Post your HeadPhones!

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Cat1yst said:
do you have a stereo? like one with a discreet amp that you could hook up a nice cd player to? if you dont how about a friend? thats prolly a good way to test if an amp makes any difference
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I went over to my friends earlier today. He has an external creative card -- but I don't know which, something a little older. Through his stereo's amp there was greater punctuation, certainly at higher volumes (I guess this was all assumed). His two systems over all created pretty high noise levels though.
 
well better sounds at higher volumes is given... but did you see any substantial gains with your headphones using an amp?
 
Mister X said:
Yesterdays project:

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(Dynalo Revision C board + dual tread PSU)

Inards:

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One from last week:

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(PPA2 + STEPS)


Now if you will excuse me I have a M3 + Q11 to finish. :D
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These look so cool. Can Mister X or anyone else please tell me the basic differences between the two designs in terms of sound quality/ charachteristics? Which one is considered the better sounding one if applicable. I have an SR71 currently, but no longer need portable amps, but rather dedicated desktop amps. I am looking to upgrade from the SR71. I don't see much on Headfi about these, as most use production amps over there.

I am running HD650s w/ Cardas Cable. Looking to add W5000 later on. All lossless via Asio out of Emu 0404 USB.

I think these look bitchin, and much more attention to detail than commercial stuff Ive seen.

Also, can these be made with clear tops to show off the inards? Do they make clear form-fitting cases? Forgive my ignorance.
 
PPAV2 with your HD 650's will sound fantastic..I know..I don't want to speak for Mr.X but clear tops won't be his favorite.
 
So the PPAV2 is the best match for HD650 over the Dyna/M3? Could you describe the sound, ie bright/warm/fluid/fast etc?
 
p1010068qy7.jpg


Well I decided I might as well go for it, and I'm happy with the result. I did notice that people singing 's' sounds are EXTREMELY annoying and distorted! So weird, hopefully it goes away with burn in.

edit: Only happens if they scream it... heh...

Oh, and it's also a lot smaller than it looks in all of the pictures.
 
WOAH David!

I use a low-gain Go-Vibe V5 with my AKG K81DJs (Same imped as SR80s) on the bus, and my knob barely ever passes 9:30, it looks like you're pushing 11!
 
Gautama said:
WOAH David!

I use a low-gain Go-Vibe V5 with my AKG K81DJs (Same imped as SR80s) on the bus, and my knob barely ever passes 9:30, it looks like you're pushing 11!
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Hmm... yeah, it's hard to tell what the source level is at considering it's a shuffle, but I don't want to max it or even push it much considering distortion and battery wasteage.

With my sound card I keep it at a similar level with source at around 60-80%.

Did you think it was just really loud, or is there something else I should know? :eek: I'm just going based on what sounds good.
 
aardvark sandwich said:
So the PPAV2 is the best match for HD650 over the Dyna/M3? Could you describe the sound, ie bright/warm/fluid/fast etc?
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I did not say the "best" I said it sounds fantastic..
For me it has a warm sound also a large soundstage and plenty of detail. Your source is also very important. The other 2 amps are also very good with the 650. Hang out on Head-fi, there are much better descriptions of the sound that a HD650 yields..I also use a MAD Ear+ Purist tube amp with them..I can listen for hours on either.lf you want the "best" you would be hard pressed to beat a Dynahi or a Beta 22, of course that is my worthless opinion;) Here is another opinion..PPAv2 > HD 650 > Tool..10,000 days > And a cold one...
 
david121 said:
Hmm... yeah, it's hard to tell what the source level is at considering it's a shuffle, but I don't want to max it or even push it much considering distortion and battery wasteage.

With my sound card I keep it at a similar level with source at around 60-80%.

Did you think it was just really loud, or is there something else I should know? :eek: I'm just going based on what sounds good.
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I just thought it was loud, I use a similar setting to you out of my X-Fi at 45%, usually with Foobar volume down 5db
 
Viper8547 said:
Can anyone tell me anything about this model of headphones? I am looking for a good and comfortable pair of headphones for my computer/MP3 player.

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=qc2_headphones_index

I like the noise-cancelling aspect of them and the style. I don't like plugs very much at all. The only part I don't like about this model is the price, $299. :eek:
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BOSE = Buy Other Stereo Equipment

For 20 dollars more, you can get Sennheiser HD650s, which are considered by many to be the best dynamic headphones available at any price. They are really 500 dollars retail, but eBay, etc, and its more like 330 street. These will take any bose headphones for a walk. If thats too steep, Sennheiser HD600s are similar, but can be had for like 250.

I dont recommend going w/ anything less, as you will eventually desire an upgrade, and be forced to spend a lot more new money, or sell your headphones for a loss.

www.headfi.org
 
Viper8547 said:
Can anyone tell me anything about this model of headphones? I am looking for a good and comfortable pair of headphones for my computer/MP3 player.

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=qc2_headphones_index

I like the noise-cancelling aspect of them and the style. I don't like plugs very much at all. The only part I don't like about this model is the price, $299. :eek:
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My roommate had that exact same pair.

It's ok.. but nothing special with regards to the quality of the sound you get from it.... nothing special about the build... nothing special about the noise cancelling part. With the NC on, I could still hear the A/C, vaccuum, even my roommate talk...

I dont think it's worth the money. I think it controls the droning... but not necessarily everyday noises.
 
i was raised and groomed on Bose, so my opinion is rather biased
They have decent active noise cancellation, but when it comes to sound quality, they stack up to only the 100$ sets...for that money i would rather get Senninhiser

anyone hear (excuse the pun) anything good about ultrasone's proline series? im looking at a set of 750i's
 
haha I actually wasn't joking about getting the Bose headphones. Shows how much of a noob I am with audio :D . My friend also reccomended Sennheiser for headphones and not Bose. I think I will get the HD650 eventually though, thanks a lot for the input!
 
sdgserv said:
aardvark sandwich..

Did you come to any conclusions on an amp?
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sigh....not yet. :(

Every time I think I've decided, along comes new info or new products. I just saw a pretty cool looking tube amp (yes totally different direction than before...I'm getting dizzy, lol) called Zana Duex by Eddie Current, at 6moons.com
I had not even heard of this amp at Headfi, must have missed it completely. It is a totally different price range than I'm prepared to go though, so its all in the air at the moment. Tube gear is very intimidating to me, as it seems tubes are not exactly growing in supply.

If I get an amp from Mister X, I believe it would be the ppav2, probably about 90 percent certain on that. Dammit I just don't know, lol.
 
aardvark sandwich said:
Every time I think I've decided, along comes new info or new products. I just saw a pretty cool looking tube amp (yes totally different direction than before...I'm getting dizzy, lol) called Zana Duex by Eddie Current, at 6moons.com
I had not even heard of this amp at Headfi, must have missed it completely. It is a totally different price range than I'm prepared to go though, so its all in the air at the moment. Tube gear is very intimidating to me, as it seems tubes are not exactly growing in supply.
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I have heard nothing but good things from the Zana Duex. Should be in another league from the PPA's. Shoot a PM to some of the people who own them on HeadFi, that'll take you right to the source.

Also, I wouldn't fear tubes. I had thought they were scary, and avoided them for a while, but if you buy something that was engineered to be tube friendly, it's not scary at all.

Yea, tubes are not as common as golf balls, but thankfully the internet has made it eaiser to find them. Some of them can be quite pricey, however if you are looking at something in the 1000$ range, what's a few hundred spent on tubes.
^_^
 
eddie current amps are quite nice from what i have heard at meets...

but i still prefer to build my own :cool:
 
OMFG.

I just found out that the amp I use for my speakers, a heavily modified Trends Audio 10.1, can drive the AKG K1000 earspeakers. I have always wanted these, but was put off by the fact that most amps suitable were just as expensive as the phones themselves. I think I just found my next purchase:D

Now to find an available pair:confused:
 
aardvark sandwich said:
OMFG.

I just found out that the amp I use for my speakers, a heavily modified Trends Audio 10.1, can drive the AKG K1000 earspeakers. I have always wanted these, but was put off by the fact that most amps suitable were just as expensive as the phones themselves. I think I just found my next purchase:D

Now to find an available pair:confused:
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You may want to try them out before you buy them................ they certainly aren't for everyone.

In fact, this is my advice for anything you are considering. Bottom line? Don't rush into a purchase, unless you can spare the money.
 
Good point. Although one benefit of their obscurity is I could always resell for same price or at least close to it.
One thing Im considering doing (assuming I did end up getting them) is simultaneously using a Zu Audio Mini Method subwoofer that I have been storing away that I got on sale. It is supposed to be very agile and quick, which of course would be critical to match the speed of earspeakers. There is a device that allows running the sub to the trends audio amp to fool the amp into thinking its another pair of speakers. But the power to the sub comes from its own internal amp. Kind of odd, but a possibility nonetheless.
 
Zana Duex :eek: I hope you have one good credit card..come back to earth, I bet there is not even 150 people in the World who have auditioned this amp. You are starting to sound like me...............lol
 
sdgserv said:
Zana Duex :eek: I hope you have one good credit card..come back to earth, I bet there is not even 150 people in the World who have auditioned this amp. You are starting to sound like me...............lol
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I checked out a long time ago my friend :D

There comes a point where you can honestly--with a straight face-- justify large sums of money for music over savings and expenses, because it is no longer discretionary, but mandatory. When you listen to music for 10 plus hours a day and realize you use this stuff more than your car or your bed. And a car inevitably needs to be replaced. That is my experience anyhow. And all my family & friends think im nuts. That only makes me enjoy it more for some reason. I pity them....dullards...
 
aardvark sandwich said:
I checked out a long time ago my friend :D

There comes a point where you can honestly--with a straight face-- justify large sums of money for music over savings and expenses, because it is no longer discretionary, but mandatory. When you listen to music for 10 plus hours a day and realize you use this stuff more than your car or your bed. And a car inevitably needs to be replaced. That is my experience anyhow. And all my family & friends think im nuts. That only makes me enjoy it more for some reason. I pity them....dullards...
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Behind you all the way...More is better....
 
[A]MD-Fan;1031115991 said:
FLECOM are you going to be building the B22? :D
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lol, i am working on an all-tube electrostatic amp...

the B22 is very nice... ray really knows how to make a nice sounding/looking amplifier

it impresses me how much asthetics comes in to play for some people...

i think someone at a meet desribed it best "franks amps have a look that only an engineer could love" but everyone sure loved to hear them which is definately the important part :)

and to me a big rackmount aluminum box is seeeeexy so i guess i qualify as an engineer :)
 
Ok im gonna post a repeat question here so that i dont start ANOTHER thread

if anyone has some nice IEM's e4's> do they notice a difference when they use an amp with an X-fi or their portable media player?


(if this question doesnt belong here ill be happy to delete it)
 
Cat1yst said:
Ok im gonna post a repeat question here so that i dont start ANOTHER thread

if anyone has some nice IEM's e4's> do they notice a difference when they use an amp with an X-fi or their portable media player?


(if this question doesnt belong here ill be happy to delete it)
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The thing I've found with IEMs is they tend to be so sensitive that you need to have a very high quality amp that can cater to them or you get background hiss like the day is long.

One of the reasons I went from the UM2 back to the UM1 was because the hiss was so bad out of all my portable players that it was drowning out the higher quality sound. I also didn't want to invest in, or carry around an amp with my portable setup.
 
Just thought I would share w/ everyone an excellent source for headphone stands: Woo Audio. I got 2 of the black ones myself, and will post as soon as I find the blasted camera thats M.I.A.

wa_stand_silvernbk.jpg



wa_stand_2silver.jpg


(images from woo audio)

I have the cardas cable on my HD650 and theres plenty of room at the base, as opposed to some other stands. Especially if you exploit the scalloped edges :D

These babies are strong as hell, and assemble with an included hex wrench. You could probably drop 'em off a building and still use them. They assemble in about 2 minutes. I assume this helps keep shipping costs down. I will use no other stand now.
 
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