The Headphones Thread - Page 18

thanks for your suggestions. which would you recomend? Senn HD-515, Beyer DT-231, or Grado SR60?

thanks

or the SR80 (don't know if there's a big difference between the 60 and 80)

hi just follow up on my original post since i have yet to get a reply on
is sennheiser hd500 significantly better than hd497?

If these are the 3 options then I would recommend the SR-60 + Flat Pads (let me know if you are not sure what these are).

Alternatively if you have the $$$ just go for a used SR-225 (there are several examples for sale on HeadFi.com)

No. The HD-497 is quite satisfying and will serve you well until you feel the unnecessary but compulsive need to spend megabucks for the ultimate in sound.

Remember though that it is garishly colored You might want to wait 30 days until the "return" period is over and then spray paint the cans in your favorite color. (dismantle before doing any of this I have painted mine Deel Blue with red accents and it looks fine )

5.1 headphones suck.

If you are talking about Dolby Digital Headphones then Philips has a few nice ones. Sony has a nice one and they work fairly well with DVD's. They are not the best solution "musically" but whatever float your boat

my sr225's should be here in a few days!!!

for all you people that have questions about headphones and are thinking about getting some, sign up and become a member at head-fi forums. I found them to be the most helpful place on the internet for headphones. They can answer any question you have.

What is your HeadFi ID?? Yeah HeadFi is where I learnt all my stuff...took a while and I have tried almost every headphone there is

Awesome!!

Some pics

yah i'm not really sure what they are...

thanks for your help

Check out this review of mine : http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=87932

Video of the Flat Pads :

VIDEO











In essence - the type of pads you use will change the sonic signature of the Grado headphones. The Flat pads have great bass and nice mids. They do roll-off the highs a bit but it is a tradeoff most people are willing to make.

Hope this helps

Other headphones to consider :-

AKG K-501 - Very good midrange and detail. A bit bass shy but no glaring fault...
AKG K-271 - Features the typical AKG sound. A slightly less refined K-501 with a softer tonal balance

Alessandro MS-1 - Another budget entry level headphone
Alessandro MS2 - Take it up a notch in the "refinement" and "resolution" areas while maintaining the basic Grado sound signature. Excellent bass too...GOLLY!!

hi uh, this question might sound dumb to a lot of you, but i read on the first page that someone mentioned about the need to break-in the headphone, and then referred to headphone.com
i went there, couldn't find out how to break-in
so if possible can anyone tell me how do i break-in the headphone?

BREAK-IN :

Break-in is a controversial topic that easily stirs up heated debate in any audiophile circle. Some people believe in it...others dont...still others believe in it to varying degrees.

I believe in it to an extent. I believe that break-in or burn-in improves the sound quality of any speaker, headphone, subwoofer because you are, in effect, loosening the suspension to its optimal conditions. Just like a car engine needs a few 1000 miles to settle down before you take it for its first service - a headphone needs to be broken in for approximately N hours (N depends on the headphone...its impedance...and its sensitivity levels) before it starts to perform at its optimum.




The best way to burn-in a headphone is :

Create a CD with audiophile test tracks. Some of the tracks you will use are :-

* White Noise
* Pink Noise
* Pure Sine Wave from 10 - 30000 hz
* 10Hz, 20Hz, 30...40...50...60..80..100...150...200...600...800...1000hz (for the bass and midrange response)

NOTE - the tracks should be free of square wave patterns...NO CLIPPING IS PERMISSIBLE!!

Now - set these tracks to repeat. Play them and listen with the headphones on your head. Raise the volume about 15% more than your maximum listening level (maximum level with which you can still comfortably listen) and set the headphone aside for about 100 hours. You can wrap it in a towel to drown out the noise

This is what I do and it works - dont blame me if you screw up.

wooooo!! got my Grado SR225's. just ordered flat pads also which should be arriving today. I'm just lettin em burn in for 50 hours or so before listening too much

i'll just go ahead and say what i got.

Etymotic Research ER-6 very small and comfortable for on the go (mp3 players...ipod is too weak to power them...) . very good detail with properly encoded music. the base...its like a real force INSIDE your head...not just a little *thump* produced by the speaker.

Retail Price: $139.00

Pardon me - you got good BASS with the Etymotics ER6 ??

They are considered the most anemic of all ear-canal phones


But since you are satisfied with the non-existent bass on them perhaps you are not a basshead. And the iPod is MORE than sufficient to power them up. I can run a 300Ohm HD-650 straight out of the iPod with no amplification.

If you want bass - get the Shure E2c or the Shure E3.

if you have big bucks - Get the Shure E5, UE5C, UE-10 Pro, Sensa 2XS



AND PLEASE NOTE :

Watch those volumes. The ER6 is a ear canal phone and a good seal will stop most of the outside noises - keep the volume down or prepare for premature deafness

OOH Boy!!!

Those are some AWESOME headphones you got there. DONT BURN THEM IN AT LOUD LEVELS - you may damage them because Grado drivers are delicate (32 ohms and high sensitivity compared to sennheiser headphones).

Just use them naturally and they will improve over time.

Oh and when you get the flat pads - prepare for some buttkickin bass!!!

thanks for the information, now BIG BIG QUESTION lol
where can I get those tracks so i can create the cd?

Let me see...if you do a google for audio signals you will find plenty of programs...signal generators is another search option.

I am fixing my server. Once it is up (hopefully by the weekend) I will host some downloads that I have promised...

I just got a pair of SR60 and i thinking of getting vwap flats. Any idea where I can get them? Thanks