a fully balanced amp).

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

Batman

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# 716416 13-Nov-2012 14:25

Freak!

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

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