Headphone FAQ

[Mr. Tinker]

I think there would be a good niche market for a soundcard with a tube pre-amp. I guess you could also build a small tube pre-amp and output your sound to that.

[Mr. Tinker]

xfi? u mean new soundblaster garbage... sigh.. they realy truely are garbage.

So you've used one?

[STickGuy]

Good Read

[[XC] MarioMaster]

If anyone was thinking of making their own tube amp, drop me a PM, I have a bunch of tubes still in original boxes.

[krille]

How ergonomical are these headphones? I was mainly thinking of the Sennheiser HD-650. High-fidelity is always nice, but what's the point of good headphones if you can't use them? While I'm looking for good sound, I want to be sure I can use them 24/7 (well nearly...) without getting soar ears. Ergonomically they should be excellent in order for me to see the point.

Anyone got any experiences with these or some other headphones? Can you wear them for several days straigh (LAN parties) without them getting on your mind and starting to be too heavy/bothersome/annoying/whatever?

Currently I'm on a Plantronics DSP-500 Headset, which ergonomically is quite alright. But they sport no noise-isolation whatsoever, and that's getting on my nerves too. Don't know how ergonomical noise-isolated headphones are though?

Thanks ~ Kris

[physics_geek]

Get ATH A900, then. They are the most comfortable of the bunch, and are also quite isolating. It is my current headphone

[YanBooth]

I like my Bose headphones.

[ocmyface]

does anyone thats a sound guru have a pair of AKG K44's?

cus i have a pair of them and for 20 bucks they seem freakishly good.... just wanting another opinion

[flavoraid]

Hmm..

Im interested in building a new amp ive done a pimeta and own a cmoy. Im looking for something better I was on head-fi.org briefly and a few people suggested a Millet Hybrid is that the same thing as M^3? or is the M^3 known as the M3 here http://www.headwize.com/ubb/showpage...num=3&tid=6339

The headphones ill be using will be 1 of the 3 if not 2 of the 3 as follows.

SA-5000, HD650/595

Basically im looking for a amp in the 200-300$ price range considering getting 1 built but id prefer to try DIY and have someone fix it if I dork it than not try at all. What do you suggest?

[FLMJIGGY]

Good find I got here. THANKS...

Could this list still be considered up to date? Looking to buy a pair.

[flavoraid]

id say its pretty much up to date.

prehaps post what your about to buy and people will tell your there experiance with simular setups.

[FLMJIGGY]

I bought the Senny HD280 Pro and they sound great...

I'm wondering how the AT500 sound like though...


btw I personally didn't think the X-Fi sounded all that great. At least not for the price. (had the plat) That's why I dont have it in my system.

[[XC] ruane]

I have the Sennheiser HD515s, and before that I had a set of old HD414SLs, they are very impressive headphones, well built, excellent sound quality ,if a little "laid back" as mentioned, I can defonatly recomend the HD515s as they are only about £60, and for the money they are excellent.

Ruan

[perry_78]

Sony MDR-V700 is where my money's at

[Connectz]

I use HD 650's with the foam "veil" removed and leggs panty hose in their place. It makes for a clearer, less muffled sound.

[dab420]

Any opinions on the Skullcandy line of headgear? I've been on the fence about ordering them, from what I understand the Skullcrushers are where it's at..

[ramenchef]

Hmm, those A900 headphones really do look and sound awesome. I'll probably pick up one soon.

[2000army]

Good guide

[ChaosMinionX]

Should put some of the Ultimate Ears offerings up there

I have a pair of UE SuperFi 5Pro and I absolutely love them

[Donnie27]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...1&postcount=11

Now it would be up to him to repost it but his and another post there on Cans are Excellent!!!!!!!

[Soulburner]

Yes, I found that post to be very helpful

[Death_Eagle_571]

Hey guys, I was looking at the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 Headphones, they seem like very good headphones, inbetween the AT-500 and AT-900 sets, any opinions??

[YukonTrooper]

Here is my post from the other thread:

You won't see any benefits using an amplifier or receiver with the A900 (40ohm) and AD900 (35ohm). The Koss KC75's (60ohm) would benefit more from an amp. Both cans are easily driven and would work fantastic out of the Prelude or any other X-Fi. Normal X-Fi cards will benefit greatly with upgraded op amps and a better power filter capacitor. The Prelude also has a more powerful output section than the regular X-Fi's so will drive headphones even more efficiently. The Prelude has some of the best DAC's and op amps in the industry and is comparable to using audio gear worth thousands of dollars. I'm not kidding, go over to head-fi.org and you'll see what I am talking about. The same goes for regular X-Fi's with upgraded op amps (op amps are a top component when talking about sound and the stock X-Fi op amps should burn in hell) but the Prelude is that much better. The DAC's found in regular X-Fi's are actually quite good quality and that is why the X-Fi with modded op amps is popular around the audiophile world.

The ability to digitally playback files which have been ripped in lossless format is like having a $$$$ CD player. Throw on top of that a quality external DAC which costs $$$$ to match the Prelude and your looking at a few paychecks. PC as source for audio is unmatched for price/performance and flexibility.

ANYWAYS back to the headphones. Because of the open air design of the AD900 it offers some noticeable gains in sound quality opposed to the closed design of the A900. I'll try to explain my best between the two.

Bass - This is the one area where the A900 is superior in terms of overall amount of bass. It will be more like the subwoofer in your car that goes really low. It will have more of an effect of covering your head in bass opposed to the AD900. The AD900 has less overall bass but what is there is more defined, impactful and tight. However this is not to say it is lean on bass. It has a neutral bass compared to all headphones so would run somewhere in the middle. It all depends on the type of bass you want. If you want real thumping bass then the A900 is probably better for you. If you want clean, fast and tight bass then go for the AD900. REMEMBER some will like one type and some will like the other and this is only a guideline.

Mids - AD900 is a mid monster. You like vocals? Mids, mids mids. You like Maynard James Keenan doing what he does best? Mids, mids mids. The AD900 really shines here whereas by comparison the A900 lacks. It's not so much that the A900 doesn't have mids, it's more of the fact that it has stronger bass and treble which seem to drown out the mids.

Treble - Both are probably a winner here but I tip my hat off to the AD900 because they aren't as overpowering and are more neutral with the mids and bass. The A900 might be able to reach a bit higher but you'll find yourself taking your headphones of quicker for a break.

Comfort - Supposedly some of the most comfortable around. Both use the same system and should be equally comfortable.

The AD900 sounds like the better overall can for a wide variety of music. The bass is still good but definitely not overwhelming like the A900. If you need large amounts of bass then the A900 will be a better can for you. The mids are much better and the treble is more natural on the AD900. I'd say the Koss KC75 and AD900 are probably about equal in terms of bass but the AD900 will have better detailed bass. For gaming both are very good because of their excellent sound stage and imaging. These cans are among the top suggested for gaming so you'll be very happy with both in this regard. The AD900 has better sound stage and imaging but not by much. From reading around the AD900 is worth the extra $40 for improved sound quality so thats the can I went with.

Here's a guy who did a review of the AD700, the AD900's little brother: http://www.headphones.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10 This would be a good place to read about the signature of the cans. You'll notice at the end of the review he says the AD900's impressed him even more. Later in the thread in one of his posts he says "The AD900 sounds better than the AD700, that's the difference. Better clarity, detail, separation, balance, smoothness, bass, dynamics etc."

Cheers!

[Soulburner]

More discussion about AD700/AD900:

http://headphones.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10

[Donnie27]

More discussion about AD700/AD900:

http://headphones.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10

For my own personal tastes, I like the DT770's better.