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

Meh, just bought one anyways. Everybody is saying that's the best price for what's essentially a mid range audiophile headphone. I'll just buy an amp later.

anyone know a black friday deal for IEMs around ~$50 range? I currently have the brainwavz m2 but they're falling apart on me. i like the way they sound atm so i'm looking for anything that sounds similar.

K, i blew pretty much all of my money on the K7XXs. What's the cheapest half decent desktop amp that i can buy? [editline]25th November 2014[/editline] uh, can i just buy an Asus xonar dg for 30 bucks and use that as my headphone amp?

[QUOTE=aydin690;46577157]K, i blew pretty much all of my money on the K7XXs. What's the cheapest half decent desktop amp that i can buy? [editline]25th November 2014[/editline] uh, can i just buy an Asus xonar dg for 30 bucks and use that as my headphone amp?[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.amazon.com/E6-Fujiyama-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005HJWWW8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416991933&sr=1-1&keywords=fiio[/url]

[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;46577710][url]http://www.amazon.com/E6-Fujiyama-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B005HJWWW8/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1416991933&sr=1-1&keywords=fiio[/url][/QUOTE] Can you use it as a desktop amp? Also, Amazon.com is fuckin shit for non-us residents (shipping + customs fee + tax) and amazon.ca is a fuckin rip off. According to asus, xonar dg can easily power 32-150 ohm impedance headphones.

[QUOTE=aydin690;46577801]Can you use it as a desktop amp? Also, Amazon.com is fuckin shit for non-us residents (shipping + customs fee + tax) and amazon.ca is a fuckin rip off. According to asus, xonar dg can easily power 32-150 ohm impedance headphones.[/QUOTE] Oh, in that case, just go with the internal sound card. Unless you can find a good CA deal on that FiiO dac. Also, yes that pretty much works as a desktop amp, since it plugs in via miniUSB.

Looking to get some wireless Bluetooth headphones for my phone. I'm looking at [url=http://www.monoprice.com/mobile/product/details/10564] the monoprice ones in particular.[/url] From what I can find on reviews of them they're "not terrible". I'm open to sugestions, but the only other ones I can seem to find are $100+ [editline]26th November 2014[/editline] I plan to use them working out and at work.

[QUOTE=Del91;46577937]Looking to get some wireless Bluetooth headphones for my phone. I'm looking at [url=http://www.monoprice.com/mobile/product/details/10564] the monoprice ones in particular.[/url] From what I can find on reviews of them they're "not terrible". I'm open to sugestions, but the only other ones I can seem to find are $100+ [editline]26th November 2014[/editline] I plan to use them working out and at work.[/QUOTE] Bluetooth headphones are shit in general due to using bluetooth. I'd advise just getting the monoprice ones.

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;46569133]Will a NuForce UDAC-2 be good enough to drive these? I'm not a big audiophile but I'm curious as to if I need a more powerful dac/amp[/QUOTE] I'd really advise against anything NuForce, [url]http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/nuforce-udac-2-drama.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Ca5bah;46582969]I'd really advise against anything NuForce, [url]http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/nuforce-udac-2-drama.html[/url][/QUOTE] Okay well what's a good dac or amp for around $125~?

So um.. $20 for a 5.1 surround system, minus the receiver itself I think though. [url]http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090601&p_id=10565&seq=1&format=2[/url] CNETs review says theyre pretty great budget speakers, at $200. [editline]26th November 2014[/editline] [url]http://www.cnet.com/products/monoprice-10565/[/url] [editline]26th November 2014[/editline] Never mind. The price changed.

[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;46577849]Oh, in that case, just go with the internal sound card. Unless you can find a good CA deal on that FiiO dac. Also, yes that pretty much works as a desktop amp, since it plugs in via miniUSB.[/QUOTE] I'm starting to think getting the xonar isn't such a good idea either. The front panel audio jack isn't amp'd so i'm going to have to reach behind the case every time i want to use the headphone. Somebody donate me a fiio e10 or something. :'(

[QUOTE=Zerokateo;46583208]Okay well what's a good dac or amp for around $125~?[/QUOTE] Anything Fiio is quality.

For an amp, I would get an O2 for sure. But if your sound card has noise you will want a DAC. I hear the Fiio D5 is a pretty good DAC, you could get that together with the O2 but it'll cost you ~$170 + shipping. My advice, get the O2, if it has noise save up for a DAC. O2 [URL]http://www.jdslabs.com/products/35/objective2-headphone-amplifier/[/URL] DAC [URL]http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-D5-USB-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B005JXGQTC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1417062226&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=fiio+d5[/URL] I personally use an O2 with a Fiio E10 as the DAC.

Are there any <50 dollar DAC/AMP setups?

[QUOTE=reevezy67;46583862]For an amp, I would get an O2 for sure. But if your sound card has noise you will want a DAC. I hear the Fiio D5 is a pretty good DAC, you could get that together with the O2 but it'll cost you ~$170 + shipping. My advice, get the O2, if it has noise save up for a DAC. O2 [URL]http://www.jdslabs.com/products/35/objective2-headphone-amplifier/[/URL] DAC [URL]http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-D5-USB-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B005JXGQTC/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1417062226&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=fiio+d5[/URL] I personally use an O2 with a Fiio E10 as the DAC.[/QUOTE] How do I find out if my soundcard has noise??

Turn your volume just above your regular listening level, get out of or mute software that might cause feedback, like Skype or a microphone that's set on listen or something. If you hear static noise it has noise, it's pretty rare though.

Fuuuuuuuck, /r/headphones said xonar DG or fiio e6 aren't gonna cut it. Xonar DG can only output 1V rms and according to them AKG K7XX needs an amp which can power 200mw@ 64 ohms, which is 3.5v. So, something like an objective2 or a magni. [editline]27th November 2014[/editline] Just cancelled my order. Can't afford to spend another 150-200 bucks on DAC/AMP. Just gonna go buy a pair of ATH M50s tomorrow.

Ordered the M50Xs for 164 CAD. Should get them by monday.

Any good microphones (clip on or desktop) that are avaliable in Australia without being absolutely bullshit priced? Logitech USB desktop mics go for about $120+ here which is complete bullshit [editline]28th November 2014[/editline] I bought some cheap clip on mic for like, $3 off ebay (which suprisingly has decent quality) but I have no idea how I'm going to use it since the whole cable is loose wire, so trying to get it in a position close enough to my mouth to hear it is difficult [editline]28th November 2014[/editline] Zalman-Zm-Mic1s are unfortunately non-existent here

Hey guys, go on Amazon and search up the Senn HD598s. Just do it.

[QUOTE=hl2poo;46591644]Hey guys, go on Amazon and search up the Senn HD598s. Just do it.[/QUOTE] Bah, just got an email from amazon saying my m50x was shipped, like 5 mins ago. [editline]28th November 2014[/editline] Meh: [URL="http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD598.pdf"]http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD598.pdf[/URL] [URL="http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudioTechnicaATHM50x.pdf"]http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudioTechnicaATHM50x.pdf[/URL] [editline]28th November 2014[/editline] And Audeze LCD X as the base line: [URL="http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCDXSN7454971.pdf"]http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCDXSN7454971.pdf[/URL]

Budget: 100$ Country: U.S. Isolation: An over-ear (Circumaural?) that's open-air or at least semi-open, I'm going to be wearing it for extended periods of time. Purpose: Lots of PC gaming and enjoying music. Music Tastes: I listen to just about everything, it varies almost monthly usually based on what my friends suggest to me at the time. Previous Experiences: Gaming headsets, mostly from Razer. Comments: I've been using gaming headsets for years and I'm pretty much fed up with them at this point, I don't know if its the way Ive been handling them or something else, but I end up buying new headphones almost every 6 months or so because some part of it breaks. I replaced my last headset (Razer Tiamat 2.2) with my current one (same one) because the entire left headphone snapped straight off the rest of the body, and now this one's right speaker is starting to act up. I've basically resorted to screwing around with EQs (first Realtek then Razer Surround) to make everything not sound so flat and muted. I figured that since black friday/cyber monday is coming up, I might as well step up and get some proper headphones that could actually last me past a year. Just letting you guys know though that I haven't really gotten into audio much at all, I've always just plugged into whatever jack I could find on the PC and that was as far as I went. Regardless, I am more than willing to get an amp and whatever else is needed, just letting you know though that this is pretty much all completely new to me. Oh, and can someone reccomend for me a good desktop mic too?

So I picked up a pair of the Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear's for $99 on Newegg. Sound looks good, and I'm game for trying out some on-ears.

[QUOTE=ntzu;46591886]Budget: 100$ Country: U.S. Isolation: An over-ear (Circumaural?) that's open-air or at least semi-open, I'm going to be wearing it for extended periods of time. Purpose: Lots of PC gaming and enjoying music. Music Tastes: I listen to just about everything, it varies almost monthly usually based on what my friends suggest to me at the time. Previous Experiences: Gaming headsets, mostly from Razer. Comments: I've been using gaming headsets for years and I'm pretty much fed up with them at this point, I don't know if its the way Ive been handling them or something else, but I end up buying new headphones almost every 6 months or so because some part of it breaks. I replaced my last headset (Razer Tiamat 2.2) with my current one (same one) because the entire left headphone snapped straight off the rest of the body, and now this one's right speaker is starting to act up. I've basically resorted to screwing around with EQs (first Realtek then Razer Surround) to make everything not sound so flat and muted. I figured that since black friday/cyber monday is coming up, I might as well step up and get some proper headphones that could actually last me past a year. Just letting you guys know though that I haven't really gotten into audio much at all, I've always just plugged into whatever jack I could find on the PC and that was as far as I went. Regardless, I am more than willing to get an amp and whatever else is needed, just letting you know though that this is pretty much all completely new to me. Oh, and can someone reccomend for me a good desktop mic too?[/QUOTE] Sennheiser PC360 or Sennheiser Game One (it's the same headphone just fancier colours, often for the same price) When I first received them I was afraid of open-ear headsets, I thought they lacked bass. I was wrong, these blow your socks off! And also they have one of the best soundstages ever in sub 300$ headphones, which helps a lot with positional audio in gaming (accuracy of virtual surround positioning)

[url]https://www.massdrop.com/buy/akg-k7xx-massdrop-first-edition-headphones?mode=guest_open[/url] This seems like a pretty good deal, even if you're going to get it super late if you join in now.

[QUOTE=maxolina;46596332]Sennheiser PC360 or Sennheiser Game One (it's the same headphone just fancier colours, often for the same price) When I first received them I was afraid of open-ear headsets, I thought they lacked bass. I was wrong, these blow your socks off! And also they have one of the best soundstages ever in sub 300$ headphones, which helps a lot with positional audio in gaming (accuracy of virtual surround positioning)[/QUOTE] They look great but bust my budget by about 100$ typically, ill see if I can find some cheaper ones though.

[QUOTE=ntzu;46598635]They look great but bust my budget by about 100$ typically, ill see if I can find some cheaper ones though.[/QUOTE] Damn, you could've bought the Sennheiser HD 598s last night for $100 on Amazon (That's if you live in the US). These headphones seemed perfect for your needs. I believe the sale was still happening around the time you made that post too. They're usually around $180-$200 normal price. Sadly, they sold like hot cakes and were out of stock within a few hours. Though, I read that they might have the sale again so keep checking up on the Amazon product page. Or just visit this regularly for the next few days: [url]http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapcsales/[/url]

K, after listening to my new m50x after a few hours (320kbps mp3s, foobar with wasapi and xonar DG headphone amp), i have to say while it sounds better than what i used previously (cheap but good IEMs), it's not this life changing experience that you guys make it to be. Full sized headphones are way over hyped.

Budget: £150ish eBay: sure Country: UK Isolation: over ear Purpose: Just listening to music Music Tastes: A lot of variety. Electronic dance music, rock, folk. Previous Experiences: Many cheap pairs of headphones, never anything expensive before Comments: My girlfriend has found out she is getting a pair of Beats Solo headphones for her birthday from her dad and she's probably going to sell them and get another pair for the same price or probably less. We don't know much about headphones, other than that beats are overpriced for what they are and are a little embarrassing to wear in public so we're looking for recommendations. Comfort is important.