Headphone Buying Megathread/Guide V4 - Come here for all your audio needs! (New Threads are not need
4,875 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Excalibuurr;50048472]Alright, got enough dosh to buy the stuffs. Can I have the exact models? I'm planning to buy this: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Black/dp/B00E7H8GG2?ie=UTF8&colid=32582IA6G9BKC&coliid=I3011FJ2L580BH&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl[/url]
and
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Lepy-LP-2024A-Amplifier-Stereo-Supply/dp/B00ULRFQ1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1459535300&sr=1-1&keywords=Lepai[/url][/QUOTE]
Quick thing before you solidify your choice, the Lepy amp is great for near-field setups (like your desktop), but if you really want to pump it up, you should consider getting a more powerful amp.
With that said, you'll need some speaker wire. I personally use 16-gauge in my setup, and you can also pick up some banana plugs to terminate the speaker wires, but that's just for convenience.
[QUOTE=Levelog;49968206]Good luck, they're really nice.[/QUOTE]
They're really nice, apart from it being a bit too tight but like said before I can just bend the metal just a little bit to alleviate that.
:ok:
Budget: Around £100-200
eBay: Preferably not
Country: UK
Isolation: In-Ear
Purpose: Smartphone, In-line controls highly preferred
Music Tastes: Rock, Electronic/Industrial Metal, Symphonic Metal (Blue Stahli, Celldweller, Thousand Foot Krutch, Within Temptation, if anyone's looking for examples)
Previous Experiences: Burned through too many CX300s, then switched to RHA MA450i, currently using RHA MA750i.
The whole point of this was that I'd been very satisfied with RHA's products, but was looking to move up to a more expensive pair. Had been eyeing up the T20i but was worried that RHA were too fledgling a company to have the absolute best in price range. Currently switching between the RHA T20i, the Shure pair around this price range, and a Sennheiser pair. Or anything else people would recommend.
[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;50036835]Check out the Koss KSC75's, they're clip-on's, but their sound is great and they weigh virtually nothing.[/QUOTE]
These arrived today and they sound pretty okay and they're very comfortable. Thanks man!
What is a really good— and expensive— DAC+Amp combo?
[QUOTE=Starpluck;50079813]What is a really good— and expensive— DAC+Amp combo?[/QUOTE]
cant go wrong with an o2+odac
[QUOTE=Starpluck;50079813]What is a really good— and expensive— DAC+Amp combo?[/QUOTE]
Schiit Uber stack (Magni 2U + Modi 2U) is the other side of the coin. And if you want "expensive", I'll need a price range and the cans you're trying to power.
Yeah I mean you can crank that combo up to multiple thousands of dollars.
Anything under $200.
Schiit Magni 2 / Modi 2, B-stock for both (cosmetic imperfections) can be had for $90 each. Or you can shop around on Head-fi, r/AVexchange, or HifiShark for really nice deals. They typically go for $70 each there.
[url]http://schiit.com/products/magni-2[/url]
[QUOTE=Levelog;50083882]Yeah I mean you can crank that combo up to multiple thousands of dollars.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, my endgame dream setup would be the Schiit Wyrd > Schiit Gungnir Multi-bit > Eddie Current Black Widow > Balanced Modded Hd650's. But that combo is mega expensive!
Might get the Objective2 + ODAC.
What's the best headphones limiting at $500? The figure could be a hundred or so more if necessary so don't worry about the price.
Are noise-cancelling headphones always good for music? Or are they some sort of gimmick?
Sennheiser HD650's are OP as shit and Kangaroo will definitely agree.
[editline]8th April 2016[/editline]
They're good if you don't want people right around you to hear what you're listening to.
[QUOTE=Starpluck;50091572]Might get the Objective2 + ODAC.
What's the best headphones limiting at $500? The figure could be a hundred or so more if necessary so don't worry about the price.
Are noise-cancelling headphones always good for music? Or are they some sort of gimmick?[/QUOTE]
If they are for use with your expensive amp/dac then that's probably at home alone at your desk, you really want an open pair of headphones then
[QUOTE=Levelog;50091583]Sennheiser HD650's are OP as shit and Kangaroo will definitely agree.
[editline]8th April 2016[/editline]
They're good if you don't want people right around you to hear what you're listening to.[/QUOTE]
I'd recommend the Sennheiser Hd650 on the condition that you're willing to perform some [url=http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sennheiser-hd650-love-appreciation-thread.44/]relatively simple, but necessary mods[/url] that open up the sound stage and refine the bass considerably. Otherwise, they're very relaxed and gooey sounding. But in general, the modded Hd650 can really be the endgame, capable of scaling with mad gear like the Schiit Gumby and not break a sweat. While sounding great on pretty much any genre I've thrown at it.
The Hd650 does need some decent gear to play nicely and the O2/Odac is ok, but the Modi2U performs the job in spades because it's wall-wart powered and the Magni2 pumps out more juice than at 300Ohms than the O2. Which means more a refined high and low end.
And if you wanted to get real fancy, the Schiit Vali 2, bottlehead Crack + speedball, or the G1217 Project Sunrise III has some serious tube synergy with the Hd650, but I wouldn't recommend them as a first amp because solid states should be your first amp and vacuum tubes require maintenance.
[editline]when[/editline]
Also, I purchased my Hd650 used for $315, you can easily find one for $280 used. There are different models of the Hd650, and the ones with silver drivers are the most recent and the best.
Yeah I still plan on picking up some 650's at some point but for now I'm content with my DT990 250 Pro's and FiiO E17/E09k.
[QUOTE=Levelog;50091781]Yeah I still plan on picking up some 650's at some point but for now I'm content with my DT990 250 Pro's and FiiO E17/E09k.[/QUOTE]
I barely use my Zmf Omni's or Oppo-Pm2's anymore, it's all Hd650 (except for isolation) the gear synergy is just too good.
Right, my headset's mic keeps making ear piercing noises and I'd rather not use the wireless one I got because it's acting really odd.
Budget:150$ (won't mind going a bit over that, but I'd rather keep it around there)
eBay: Depends, as long as it ships to where I am
Country: Norway
Isolation: Circumaural
Purpose: Gaming, voice chatting, music, movies, etc
Music Tastes: Pretty much everything
Previous Experiences: Usual gaming headset crap
Comments: I've spent a good amount of money on headsets that would eventually screw me over, so I honestly want something good, and I'll also need a mic.
Sites that you can order from? Might be able to fit Sennheiser HD558's and a Samson Go Mic.
[editline]9th April 2016[/editline]
[QUOTE=KangarooSteak;50091785]I barely use my Zmf Omni's or Oppo-Pm2's anymore, it's all Hd650 (except for isolation) the gear synergy is just too good.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I'll have to decide what to replace my FiiO setup with when I pick up the 650's. Only got the E09k because I already had the E17 for my old laptop with terrible onboard sound, but it got stolen.
My current Audio Technica ADH-AD700's left headphone has been having a few problems, and if I can't get it fixed I'm hoping to get some new headphones soon. I'm looking into getting Sennheiser HD 598s, but I'm hoping to be able to get them a bit cheaper than the standard $260AUD price they go for in Australia.
Are there any good websites to keep an eye out for deals (currently using ozbargin filtered to headphones and /r/buildapcsales filtered to headphones)? Or better yet, are there any good deals currently running? International shipping is fine by me if it's offered, as long as it's a good deal.
Those sites are good, keep an eye on au.pcpartpicker.com, take a looks at oc.net's sales sections, sometimes non-us sales are posted there. Same with hardforum.
[QUOTE=Levelog;50098519]Sites that you can order from? Might be able to fit Sennheiser HD558's and a Samson Go Mic.
[/QUOTE]
I can order from Amazon (both uk and us), I checked uk and they had the hd558 for over 200$, and us doesn't ship to norway. There is a norwegian site that got it for around 160$, still too overpriced (but that is a given considering norway...)
But yeah, you got other suggestions for what I could look for?
[QUOTE=phabeZ;50099880]My current Audio Technica ADH-AD700's left headphone has been having a few problems, and if I can't get it fixed I'm hoping to get some new headphones soon. I'm looking into getting Sennheiser HD 598s, but I'm hoping to be able to get them a bit cheaper than the standard $260AUD price they go for in Australia.
Are there any good websites to keep an eye out for deals (currently using ozbargin filtered to headphones and /r/buildapcsales filtered to headphones)? Or better yet, are there any good deals currently running? International shipping is fine by me if it's offered, as long as it's a good deal.[/QUOTE]
If you have a decent amp the AKG K612s are a good and cheaper alternative.
I realize that this is common knowledge, but please, don't ever get steelseries headsets.
I made that mistake, Siberia 200s (and it's replacement that was sent to me) lasted literally three months before breaking (both had broken microphones after a month, one's sound completely cut out of the left and the second one had sound warping)
So yeah. I won't be making that mistake again. Suprisingly though, my old-ass Siberia V2s still work like a charm, and are what i'm using now.
Budget: up to £150
eBay: If in UK only
Country: UK
Isolation: Closed Back
Purpose: Mixed - Games, Music, Voice Chat
Music Tastes: Mixed genres.
Previous Experiences: Audio Technica A700
Comments: This is the big bit; I've a set of the aformentioned headphones and have owned them since 2010-2011. Unfortunately the 5 years of near constant use has seen them come into disrepair, with at first the cable braiding coming apart and now a support arm that hids the cable has snapped, so this sets' days are numbered. It seems the nearest equivalent is the A700X, but seems difficult to get in the UK. I am considering the m50x however. Would the difference in sound be a bad one or a good one?
Hey I'm thinking of this headset:
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/headphones/audiomax-hb-8a-bluetooth-headphones-review-3623356/[/url]
The review says it's pretty good, what do you guys think?
Budget is <100€, I mainly want to use it for music on my phone (especially on the go) and games on my laptop (a Dell XPS 15, which has bluetooth 4.1).
I definitely want OVER ear headphones. On-ear hurt my ears because of my glasses.
My main worries are sound delay when gaming. I've looked it up and found this:
[url]http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/209523/is-bluetooth-headphones-efficient-for-gaming[/url]
Although I won't have to worry about it [I]too much[/I], since this particular headset can also connect with an audio cable.
Also, are there alternatives to this one that you guys would recommend?
---
Alright, I've seen a million reviews. They all say that the quality is better than you would expect for that price. I'm going for it
This seemed like a slightly more suitable pace than the pc building thread.
Can anyone recommend some decent speaks, without a sub-woofer, for about £60? I'm leaning towards Creative GigaWorks T20 Series II but have no real idea what to look for.
[QUOTE=KFrohman;50108069]Budget: up to £150
eBay: If in UK only
Country: UK
Isolation: Closed Back
Purpose: Mixed - Games, Music, Voice Chat
Music Tastes: Mixed genres.
Previous Experiences: Audio Technica A700
Comments: This is the big bit; I've a set of the aformentioned headphones and have owned them since 2010-2011. Unfortunately the 5 years of near constant use has seen them come into disrepair, with at first the cable braiding coming apart and now a support arm that hids the cable has snapped, so this sets' days are numbered. It seems the nearest equivalent is the A700X, but seems difficult to get in the UK. I am considering the m50x however. Would the difference in sound be a bad one or a good one?[/QUOTE]
The M50x is good for monitoring, but I wouldn't be able to wear them for more than an hour at a time with the stock pads because that headband is a vice-grip. If you were to get them, I'd recommend getting brainwavz pleather angled pads as that helps a lot with the comfort.
From a sound-point perspective, the M50x with the stock pads have little sound-stage (monitoring cans) with a slightly over exaggerated bass and artificially bright highs (sounds a bit unnatural to me) After a pad swap to brainwavz angled pleather pads and some open-celled foam + 1 ply sheet of toilet paper over the driver. Comfort shot through the roof, the treble becomes bearable. And I actually kinda like them now.
I've heard some comparisons of the Shure 840 being a somewhat better alternate to the M50x? I've personally not heard them before though.
Before you pick anything, Audiotechnica is soon to releasing their new ART line, you might be particularly interested in the A550Z's: [url]https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/4bmu5v/new_zseries_audiotechnicas_another_long_day_of/[/url]
[QUOTE=FPtje;50113316]Hey I'm thinking of this headset:
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/headphones/audiomax-hb-8a-bluetooth-headphones-review-3623356/[/url]
The review says it's pretty good, what do you guys think?
Budget is <100€, I mainly want to use it for music on my phone (especially on the go) and games on my laptop (a Dell XPS 15, which has bluetooth 4.1).
I definitely want OVER ear headphones. On-ear hurt my ears because of my glasses.
My main worries are sound delay when gaming. I've looked it up and found this:
[url]http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/209523/is-bluetooth-headphones-efficient-for-gaming[/url]
Although I won't have to worry about it [I]too much[/I], since this particular headset can also connect with an audio cable.
Also, are there alternatives to this one that you guys would recommend?
---
Alright, I've seen a million reviews. They all say that the quality is better than you would expect for that price. I'm going for it[/QUOTE]
Bluetooth really ain't my thing, but some good over-ears that don't look that terrible in public that I'd recommend are the hyper x cloud 1's, which also double as a headset with a detachable mic. Another good pick is the Beredynamic Dt770 80 Ohm variant. I will say that Bluetooth 4.0 is actually pretty good decent these days, when I had my Shp9500's with bluetooth 4.0, I barely experienced dropouts and the signal and fidelity were fine.
[QUOTE=cjone2;50132125]This seemed like a slightly more suitable pace than the pc building thread.
Can anyone recommend some decent speaks, without a sub-woofer, for about £60? I'm leaning towards Creative GigaWorks T20 Series II but have no real idea what to look for.[/QUOTE]
Are you looking for powered monitors or passives?
Is there much of a difference between the regular shaped pads and angled ones, outside of the difference in shape? I need to get some deeper pads for my headphones, and I saw that both were available, but I haven't really found anything that says if there's any real differences between the two types.
Angled pads are typically fuller than the regular ones, so that means that the drivers are a little further away from your head. Depending on the pad material and headphone, that can mean more diffused bass and less refined treble. Angled pads or drivers are said to help extend sound stage and give a more natural presentation. The mindset behind it is that the human ear is pretty damn good at picking up sounds in front of us. So drivers and pads are angled towards the ear.
In my personal opinion, I think headphones with angled drivers / pads sound great.
[editline]14th April 2016[/editline]
If anyone is interested in trying out planar magnetic headphones, fostex is currently hosting a $50 rebate on Mk3 series headphones up till July 31st: [url]http://www.americanmusicandsound.com/en/pages/promos/promo_fostex_50_rebate_RPMK3_2016.html[/url]
Planar Magnetic cans require a sizeable amount of juice along a low impedance so an amp is definitely recommended in order to get the most out of them. The rundown is that Planar Magnetic have much tighter bass and better low range extension, but they're typically heavier (weight) than because they have a ton of magnets in an array.
[url]http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1180066-REG/fostex_rpmk3_series_t50rp_mk3_stereo.html[/url] $90 after rebate
[url]http://www.zmfheadphones.com/order-the-zmf/fostex-t50rp-mk-iii-with-zmf-pads[/url] If you want ZMF accessories, rebate only counts towards stock model.
And some technical info about planar magnetics if you're into that: [url]http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/how-planar-magnetic-headphones-work#ftdwtbTg2yqoihOo.97[/url]
[QUOTE=FPtje;50113316]Hey I'm thinking of this headset:
[url]http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/headphones/audiomax-hb-8a-bluetooth-headphones-review-3623356/[/url]
The review says it's pretty good, what do you guys think?
Budget is <100€, I mainly want to use it for music on my phone (especially on the go) and games on my laptop (a Dell XPS 15, which has bluetooth 4.1).
I definitely want OVER ear headphones. On-ear hurt my ears because of my glasses.
My main worries are sound delay when gaming. I've looked it up and found this:
[url]http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/209523/is-bluetooth-headphones-efficient-for-gaming[/url]
Although I won't have to worry about it [I]too much[/I], since this particular headset can also connect with an audio cable.
Also, are there alternatives to this one that you guys would recommend?
---
Alright, I've seen a million reviews. They all say that the quality is better than you would expect for that price. I'm going for it[/QUOTE]
I received it today. The fucker didn't turn on and it refused to charge. Immediately sent it back for a refund. In my rage I bought this one:
[url]http://www.jbl.com/wireless-headphones/SYNCHROS+E50BT.html[/url]
Which is better anyway. Good sound quality, comfortable, sturdy and beautiful in blue.
[editline]15th April 2016[/editline]
Holy shit! It can be connected to my phone and my laptop simultaneously. It'll never play sound from the two devices at the same time, but it will play sounds from either device when the other is silent.
That is amazingly useful! Holy shit!
[editline]15th April 2016[/editline]
The only problem is that Windows 10 is [B]utter shite[/B] with bluetooth. Usually when I try to turn bluetooth off, it turns itself back on again. It refuses to connect to the headphones. Sometimes it "half" connects, stating that it's connected, but where the sound still goes through the laptop speakers.
Every time a sound starts playing, I hear quite a loud "bop" in the headphones. Same when the sound stops playing.
Every now and then the sound stutters and sometimes it just flat out disconnects.
I have [U][I]none[/I][/U] of these problems with my phone. No bopping, no problems with pairing, no stuttering (at least haven't noticed it yet), nothing. Fucking Windows 10 and Dell's bullshit ass drivers.
Eh, wired still works, even though I have other problems with wired (sound card cannot deal with loud, high pitched notes, and starts screeching).
Never buy Dell, not even the god damn XPS 15 flagships.
This seems to have solved the problem, very useful to know:
Device manager -> right click your (Broadcom) wifi device -> Properties -> Advanced tab -> Bluetooth collaboration -> Disable
Some state that enabling fixes it, for me it didn't. Disabling it did the trick for me.
[url]http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-pictures/audio-stuttering-with-bluetooth-interface/07413787-3a1c-481c-83df-5ce795b4ef51?page=1[/url]
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