Headphone (Modern & Vintage) Thread

SeanO · Jan 18, 2017

uptick for the HD650 as well. I've had mine since 2000. still bangin'.

Trev · Jan 18, 2017

SeanO
uptick for the HD650 as well. I've had mine since 2000. still bangin'.

Yep, I've already replaced the cord on mine. Ear pads and headband pad are now due for replacement too. Thankfully Sennheiser offers all of the parts online for reasonable prices too.

JimInOz · Jan 18, 2017

While not "high end", I think my Sony MDR-W08 in-ear headphones are on the way out, sounding a bit muddy on bass now.

Any suggestions for a form/fit/function replacement?

dsio · Jan 18, 2017

JimInOz
While not "high end", I think my Sony MDR-W08 in-ear headphones are on the way out, sounding a bit muddy on bass now.

Any suggestions for a form/fit/function replacement?

For IEMs I've got a pair of NuForce HEM4s which were about $250 off Massdrop and really impressed me, the Comply memory foam tips give a very good seal and the set overall was just great.

Kobus · Jan 18, 2017

Already own B&W P5 and P7.
Just ordered myself a pair of P9's. Really looking forward to them.
.

Alpha · Jan 18, 2017

Know absolutely nothing about headphones and only have this one set, a present from quite a while back.
To my untrained ears they do give a really nice sound although I am usually listening to music from the iPhone and not sure how that is rated ?

yinzerniner · Jan 18, 2017

Alpha
Know absolutely nothing about headphones and only have this one set, a present from quite a while back.
To my untrained ears they do give a really nice sound although I am usually listening to music from the iPhone and not sure how that is rated ?

To be fair Bose headphones don't quite have the same toxic reputation as their other gear (No Highs, No Lows, Must be BOSE!) but if you're looking at a new set for more critical listening of well-mastered source material you're best served doing a lot of research and auditioning. Bose is well known for artificially coloring their sound at the expense of clarity and accuracy in hopes of getting a "more pleasing" timbre to the uninitiated ear. Kind of like dumping loads of sugar and/or butter into an otherwise mediocre confection, or maxing out brightness and contrast levels on a TV to make it "pop."

Then again, if your primary means of music consumption is the stock iPhone it's not worth the extra coin to upgrade cans based solely on sound quality. However it is worth it if you are looking for convenience, comfort or features upgrades.

Tony C. · Jan 18, 2017

Beyerdynamics T90 (modified by Spirit Labs). Really excellent, and nowhere near the high-end of prices on contemporary headphones.

(Bose for noise cancellation on airplanes, and can't imagine how I once travelled without 'em)

Larry S · Jan 18, 2017

Tony C.
Beyerdynamics T90 (modified by Spirit Labs). Really excellent, and nowhere near the high-end of prices on contemporary headphones.

(Bose for noise cancellation on airplanes, and can't imagine how I once travelled without 'em)

I'm on my third pair of Bose QC headphones. Bought em years ago after a flight to China in which everyone in business class was a regular and the crew were keeping them well lubricated for 15 hours.. I who had been back from China for three days and then had to go back to close a deal was not amused. Bee line to the Bose store as soon as I got home. One pair got stolen, one I gave to the kid. Now i have the QC25's. They are indispensable.

Dogmann · Jan 24, 2017

Hi all
I have been using a set of Shure E2c's in ears for about the last 10 years using a small Nokia bluetooth adapter and they are still going strong and give a great sound stage. Although I have just got the itch for a new set up and am considering the B&O H5 wireless in ears anyone heard anything about them? before I pull the trigger

Marc

khmt2 · Jan 24, 2017

Used to hang ard head-fi few years back. For listening off the phone, a recabled and modded ksc 75, but at home, vintage AKG K400 & K501 via a boutique tube amp provide the soundstage and (slightly warm) neutrality that I like.

Niloticus · Jan 25, 2017

Hey guys, I spend my life in planes - what headphones would you recommend? The Bose noise cancelling ones?

Also, what is your preferred source for high quality music (in terms of auditive purity/accuracy)? I use my Iphone to listen to stuff and recently have been quite burnt by what I've downloaded on Itunes (ennio morricone best off with crappy, fuzzy tracks - worse than downloading from youtube).

Thanks for your input 😀

dsio · Jan 25, 2017

I tend to prefer IEMs to noise canceling but I haven't heard the BOSE QCs

KCScott · Jan 25, 2017

I have used Etymotics er6-i in ear headphones for years. They have been discontinued but have an equivalent replacement.

Larry S · Jan 25, 2017

Edantony
Hey guys, I spend my life in planes - what headphones would you recommend? The Bose noise cancelling ones?

Also, what is your preferred source for high quality music (in terms of auditive purity/accuracy)? I use my Iphone to listen to stuff and recently have been quite burnt by what I've downloaded on Itunes (ennio morricone best off with crappy, fuzzy tracks - worse than downloading from youtube).

Thanks for your input 😀

QC 25 from Bose is fine for the plane and I pod and phone. Also love their earbuds. I stopped buying files from Apple. Shocking how they sound even on the Bose QC and worse if I play them through my audio gear. I have not gotten into purchasing hi res Audio files. I burn CD's ( I have thousands) to Apple Lossless format and use my fleet of I Pod classics. I also have a sizable vinyl collection and am loving the remastered heavy vinyl on the market now. Not cheap though.

ahartfie · Jan 25, 2017

I'm an unapologetic Grado fan. I started with the 225s in 2005 and then went back and got a pair of 325s so I could use one at home and one at work. For Christmas 2015 Santa brought me a pair of PS500es. I gave the 225s to my niece and nephew (hah! gift from uncle) and have the 325s at home on my laptop with a Fulla Schiit. My PS500es are at work connected to my vintage Marantz 2225 fed by a Schiit Magni/Modi stack.

I tried my colleague's Boses and while it was very nice to not hear my neighbor, the music sounded muddy and indistinct.

yinzerniner · Jan 25, 2017

Larry S
QC 25 from Bose is fine for the plane and I pod and phone. Also love their earbuds. I stopped buying files from Apple. Shocking how they sound even on the Bose QC and worse if I play them through my audio gear. I have not gotten into purchasing hi res Audio files. I burn CD's ( I have thousands) to Apple Lossless format and use my fleet of I Pod classics. I also have a sizable vinyl collection and am loving the remastered heavy vinyl on the market now. Not cheap though.

As @Larry S said the Bose QC 25s are shockingly competent for being made by Bose. Good overall sound (6.5-7/10) but unbeatable noise cancellation. Comfort is very YMMV, but on my weird, huge head they fit very well. If noise cancellation is of utmost priority give them a try, or the QC 35s if you need wireless (which comes in handy a lot if you're traveling). Otherwise you can look at some of the aforementioned recos and see which sound/fit/isolate the best.

If you're using your iphone for music listening the bar is already pretty low for sound fidelity since the internal DAC is crap, but yes music downloaded from iTunes is horrendous. Even Amazon Music sounds much better, as does Spotify. If you'd rather not rip your own tracks then Society of Sound, HDtracks, Acoustic Sounds and others have very nice high fidelity options. Also, not sure if you're into vinyl but oftentimes new releases come with a free HD download card, and if you buy vinyl from Amazon they will let you stream the entire album for free.

Larry S · Jan 25, 2017

Perfect add @yinzerniner!

Larry S · Jan 25, 2017

ahartfie
I'm an unapologetic Grado fan. I started with the 225s in 2005 and then went back and got a pair of 325s so I could use one at home and one at work. For Christmas 2015 Santa brought me a pair of PS500es. I gave the 225s to my niece and nephew (hah! gift from uncle) and have the 325s at home on my laptop with a Fulla Schiit. My PS500es are at work connected to my vintage Marantz 2225 fed by a Schiit Magni/Modi stack.

I tried my colleague's Boses and while it was very nice to not hear my neighbor, the music sounded muddy and indistinct.

Grado is on my audition list. Love that old Marantz! Golden age of big, clean, beautiful powerful recievers.

ahartfie · Jan 25, 2017

On the subject of mobile listening, I still buy CDs and records and rip them to FLAC. I use Onkyo HF Player to listen to them on my iPhone.

Headphone (Modern & Vintage) Thread

SeanO

Trev

JimInOz

dsio

Kobus

Alpha

yinzerniner

Tony C.

Larry S

Dogmann

khmt2

Niloticus

dsio

KCScott

Larry S

ahartfie

yinzerniner

Larry S

Larry S

ahartfie

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