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Author Topic: The Headphone Thread  (Read 10793 times)

casull

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The Headphone Thread
« on: 30 Aug 2007, 11:13 »

ITT: talk about your experiences with headphones, what you own, what you've liked, and how it's changed your music listening.

I just got a pair of Grado SR60s a couple of days ago after meaning to for about a year, and I think these phones may spark my interest in bands that really need to be heard well to be appreciated. For example, Yo La Tengo through these is infinitely more interesting than Yo La Tengo through $8 speakers.

It seems a little bit odd that there's so little discussion of how we listen to music here, since we're so picky about what we listen to. There are one or two old threads filled with largely inaccurate recommendations, but that's about it. I've been spending a lot of time on one of the big hi-fi forums recently, and having spent time here and there both, it amuses me endlessly how people with great musical taste (here) listen on profoundly mediocre headphones/speakers, and people over there spend thousands to listen to really, really uninteresting music.
« Last Edit: 30 Aug 2007, 11:45 by casull »
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ElctrcMyhm

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #1 on: 30 Aug 2007, 12:00 »

I have Sony MDR-V6 headphones, which I bought a few years back.  I had been debating between these and the Grados.  To be honest, I can't recall why I chose these over the other, but I don't regret it.  I love them.  I use them primarily at night when I don't want to upset neighbors (thin walls = fun).  They definitely aid in helping you appreciate music with a lot of depth and layers that you wouldn't normally pick up on through semi-decent speakers and added background noise.

Before these I had been using a pair of headphones I picked up for free on an airplane (yes, the ones they give you to watch the crappy feature film).  As you can imagine, insanely big difference.  Actually, those were just a transition between nicer ones I had before that broke, but regardless... upgrade!
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #2 on: 30 Aug 2007, 12:28 »

Now that I have a set of Shure SE530s, I am not sure I will ever need another pair of headphones.

The dual-woofer design gives so much bass, I could not believe the sound was coming from a set of earbuds.  Not to mention the swappable sleeves that allow you to wear what is most comfortable is a huge plus.
« Last Edit: 30 Aug 2007, 12:30 by 3Z3VH »
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iliketodraw

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #3 on: 30 Aug 2007, 12:34 »

I must agree on the Shure headphones, i have owned Shure headphones for about six years now and i would never go back to a pair of sony headphones or the like. I currently own the Shure E4C headphones but have owned both E2Cs and E3cs in the past. Amazon are selling the E2Cs for £33 now, buy them, you won't regret it at all.
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2.0

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #4 on: 30 Aug 2007, 12:37 »

I have a sennheiser HD280 set. I don't have a lot of experience with headphones but these were pretty expensive yet well worth the money, they sound very very nice.
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MusicScribbles

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #5 on: 30 Aug 2007, 13:08 »

I just got the Sennheiser PX100's a little while ago, and they are the most excellent non-can headphones I think I could have ever possibly purchased. I bought them instead of something a little bit more because of costs, and because I'm a bit unintentionally rough with my headphones because I am constantly taking them off. Anyway, they are pretty great, and I am satisfied.
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Pelay

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #6 on: 30 Aug 2007, 14:08 »

I got me some shures for the long 8hr plane ride, and now I use them everyday.  It took a little getting used to and fidlilng with the different sleeves for the earbuds, but they are phenomenal.  I can totally tell the difference between low bitrate mp3's and higher quality ones now, as well as being able to completely block out the crying baby on the bus and my roommates snoring at night. 
My father has a pair of grado's that i've borrowed and they also sound so rich and beautiful!

Basically I love a good pair of headphones!!
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defaultstring

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #7 on: 30 Aug 2007, 14:09 »

*bashsfully*

I don't know anything about headsets, but I really need one.  The earbuds are just not doing the trick anymore.

So, for those headphone specialists out there, what should I look into purchasing?  I listen to a lot of hardcore punk, Booty-beat electro, jazz, and ambient tracks.  I'm never found without listening to music, and I'm pretty rough with my accesories.  So I guess I'm looking for an all-around portable set-up with enough endurance to take a daily dose of torture.

Does such a thing exist?

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iliketodraw

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #8 on: 30 Aug 2007, 14:19 »

If you want something that you can use in public i'd wholeheartedly recommend something from the Shure range (as i've already mentioned).
« Last Edit: 30 Aug 2007, 14:46 by iliketodraw »
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defaultstring

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #9 on: 30 Aug 2007, 14:24 »

Sweet, shall do some Shure lurking.
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jimbunny

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #10 on: 30 Aug 2007, 15:18 »

hmmm *takes headphones off to check*

Sony MDR V-150, for computer use (I share a room)

cheap Phillips earbuds for on the go
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casull

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #11 on: 30 Aug 2007, 17:02 »

*bashsfully*

I don't know anything about headsets, but I really need one.  The earbuds are just not doing the trick anymore.

So, for those headphone specialists out there, what should I look into purchasing?  I listen to a lot of hardcore punk, Booty-beat electro, jazz, and ambient tracks.  I'm never found without listening to music, and I'm pretty rough with my accesories.  So I guess I'm looking for an all-around portable set-up with enough endurance to take a daily dose of torture.

Does such a thing exist?

Default, if you really want to do your homework, try www.head-fi.org.

If you want a headset rather than IEMs and you want it to be portable, the sennheiser px100 would be your first choice and koss porta-pros would be your second. I'm assuming you want to spend less than $100. If you want to spend a bit less, try the koss ksc-75, they're about $20, or less. Or do you want a set that really gives you some isolation from outside sound?

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Ishotdanieljohnston

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #12 on: 30 Aug 2007, 18:09 »

I've got a really nice pair of Sennheiser earbuds, which i treat like absolute shit. I got them about six months ago and use them everyday. My problem is, i like to play them loud, so everyone on the train carriage has to suffer my music. Does anyone know any where this will not happen?
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #13 on: 30 Aug 2007, 18:16 »

I think it may be impossible for people to hear my music while I am listening to the Shure earbuds.  Even in a dead silent room they don't let any sound out of the ear.
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Lexington, 125

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #14 on: 30 Aug 2007, 19:51 »

I have Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones which my fiancee gave me for my birthday last year.   No comparison at all to regular earbuds, as the sound really envelopes you.  I swear Soundtracks for the Blind was a different album once I listened to it with these... God how I love that woman. 
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defaultstring

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #15 on: 30 Aug 2007, 20:09 »

Default, if you really want to do your homework, try www.head-fi.org.

If you want a headset rather than IEMs and you want it to be portable, the sennheiser px100 would be your first choice and koss porta-pros would be your second. I'm assuming you want to spend less than $100. If you want to spend a bit less, try the koss ksc-75, they're about $20, or less. Or do you want a set that really gives you some isolation from outside sound?

I don't really care about outside sound as much as I care about portability, endurance of speakers, and sound quality relative to price and size.

Right now, I'm looking for something like this.

Hmm, the koss models look interesting, but really wouldn't work for me~
My hair is rather big, fluffy, and out of control.
The sliding mechanisms look like they wouldn't be too kind for such a thing, but do look very enticing...

On with the research!
Thanks for the links, casull.

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pentaen

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #16 on: 30 Aug 2007, 22:53 »

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Pelay

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #17 on: 30 Aug 2007, 23:46 »

I had a pair of the noise cancelling version of senhiser px 100 and they sounded great.  So if they fit over your fluffy head I'd recomend those. The only problem with shures for on the go is they are canal phones so they amplifiy the sounds your body makes just walking and the sound of the chord hitting your chest ...god forbid you eat cookies while wearing them!  But they do sound sexy.  And I second the head-fi link they know their stuff
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MusicScribbles

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #18 on: 31 Aug 2007, 11:16 »

The only thing I would recommend is a pair of Sennheiser's because that is all I use.
I've been using Sennheiser's for a while because my dad used to own a production company that created commercials and did editing for movies, so they used non-commercial headphones, but industry ones, and they were Sennheiser's. Before he sold the 'phones I was able to, as a much younger me, listen to them, which is partially the reason why I'm so afraid of a lot of pop music. They were the clearest, most amazing headphones I had ever experienced in my not-so-long time listening to music.
My point is, I only own Sennheiser headphones. If you want something portable, then don't get cans (The cup headphones.), so I would recommend the PX100's again, because I love mine, and I don't like earbuds. If you can go a bit more expensive get the HD 280's, off of Amazon, because they are under $100 as Amazon is selling them for $100 off. The clarity of sound you get with these headphones is amazing. Anyway, enjoy your new headphones, no matter what you get.
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Caiphana

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #19 on: 31 Aug 2007, 11:19 »

I had a surprisingly nice pair of over ear foldable (yes. Foldable) headphones, with noise canceling capability (they worked very well in planes). They were $150. I can't even remember the brand now, though... My fiance borrowed them for a student film and fucking lost them somewhere. I'm still very very VERY pissed about this.

I can't afford to buy new ones. He keeps saying that he'll replace them, but I know he can't afford new ones either, as we share a bank account.
« Last Edit: 31 Aug 2007, 11:22 by Caiphana »
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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #20 on: 31 Aug 2007, 13:07 »

Grado SR-125s for my home system.  Sweet, sweet headphones, but fragile, open (meaning they make noise and do not drown out ambient noise), and they basically need to be driven by an amp (they'll work on an ipod but lack oomph).  Sony pieces of crap for my commute and travelling because they get broken anyway and the ambient noise makes fidelity impossible.  I'd wear noise cancelling or inner ear phones but I have no particular desire to die in traffic.
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pat101

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #21 on: 31 Aug 2007, 14:43 »

I just got the Sennheiser PX100's a little while ago, and they are the most excellent non-can headphones I think I could have ever possibly purchased. I bought them instead of something a little bit more because of costs, and because I'm a bit unintentionally rough with my headphones because I am constantly taking them off. Anyway, they are pretty great, and I am satisfied.
I just got a pair of these myself and I'm quite pleased

3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #22 on: 31 Aug 2007, 17:29 »

Up until near future I will continue using my Steel Sound H5 gaming headset/iPod standard plugs - I'm hoping to at least switch my gaming headset, but I can't seem to find a decent headset with a built-in mic (I detest loose ones)... Does anyone have any advice on this? Price up to 90£-ish, but as low as possible - 90 is absolute max and means I'm broke for a month or so.

I have found Plantronics makes good, cheap headsets with really nice directional mics, so you don't get a lot of outside noise.  Their .Audio 90 headphones are way cheap, and decent sound.
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OtterErotic

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #23 on: 01 Sep 2007, 07:50 »

I have a pair of Grado SR80s that I use as monitors for recording and mixing, and a pair of Sennheiser PX200s that I use with my iPod.  Love 'em both!
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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #24 on: 02 Sep 2007, 14:54 »

i've got a pair of Grado SR325i's (staff discount tastic), which are the best pair of headphones i've ever heard for my home stereo, and for my iPod i've got some sennheiser CX300s, which are quite good at blocking out noise and i cant be bothered with getting any of the active noise cancelling ones, and they sound pretty good aswell.
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melmenetkwe

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #25 on: 02 Sep 2007, 17:59 »

Uh... umm....... I own a pair of Ipod earbuds?  :mrgreen:  Now those are some really snazzy, super, cool headphones eh? :wink:
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melmenetkwe

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #26 on: 02 Sep 2007, 18:09 »

Oh yeah, well I saw all these weird names that I'd never seen before (which I'm guessing are the names of the headphones) and all these big fancy numbers, and all this other stuff and I thought, I just might as well speak up and be proud of what I got! Because, you know, our headphones rock!!

Oh and thanks,  :-D is it that obvious I'm a newbie?  :|
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David_Dovey

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #27 on: 02 Sep 2007, 18:12 »

The new version of iPod earphones suck nads. They changed the design sometime between when I bought my 5G Video, and when my parents bought those. So when my headphones finally gave out from abuse, all i could find were the crappy new versions, which barely stay in my ear. The old design I was very happy with, and was quite happy to keep using. I wish they'd bring it back.

I've got a pair of Sennheiser HD-280 monitoring headphones, they're amazing, so comfortable, excellent sound balance (not too bassy) and incredible clarity, even when I'm using them while I'm playing the drums. But they're also pretty big and the cable is very long, so I usually don't use them if I'm on the move.
« Last Edit: 02 Sep 2007, 18:15 by David_Dovey »
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Phaedra

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #28 on: 02 Sep 2007, 19:55 »

I recently purchased a pair of Audio Technica ATH-A700s and they have made listening to all of my older music a new experience! They're also extremely nice to look at, very comfortable, and seem to let hardly any sound out even at high volumes.


http://www.headphones.com.au/psingle?productID=159

The only downside is that they're fairly heavy, and they're roughly the size of my head so I look like a freak if I try to wear them on the bus.
(I'm a secret headphones nerd! I love threads like this one!)
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Liz

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #29 on: 02 Sep 2007, 20:22 »

I have the HP earbuds that came with my laptop.

Oh yeah.
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Phaedra

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #30 on: 03 Sep 2007, 19:52 »

I think my hearing might be damaged from headphone use. I have this faint tinny ringing that I can hear whenever my surrounds are quiet... :|
But damnit, bus trips are unbearable without music!
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GenericName

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #31 on: 03 Sep 2007, 21:37 »

I would really like to comment something interesting and thought-provoking here.
However, I can't, because my iPod is a piece of crap.
The right headphone only works if the jack is turned the right way, and with any except for the iPod headphones, that means my right ear gets nice, fluttery half-on-half-off sound if I want to walk anywhere.
So, I use a generic pair of old iPod headphones with some stuff replaced from a pair of Philips headphones for fun.
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ALoveSupreme

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #32 on: 03 Sep 2007, 21:53 »

I think my hearing might be damaged from headphone use. I have this faint tinny ringing that I can hear whenever my surrounds are quiet... :|
But damnit, bus trips are unbearable without music!

I think that's sort of normal by about this point in our lives.  I have had that for at least seven or eight years now, but about two years ago I tested fairly well on a hearing test. 
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pilsner

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #33 on: 04 Sep 2007, 07:59 »

Tinnitus is not normal but it is common.  It is also often treatable.  In my experience, tinnitus due to loud noises goes away after about an hour, so there may be another cause.
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Liz

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #34 on: 04 Sep 2007, 08:29 »

I like loud music, but not to the point that I need to worry about my hearing.
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pilsner

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #35 on: 04 Sep 2007, 08:38 »

I'm the same way, but as someone who's been going to a rock show per week for the last five years, I can tell you that it is impossible to attend most shows without either wearing earplugs or suffering long term hearing loss.  Most of the professional musicians and audio people I know opt to wear earplugs.  Everyone I know who went to the Daft Punk show at Keyspan was complaining of tinnitus the next day, for instance.
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Pelay

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #36 on: 04 Sep 2007, 09:05 »

yeah the tinitus thing kind of sucks.  I get it more often now, probably because i've been going to shows for most of my life.  I know I should really start wearing earplugs, but somehow I can't make myself do it...I know I will regret this later. 

Also for any of you who use headphone amps, whats the price range on them?
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pilsner

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #37 on: 04 Sep 2007, 09:10 »

I totally do not understand headphone amps.  If you're at home, and you're enough of an audiophile to have headphones that could make good use out of headphone amps, then your soundsystem should have an amp that can drive the headphones fine, right?   And if you're travelling, unless you're some kind of freaky-obsessive audiophile, you're probably not travelling with superb $200 plus headphones that need the amp.  Is there a difference between a standard soundsystem amp and headphone amps?
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Chrasstor

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #38 on: 04 Sep 2007, 11:48 »

I'm just using some pretty standard Phillip's ear-buds... They were about 22$ with tax retail, and have great sound quality. My only gripe with them is how they fall out if I accidentally yank them with my arm while walking(like almost every head-phone).

Not too fancy looking making them great for music at home on the pc, as well as mp3ing in the outside world.
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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #39 on: 04 Sep 2007, 13:04 »

I totally do not understand headphone amps.  If you're at home, and you're enough of an audiophile to have headphones that could make good use out of headphone amps, then your soundsystem should have an amp that can drive the headphones fine, right?   And if you're travelling, unless you're some kind of freaky-obsessive audiophile, you're probably not travelling with superb $200 plus headphones that need the amp.  Is there a difference between a standard soundsystem amp and headphone amps?

Yes, your typical sound-system amp can push out around 100 Watts on the headphone jack, while a headphone amp is typically about 40 Watts max.
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Lotus

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #40 on: 04 Sep 2007, 20:49 »

I haven't looked into quality headphones yet.  The iPod headphones worked for me because they gave plenty of sound compared to the headphones that came packaged with other CD and MP3 players.  Unfortunately the iPod headphones don't stand the test of time, so I went shopping for headphones and bought some $15 Phillips headphones.  It all works fine for me so long as the frequency range is greater than what the iPod delivers.  Plus, the Phillips don't become a hassle when a little sweat gets on them during runs.
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carnivoracious

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #41 on: 04 Sep 2007, 21:28 »

I'm wondering...

The human ear is only supposed to be able to hear between 20 and 22,000 hz (give or take, yonger women are supposed to be able to hear higher frequencies.)  Most headphones are capable of producing this frequency range or beyond (I think even the $.98 ones at Wal-Mart do that.)  If this is the case then what exactly is it we're looking for in a specific headset's specificatons that make it worth plunking down for?
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #42 on: 04 Sep 2007, 21:54 »

You are looking for accurate sound reproduction, not just acoustic range.

Sure, a cheap set of headphones may be able to do each not in the acoustic range, but what happens when it has to change sounds quickly, and constantly ?  Distortion.

What you are looking for is the speaker's Sensitivity (measured in dB)... this is basically a measure of how well your speaker uses the power that is provided for it.  The higher the dB rating, the better.  A good rating is around 85-90dB... a Very good rating is closer to 100dB, while the best headphones on the market, may barely reach 120dB.

Beyond that, you are just looking for something that transfers the sound from the driver (speaker) to your ear with the least outside interference or loss as possible.  Earbuds are best at this because they can actually pressurize your ear with bass thumps, so the bass is strong, and the sound is as accurate as possible due to lack of outside noise, only problem is, if you amplify them too much and turn up the volume, they WILL cause permanent hearing damage.  Also, many earbuds simply have a large driver way out near the ear canal opening, which causes the audio they create to have to bounce around a lot in your soft ear canal before reaching your eardrum, causing a loss of high-frequency fidelity.  Most of the high-quality (hence, high-priced) earbuds will actually fit inside the ear canal to aim the driver directly at your eardrum.  Next best are the huge headphones that cover your entire ear.  Again, they allow the driver to create pressure inside the earphone, which allows for more accurate bass, and less outside noise.  Disadvantage is they are big and clunky, hence, not very portable.   Then when you get to the type of headphones that just sit on your ears, you introduce a lot of outside noise, and a lack of pressure, so your audio quality will suffer.

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carnivoracious

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #43 on: 04 Sep 2007, 22:15 »

That actually concisely answered my question more perfectly than I could ever have hoped, thanks, 3Z3VH.

On a down note however, that pretty much kills the possibility of me finding a good pair of earbuds for less than $50.
Damn Murphey's law...
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #44 on: 04 Sep 2007, 22:33 »

And with that info, and my personal experience, I have not heard anything better than the earbuds I have.

Shure SE530 earbuds.  119dB Sensitivity, and some of the best sound isolation on the market to keep outside noise out of your ear (with these on you are literally wearing earplugs), combined with a driver system that pipes the audio into the ear canal and directly at your ear drum.  I also really like their modular cable design that allows you to add things like their PTH module (a microphone that you can turn on when you need to hear outside noise) or a seperate volume control, or even their MPA (Music Phone Adapter that turns the earbuds into a phone headset as well, for use on the iPhone or other music phones), and none of the add-ons will make the cable ridiculously long.
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pilsner

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #45 on: 04 Sep 2007, 22:44 »

I've got to wonder about this sensitivity thing.  The Sennheiser HE-90 Orpheus electrostatic headphones are said to have a sensitivity of "more than" 98 DB/1 kHz (source) and they used to retail for $15,000.  But, yeah, I've heard those Shure earbuds are the bee's knees.
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #46 on: 04 Sep 2007, 22:50 »

I've got to wonder about this sensitivity thing.  The Sennheiser HE-90 Orpheus electrostatic headphones are said to have a sensitivity of "more than" 98 DB/1 kHz (source) and they used to retail for $15,000.  But, yeah, I've heard those Shure earbuds are the bee's knees.

Anything with Tubes is going to be exponentially more expensive than the Solid State counterpart.  I think more of that $15,000 is spent on the amp than the headphones.  Also, due to it using tubes, and a non-standard driver type it is much less "sensitive" in that it doesn't efficiently use the power it is given.  You can make up for that with more amplification.  Unfortunately, I think those REQUIRE the external amp, so they aren't all too portable.  Nowadays, Studios simply use Studio Monitor speakers rather than headphones, because it is much easier to sound-proof and pressure lock a room than to buy enough of those headsets for everyone who wants to be in the booth.
« Last Edit: 04 Sep 2007, 22:54 by 3Z3VH »
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carnivoracious

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #47 on: 05 Sep 2007, 09:32 »

Would I be misguided in the idea that it would also be important to talk about what we are plugging our ludicrously expensive headphones into?  While I've heard (read?) some of you discussing setting up headphones for your home rigs (which makes sense with a decent setup, since the amplifier for a home rig is big and bad,) but what about those of us that listen to music on the go?  How much will what we're playing music on influence our headphone buying decision?  I've heard the amplifier that is built into the Ipod's headphone rig isn't all that great, but what about other digital audio players (I have a Rio Carbon) or even CD players?

Info for Ipod owners, the Etymotic Ety8 is a great wireless set.  Bluetooth buds with built-in amps and a dock connecter that bypasses the Ipod's own amplifier.  The right earbud also has a built-in remote.  The trick is that you probably want to keep your Ipod on the right side of your body since the bluetooth reciever is in that earbud.  As with all wireless sets, dropout and signal interferance is sometimes a factor.  I think amazon has these for about $80 less than the original price though...
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3Z3VH

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Re: The Headphone Thread
« Reply #48 on: 05 Sep 2007, 09:50 »

This is another reason you want as high a sensitivity as possible.  The higher your sensitivity, the less the amp in your player has to work to get good sound.  Also, make sure your drivers don't have a horrible Impedance rating.  Most headphones are anywhere between 18 to 40 Ohm, while some get as high as 100 Ohm.  The more resistance your speakers cause, the more work your amp will have to do.

With your standard iPod, anything with a 40 Ohm or less impedance will be just fine, as long as it has a decent Sensitivity value.

As for Bluetooth headsets having their own amps... that's all well and good, but the fact that they are wireless means you need a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) on each end of the bluetooth to convert the signal to Bluetooth, then back to analogue sound, and you are also limiting your fidelity by compressing the audio so it can be sent over the bluetooth stream.  No amount of amplification can make up for loss due to audio compression.
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