• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Sennheiser or Alienware ?

Gaiden133

Gaiden133

[H] Ninja
Joined
Aug 6, 2004
Messages
3,720
Hey all.
Looking for a new set of cans as I will be living in a townhouse this fall. Read many threads here and i'm torn between a couple models as to which is the best one.

First up is the Sennheiser HD555

Cheaper than the others, heard a lot of good things about it from everyone on the forums.

Next is the Sennheiser HD585

Lots of owners around in the forum prefer this over the HD595, could be a good middle ground between the two.

Next is the Sennheiser HD595

A little bit more expensive, heard mixed things about it from forum goers here.

Turning away from Sennheiser, if i'm willing to pay around $200, this is a newer headphone set i've seen that has been getting some great reviews online. No one here on [H] seems to have it though, so not so sure how great it is. Alienware Ozma 7

I'll also be pairing this with my cpu in the sig with the X-Fi plat sound card, so i have the 3.5mm input. Thoughts? And i have a Klipsch Promedia 4.1 setup, was thinking of upgrading it to the logitech z-5500's as well but not so sure its worth it if i get a good set of cans and I can't be blasting as loud as I want to in a townhouse area in Seattle either.

Any other great cans from other brands like bayer dynamics or audio technica?

Thanks all :)
 
headphones brand > computer brand Although I have never heard the alienwares.... I would go with sennheiser before I buy headphones from alienware or thier overpriced pc's lol.
 
aZn_plyR said:
headphones brand > computer brand Although I have never heard the alienwares.... I would go with sennheiser before I buy headphones from alienware or thier overpriced pc's lol.
Click to expand...

Great Point there,
 
-(Xyphox)- said:
I would go with these
http://www.thetravelinsider.info/7dec2001.htm
Bose :D
Click to expand...

haha my original title was "Sennheiser or Alienware or Bose" as well, but then I rechecked and the Quiet Comfort series on their website were 2 & 3, both out of my price range. Forgot about the first line as well. Those I have had RL friends praise to gods end about those. Ah wonder if they still sell those.. and if they do, would it be worth it over senneheiser.
 
aZn_plyR said:
headphones brand > computer brand Although I have never heard the alienwares.... I would go with sennheiser before I buy headphones from alienware or thier overpriced pc's lol.
Click to expand...

yeah that's the reason why im hesitant to get those, though some mags have praised them could be "biased" to giving them a good review too, though. Anyway, that's sort of a tough one as no [H]'er seems to have a pair and lots seem to love the cans from Sennheiser which makes me feel more confident with them
 
aZn_plyR said:
headphones brand > computer brand Although I have never heard the alienwares.... I would go with sennheiser before I buy headphones from alienware or thier overpriced pc's lol.
Click to expand...

If those are the ones I'm thinking of, Maximum PC reviewed them a while ago, and pointed out that they're actually designed and made by Ultrasone for Alienware, so they are made by a headphone company. That said, Ultrasone's units typically don't get the most praise, and I'm sure Alienware still marked them up an additional 100% over their real value.

Bose's products are almost uniformly overrated and overpriced. Avoid.

Of your choices I'd stick with the Sennheisers. And for the "HD585" you linked the HD580... the HD580 has an impedence of 300 ohms, so if you want to get proper volume and sound quality out of it you'd need a good headphone amplifier.

Now, I haven't heard the HD555 or HD595, but they are supposed to be quite similar, and I've seen both for a good bit less than Newegg has them.

The Beyerdynamic cans that come up most frequently here are the 80-ohm version of the DT770, which can be had for $140-200ish on eBay or at brick-and-mortar guitar centers. These cans are closed, meaning they block outside sound (unlike the three Sennheisers you mentioned), and it's usually very recommended to use a dedicated headphone amplifier with them. They're considered some of the best headphones for gaming, with great position and big bass.

The Audio-Technica A900 also comes up a lot, and depending on who you ask they may be comparable for gaming to the DT770. Where the DT770 is considered the best cans for movies/games and bassheads, the A900 is considered to be a bit more of an all-around headphone. They go for $168 at bluetin.com and $190ish at audiocubes.com. There's also the cheaper $100 version of the same series, the A500, and an often-ignored middle ground, the A700. The Ax00 series does not need an amplifier.

I haven't heard most of these cans so I can point them out to you but I can't give you much mroe than that. I'd heartily recommend going to head-fi.org and searching around there - you'll find way more information on all of these headphones than you'd ever really need.
 
Gaiden133 said:
haha my original title was "Sennheiser or Alienware or Bose" as well, but then I rechecked and the Quiet Comfort series on their website were 2 & 3, both out of my price range. Forgot about the first line as well. Those I have had RL friends praise to gods end about those. Ah wonder if they still sell those.. and if they do, would it be worth it over senneheiser.
Click to expand...
I would go with the Bose any day
 
-(Xyphox)- said:
I would go with the Bose any day
Click to expand...

You know they have horrible quality issues, right? Like with the $150 TriPorts having broken headbands within a week?

I only approach Bose with a morbid curiosity rather than with respect. They're just not worth the premium they charge.
 
The Bose are cool if you don't mind paying too much for what they are and repairing them with electrical tape when they fall apart.

I have a pair of the HD595's and can recommend those for sure. I was using a friends pair of triports and thought they sounded good until i got the 595's. I didn't even think headphones could sound that good (which is why the triports weren't bad at first sound wise.)

But for reals, the Bose are cheaply made and will fall apart - maybe some of the online retailers will bundle in a roll of electrical tape for free though.
 
Whenever I saw people with Bose 'phones on campus, both sides of the headband were fixed with black electric tape. I myself held the TriPorts in a store--they are very comfy on the ears, but feel extremely flimsy, especially in comparison to my Audio-Technicas. Even if the sound quality was worth $150 (by most accounts, it's not), I'd go with a better built product any day.
 
BOSE just plain stinks. Overpriced crapola always compared to real audio gear.

Senn 555s or ATH700 Airs for entry level audiophile quality. U won't be unhappy with either.
 
Sorry for jumping into your thread and asking my own questions but...

Relatively speaking how would the ath500/700 and hd555 compare to the beyer dt770 or ath900?

Lets just put the beyer and ath900 at 100% seeing that is what I want to compare them to. I've heard the ath900 so if you give me a relative number from there I could judge from there.

edit: and I'm picking up a portable amp (most likely a little dot micro+) so how much do the entry level headphones improve with amps?
 
The Bose aren't worth the price. I just recently listened to the Triports at the Apple store. They pale in comparison to my HD555s.
 
I would stay away from the Alienware and Bose cans.

Personally I would go with some Senn or Audiotechnia cans. The A500/A700 cans are very popular for gamers... but I would personally look at the AD700's because they are an open design and will give more natural sound, and probably a better soundstage and thus better positional audio.
I actually almost ordered some AD700's but found some used Senn HD595's that I'm going to give a try.
 
Everyone telling you to go with bose is just fucking with you. It's well known on all audio forms that bose is horribly overpriced and underperforming compared to companies such as grado, sennheiser, audio-technica, etc.
 
What ElektronikSeraph recommended is basically what I would say.

OP, do you have a specific style of music that you like to listen to?
Eaither way, as long as you stick to the HD595, ATH900, or DT770pro, you should be pleased eaither way (eaither should put a smile on your face to say the least). But, that's not to say they are all the same.... its just that you may not know what sonic signature you like better without hearing them first hand.

I enjoy the DT770pro, but I'm biased. They do work great for movies and games though.

Head-fi.org is your friend.

I'de be interested to hear what you end up getting.

Hope this helps,
~Towert7
 
towert7 said:
What ElektronikSeraph recommended is basically what I would say.

OP, do you have a specific style of music that you like to listen to?
Eaither way, as long as you stick to the HD595, ATH900, or DT770pro, you should be pleased eaither way (eaither should put a smile on your face to say the least). But, that's not to say they are all the same.... its just that you may not know what sonic signature you like better without hearing them first hand.

I enjoy the DT770pro, but I'm biased. They do work great for movies and games though.

Head-fi.org is your friend.

I'de be interested to hear what you end up getting.

Hope this helps,
~Towert7
Click to expand...


what he said^... ElektronikSeraph knows gave good suggestions. I was in the same boat as you and went with the dt770's. They are amazing.

Towert7: what amp do you use to power your dt770?
 
Right now I'm using Audigy 2 ZS > PA2v2 > Beyer DT770pro. Great little budget setup.
Soon to upgrade the PA2v2 to a Gilmore Lite.

I never exceed 1/2 volume with the PA2v2 (usually only a quarter volume for normal music levels), and the soundcard master set to 50%.
 
im using bose triport right now and i think they are ok..i dont mind paying extra just to get the name bose.. well i havent really tried other headphones yet but i think the bose will be sufficient for me..at least for now..
 
I have the HD-555's and they are significantly better then any bose headphones I have heard, but don't have the noise cancelling which I don't care about.
 
m3ta1head said:
ATH-AD900>all.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...eadphones?sku=244510&src=3AXCAWXX&src=3WPGWXX

Worth every goddamn penny. Only thing that beats it is Sennheiser Baby O...and that costs $1500+ :p
Click to expand...


I havent heard any of the open AT line yet. I do however love my ATH-A900s (the D in them signifies the open design).

As far as a difference between them and the a500s.. the 500s were my first quality set of cans and I loved every second of them (definately better than those bose btw). $100 is a great price especially considering how well they perform without an amp. Comparing the a900s now to the 500s I'd have to say the 900s are worth the extra cash if you're spending a lot of time with them. There is a definate improvement (one of the most noticeable is the recessed mid that is in both being quite reduced on the 900s comparably).

I tried the Beyer Dt770s with a millet hybrid amp as well as the headroom total bithead and honestly i wasn't too impressed. I don't know if they needed a lot more burn in or what but I couldnt hear the bass that everyoen raves about for them. I found the a900s have a much better bass sound to them and hold up well in movies/hip hop.

If you're going for a closed (and therefore sound isolating) headphone for $200 my vote is the A900
 
The Beyerdynamic DT 250-80's are good too if you want a cheaper alternative to the DT770-80. And don't really want to buy an amp.

But yea the A500 and A900 are super awesome for the comp.
 
ElektronikSeraph : Thanks a lot bro for the input :) The recommendation to check out some Beyer cans is well received, I will definately look into checking head-fi.org and getting myself well knowledged on dedicated amps for headphones and all that good stuff :D Again, thanks for the input on the Bose/Alienware cans, was great to know why one should deter away from those products.

towert7 said:
What ElektronikSeraph recommended is basically what I would say.

OP, do you have a specific style of music that you like to listen to?
Eaither way, as long as you stick to the HD595, ATH900, or DT770pro, you should be pleased eaither way (eaither should put a smile on your face to say the least). But, that's not to say they are all the same.... its just that you may not know what sonic signature you like better without hearing them first hand.

I enjoy the DT770pro, but I'm biased. They do work great for movies and games though.

Head-fi.org is your friend.

I'de be interested to hear what you end up getting.

Hope this helps,
~Towert7
Click to expand...

Towert7: I listen to either Rock, Rap, Trance, etc.. For the most part, i'll be using the cans for music, movies and games. After your recommendation, i'm definately gonna be doing some research on the HD595, ATH900 and DT770 pro, I think that im open to either closed or open air cans, not too picky on either though some say that open gives you better surround sound though. I'll most def head over to head-fi.org and check them out :) And wow, those Beyer & Audio Technica cans look great from specs wise.. also they look ultra comfy.
 
when you head over to head-fi look for some of my posts. I just joined about a week ago after reading some threads and searching for some gaming cans. I settled on some hd595's and I even picked up a little dot micro+ amp for cheap last night. btw... I got everything used, but in good condition. this way if I decide i don't like them, or want to switch I'm not out a lot of money.

so I'll be running:

X-Fi Xtreme Music > little dot micro+ > Senn HD595
 
soloz2 said:
when you head over to head-fi look for some of my posts. I just joined about a week ago after reading some threads and searching for some gaming cans. I settled on some hd595's and I even picked up a little dot micro+ amp for cheap last night. btw... I got everything used, but in good condition. this way if I decide i don't like them, or want to switch I'm not out a lot of money.

so I'll be running:

X-Fi Xtreme Music > little dot micro+ > Senn HD595
Click to expand...

that's the way to do it and that's a great combo.

Best Buy atm is the A700s for $100-115 imo. No amp needed out of an x-fi and bump the bass boost up a db or 2 if u want thump.
 
m3ta1head said:
ATH-AD900>all.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...eadphones?sku=244510&src=3AXCAWXX&src=3WPGWXX

Worth every goddamn penny. Only thing that beats it is Sennheiser Baby O...and that costs $1500+ :p
Click to expand...

while i dont agree with that statement, I think my K1000's beat the ATH-AD900 by far for my tastes the K701's, DT880's, and HF-1's are up there... and I actually have a pair of baby O's im just waiting on all the parts for my KGSS so i can actually listen to the stupid things, its like fricken torture i swear



ya and bose sucks, and so does alienware for that matter... both over priced and crappy in all their products



anyhow, back on topic.... I bought my dad a pair of HD580s for fathers day, listened to them to make sure they were ok of couse ;) and man they sound real nice! if you dont mind plunking down a little bit on a small amp or something you should defiantely consider the 580's especially since they can be had for so little compared to what they once cost
 
schapman said:
I tried the Beyer Dt770s with a millet hybrid amp as well as the headroom total bithead and honestly i wasn't too impressed. I don't know if they needed a lot more burn in or what but I couldnt hear the bass that everyoen raves about for them. I found the a900s have a much better bass sound to them and hold up well in movies/hip hop.

If you're going for a closed (and therefore sound isolating) headphone for $200 my vote is the A900
Click to expand...

I also wasn't that impressed with DT770's on the millet passaround we had on here a while back.. They were much more impactful on my PPA.
 
-(Xyphox)- said:
Dont be hatin
I have a pair and never had any problems
granted i payed 450 for mine :p
Click to expand...

Never had any problems? Subpar sound quality for a super inflated price-that's not a problem???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top