Headphone Buying Megathread/Guide V4 - Come here for all your audio needs! (New Threads are not need - Hardware & Software

[QUOTE=slayer3032;49803349]I sent them back to newegg unopened since I wanted the full price and shipping covered so unfortunately I didn't. I don't imagine them sounding better than the 558's though since they seem to be of the same line but directed at gaming. So I'd imagine they're tuned a little more for isolation and "gaming" than say the fairly open 558's which is really where the HD5x8 line shines. The 558's really do quite nicely and they have some really good punch like you'd expect from a gaming headset. They also don't have a replaceable cord, while I'm sure you can order a new one from Sennheiser because they don't suck. If your mic/cord breaks like a normal headset, with the 558 setup you just toss it and buy a new one. You also get the upside of having headphones which you could use on a plane or in other situations in public while you'd look like a gigantic tool wearing a headset outside of your house ever. I'd also go with the BoomPro over the Modmic, I've listened to some videos comparing the two and the Vmoda really seemed to be the better mic on top of being a single cord and cheaper. If you just go up the page you can see the setup I use on my 558's, 518's and SHP9500's with a Boompro.[/QUOTE] [b]OHHHHHHH[/b], for some reason it took me until now to realize both you and KangarooSteak meant to scroll up on the [i]thread[/i] page. I'm a dingus. I'm honestly pretty nervous to try and mod the Headphones and would [i]prefer[/i] not to have to, especially if it involves shaving off any part of the plastic as I feel like I'd screw that up. I don't want to get these nice headphones just to ruin them. Did you only open up the left ear, disassemble it, and take a part out (the locking cam) and that was it? Not sure I 100% understand the process you showed. If that's all I have to do then I'll probably go for that. I would probably understand it better if I had the headphones sitting in front of me too.

The headphone connector is only on the left cup, so you only have to do it once. What you do is open up the cup and remove the screws holding the locking cam. Then slide the cam out. You can take the 3.5mm extension and slide that into the headphone jack. Reassemble the earcup and done. Now the headphone will take any 3.5mm plug. The drill method involves same same removal process, but instead of adding the 2.5mm > 3.5mm extension, you file or drill the locking nip so that the cam is smooth-bore rather than retaining the lock. Then you put the cam into the headphone. Reassemble and done. Both methods perform the same function, but the second method does not need the 2.5mm > 3.5mm extension and the cam filing is irreversible. Here's a video I found showing how to remove the locking cam: [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MvN-FI5I8c[/url] (At 1.25 minutes, there is a black foam rectangle on the outer housing, removing this opens up the sound-stage and makes them sound closer to the Hd598. You perform this to both cups) [editline]when[/editline] Apparently you can just push out the chrome lining and slide in the extension. That's new.

Oh wow, that's actually super simple. Alright, you've got me, I'll grab the 558's and the V-Moda. Gonna order these now so I can get the ASAP. I'm going with the [URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R58NPK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00]adapter he linked in that video[/url], unless you guys know of a better one? I figure it's not going to make a world of difference. Only thing I'm worried about is that adapter possible slipping out. Other that I'm pretty excited about this now. Thanks guys, I appreciate your help on this.

[QUOTE=riku2211;49808989]Oh wow, that's actually super simple. Alright, you've got me, I'll grab the 558's and the V-Moda. Gonna order these now so I can get the ASAP. I'm going with the [URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R58NPK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00]adapter he linked in that video[/url], unless you guys know of a better one? I figure it's not going to make a world of difference. Only thing I'm worried about is that adapter possible slipping out. Other that I'm pretty excited about this now. Thanks guys, I appreciate your help on this.[/QUOTE] If that chrome lining was glued in, I bet you can just as easily glue the extension in so that it doesn't slip out. Just be sure to be very light in application so that it doesn't get everywhere.

You definitely still need the adapter either way, reaming out the locking cam of it's teeth just allows you to keep the centering function of the cam so you don't jam the cord/jack male end into the board and damage the jack board somehow. I pull my cord out all the time with my shoulder/feet, so reinserting the mic is a real pain. You could definitely just hot glue the extension but I wanted to retain the stock cord for my receiver, ect. The chrome is glued in but supposedly according to someone else it can fall inside the headphone if you break the glue. The cam is retained and helps retain by the jack and the bezel. I didn't really try to take pics detailing it step by step but rather just pics to show the overall area as opening up something which you're unsure how it's designed can be unsettling. I mostly just wanted to take pictures of how simple the area was to show it's a very simple mod that's mostly reversible. I didn't find the videos to really show much detail in the areas being worked on so I took those to supplement watching a video which better details assembly and disassembly overall.

odd question, can I damage my HD 518's by running them at >70% volume (just on windows, using the headphone jack on my laptop, with no amp/external DAC)? explanation: When at work I like to listen to music on my laptop, but my laptop speakers suck and I realized accidentally that if I turn the volume up on my laptop I can hear them about as well as my laptop speakers and they sound better as well. Just want to make sure I can't damage them by playing music at this volume for extended periods of time, or if they're hardy enough that it won't be a problem.

99% of the time, you'll blow your ears out before you blow out the drivers on your headphones with any onboard source. You'll only have to worry about blowing out the drivers of your headphones if you max it out on a dedicated amp like a Magni 2U or out of the speaker taps of your receiver or something. [editline]when[/editline] Picked up a pair of Koss KSC 75's for my dad's birthday. (He hates headphone clamp) But I ended up trying them myself before I wrapped it up. These sound great! They have a very airy sound-stage and a clean bass that extends pretty far down for an open pair of headphones. They're also mega comfy with glasses on. My dad loves them too, so that's a double bonus! At $10 a pop for a used pair, I ordered three more pairs for some close friends and family. (And one for me of course)

Has anyone used the Sennheiser HD180? Hows the sound, durability and such? Thanks in advance

What's a good headphone amplifier under $100?

[QUOTE=Starpluck;49858790]What's a good headphone amplifier under $100?[/QUOTE] Depends on what you're trying to power and what outputs you need. For basic stuff, a Schiit Magni 2 will get you going if RCA pre outs are not necessary. Another choice is the O2 amp. If you want a decent dac/amp combo, the fiio e10k and micca origen are good choices, but I haven't tried them personally.

I have a stupid question: Is wearing headphones in the rain a bad idea?

[QUOTE=Xron;49859318]I have a stupid question: Is wearing headphones in the rain a bad idea?[/QUOTE] Things to consider when wearing headphones in the rain. They're still an electronic device, so the possibility of shorting out the drivers do to condensation is still relevant. And because rain contains minerals and alkalines, it can mean the corrosion of your cans. If they're expendable and you're not throwing them into a puddle, it should be fine in the short run.

So, got my 558's earlier this week and I was immediately in love with them. I now understand what having a wider soundstage means. I also got a pretty decent sound card to go with them - heavenly. Today I finally got my mic, modded it to fit, and removed that foam on the inside and now have the best headset I've ever owned. Thanks for the help with this guys!

[QUOTE=riku2211;49863048]So, got my 558's earlier this week and I was immediately in love with them. I now understand what having a wider soundstage means. I also got a pretty decent sound card to go with them - heavenly. Today I finally got my mic, modded it to fit, and removed that foam on the inside and now have the best headset I've ever owned. Thanks for the help with this guys![/QUOTE] Don't forget to go into your audio playback devices and check the box that says "disable all enhancements" and change the bit depth and sample rate to 24 bits 44.1KHz for best results! (Or 48KHz depending on your audio)

[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;49859270]The fiio e10k.[/QUOTE] This is what I needed. Thank you.

[B]Budget[/B]: $141 [B]eBay[/B]: OK [B]Country[/B]: United States of America [B]Isolation[/B]: Yes [B]Purpose[/B]: Music. Very-casual gaming. [B]Music Tastes[/B]: Trance, EDM. [B]Previous Experiences[/B]: [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00"]Audio-Technica ATH-M50[/URL] [B]Comments[/B]: I last had the [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00"]Audio-Technica ATH-M50[/URL] before my dog severed the jack. Are they worth rebuying, or is there something better lurking?

[QUOTE=Starpluck;49865127][B]Budget[/B]: $141 [B]eBay[/B]: OK [B]Country[/B]: United States of America [B]Isolation[/B]: Yes [B]Purpose[/B]: Music. Very-casual gaming. [B]Music Tastes[/B]: Trance, EDM. [B]Previous Experiences[/B]: [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00"]Audio-Technica ATH-M50[/URL] [B]Comments[/B]: I last had the [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ULAP4U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00"]Audio-Technica ATH-M50[/URL] before my dog severed the jack. Are they worth rebuying, or is there something better lurking?[/QUOTE] If you enjoyed the M50's, the [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVLUR86?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_C0.1wb78W69AE]M50x's[/url] are on sale for $116 (Or $89 if you don't mind used, I typically buy used and I've never had a bad can before) The M50x has detachable cables and the padding is fluffed up a tiny bit compared to the M50. [editline]when[/editline] If you wanted to try open cans, I'd recommend the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-558-Headphones/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457106152&sr=1-1&keywords=hd558]Sennheiser Hd558[/url] with the foam mod or the [url=http://www.amazon.com/Philips-SHP9500-Precision-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00ENMK1DW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1457106172&sr=1-1&keywords=shp9500]Philips Shp9500[/url], which both feature detachable cables.

Thanks, I will look into them. In terms of sound quality, which headphone reigns superior?

Short Answer: Hd558's for open, M50x's for closed. Long Answer: At these price ranges, I wouldn't say any of these headphones necessarily "better" than the other. But rather; when deciding which headphone is right for you; look at your personal sound preference and your situation. The first thing you want to do is figure out if you want closed or open cans. The Shp9500 and Hd558 are both open cans, while the M50's and M50x's are closed cans. Open cans have a more "natural" and "musical" sound; music sounds like it's coming from around you; whereas closed cans in general give the "box effect", where music is intimate and close. Closed cans provide superior attenuation compared to open cans, because open cans do not isolate sound going in or out at all. Now, it's hard to know your sound preference when you've tried only a few pairs of headphones. So I'll try to give a generalization of the three I listed, one of which you're already familiar with. The M50's and M50x's have V-shaped sound signature where the treble and bass have been bumped. This creates brilliant (bright, sharp, artificial, piercing?) highs, and really thick and impactful lows. What results is a very fun signature, great for headbanging, electronica, and dub step. They're pretty ok for genres like country, jazz or rock, but other cans will do these better (Hd650's). The M50's and M50x's have almost no sound stage (They're monitor cans after all). So footsteps in video games will sound like they're coming from the absolute center of your skull with very little variance. Also crazy headphone clamp and mediocre comfort. Proprietary twist lock cable on M50x means minor difficulty finding replacements, but modifiable to accept standard 3.5mm. The Shp9500's open cans with a warm/lean signature, lighter bass than the M50's, but more controlled. The highs are still bright, but not as bright as the M50x's at higher volumes. The sound stage is also very wide, drums will pan left to middle to right. Gunshots will wizz by from either side, and the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ5d6EXIOHE&feature]chimes at :14 are way out there[/url]. These headphones in particular are also much more comfortable than the M50x's IMO. Standard 3.5mm detachable cable means easy to replace cables. If the Hd558 is a less refined Hd650, then these cans are warm and gooey, with a top end that rolls off just right. These would be my personal choice because they'd be able to handle almost any genre with relative ease. The sound stage will not be as freakishly wide as the Shp9500, but it keeps a "natural" width. Comfort is also better than the M50's, and a touch behind the Shp9500. 2.5mm proprietary twist lock, but modifiable to accept standard 3.5mm. [editline]when[/editline] My personal sound preference is warm with accurate, but slightly rolled off highs, so the Hd650 and by extension, the Hd558, are my personal choice.

Need a recommendation for something as portable as possible without being in my ear for $100. Will be used for classic rock/metal/classical

If isolation is not an issue, Koss Ksc75's, if you don't like clip-ons, Koss porta pros. Both share the similar drivers. They sound like shp9500''s with a wider, more natural sound stage and feathery, but controlled lows. Treble is crisp, with a slight edge on bright recordings, but in a portable environment, you won't notice it.

I'd rather some better isolation. I'll be using them in a mobile setting likely with my phone or an X1 [editline]6th March 2016[/editline] And really they sound that good for that cheap?

I was rather surprised when I tried the ksc75's myself on my dedicated rig, the sound is similar to my Xpt100's, except with zero isolation and the Ksc75's upper mids were not as peaky. Not great in metropolitan areas, but walking in the park, absolutely stellar. If you want some more isolation, the Sennheiser or Momentum 1 Urbanite provide slightly better attenuation. Blocks out 6-12db, so you'll still hear traffic. But they'll stop a quiet conversation 10 feet from you. The Momentum is V-shaped, but thicker in the lows. The Urbanite is warm, not as impactful as the Momentum, but more controlled bass.

Yeah I used to have some Momentum on-ears before they were stolen. Wasn't sure if I should just grab another pair, I really loved them.

I'd say try out a different signature, the urbanites are going for $55 used right now on amazon. If you don't enjoy them, you can always grab another pair of momentums.

I'll have to give them a shot. Don't have the money now, it's just going on my list. Gunna check out what's for sale on headfi around then too. [editline]6th March 2016[/editline] Have to buy another keyboard from Banned? first :v:

Try not to fall into the money-sink-trifrecta. My wallet still hasn't recovered from the mechanical keyboards, fountain pens, and audio equipment I've amassed over the past few months.

Nah I've just got a list of shit to buy and am working on prioritizing it. It's not nearly all computer shit either.

Hey guys, I'm looking for a headphone + mic. How come headphones are 2x more expensive here? Even with the USD-CAD conversion it doesn't make sense... Budget: 200$ eBay: No Country: Canada Isolation: Closed Purpose: Mostly gaming Music Tastes: Doesn't matter Previous Experiences: Siberia V2

Thought I'd tap into FP's collective headphone experiences. Budget: (up to) $150USD eBay: Sure, why not? Country: US Isolation: Anything that isn't VERY open. Purpose: Mainly gaming, music as a strong second. Music tastes: classical, blues, prog, folk Previous experiences: Sony MDR-V6, Brainwavz HM5, NVX XPT1000