• The Headphone Buying Guide V2
    2,727 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Odellus;33896610]obvious question is: why are you trying to use an amp with the htf600s[/QUOTE] Because I have a real low power mp3 player and because it was cheap. I don't understand why it makes the sound WORSE, I would've expected no change if the player really was powerful enough.
[QUOTE=windwakr;33908699]Looking to get a pair of headphones, I'm sick of the pieces of shit I currently use(Ones that came with a $10 portable CD player). Been looking at Sony MDR-XD200 and Sennheiser HD 202. Which should I get? Or is there another pair that would be better? I know next to nothing about headphones. Just looking to spend under $30.[/QUOTE] I have a pair of Koss KSC75, currently $14.99 + 2.99 shipping at Newegg. [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106720]link[/url] I can tell you these sound very good. It's a huge step up from Apple earbud quality sound. However the reason such great sound is at such low cost is build quality- it's pretty low. After a about a year the wire in one speaker got glitchy. So I recabled them myself. It came out better than before but you'll need a soldering iron. Also, the little plastic socket that holds the speaker to the ear clip tends to loosen so they pop off if you tug on them accidentally. No big deal but can be annoying sometimes. You will NOT get better sound for under $30 though, I guarantee that. edit: They have a lifetime no questions asked guarantee, but it costs $9 in shipping charges, which is why I recabled them myself.
I'm curious to see if I made a terrible decision by buying a pair of G35 Logitech Headphones.
The ad blurb for those G35s on Newegg says "With the included software, change the pitch and timbre of your voice using one of six presets that can morph your voice to a Troll, Mutant, Alien, Giant, Cyborg, or Space Squirrel" It would be hilarious if they changed that to "morph your voice to any of six types of squirrels: Troll squirrel, Mutant squirrel, Alien squirrel, Giant squirrel, Cyborg squirrel, or Tree squirrel." Imagine all the squirrel voices while the game is on.
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;33913080]The ad blurb for those G35s on Newegg says "With the included software, change the pitch and timbre of your voice using one of six presets that can morph your voice to a Troll, Mutant, Alien, Giant, Cyborg, or Space Squirrel" It would be hilarious if they changed that to "morph your voice to any of six types of squirrels: Troll squirrel, Mutant squirrel, Alien squirrel, Giant squirrel, Cyborg squirrel, or Tree squirrel." Imagine all the squirrel voices while the game is on.[/QUOTE] No chance in hell am I going to really be using that software for anything other then potentially required installation before using them. I'm just looking for a good pair of headphones with volume control and is available at the local stores. My choice was either these, some $19.99 gamecons or the Razer Carcharias. From what I've heard of Razers, I was left with the Logitech.
[QUOTE=Canuhearmenow;33912650]I'm curious to see if I made a terrible decision by buying a pair of G35 Logitech Headphones.[/QUOTE] Well, not [I]terrible[/I]. But you really overpaid for something really average. A year from now and chances are they'll already be worn to the point of breaking. The 5.1/7.1 feature really adds nothing to it, as it's so artificial and doesn't work nearly as well as real ones. Why didn't you read my post on the last page?
The problem is the surround sound. There are several cheap drivers in there that just cannot live up to the sound of two quality stereo drivers.
[QUOTE=Protocol7;33916655]The problem is the surround sound. There are several cheap drivers in there that just cannot live up to the sound of two quality stereo drivers.[/QUOTE] Dolby's surround sound system is nothing more than their attempt at a soundstage with a fancy name. The soundstage in the G35 is virtually non-existant, and putting a few poor quality speakers/drivers right next to your ear does not create anywhere near a good soundstage. [editline]27th December 2011[/editline] Something else. Do you guys hear a very light crackle everytime the bass drum (or whatever it's called) hits? [url]http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Main-Title-Theme-Pacific/dp/B003A935IW[/url]
[QUOTE=Odellus]why would you not get ad700s those "3d wings" make them and the A700s some of the most comfortable headphones you can buy [/QUOTE] It's not the look of them that bothers me, I don't care about aesthetics compared to durability. I've seen them in use on youtube and the reviewer demonstrated how easily it is for them to fly off your head. I'm sure they're prolly the most comfy since they don't sit so snug on your head but I've got a gal living with me that's always gonna be getting my attention and I have a tendency to swing my head around real fast or pull a phone off one ear to hear what she's saying. Knowing this, I may end up breaking these and never forgive myself. Plus, I've heard it has almost no bass from every reviewer. I don't really care about having powerful bass response, I mostly play games and watch movies, but when people specifically emphasize that this pair almost literally has no bass that's a deal-sinker. [QUOTE=DarkWolf2]The only thing they lack is bass. Not that that's a big issue, but if you like something thumping or listen to bass heavy songs, these aren't really the right headphones for the job. I'd say, if you don't want the AD700s, look at the Sennheiser's 5xx series, specifically the 555 for your budget. I think they may suit you, seeing as you had good experiences with the brand before, and that they're super comfy (velour pads, over the ear, open air) and quite light. They aren't portable, and due to the open air design they leak in and out quite a bit of sound. Which is better is a bit more opinion based. Closed cans enjoy features like superior isolation, usually more pronounced bass, and the feeling that you're right in the center of the music. Open air headphones let the air vibrate around the driver from the outside, giving them a more airy charactaristic with a superior soundstage/sound seperation, increased clarity, better accuracy, reducing resonance and overall better comfort. Should you choose for open headphones, you'll most likely have to get used a bit to the sound open headphones produce, as most low-end headphones are of closed design and most high-ends are open. Personally however, I found it [I]well[/I] worth it. In the end, it's the way you're planning on using your headphones. Want portable, isolating headphones for on the go? Go for closed ones. Looking for comfortable headphones for use in your own home whilst alone or people that don't mind a bit of leakage? Go for open ones. Here's a short article talking about Open VS Closed design and their merits, and a video giving an impression of how much open headphones leak. [url]http://headphones.com.au/blog/open-vs-closed-headphones[/url] [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uafYNCrPFrs[/url][/QUOTE] Thanks for the advise, man! Unfortunately the HD555s are out of my price range as they are around $170. They look absolutely fantastic though. Maybe I should go for the 518s?
[QUOTE=FutureFilmmaker;33917624]Thanks for the advise, man! Unfortunately the HD555s are out of my price range as they are around $170. They look absolutely fantastic though. Maybe I should go for the 518s?[/QUOTE] Done some digging for you. Stretch your budget a little bit and consider this: [url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Sennheiser-HD-555-Audiophile-Headphones-/330552430768?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf675d0b0[/url] They're situated in Glendale, CA, but you'll get free shipping.
Yeah, I spotted those and it is quite tempting to just pay for half of it and either get those or just go full out with a 558. Either of those models look fantastic and like they'll last me for years and years. Now, I'm going to discuss with the ladyfriend and ask if it will bother her at all if some sound leaks. If it happens that she doesn't want to hear anything I'm listening to, what would I be looking for closed ear wise?
[QUOTE=DarkWolf2;33916610]Well, not [I]terrible[/I]. But you really overpaid for something really average. A year from now and chances are they'll already be worn to the point of breaking. The 5.1/7.1 feature really adds nothing to it, as it's so artificial and doesn't work nearly as well as real ones. Why didn't you read my post on the last page?[/QUOTE] I agree it was kind of stupid to buy a headset when headphones would be a superior product, but you're talking to a guy who's "greatest pair of headphones ever" were Razer Barracudas (which I've heard from later reviews as being poor quality.) My standards are not particularly high.
Just got a pair of 558's, for anyone that wears glasses I can tell you right now that you can wear them all day and not feel a thing, they're excellent. When I got the box from Amazon I said wtf is this box empty?
FIIO E10 worth it for £60? Need a desk DAC and headphone amp, my onboard sound is annoyingly noisy (Buzzing sound).
[QUOTE=ejonkou;33903333]Budget: 150-200€ eBay: No Country: Sweden Isolation: ? Purpose: Pretty even between Gaming, Music & Skype Music Tastes: Rock, Country, Dubstep. Previous Experiences: Siberia V2 Comments: Doesnt need a microphone.[/QUOTE] Re-posting. Need help.
[QUOTE=Xera;33920376]FIIO E10 worth it for £60? Need a desk DAC and headphone amp, my onboard sound is annoyingly noisy (Buzzing sound).[/QUOTE] This makes me think, should I keep my Xonar DG (amp not on) and FiiO E9, or would E10 (through USB, of course) improve the sound?
[QUOTE=Akasori;33920844]This makes me think, should I keep my Xonar DG (amp not on) and FiiO E9, or would E10 (through USB, of course) improve the sound?[/QUOTE] Well in theory you'd avoid all the interference coming from components in your case.
[QUOTE=Xera;33920376]FIIO E10 worth it for £60? Need a desk DAC and headphone amp, my onboard sound is annoyingly noisy (Buzzing sound).[/QUOTE] Depends. What headphones do you have? [editline]27th December 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Akasori;33920844]This makes me think, should I keep my Xonar DG (amp not on) and FiiO E9, or would E10 (through USB, of course) improve the sound?[/QUOTE] I don't think you'll get a huge boost. I think you'll benefit most from docking an E7 on the E9.
[QUOTE=DarkWolf2;33921553]I don't think you'll get a huge boost. I think you'll benefit most from docking an E7 on the E9.[/QUOTE] That would cost too much. [editline]27th December 2011[/editline] I wish there was an easy way to compare the sound through the intergrated sound card and Xonar DG, both with FiiO E9 and without.
[QUOTE=DarkWolf2;33921553]Depends. What headphones do you have?[/QUOTE] ATH-M50
[b]Budget:[/b] ~£20 [b]eBay:[/b] No thanks [b]Country:[/b] England [b]Isolation:[/b] If possible [b]Purpose:[/b] General listening at desktop, Portable devices - Gaming, Skype, Music [b]Music Tastes:[/b] I end up listening to almost anything - Primarily indie, rock, dubstep, electronica [b]Previous Experiences:[/b] Argos value range headset (~£7) :v: [b]Comments:[/b] I do not have a dedicated sound card or any of the sorts, I simply am looking for a decent headset with good sound quality (especially bass), that can also be used well with portable products, e.g. iPhone (Also, I had been previously look at the [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0007XJSQC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_g23_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=10WFN8HV1RND1050K9Q2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128293&pf_rd_i=468294]Sennheiser HD201's[/url], any good?) Also if anyone has any decent mic's to go with this they can suggest at ~£10, then go ahead please :)
[QUOTE=Xera;33921767]ATH-M50[/QUOTE] Just to be clear: Amps gives extra power to headphones. They're essential for headphones with high impedance (Ohms) as the higher it is, the harder it becomes to move the driver. DACs convert sound from a digital signal to an analogue one ([B]D[/B]igital to [B]A[/B]nalogue [B]C[/B]onverter). To have sound coming through your speakers you'll always need a DAC, but having a dedicated one generally results in better sound, put simply. The M50 is one of the few headphones that won't benefit a lot from an amp, but having a DAC always helps. I'm considering getting the FiiO E10 as well, as the bang for buck cannot be beaten if you can find it for less than 100 dollars. [editline]27th December 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=xomaxhox;33921903][b]Budget:[/b] ~£20 [b]eBay:[/b] No thanks [b]Country:[/b] England [b]Isolation:[/b] If possible [b]Purpose:[/b] General listening at desktop, Portable devices - Gaming, Skype, Music [b]Music Tastes:[/b] I end up listening to almost anything - Primarily indie, rock, dubstep, electronica [b]Previous Experiences:[/b] Argos value range headset (~£7) :v: [b]Comments:[/b] I do not have a dedicated sound card or any of the sorts, I simply am looking for a decent headset with good sound quality (especially bass), that can also be used well with portable products, e.g. iPhone (Also, I had been previously look at the [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0007XJSQC/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_g23_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-5&pf_rd_r=10WFN8HV1RND1050K9Q2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128293&pf_rd_i=468294]Sennheiser HD201's[/url], any good?) Also if anyone has any decent mic's to go with this they can suggest at ~£10, then go ahead please :)[/QUOTE] The 201's from Sennheiser or the Koss KSC75 would suit your budget, I think. As for a microphone: [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325013264&sr=8-1[/url] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vICTt1WZhHw&feature=player_embedded[/media]
Alright, I finally did some testing. Results: Integrated card: Not enough power for my headphones, volume too low. (with amplifier): More volume, but still not enough. At 100% it's only at the volume I usually listen to music. Xonar DG: Sounds better and more power. What else can I say? (with amplifier): This gets loud, while volume is 100% on computer I usually keep it around 20-30% on the amplifier. Depends on the song. Also, highs and lows are improved by a lot. Since the Xonar DG provides clear sound I guess I don't need a USB DAC.
[QUOTE=Akasori;33922108]Alright, I finally did some testing. Results: Integrated card: Not enough power for my headphones, volume too low. (with amplifier): More volume, but still not enough. At 100% it's only at the volume I usually listen to music. Xonar DG: Sounds better and more power. What else can I say? (with amplifier): This gets loud, while volume is 100% on computer I usually keep it around 20-30% on the amplifier. Depends on the song. Also, highs and lows are improved by a lot. Since the Xonar DG provides clear sound I guess I don't need a USB DAC.[/QUOTE] What headphones do you have?
[QUOTE=Akasori;33922108]Alright, I finally did some testing. Results: Integrated card: Not enough power for my headphones, volume too low. (with amplifier): More volume, but still not enough. At 100% it's only at the volume I usually listen to music. Xonar DG: Sounds better and more power. What else can I say? (with amplifier): This gets loud, while volume is 100% on computer I usually keep it around 20-30% on the amplifier. Depends on the song. Also, highs and lows are improved by a lot. Since the Xonar DG provides clear sound I guess I don't need a USB DAC.[/QUOTE] what headphones
Oh, right... My headphones are AKG K 240 MK II. I'm sure they deserve better but that's all I have.
[QUOTE=Akasori;33922366]Oh, right... My headphones are AKG K 240 MK II. I'm sure they deserve better but that's all I have.[/QUOTE] 55 ohms or 600? If the former, I have no idea why you have trouble driving them from an onboard. If the latter, the DG is a bit under what it requires really.
Can someone recommend me a headphone amp? $50-100. And supports 6.2mm audio jack. Thanks
[QUOTE=Daddy_Waffle;33922533]Can someone recommend me a headphone amp? $50-100. And supports 6.2mm audio jack. Thanks[/QUOTE] The FiiO E9 would suit your needs. [url]http://www.head-fi.org/t/521680/fiio-e9-review[/url] If you stretch your budget a bit then you may consider getting it from here [url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-FiiO-E9-Desktop-Headphone-Amplifier-and-Dock-E7-USB-DAC-/260901702547?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cbef40b93[/url]
-snip- What?
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