Headphone Thread.

[sobe]

Hi guys, hopefully someone can give me some help as you lot seem to be massively into your audio setups!

I have some Sennheiser HD555's and PC350SE's that I use (mainly the PC350SE's as I am generally gaming a lot). Would an amp/DAC be something I should think about buying to get the most out of these cans or is it not really going to make a vast difference?

I would like to enhance my audio experience but if a dac/amp isn't going to really do much, then I guess new higher end cans is where I should be looking to invest?

Cheers in advance

Both will see a boost yes, but your HD555's will see a very very minimal.... Whereas your PC350's use the HD595 drivers and will offer a better experience when amped. If you are interested in going with higher end anyway, what you can do is go ahead and purchase a good amp/dac and if you want MORE than just what your PC350 can provide, simply buy a better set of cans to pair with the amp you bought

[Lord of Narwhals]

I think I broke my headphone plug At least I hope that's what broke.
I have a pair of Qpad QH-85s and yesterday I accidentally yanked my headphone cable out and after that the sound has been really weird.
The mids and lows are mostly fine but the bass is completely gone.

I don't want to buy new ones so I think I'll try to fix the cord/jack (if that's whats causing it).
If it's not the plug then do you guys know what it could be? I opened up the headphones but everything seemed to be fine inside.

[blackbox]

I think I broke my headphone plug At least I hope that's what broke.
I have a pair of Qpad QH-85s and yesterday I accidentally yanked my headphone cable out and after that the sound has been really weird.
The mids and lows are mostly fine but the bass is completely gone.

I don't want to buy new ones so I think I'll try to fix the cord/jack (if that's whats causing it).
If it's not the plug then do you guys know what it could be? I opened up the headphones but everything seemed to be fine inside.

I think the problem is either the cord  or the connector. Does it change when you move the cable?

[HPE1000]

Just ordered some replacement velour pads for my dt770s. The $30 was kinda tough to do but when you consider I have around 1000-1500 hours use on these in just a year the replacements were long overdue. I went with a set of black velour instead of the silver.

I LOVE the look of the silver velour but mine have just gotten so dull looking and they are now more of a brown/bronze color than silver now. They are also really flat and deformed as well, they don't seal to my head very well anymore.

I don't think I could ever replace these headphones, they sound great for what I like and you could probably wear them for days straight and not even notice they are there.

[The Mad Professor]

I just bought a pair of Blaupunkt BPA-402NCs. Loving the noise cancelling, but what I loved most was that I got them at 2/3rds the retail price (gotta love Microcenter's price matching). They also come with detachable cables (3.5mm jacks) and it has two. One regular, and one with an inline mic.

I had a pair of Creative Aurvana Live! headphones (which I adored, as they were perfect and perfectly affordable for my favorite types of music), but they broke.

[byker]

Just ordered some replacement velour pads for my dt770s. The $30 was kinda tough to do but when you consider I have around 1000-1500 hours use on these in just a year the replacements were long overdue. I went with a set of black velour instead of the silver.

I LOVE the look of the silver velour but mine have just gotten so dull looking and they are now more of a brown/bronze color than silver now. They are also really flat and deformed as well, they don't seal to my head very well anymore.

I don't think I could ever replace these headphones, they sound great for what I like and you could probably wear them for days straight and not even notice they are there.

Nice, where did you order them from? Now that I think about it, I should look into getting some new velour pads for my 990s.

[HPE1000]

Just ordered some replacement velour pads for my dt770s. The $30 was kinda tough to do but when you consider I have around 1000-1500 hours use on these in just a year the replacements were long overdue. I went with a set of black velour instead of the silver.

I LOVE the look of the silver velour but mine have just gotten so dull looking and they are now more of a brown/bronze color than silver now. They are also really flat and deformed as well, they don't seal to my head very well anymore.

I don't think I could ever replace these headphones, they sound great for what I like and you could probably wear them for days straight and not even notice they are there.

Nice, where did you order them from? Now that I think about it, I should look into getting some new velour pads for my 990s.

I got em off amazon, I will take some pictures of them when they show up wednesday. (As well as the super old ones lel, they are super disgusting)

I will also give the headphones a thorough cleaning as they are kinda disgusting as well.

I think they were $5 off compared to the silver ones so that was just a bonus.

I might try to fix up the old pads but I heard you just cannot wash/clean velour.

[byker]

Just ordered some replacement velour pads for my dt770s. The $30 was kinda tough to do but when you consider I have around 1000-1500 hours use on these in just a year the replacements were long overdue. I went with a set of black velour instead of the silver.

I LOVE the look of the silver velour but mine have just gotten so dull looking and they are now more of a brown/bronze color than silver now. They are also really flat and deformed as well, they don't seal to my head very well anymore.

I don't think I could ever replace these headphones, they sound great for what I like and you could probably wear them for days straight and not even notice they are there.

Nice, where did you order them from? Now that I think about it, I should look into getting some new velour pads for my 990s.

I got em off amazon, I will take some pictures of them when they show up wednesday. (As well as the super old ones lel, they are super disgusting)

I will also give the headphones a thorough cleaning as they are kinda disgusting as well.

I think they were $5 off compared to the silver ones so that was just a bonus.

I might try to fix up the old pads but I heard you just cannot wash/clean velour.

Sounds good, I don't think I have seen the black velour ones before!

[a_ak57]

I've kinda been out of the headphone loop for a bit, what's all the rage these days?  Last time I paid attention it seemed the HP100s were the in-thing and there were some 3D-printed headphones from MrSpeakers that people were excited about.

[tjcaustin]

People are still excited about Alpha Dogs and he just released a new version that costs $1000.  Also, there's the he400i and he560 from hifiman, the oppo pm1/2/3 and ha-1/2, the sony mdr-z7 and I'm sure other things I'm forgetting.

[Binge]

Pretty much enamoured with my HE-560s still. 

[a_ak57]

You know, I'm actually rather glad I never committed to the audiophile thing and topped out at buying stuff like the Mad Dogs (have one of the earlier alpha pad versions).  I'd be in a world of hurt if I actually dove into the $500-1000+ stuff given how prone I am to wanting to try stuff out and how reluctant I am to sell. 

[GL1TCH3D]

You know, I'm actually rather glad I never committed to the audiophile thing and topped out at buying stuff like the Mad Dogs (have one of the earlier alpha pad versions).  I'd be in a world of hurt if I actually dove into the $500-1000+ stuff given how prone I am to wanting to try stuff out and how reluctant I am to sell.

Ah, luckily I have no problem selling xD

I go through $1000 headphones like candy

I owned the Alpha Dogs less than a month.

HE6 for less than 2 weeks.

Etc

[MythicalWagyu]

Pretty much enamoured with my HE-560s still. 

I looked up the price on Amazon  I bet they sound amazing!

[GL1TCH3D]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

[tjcaustin]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

[GL1TCH3D]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

I actually talked to him about that last night =S

He told me that he ended up not caring so much about the artwork done because he completely forgets about them after he puts them in his ears =S (Or something of that nature)

[Binge]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

I actually talked to him about that last night =S

He told me that he ended up not caring so much about the artwork done because he completely forgets about them after he puts them in his ears =S (Or something of that nature)

Tis true!

[GL1TCH3D]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

I actually talked to him about that last night =S

He told me that he ended up not caring so much about the artwork done because he completely forgets about them after he puts them in his ears =S (Or something of that nature)

Tis true!

That was the main thing that I was worried about mostly because it's a completely lost investment along with the remolding costs and impressions and shipping. There's no way to ever get that money back because the next owner would have to buy the artwork again. (And someone can just pay for the reprint flatout)

[Binge]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

I actually talked to him about that last night =S

He told me that he ended up not caring so much about the artwork done because he completely forgets about them after he puts them in his ears =S (Or something of that nature)

Tis true!

That was the main thing that I was worried about mostly because it's a completely lost investment along with the remolding costs and impressions and shipping. There's no way to ever get that money back because the next owner would have to buy the artwork again. (And someone can just pay for the reprint flatout)

You wouldn't be wrong man.  I intend to keep these for life.  They will not go 2nd hand.  I still miss the money it cost for the design.

[GL1TCH3D]

Just got my impressions done =0

Gotta send them to Noble =]

Wondering if the wizard design is worthwhile =S

I think binge thinks so.  Their CS is better than any of the others I've dealt with, though.

I actually talked to him about that last night =S

He told me that he ended up not caring so much about the artwork done because he completely forgets about them after he puts them in his ears =S (Or something of that nature)

Tis true!

That was the main thing that I was worried about mostly because it's a completely lost investment along with the remolding costs and impressions and shipping. There's no way to ever get that money back because the next owner would have to buy the artwork again. (And someone can just pay for the reprint flatout)

You wouldn't be wrong man.  I intend to keep these for life.  They will not go 2nd hand.  I still miss the money it cost for the design.

Yea... $400 is a GoN keyboard which is quite a bit in this hobby xD

OR a few nice fountain pens....

Or even an upgrade from my AK120 to the AK120mk2

[Binge]

Yea... $400 is a GoN keyboard which is quite a bit in this hobby xD

OR a few nice fountain pens....

Or even an upgrade from my AK120 to the AK120mk2

Half a mortgage payment etc etc

[The Mad Professor]

I just bought a pair of Blaupunkt BPA-402NCs. Loving the noise cancelling, but what I loved most was that I got them at 2/3rds the retail price (gotta love Microcenter's price matching). They also come with detachable cables (3.5mm jacks) and it has two. One regular, and one with an inline mic.

I had a pair of Creative Aurvana Live! headphones (which I adored, as they were perfect and perfectly affordable for my favorite types of music), but they broke.

Update: After listening to music on these headphones for a day, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that these things suck donkey balls. My $15 ear buds are better quality. The lows and mids drown out the highs to the point where it isn't even audible.

0/10 Would NOT recommend.

[HPE1000]

Finally, new earpads. Not sure what to say, bass seems a bit better. The old ones were so flat and compressed I guess that had something to do with it.




Really liking the black, would have been pretty cool if they could have made the black ones have that sort of metallic look the silver ones have.

[blackbox]

Finally, new earpads. Not sure what to say, bass seems a bit better. The old ones were so flat and compressed I guess that had something to do with it.

Show Image

Show Image

Really liking the black, would have been pretty cool if they could have made the black ones have that sort of metallic look the silver ones have.

Beatiful pictures. How long have you had them? They look beatiful. Mine (I dont use them now) have almost no paint on the label left.

I do think that the bass is better because of how well the new one seals around your ear compared to the old one. That have a big effect on the bass. 

[davkol]

Why would the paint go off? My DT990s are *23-year-old* (yes, I'm not kidding) and look like new except cushion.

[blackbox]

Why would the paint go off? My DT990s are *23-year-old* (yes, I'm not kidding) and look like new except cushion.

well at my oldest dt770 its almost no paint (8 years). Just regular wear.

[HPE1000]

The paint is coming off just a bit in some places, but nothing crazy. I have had them for a little over a year now I think.

[noisyturtle]

[Moosecraft]

(Attachment Link)

Hahahahaha, so funny 

[azhdar]

Considering buying an audio technica ath-m50 , but my library is only mp3 and it will be used without an AMP or onto my ipod .
It would be wasting money right ? (using a siberia for the moment ) .

[sobe]

Considering buying an audio technica ath-m50 , but my library is only mp3 and it will be used without an AMP or onto my ipod .
It would be wasting money right ? (using a siberia for the moment ) .

My opinion, but for that price you could just grab a pair of NVX XPT100 or Creative Aurvana Live!, which IMO offer more for the price than M50's (IMO overhyped, but their build quality is like a tank). They do not need an amp though, so just fine for mobile listening

[GL1TCH3D]

Considering buying an audio technica ath-m50 , but my library is only mp3 and it will be used without an AMP or onto my ipod .
It would be wasting money right ? (using a siberia for the moment ) .

M50s are in a weird spot right now

They're decent for the price but there are definitely other options to consider. They're not those end game headphones that a lot of headfier put them out to be

[azhdar]

Any recommendation for a 150-200$ that wouldn't need AMP ?

[Binge]

Any recommendation for a 150-200$ that wouldn't need AMP ?

NVX XPT100

[domoaligato]

anyone here have both ad700 and hd598's and play fps games?
 I have the ad700's and am wondering if the hd598's have comparable soundstage.

[radio_killah]

anyone here have both ad700 and hd598's and play fps games?
 I have the ad700's and am wondering if the hd598's have comparable soundstage.

Had a friend with the ad700's and they were pretty good but I felt like the HD598's (the pair I own), slightly edged them out. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

[byker]

Any recommendation for a 150-200$ that wouldn't need AMP ?

Open or closed? Beyerdynamic DT770 or 990s, 80 ohm.

[radio_killah]

Any recommendation for a 150-200$ that wouldn't need AMP ?

Open or closed? Beyerdynamic DT770 or 990s, 80 ohm.

Well seeing as it is for mobile applications probably closed.

[HPE1000]

I don't really think the dt770 is meant to be a mobile oriented device, even if you get the 32 ohms lol (They are rather large)

[radio_killah]

I don't really think the dt770 is meant to be a mobile oriented device, even if you get the 32 ohms lol (They are rather large)

True but people do it anyway

[Binge]

I don't really think the dt770 is meant to be a mobile oriented device, even if you get the 32 ohms lol (They are rather large)

True but people do it anyway

For mobile?  I'd seriously consider the vmoda XS or crossfade m-80

[byker]

Any recommendation for a 150-200$ that wouldn't need AMP ?

Open or closed? Beyerdynamic DT770 or 990s, 80 ohm.

Well seeing as it is for mobile applications probably closed.

Didn't see the mobile application listed anywhere, if so, I would still recommend the 32ohm 770s if you have a large head and want something comfortable, and can put up with having a larger headphone.

For smaller, I would prefer iems myself, or something like the vmoda XS like binge said.

[domoaligato]

anyone here have both ad700 and hd598's and play fps games?
 I have the ad700's and am wondering if the hd598's have comparable soundstage.

Had a friend with the ad700's and they were pretty good but I felt like the HD598's (the pair I own), slightly edged them out. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

I already have the ad700's and was curious if the soundstage on the hd598's is comparable as the ad700's are not very comfy on my head.

[radio_killah]

anyone here have both ad700 and hd598's and play fps games?
 I have the ad700's and am wondering if the hd598's have comparable soundstage.

Had a friend with the ad700's and they were pretty good but I felt like the HD598's (the pair I own), slightly edged them out. I don't think you could go wrong with either.

I already have the ad700's and was curious if the soundstage on the hd598's is comparable as the ad700's are not very comfy on my head.

I would say they are on par or better. But if the AD700 are uncomfortable then the HD598s should be a huge step up in comfort!

[azhdar]

Thank you for the recommendation I'll look into what you suggested

[Freebird]

Hi guys, hopefully someone can give me some help as you lot seem to be massively into your audio setups!

I have some Sennheiser HD555's and PC350SE's that I use (mainly the PC350SE's as I am generally gaming a lot). Would an amp/DAC be something I should think about buying to get the most out of these cans or is it not really going to make a vast difference?

I would like to enhance my audio experience but if a dac/amp isn't going to really do much, then I guess new higher end cans is where I should be looking to invest?

Cheers in advance

Thanks for the advice!

What I have decided to do is order an Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2Di, I will use my HD555's (with 595 mod) along with my PC350SE's and see if I noticed much difference initially. I then intend on purchasing a much nicer set of cans, I have yet to work out what price range I am prepared to go up to. I was thinking maybe some HD650's or something, I however would like some suggestions for other "decent" cans.

I can't think of anywhere near to me that sells decent headphones in abundance to be able to go and listen to them and see what I prefer, so I will have to go purely off reviews and recommendations.

Is there any particular headphones that pair really well with the EHP-O2Di? I can pick up a pair of HD650's for about £250 on Amazon UK which seems pretty cheap. I have always liked brands like Grado and Beyerdynamic. Any of you guys with superior knowledge please help a newbie out! I am not ready for spending thousands upon thousands for an audio solution but I would like to attempt a decent bang for buck scenario. Thanks

Both will see a boost yes, but your HD555's will see a very very minimal.... Whereas your PC350's use the HD595 drivers and will offer a better experience when amped. If you are interested in going with higher end anyway, what you can do is go ahead and purchase a good amp/dac and if you want MORE than just what your PC350 can provide, simply buy a better set of cans to pair with the amp you bought

[GL1TCH3D]

Off topic but would be really helpful to get some responses:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TMS6DQ9

Survey Regarding differences between audiophile and celebrity headphones for a short class presentation.
Thanks to any people that fill it out!

[Binge]

Off topic but would be really helpful to get some responses:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TMS6DQ9

Survey Regarding differences between audiophile and celebrity headphones for a short class presentation.
Thanks to any people that fill it out!

This thing is waaayyy too broad, and frankly I don't know of any prominent celebrity branded headphones under $100.  In every category I could pick an "audiophile" headphone that is not celebrity branded that is great and fun to listen to.  Sorry mate I can't completely fill it out :-/

[GL1TCH3D]

Off topic but would be really helpful to get some responses:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TMS6DQ9

Survey Regarding differences between audiophile and celebrity headphones for a short class presentation.
Thanks to any people that fill it out!

This thing is waaayyy too broad, and frankly I don't know of any prominent celebrity branded headphones under $100.  In every category I could pick an "audiophile" headphone that is not celebrity branded that is great and fun to listen to.  Sorry mate I can't completely fill it out :-/

Thanks
I'll look over it in about an hour to simplify it and narrow it down