• The Headphone Buying Guide V2
    2,727 replies, posted
I need to get a pair of Fischer Audio FA-004s for portable use, they look so glorious. [img]http://puu.sh/eDPe[/img]
[QUOTE=Weltmeister;34396880]So anyone, I still need a good soundcard in the 50 dollar range that would compliment some ATH-M50's. I'd prefer PCI-E x1. Suggestions? [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102017[/url] I would personally not consider getting it, because it runs on a different chip that the rest of the brand. It's actually an enhanced Audigy 2 I think.
[QUOTE=Weltmeister;34396880]So anyone, I still need a good soundcard in the 50 dollar range that would compliment some ATH-M50's. I'd prefer PCI-E x1. Suggestions?[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10-USB-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005VO7LG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327600074&sr=8-1[/url] If you can spend the extra, well worth it.
[QUOTE=Silikone;34400880][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102017[/url] I would personally not consider getting it, because it runs on a different chip that the rest of the brand. It's actually an enhanced Audigy 2 I think.[/QUOTE] It's been a while since I read up on it, but yeah the 'audio' X-fi's are not great. They are missing the hardware DSP I think it was. So some stuff they are okay for, but a lot of important things are done in software which is not ideal. Bottomline, if you can't afford a 'real' X-fi then you should be buying something much less expensive. A real X-fi is going to be `$80 or more new. Nothing in the $50 range is worth it. So I'd look for either the Asus DG, which is sometimes on sale at Newegg for $15 counting a $10 rebate, or a used Audigy. Basically the used Audigy will give you the same capabilities as the "Audio" X-fi.
Why not just get a proper DAC/AMP like the one I posted? Can't see a reason to get a sound card over that unless having an iPhone sized amp on your desk is not an option. Ofcourse if money is tight he can always get a Xonar DG or something similar but don't expect miracles.
Anyone here got the Mee-electrics M31?
[QUOTE=David Tennant;34401663]Why not just get a proper DAC/AMP like the one I posted? Can't see a reason to get a sound card over that unless having an iPhone sized amp on your desk is not an option. Ofcourse if money is tight he can always get a Xonar DG or something similar but don't expect miracles.[/QUOTE] My suggestion was for someone who is specifically needing a soundcard. Also, I want to clarify that an X-fi 'audio' card will be an improvement over onboard audio, but not $50 worth of improvement. The Asus DG would actually be better, for headphone users, and it's cheaper even without a rebate sale.
[QUOTE=David Tennant;34401663]Why not just get a proper DAC/AMP like the one I posted? Can't see a reason to get a sound card over that unless having an iPhone sized amp on your desk is not an option. Ofcourse if money is tight he can always get a Xonar DG or something similar but don't expect miracles.[/QUOTE] But the E10 isn't going to actually help that his sound card is shit, and is ergo outputting shit.
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;34401611]It's been a while since I read up on it, but yeah the 'audio' X-fi's are not great. They are missing the hardware DSP I think it was. So some stuff they are okay for, but a lot of important things are done in software which is not ideal. Bottomline, if you can't afford a 'real' X-fi then you should be buying something much less expensive. A real X-fi is going to be `$80 or more new. Nothing in the $50 range is worth it. So I'd look for either the Asus DG, which is sometimes on sale at Newegg for $15 counting a $10 rebate, or a used Audigy. Basically the used Audigy will give you the same capabilities as the "Audio" X-fi.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006&Tpk=xtremegamer[/url] [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Chubbs;34402890]But the E10 isn't going to actually help that his sound card is shit, and is ergo outputting shit.[/QUOTE] soundcard is basically a dac/amp combo made for internal use
[QUOTE=Chubbs;34402890]But the E10 isn't going to actually help that his sound card is shit, and is ergo outputting shit.[/QUOTE] The E10 replaces the internal soundcard.
[QUOTE=Odellus;34403106][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006&Tpk=xtremegamer[/url] [/QUOTE] Those three-channel outputs are retarded. Custom jacks must be used for surround.
hey guys, my friend is looking to buy a new pair of in-ear headphones, under £35 and preferably nice looking because he's a fashionable guy any recommendations?
basshead or detail freak [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Silikone;34403745]Those three-channel outputs are retarded. Custom jacks must be used for surround.[/QUOTE] it costs $50
[QUOTE=Odellus;34404209]basshead or detail freak [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] it costs $50[/QUOTE] dunno, just a general walking around and listening to music [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] but im sure he'd appreciate bass more
Why would you need IEMs to look good? No-one sees them.
[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViSang-VS-R03-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/dp/B005G7QMI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327613126&sr=8-1[/url] [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/MEElectronics-Balanced-Armature-Headphone-Colour/dp/B004OBZ2XQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327613297&sr=1-1[/url] I highly recommend the 151s
[QUOTE=David Tennant;34404275]Why would you need IEMs to look good? No-one sees them.[/QUOTE] you know, the cord and everything, I dunno he wants them to look nice [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Odellus;34404296][url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViSang-VS-R03-Isolation-Ear-Buds-Earphones/dp/B005G7QMI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327613126&sr=8-1[/url][/QUOTE] thanks :) [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] anything a bit cheaper? those go slightly over budget also he said he wants something a tad more colourful/fashion-y (like skullcandy)
the shipping is 5 gbp, if he wants fashion tell him to get some more money because it costs [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] and wtf those are extremely fashionable, skullcandies are tacky as shit
[QUOTE=Odellus;34404427]the shipping is 5 gbp, if he wants fashion tell him to get some more money because it costs[/QUOTE] ah okay, do you know much about House of Marley headphones? They look pretty nice and a friend of mine has a pair and says they're good (but I don't know how much he knows about headphones): [url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Marley-Smile-Jamaica-Headphones/dp/B005FO2CZ2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top[/url]
They're not as good and they look worse in my opinion.
never heard of them does your friend actually think that looks good? something tells me if he does he probably doesn't even care about sq and couldn't tell the difference between stock ipod buds and ck100s
you're probably right, he won't really be able to tell the difference his current choice is skullcandy's, I told him I'd find him something better should he just go with them then?
depends, at my school people look down on skullcandy-anything, if they don't he can go with these [url]http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-Earbuds-S2INCB-008-Black-Chrome/dp/B00456NY7G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1327614107&sr=8-4[/url] they're actually fairly decent for how much they cost and imo they look semi-stylish, with the only horrible thing about it being the retarded logo
[QUOTE=Odellus;34404587]depends, at my school people look down on skullcandy-anything, if they don't he can go with these [url]http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-Earbuds-S2INCB-008-Black-Chrome/dp/B00456NY7G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1327614107&sr=8-4[/url] they're actually fairly decent for how much they cost and imo they look semi-stylish, with the only horrible thing about it being the retarded logo[/QUOTE] ah most people here don't know that much about tech - they just buy whatever everyone else buys and everyone else buys whatever has a label on it thanks for the recommendation
How are these? They are on sale. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106574[/url]
What about this soundcard, since everyone seemed to dispute everyone with previous suggestions. [url]http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Channel-Sound-Card-XONAR_DG/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327618199&sr=8-1[/url] Also, how big is the soundstage on the M50's? Good enough to play videogames I'd hope?
[QUOTE=Weltmeister;34405768]What about this soundcard, since everyone seemed to dispute everyone with previous suggestions. [url]http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Channel-Sound-Card-XONAR_DG/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327618199&sr=8-1[/url] Also, how big is the soundstage on the M50's? Good enough to play videogames I'd hope?[/QUOTE] pretty small, they're okay for gaming [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] the dg is just the asus version of the x-fi xtremegamer [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=.enasnI;34405176]How are these? They are on sale. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106574[/url][/QUOTE] fucking awesome deal, in fact it's so good I'm buying them right now [editline]26th January 2012[/editline] nevermind they're pretty bad for bassier electronica
[QUOTE=Weltmeister;34405768]What about this soundcard, since everyone seemed to dispute everyone with previous suggestions. [url]http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Channel-Sound-Card-XONAR_DG/dp/B0045JHJSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327618199&sr=8-1[/url] Also, how big is the soundstage on the M50's? Good enough to play videogames I'd hope?[/QUOTE] With the special headphone amp it has, that's the soundcard I'd buy for music listening if I was going to buy a NEW soundcard. That amp is rated to power headphones up to 300ohm impedance, so if you have a high end headphone or get one in the future you won't have to invest in a portable amp. However, if you have a normal impedance headphone and don't plan to upgrade, or have needs beside music playback, or might want to invest in a portable amp/DAC anyways to use with a phone/ipad/ipod, then the DG is not necessarily better than any other soundcard.
[QUOTE=C0linSSX;34377466]So I ended up buying the ATH-M50s like I was recommended to. All I can say is that I'm in no fit state to elaborate on my opinions, because I need to clean my keyboard before I can type anything. If this is what they sound like before burn-in then I can't wait to burn them in.[/QUOTE] Alright, it's been 2 days since I got them so I think it's about time I elaborate on my opinions a bit. You could consider this a review, but I'm pretty-much a complete amateur when it comes to headphones so unless you're coming from the same position I'd take this with a grain of salt. [highlight]INCOMING MASSIVE WALL OF TEXT[/highlight] [thumb]http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/1800/ATHM50-xlarge.jpg[/thumb] [release][b]OVERVIEW[/b] Audio Technica's ATH-M50 headphones are supposed to be the absolute best in their price bracket of $100-$150 (although the list price is $200), if not the best headphones under $250 or even more. The most commonly cited pro is the frequency response, which is said to be very flat and properly-representative of all sounds from very low bass to piercing treble. In addition, they are said to be portable and durable, as well as comfortable no matter what your head size or shape is. I had heard nothing but rave reviews for these things, and was already in the market for studio monitoring headphones, so I bit the bullet and bought them at the advision of Odellus. Do they stand up to the test? Let's find out.[/release] [release][b]BUILD QUALITY[/b] The M50s are indeed a nicely put-together pair of headphones. The cable is flexible, durable, and long enough to reach about 6 feet. In addition, it's coiled, so if you're listening to music from a device in your pocket you need not worry about dangling cables. The plug is well reinforced and there's a spring around the end that keeps the cable from bending at the base, greatly reducing the risk of it breaking in some way. The phones themselves are mostly hard plastic on the exterior, but they're not delicate by any means. I feel like I could drop these from a good distance and not break much, but I'd really rather not test that theory. They also fold up to about half-size, so they can be carried in the small pouch that they come with.[/release] [release][b]COMFORT[/b] As said before, these headphones should fit most people with no problem. The band on the top of the headphone is lined with foam and covered in imitation-leather, which remains comfortable even after hours of wearing them. It also stretches quite a long distance, so even if you have a wide head like I do then you should have no problem. The cups are just large enough to create a seal, which they do perfectly. I could (and I have) wear these for hours at a time with no problem. The one thing I've noticed that could be construed as a con is that they create almost [I]too[/I] good of a seal, which means that they can get a bit hot on the inside after extended use. Maybe that's just me, but I can't be sure.[/release] [release][b]SOUND[/b] Because why the hell would you be reading a headphone review just to find out about how good they feel? This is where these headphones supposedly excel, and despite my limited experience with other high-quality headphones I can't help but agree. These things sounded great out of the box, and only seem to be getting better as I use them. I was pretty skeptical of burn-in when I unboxed them, but it honestly seems like the dynamic range is improving with every hour. I think I may have hit the peak of quality at some point (it's been about 8 hours I'd say), but I would've been happy with them even if they remained the way they were when I got them. I've since used them for a variety of purposes, which I will document in greater detail below: [u]Music[/u] The first thing I did when I unboxed them was listen to [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxgGAnLvMwQ]Breathe[/url], off of Dark Side of the Moon. I didn't know what to expect when I got them, I've ordered cheaper pairs of headphones with many quality reviews and found that they have too much bass or not enough treble or anything in-between. Dark Side is one of my favorite albums and I pretty much know it by heart, so it was a perfect gauge of quality. The first thing I noticed was how well it represented small details in the sound, I immediately picked-up a lot of little things that have never been properly represented by my laptop's shitty speakers or the cheap Sennheisers that I've been borrowing from my sister since my IEMs broke. The best part, of course, was when the instrumentals hit. Everything blended together brilliantly, each and every instrument could be heard in great fidelity and the vocals came through without infringing on any of it. As the first somewhat-expensive pair of headphones that I've had extended experience with, these set the bar very high from the beginning. Overall, they've been fantastic from the beginning and it only keeps getting better. The frequency response is indeed very flat, and no one frequency is represented better than the others. As someone who listens to a large variety of genres, I was thrilled to find that no one genre sounds better than any other. Rock and Metal come through with incredible clarity, from the softest folk-rock to the loudest death metal. Electronic music sounds equally good; basslines and kicks are played back with brain-melting depth, while snares, claps and leads are clean as can be absolutely piercing. I even listened to some Skrillex (who I honestly don't hate but don't like a lot either) just to see what these could do with it, and it sounded surprisingly good. The same goes for orchestral music, the London Symphony Orchestra has never sounded this crystal-clear. [u]Videos and Movies[/u] I've been wearing these things for just about every minute I've spent on the computer since I got them, and they've done an excellent job at representing the retarded shit I watch on the internet. When it comes to low-quality audio from YouTube videos or anything along those lines, they play back the audio with the exact fidelity (or lack-thereof) of the source. This, of course, was expected, the best headphones in the world couldn't make truly bad audio sound less bad on their own. When I did come across quality material, however, it was like night-and-day vs other headphones I've used. Even my favorite miniature horse show sounds amazing through these headphones :v: One film in particular that I was interested in trying out was The Dark Knight, because I remember seeing the film in iMax and opening scene would always make me shit myself at the sound. Every time a gun went off or anything broke/exploded I could practically feel it in my seat, and I was excited to see if these headphones could replicate that. They did not disappoint. [u]Games[/u] I've actually used these headphones less for gaming than anything else. I've played three games so-far, Half-Life 2, Hat Fortress 2, and Trouble in Terrorist town in Gayry's Mod. The Source engine has always had some amazing sound, and I've been skimping on my hat collection, so I figured that these would be the best to start with. Naturally, I went with Ravenholm in Half-Life 2. Gunshots were heavy on both the treble and the bass, as they should be, and explosions were loud and jarring when they happened. The sound was clear enough and the stereo-field good enough that I could hear individual zombies around me, which was both a positive and negative thing. I've played through Ravenholm more times than I can count, to the point where nothing about it scares me anymore. When I unexpectedly got a headcrab to the face or a fast-zombie to the chest, I would literally shout because it sounded like they were RIGHT FUCKING THERE. Overall it was a great experience, though. Maybe I'll try out Amnesia later [img]http://i.imgur.com/lIExd.png[/img]. Moving on to TF2, which was honestly the most-disappointing of the bunch. While it was perfectly playable, Valve was apparently just as ham-handed with the sound mixing in this game as they were with community items. It was quite heavy on the low-end, which wasn't as much of a problem with my old headset which lacked bass response, and player voices were either difficult to hear or overpowering in most cases. It sounded somewhat muddy, for lack of a better term. I wondered if a pair of open-back headphones with a wider sound-stage could do this game well. That's not to say that they don't get the job done, of course, I'll keep playing TF2 with them because they're overall better than anything else I have. I was a bit disappointed and almost thought that they weren't as good for games as some other headphones, but moving on to TTT made me realize that it's more of a game fault than anything. TTT, being a Garry's Mod gamemode, uses sounds from CS:S. Coming back from TF2, this was an absolute breath of fresh air, as the crispness of the sound that was present in Half-Life 2 had returned in full force. TTT is a game where you need to hear absolutely everything going on around you, from footsteps to explosions to players screaming into their microphones, and the M50s made it almost too easy. I could pinpoint the exact locations of players through walls based on their footsteps alone, which was a great asset as I killed and tried to avoid being killed myself. Other details were easier to make out as well, such as the distinct but sometimes quiet beeping sound that a C4 emits. I wouldn't think it was possible, but I experienced it first-hand, the headphones gave me a serious advantage over other players.[/release] [release][b]OVERALL[/b] Needless to say, these are bar-none the best headphones I've ever owned. Of course, I haven't owned any audiophile-quality gear in the past, but given the price I paid I can say without a doubt that this is an amazing deal for the money. While I bought the M50s for mixing and mastering music, their flat frequency response making them perfect for that, they excel at absolutely everything that I put them through. The only downside with the sound-quality is that they're so good at reproducing sound exactly as it's meant to be heard that low-quality audio will be played in its full shitty glory. Of course, this is just a testament to how accurate the headphones are. In addition, as I mentioned before, they do tend to get a bit hot inside the earcups after enough time using them, but this is only a side-effect of the quality of the seal. Overall, I'd have a hard time not recommending these. For $150, I doubt you could do better.[/release] [/walloftext]
[QUOTE=cecilbdemodded;34409331]With the special headphone amp it has, that's the soundcard I'd buy for music listening if I was going to buy a NEW soundcard. That amp is rated to power headphones up to 300ohm impedance, so if you have a high end headphone or get one in the future you won't have to invest in a portable amp. However, if you have a normal impedance headphone and don't plan to upgrade, or have needs beside music playback, or might want to invest in a portable amp/DAC anyways to use with a phone/ipad/ipod, then the DG is not necessarily better than any other soundcard.[/QUOTE] So, let me get this right, if I'm going for the M50's, I don't need an E5/E7/E10/whatever for it if I only plan to use it on my PC and I get the soundcard, because the portable amps are for ipod and what not listening? Also, if anyone knows, I'd still love to know how they feel personally from a Facepuncher, because in terms of looks they don't look as comfortable as HARX900's. Also also, so is the soundstage good for games too? (sorry for all the questions it's just I'm strapped for $$$ right now) [editline]27th January 2012[/editline] wow sweet ninja guy above me
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