Yet another headphone thread

psoplayer wrote:

I remember several years ago, the first time I had a chance to try my friend's AKG K 701 set. I was awed by the incredibly open and airy sound they produced. I was jealous of them, but there was no way I could rationalize $300+ for a pair of headphones.

Flash forward to last month, I stumbled across a pretty fantastic deal for a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 cans, and they just arrived last night. These come pretty close to delivering what I remember of the AKGs, packing in a bit more bass but perhaps delivering overly bright highs. They are quite snug yet comfortable, far tighter against the head than 701s, and a bit more so than my Razer Carcharias.

And now I'm off in search of more FLACs.

I have the AKG K702's which are essentially the same as the K701's. I love them to death. Enjoy your new Beyerdynamic headphones! Unfortunately, to get lossless audio, I've generally found that you have to just go out and get the freaking CD. Once in awhile, that isn't the case, but for the most part you do. If you want some good jazz/classical recommendations let me know. I generally can't tell the difference with most rock stuff, but classical and jazz seem to benefit a bit. Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society is a good one.

Has anyone used both the Astro Mixamp and TurtleBeach Earforce DSS2? I can't find a good comparison of the two products online. I plan on pairing one of the two with my Razer Carcharias headset for console gaming.

Does anyone have any experiences/thoughts regarding Skullcandy IEMs?

S0LIDARITY wrote:

Has anyone used both the Astro Mixamp and TurtleBeach Earforce DSS2? I can't find a good comparison of the two products online. I plan on pairing one of the two with my Razer Carcharias headset for console gaming.

I use the Wireless Astro Mixamp 5.8 with the Razer's. Really like the combo, with the biggest downside being the fact that AAA rechargeable batteries don't last as long as I'd like (wish they'd gone with AA instead for more time). It's not a horrible thing.

Sound wise, they're pretty clear compared to my old Turtle Beach X41's, which always had a background wireless hiss for me along with more clipping issues.

@SOLIDARITY

The Astro products are superior to the Turtle Beach offerings.

I owned the Razer Carcharias for a time and I thought they paired nicely with my Astro amps. My brother is now using them with his Astro amp and loving them.

double-post from an edit?

WizKid wrote:

Does anyone have any experiences/thoughts regarding Skullcandy IEMs?

I used a pair of SkullCandy INK'D earbuds for a few years. I felt like they sounded great for $10, but they had feedback anytime the cable was brushed against or moved.

EDIT: Why not check out http://www.tweakedaudio.com/ use GWJ as a promo-code to help support the site and save 25%!

@MannishBoy and @heavyfeul

I've been leaning towards the Astro mixamp from the start. The problem is that Astro isn't currently selling the mixamp by itself. I haven't tried A40 cans since 2009, but I wasn't impressed. Everything sounded so distant. I heard they got an update of some sort since then but I'd like to cap my spending at the cost of the mixamp.

S0LIDARITY wrote:
WizKid wrote:

Does anyone have any experiences/thoughts regarding Skullcandy IEMs?

I used a pair of SkullCandy INK'D earbuds for a few years. I felt like they sounded great for $10, but they had feedback anytime the cable was brushed against or moved.

EDIT: Why not check out http://www.tweakedaudio.com/ use GWJ as a promo-code to help support the site and save 25%!

Just should pipe in that I found the TweakedAudio ones to be incredibly crappy. I tried 2 sets. Buyer beware, even at the temptingly low price.

S0LIDARITY wrote:

@MannishBoy and @heavyfeul

I've been leaning towards the Astro mixamp from the start. The problem is that Astro isn't currently selling the mixamp by itself. I haven't tried A40 cans since 2009, but I wasn't impressed. Everything sounded so distant. I heard they got an update of some sort since then but I'd like to cap my spending at the cost of the mixamp.

You can go the used route via eBay, but it might be worth it to just pull the trigger on the Turtle beach amp. If you buy it from Amazon, then you should have thirty days to get a full refund and their RMA process has always worked well for me. You will have a chance to give it a test drive and if their are any problems, it should be very easy to get your money back. Just be sure to buy from Amazon, not a third party through Amazon.

heavyfeul wrote:

You can go the used route via eBay, but it might be worth it to just pull the trigger on the Turtle beach amp. If you buy it from Amazon, then you should have thirty days to get a full refund and their RMA process has always worked well for me. You will have a chance to give it a test drive and if their are any problems, it should be very easy to get your money back. Just be sure to buy from Amazon, not a third party through Amazon.

I was looking at Newegg, ~$5.70 cheaper. I'll look into Newegg's return policy first though, I've been fortunate enough that I haven't had to RMA anything I bought there.

EDIT: The DSS2 cannot be returned for a refund at Newegg. I sent Astro customer service an e-mail. They informed me that the 'MixAmp Pro 2013 Edition' will be back in stock 'midway through the holiday shopping season.' I guess there's some sort of minor update being applied to the Astro mixamp. Decisions, decisions.

EDIT: dyslexia

MannishBoy wrote:

I wonder if it's fit that keeps them from sounding right to you? Try the different ear tips?

So I got around to trying different ear tips yesterday and eventually found that the "regular" (as in they look a lot like the ear tips most other IEM's come with) tips I was using started sounding way better when I was rotated them slightly in ear for a much tighter seal. Having said that, one of the more curious experiences I had was when trying a different ear tip and having the GWJ2010 theme sound more "brassy" then I had ever heard before due to the change in fit - goes to show what an impact getting the right fit can have when using IEM's I guess.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Unfortunately, to get lossless audio, I've generally found that you have to just go out and get the freaking CD. Once in awhile, that isn't the case, but for the most part you do. If you want some good jazz/classical recommendations let me know. I generally can't tell the difference with most rock stuff, but classical and jazz seem to benefit a bit. Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society is a good one.

Thanks to bandcamp there's a nice handful of lossless stuff up for grabs, but there isn't as much to be gained with a majority being Rock/Electronic/Chiptune. Speaking of jazz, watching through Kids on the Slope recently reminded me that Jazz is still a thing, and I put together a playlist and had it on loop for a couple of months following.

Thanks for the Spalding recommendation. I'll give her a listen and welcome other suggestions.

psoplayer wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Unfortunately, to get lossless audio, I've generally found that you have to just go out and get the freaking CD. Once in awhile, that isn't the case, but for the most part you do. If you want some good jazz/classical recommendations let me know. I generally can't tell the difference with most rock stuff, but classical and jazz seem to benefit a bit. Esperanza Spalding's Chamber Music Society is a good one.

Thanks to bandcamp there's a nice handful of lossless stuff up for grabs, but there isn't as much to be gained with a majority being Rock/Electronic/Chiptune. Speaking of jazz, watching through Kids on the Slope recently reminded me that Jazz is still a thing, and I put together a playlist and had it on loop for a couple of months following.

Thanks for the Spalding recommendation. I'll give her a listen and welcome other suggestions.

Kids on the Slope is a great one. I really wish more artists would use Bandcamp. It seems like about 10-20% of the albums I try to buy online offer a lossless version. Many of those are through Bandcamp. I tend to buy a lot of vinyl which usually comes with a digital recording. It's still the case that most of them don't offer a lossless version.

One interesting thing I noticed with nice headphones is that they make it almost impossible to listen to some old recordings. If you have a nice rip of Kind of Blue, for example, there is a ton of recording hiss. Once you notice it, it really detracts from the music. That recording sounds much better played through my living room system with nice big, warm speakers. Some of that stuff ends up sounding "better" on vinyl, too, just because the hisses and pops end up sounding natural. You aren't going to get a higher quality sound with vinyl than a good digital recording, but vinyl certainly has its place.

Edit: Oh yeah, definitely try the Machinarium soundtrack. That is just stunning with great headphones. Minority records offers a lossless version. I think you could get a lossless version with one of the indy bundles at one point, too.

avggeek wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I wonder if it's fit that keeps them from sounding right to you? Try the different ear tips?

So I got around to trying different ear tips yesterday and eventually found that the "regular" (as in they look a lot like the ear tips most other IEM's come with) tips I was using started sounding way better when I was rotated them slightly in ear for a much tighter seal. Having said that, one of the more curious experiences I had was when trying a different ear tip and having the GWJ2010 theme sound more "brassy" then I had ever heard before due to the change in fit - goes to show what an impact getting the right fit can have when using IEM's I guess.

That's what I was getting at exactly. I put my Klipsch's in a bit angled up to fit my ears, more than you'd think they would based on the look of the ear bud.

psoplayer wrote:

Flash forward to last month, I stumbled across a pretty fantastic deal for a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 cans, and they just arrived last night. These come pretty close to delivering what I remember of the AKGs, packing in a bit more bass but perhaps delivering overly bright highs. They are quite snug yet comfortable, far tighter against the head than 701s, and a bit more so than my Razer Carcharias.

Ah, another 990 owner!

I have the 990 Premium 600 ohm set myself, and they're easily my favorite mid-high end "fun" headphones of any that I've listened to. The bright treble *can* make a particular song here or there, usually with lyrics, sound a little harsh but it's rare enough and I love them so much for so many other things. They're great. Amazing soundstage, the bass is powerful and full in a way that I've never heard yet in another pair of headphones, and they're just great all around.

The only thing I wish for really is just a more comfortable headband. The earcups are fine, but the headband puts pretty constant pressure smack dab on the top of my skull and it gets uncomfortable during extended use. I find myself shifting the band forward and backward fairly often. But then the only headphones I've ever owned that avoided this problem (for me) are both my Audiotechnica sets with their split wing design. I can wear those things for hours and forget they're even there

Tagging myself but also gonna ask the question

What are the best affordable headphones a man can buy with 200$ these days?

Still open to paying a bit more if there's a great product that I just can't miss but still

My musts:
- Light
- Fits on a bigger head
- Quality cord

No need:
- Noise cancellation
- Wireless
- Brand recognition

Sennheiser HD 558.

heavyfeul wrote:

Sennheiser HD 558.

thanks for the tip. Sennheiser is definitely a brand that hasn't let me down so I'll check 'em out

IMAGE(http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/dar-today-111.jpg)

Haha, true

I've been using a pair of Sennheiser hd 595 for a couple years. I've been pretty happy with them. I wouldn't hesitate to go Sennhiser again the 558s look like a nice pair.

I would say the best thing about the 595 apart from the sound is the comfort level. I can wear them for hours with no fatigue. I'm sure the open design and the velvet cups help a lot with that.

The only caveat about the HD 5xx line is that they are designed for home use, thus they have a ten foot cord. The cord is removable but it uses a twist-to-lock mechanism to keep it secure, so I am not sure if a cable replacement can be found that would fit. The portable cord that comes with the Monoprice headphones discussed earlier might work. I use that cord (the Monoprice one) with my Aviators. It has a very slim miniplug.

Here are the HD 558:
IMAGE(http://media.headphone.com/productphotos/large/0020080558_6229.jpg)

Here are the cables that come with the awesome $23.20 (~$30 shipped) Monoprice 8323 (product ID#) headphones. The quality of the cables is great and the cans are well worth the price, even if they are a bit too neutral for my tastes.
IMAGE(http://images.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/83235.jpg)

The long cable I received with my pair looks like it has a better casing than the one in the picture and the plugs are slightly different. I think the long cord above is not the one that actually comes with the headphones as mine also has a beveled plug on one end so that the beefier plug can fit into the headphone jack on the left earcup.

The shorter slimmer cord looks right though.

Link to the Monoprice 8323 Headphones.

What do you mean twist to lock? can you unplug your cord and post a pic of the headset and cord (just the end that plugs into the headset?)

If I can change the cord it would entice me even more. I'm on the verge of ordering one. Found a deal online, tried them on in-store where I'll have a price-match done

please

interstate78 wrote:

What do you mean twist to lock? can you unplug your cord and post a pic of the headset and cord (just the end that plugs into the headset?)

If I can change the cord it would entice me even more. I'm on the verge of ordering one. Found a deal online, tried them on in-store where I'll have a price-match done

please :)

He's just saying that the end of the cord that plugs into the headphone is a proprietary Sennheiser design and you would probably have to order a replacement through Sennheiser. There's a chance, you could get a regular old 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cord to fit/work, but you would lose the lock and it might come unplugged all the time.

Bought.

I paid them 180$ after taxes and all. I think I made a great deal.

Now to find a cord that is 3' long with that twist and lock thing and a 1/8 jack ...

Random rant time!

Why the hell haven't headphone manufacturers figured out how to create a durable pair of small headphones? They fail all the time, and almost always in the same two ways: the wire breaks at the jack, or it gets pulled at the earpiece. This problem crops up across all brands and at any price point. This is really sh*tty engineering if you can't find a solution when you know exactly what the problem is. /rant

I've obviously had this problem as well, but I've found that even cheap ones last at least a year of use and abuse. Granted, normally with my use, it goes in a bag, gets pulled out and plugged into my computer or DAC/Amp. I don't take the bus or do a lot of walking with them which probably puts even more stress on them.

I'd suggest, and it's just a suggestion since you probably do it, but just be mindful how you wrap up the headphones, not putting stress on those areas that tend to break.

I don't know about more expensive ones, I haven't tended to spend more than $20 for a pair on sale, usually popular ones, but they've always lasted more than a year before having serious problems. If I spent $100-200 and the same thing happened, I'd be more upset.

Citizen86 wrote:

I've obviously had this problem as well, but I've found that even cheap ones last at least a year of use and abuse. Granted, normally with my use, it goes in a bag, gets pulled out and plugged into my computer or DAC/Amp. I don't take the bus or do a lot of walking with them which probably puts even more stress on them.

I've been getting only 4 or 5 months out of mine lately, but I'm in the exact situation you mentioned. I walk to work and take the bus to get around the city. I use my headphones for hours a day, and for a good portion of that they are attached to the phone in my pocket. I always unplug them when they aren't in use, but any precautions beyond that would defeat the purpose for me, i.e. headphones which fit in my pocket.

I think I might be better off investing in a soldering iron and learning a new skill.

DanyBoy wrote:
Citizen86 wrote:

I've obviously had this problem as well, but I've found that even cheap ones last at least a year of use and abuse. Granted, normally with my use, it goes in a bag, gets pulled out and plugged into my computer or DAC/Amp. I don't take the bus or do a lot of walking with them which probably puts even more stress on them.

I've been getting only 4 or 5 months out of mine lately, but I'm in the exact situation you mentioned. I walk to work and take the bus to get around the city. I use my headphones for hours a day, and for a good portion of that they are attached to the phone in my pocket. I always unplug them when they aren't in use, but any precautions beyond that would defeat the purpose for me, i.e. headphones which fit in my pocket.

I think I might be better off investing in a soldering iron and learning a new skill.

I have the same problem. I just buy headphones with replaceable cables now as I am fed up. I've done solder repairs many times, and it is only a temporary solution.