PLEASE USE THIS FORM TO GET PURCHASE ADVICE --
>Headphone purchase advice
http://pastebin.com/fYZLW7Ub
Asking "Hey guys, what's your opinion on x?" is frowned upon.
If you dislike a suggestion, try giving a better suggestion to whomever asked instead of going "hurr, x sucks"
>/g/ wiki headphone FAQ:
https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php?title=Headphones
Previous thread:
>>55427451
First for the best dynamic on the market!
>>55460934
That's not the HD 600.
>>55460934
Focal Utopia (maybe)
>>55461457
Where are the measurements?
>>55461476
I don't know.
>>55461487
Measurements are everything, friendo.
HD 800 are grado-tier garbage. Won't be surprised if the Focal Utopia ends up being shit like the rest of the 'high end' garbage.
>>55461180
They are the runners up.
>>55461666
see:
>>55461517
HD800 sucks.
>b-but muh soundstage
Literal reddit-tier headphones.
Do people really think the HD800 looks good?
asked this in the last /hpg/ didn't fully get an answer. so
someone on /hpg/ recommended me a budget microphone (zalman mc-1) i get a whole lot of white noise and i am unsure on how to fix it?
Is the microphone rigged/ Or is it just shit.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1zFUBOBg7cM
If i purchased an Audio card would this make the white noise less shit? Cheers
>>55461822
Double doubles :^)
I got the DT880 600 Ohm headphones, they sound glorious after carefully considering your opinions.
You penises did not tell me my ears would sweat a waterfall at room temperature though.
>>55461929
Just got them yesterday as well. They sound great but mine are about 60% of what I'd like them to be (volume wise( without an amp. Luckily, I've got a Magni 2 coming today
>>55460914
probably going to buy schiit dac/amp meme combo for undecided open-back headphones and Adam F5's.
Is Magni 2 Uber / Modi 2 a good combo or is it worth it to spend $20 more and get the Vali 2 amp?
>>55463050
Just get the asgard and modi
>>55463071
>$20 more
>
>
>
$80
>
>
>
>
>$100 more
See the gap?
>>55461745
>Literal reddit-tier headphones.
What does that even mean?
Best cheap bass-centric earbuds? I'm tired of
buying ones from the corner store over and over
I just need something neo-iPhone tier that won't break on me in 3 months or less (doesn't need a mic).
>>55463969
piston
>>55464294
Which ones?
>>55453574
Looks about right for those. How is the SE535 with that correction?
Acoustic impedance is higher for narrower nozzles (1 รท Area), and the mismatched impedance between the canal and the earphone reflects the wave, setting up a resonance.
if you set the canal length right, that would probably leave largest Z variation around 5-10 kHz or so. What are the dimensions so far?
This is probably more of an aimless idea, but can you get a microphone (something with a very high frequency range) to drive the canal and measure that output?
>>55464706
Thanks my man
Is it worth getting a Schiit Fulla to power my HD600s or would it only be worthwhile to get a proper amp like the magni/o2?
Using a Xonar DG atm and even with this $15 soundcard they sound much better than my previous headphones (AD700).
So my ATH-M50's broke after 6 years of regular wear, so I'm back in the market for some new headphones. For now I'm stuck with shitty $15 earbuds that came with my phone
>Budget
~200-300, depending on sales and stuff
>Location
USA
>Source
Using both 3.5mm and 1/4" jacks for either listening to stuff on my computer or mixing at my soundboard
>Preferred type of headphone
Fullsize
>Open or closed
Closed
>Comfort level
I tend to wear them for hours on end, so something comfy would be nice.
>Preferred tonal balance
I'd go for neutral, though V-shaped is fine
>Past headphones
I've only every owned M50's. Got them for cheap and they sound good, but they get uncomfortable after a while
>>55465648
HP50.
some anon was supposed to get a schiit amp to go along with a new dt880
can you report your results?
What says these are fake?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shure-SE215-Black-In-Ear-Headphones-Monitor-Professional-Earbuds-tracking-/162090396655
How do I not get sebaceous cysts when I use headphones?
>>55466587
Their feedback feels like they only buy Powerbeats Wireless, Shure SE215s and Gift Cards that they got cheap in mass quantities.
That seller doesn't sell anything else. If only they sold other high priced items. For example Powerbeats 2 Wireless and SE215 from google images found "fake vs real" reviews.
>>55466587
If you want a fake SE215. Get it from Aliexpress for $30 a piece. Just ask the seller for bulk discount. Then you can make money yourself on eBay. The retail packaging on the SE215s can be seen in the pictures reviews on Aliexpress.
>>55466854
Well, I don't really want fake SE215s.
>>55466792
So you bet they're probably fake?
>>55466587
eBay has tons of buyer protection. if they're fake, you'll get your money back
>>55467148
Is there an easy way to detect if these are fake?
>Budget
$200? Maybe $300?
>Location
San Francisco/Chicago
>Source
Laptop, iphone
>Preferred type of headphone
Doesn't matter. Higher emphasis on sound quality?
Anything that can block noise
>Open or closed
closed
>Comfort level
High
>Preferred tonal balance
N/A
>Past headphones
always used standard apple earbuds.
>Budget
$300
>Location
Australia
>Source
PC -> O2
>Preferred type of headphone
Open
>Comfort level
I'll be wearing them all day
>Preferred tonal balance
I'd like to say balanced, but everything I've used in the past has favoured treble.
>Past headphones
AD700s and I tried out a friend's K701s for a couple of weeks which convinced me that an upgrade is worth it.
I primarily listen to drone, ambient, and industrial, however everything from Radiohead to Bach gets its playtime.
It looks like the K7xx, HD600 and DT880 are the big players at this price point, however, I only have experience with one and was wondering about the merits of the others, as well as any outside choices.
>>55464932
Proper amp. Xonar DG should be fine, I'd only get the O2/Magni if the volume isn't good enough.
>>55465079
Anime image board faggot.
>>55465648
If you stretch a little more you can get the Oppo PM3 which strikes a nice balance between bassy and neutral.
>>55467254
HD280 Pro.
>>55467323
K701 has favored treble, but you listened to it and you found it to be an upgrade. It's a safe purchase, also many think that the K701 is a direct upgrade to the AD700 due to the large soundstage (I don't believe in that audiophool bs tho). If not, the HD600 and DT880 are a safe buy as well.
Thanks /hpg/
Got my new AKG K712 Pro's today. Fucking box was absolutely hammered though. Fuck FedEX!
btw I got them on ebay so how will I know they are fake senpai? pretty new to headphones desu
>>55463050
No. Don't bother with tubes.
>>55467323
note that k702 is the standard neutral headphone listed with hd600 and dt880, not the k7xx, which is quite different from k702.
https://www.amazon.com.mx/HIFIMAN-HE400S-Full-Size-Magnetic-Headphone/dp/B00Y2EOI94/ref=pd_sbs_23_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4WQX1FETAHW71GSYBYGS
Im about to pull the trigger on fidelio x2's. I think they look great and I've heard they have good sound quality.
If you've got a pair of these, would you recommend them?
>>55467154
Genuine SE215s have painted red or blue connector dots if I recall correctly. I can link you a pic later.
Holy shit lads this changes the game. I bought DT880 (600) and used it without an amp and it was shit, but the Magni 2 just came in the mail today and it literally made the beyers unreal
>>55468035
Pics of said headphones and amp. Please.
>>55468081
Why?
>>55468122
wants to steal your serial no.
>>55468122
>This imageboard (4chan) is useless without pics.jpg
>>55468183
>implying 4chan is an imageboard
>>55468035
Well no shit, very few sources can output enough voltage at that impedance. To put it simply the headphones weren't working properly before you started using the Magni 2 with them.
>>55468753
you think >>55468753 actually bought the amp and headphones?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nura/nura-headphones-that-learn-and-adapt-to-your-uniqu
Hey lads, I'm the lad with the Dt880 and the Magni 2. I listened to them for the first time tonight and I experienced what I'm assuming is headphone fatigue. They sound amazing, like I said, but I feel tired and groggy. What's the problem?
>>55469447
>Listener fatigue (also known as listening fatigue) is a phenomenon that occurs after prolonged exposure to an auditory stimulus. Symptoms include tiredness, discomfort, pain, and loss of sensitivity. Listener fatigue is not a clinically recognized state, but is a term used by many professionals.
>>55469491
Shit I guess I should have googled it kek
Is it going to happen every time I listen to the beyers? Should I get other headphones?
>>55469513
>Is it going to happen every time I listen to the beyers?
Probably.
>>55469513
Just take a break every 2-3 hours. It happens with everything, but the treble peak of the DT880 maybe makes it easier to get fatigued.
>>55469447
sorry for giving you a hard time, we just want DETAILS
>>55469523
>>55469538
Would this happen with the 702s and the hd600s too? Or does this happen with all high end phones? Mind you I went from listening to music out of a gaymer headset immediately to the beyers and the quality jump is incredible.
>>55469622
>Would this happen with the 702s and the hd600s too?
Perhaps. It varies from person to person. Beyers have a reputation for being fatiguing.
>>55469635
I see. Perhaps my ears need adjustment time or something along those lines. It's almost intimidating being able to hear every minute detail of a song
>>55469622
Yeah, if you want non-fatiguing but detailed, the HD650 is a good alternative.
https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Open-Back-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00004SY4H
Is this real? Will they actually give you a $150 gift card for buying an hd600?
I also don't think that there's any way another pair of headphones could beat the beyers when it comes to listening to classical
>>55469798
classical listener here with k702; they're supposed to be more neutral and detailed, but I haven't tried the dt880 myself
>>55469793
They sold them in that bundle before and I don't recall hearing any issues with it.
>>55469849
Seems weird though, that they would just give away 96 bucks for free.
>>55469910
it's being sold by amazon, of course its real
I'm looking for something wireless with nigga bass and noise cancelling. What are some good choices?
>>55460934
Is this worth getting? I have a Meze 99 Classics and I'm not sure if I want to replace them or not.
>>55470100
(You)
>>55470100
No such thing.
>>55470137
OK, what are some shit choices then?
>>55470112
>This is on the WoF
Doesn't help that it's ugly as sin.
>>55470100
Bose. The bass is monotone like you requested.
are RS175 any decent?
>Budget
around 100โฌ
>Location
France
>Source
Computer/Android phone, but I would only use them at home
>Preferred type of headphone
Full-sized
>Open or closed
Open is fine.
>Comfort level
I'll be using them for long periods of time, so something comfortable is important.
>Past headphones
I have been using a pair of Steelseries Siberia v1 that I got for free 5 years ago, but the right headphone finally stopped working while I was playing Inside, which suck because I had to finish the game with shitty earbuds.
I was honestly satisfied with the Siberia v1 as I'm not much of a music guy, and they were mostly used for watching anime and playing videogames. I liked how comfy they were, but I figured I could probably get something better for 100 โฌ so here I am.
>>55471253
HD558
I currently have the AKG K553, would the K7XX be a considerable upgrade? Or should I be looking toward somewhere else?
>>55471661
if you like the k553, I do not recommend the k7xx. It is bassy and loses the normal tight sound you expect from akg headsets. I can recommend instead the k702, I consider it a good upgrade over my k550. I sold my k7xx almost immediately.
>>55471680
Are the 702s more comfortable for long periods of time compared to your 550?
>>55471715
It depends a lot on the shape of your head. I think they are more comfortable, but I also thought the k550 was comfortable. Here's are some details:
k702 is lighter.
k702 is less prone to slip off. something about the headband and everything with the k550 made me have to readjust them in each position; it's not just that the k702 is smaller, but it has more "sideways clamp" whereas k550 has basically none, if that makes sense.
about the size. The first day, the band on top was a little too tight and irritated me somewhat, but now I have a way of tugging as I put them on that makes it fine.
Overall I think the comfort is good, but I seem to not care about comfort as much as other people. I found k550 more comfortable than mdr 7506, other than all the slipping annoyances with the 550.
Sorry if this doesn't help much. maybe try them out some time.
I really recommend avoiding the k7xx if you like the 550 though. I was super pissed when I received them.
Help me choose explaining your reasoning?
RHA ma750 vs Vsonic GR07
Listening to Classic metal and stuff like prodigy, chemical brothers...
Magni 2 Uber or Vali 2?
>>55472040
Magni 2U.
Tubes are a meme where you are literally paying for distortion.
>>55471627
Thanks anon, I bought them after looking into it.
>>55472040
Magni Uber any day. More power, lower output impedance, and no microphonics.
Why consider the Vali 2? The tube?
>>55471828
Thanks for the advice, I'm heavily considering the k702 now.
>>55472148
The tube and aesthetics. Seems like the Magni is the best option in this price range. I've listened to superduperexpensive tube amps in the past and it has a certain touch. The Vali seems like a meme.
>>55472155
If you are looking into neutral headphones, you should consider all three: the k702, the hd600, and the dt880. Those are the three standards, but personal taste will direct you to one of them.
For me, it came down to two things. First, I like the akg sound, and wanted to try the best they have to offer before branching out some. (Note, I was very happy with my k550, but wanted to give myself a treat.) Second, it seemed that the k702 was meant for people that want a really precise sound, for instance people doing audio work. I don't do audio work but that message really resonated with me. see for instance http://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/akg/k702.htm
One thing I used to differentiate headphones is try to figure out who they're "meant for". For instance, my explanation of the k7xx mess is that it's not meant for headphone people at all, it's just a cash grab from the popular headphones market (beats, etc).
>>55472180
magni and modi are universally praised, I'd just get those. (Note, I own o2+odac, but would have been happy with magni+modi.)
Posted this in the stupid questions thread but haven't gotten a response so I figured I'd copy paste it here.
The audio cable for my chc silverado headphones is starting to fail, and designed the wiring for these headphones was moronic. Each ear has a stereo jack that only connects to the right channel. The default cable takes stereo and splits it into two stereos, one that maps the right channel input to right channel output, and the other maps the left channel input to right channel output. What's the easiest way to get replacement cable? I'm thinking a stereo to mono splitter, and then mono to stereo cables (the left channel outputs will go unused, but the sound ought to line up), but I'm not super familiar with audio cabling so I don't know if that will work. Help appreciated. I know I can always solder my own cables, but it'll be a minor hassle, and I won't be able to get the cables to look nice.
>>55472323
Wired to the midsection of the TRS instead of the tip? With stupid decisions like that, no wonder they failed.
It might be easier to modify the enclosure wiring to accept a less silly configuration.
>>55471680
>loses the normal tight sound you expect from akg headsets
They've never been afraid of having treble peaks, but the AKG headphone lines have a wide variety of bass boost and rolloff.
Come to think of it, AKG doesn't even have that strong a brand sound, unlike Stax or Audeze, or even Hifiman, Senn, and Beyer.
>>55472498
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately the only way to open the headphones involved damaging the mesh to get at screw, although I suppose that's not too much of a problem. I'll probably just build some cable myself, need to buy some connectors anyways to fix another set of earbuds. Only reason I can think of them wiring it that way is to force people to buy their replacements, but you'd think they could just use proprietary connectors for that. Seriously though, no idea why they didn't use mono.
>>55469793
Yes because Sennheiser has a MAP policy.
Helps with the whole forced premium brand thing they've got going on.
I'm getting the K7XX soon, does anyone know if the Sound Blaster Omni is enough? I already have it and am wondering if I need to upgrade to something better to power the k7xx
Yo, lost my Klipsh S4i, and I need new IEMS.
Budget - 300 PLN (thats around 75 dollars, but you can also suggest more expensive IEMs)
Location - Poland, so no amazon, or ebay exclusives
Source - Phone, or Laptop, nothing special
Type - IEMs
Comfortable - They should stay in ears during running
Past headphones - Klipsch S4i (they were OK, tho a little isolation)
>>55460914
Just bought an odac to replace my sabre dac. If I can't hear a difference then amps and dacs are mostly a meme. At the least the odac will stack with my amp and look noice.
>>55463190
It means that he could never afford them.
And that he probably owns the 702s.
>>55467652
They're good but the bass is too overpowering making them sound bloaty. Get the hd600 instead.
>>55474371
dude wtf, I thought we decided your dac is good.
probably matters almost not at all
also did you consider magni whatever uber shit?
one problem with having combo o2+odac is I can't separate which is helping more. They make a substantial music on some music when using my laptop as a source, though.
>>55473950
The K7XX isn't hard to drive, but if either K701 or K702 is cheaper than K7XX where you live, I suggest against the K7XX.
>>55472195
Both HD600 and DT880 and K702 are meant for audio professionals and serious listeners, then yes, I agree with you on what you say about K7XX being somehow worse than the K702. K702/K701 are also cheaper than K7XX in most places.
>>55474371
> If I can't hear a difference then amps and dacs are mostly a meme.
It's very likely that you're not going to hear a difference, DACs are useless and amps are simply built to enhance sound volume (unless you want the distorted sound of tube amps). Don't expect your precious headphone to "scale better" on more powerful amps like delusional headfi folks say.
>>55474371
Pretty sure that once you reach the e10k then DACs don't make a difference. They might have higher specs but you're still limited by the human ear.
Difficult question for experienced users.
Let's suppose that I want to turn my headphone into a totally neutral headphone. By "neutral headphone" I don't mean anything like the HD600, I mean a headphone whose FR graph is a perfectly straight line from 20 Hz up to 20 kHz.
1) can this be done?
2) what gear should I take to measure the FR of my own headphone in the best way? How much should I spend?
3) by using Equalizer Apo, I can theoretically turn my headphone into a totally neutral headphone by mirror-reversing the FR I get from my measurements. Is this right or is there anything else I should take into account?
>>55467652
When I switched from the Fidelio X2 to the K702 I immediately felt like the second was better even though it was cheaper. The X2 is dark: the mid-bass is overemphasized, the sub-bass rolls off pretty fast, the mids are recessed and the treble is rolled-off as well. Don't know, I wouldn't recommend it to people listening to different music genres to be honest.
Sennheiser momentum 2.0 for 99.99 euro just for today on amazon.it
Is it a good deal? I'm coming from a pair of shure se 215.
Would this be a nice upgrade?
>>55474585
>>55474587
>>55474657
I'm not expecting any obvious change, i'll be testing n=between both dacs and hoping that I get something, anything extra from the odac in terms of clarity in the high end or sound stage etc etc.
Stacking them will look sexy anyway and i'll probably keep the sabre dac as a god tier portable dac+amp.
https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/earphones/quietcomfort-20-acoustic-noise-cancelling-headphones.html#v=qc20_samsung_black
My dad wants these for his business trip and then also the gym.
What do I tell him.
>Budget
<$100
>Location
USA
>Source
PC
>Preferred type of headphones
Open
>Comfortable
They have to be comfy. will be wearing them all day
>Preferred tonal balance
I dont know since I havent tried a lot of headphones
>Past headphones
Apple earbuds
I will mostly be listening metal,jazz,rock,ambient,baroque/classical and drone. Im pretty new to this since I have only used shitty headphones so I dont know what exactly im looking for
>>55474585
I did consider the magni dac etc but it's awkward to buy in the UK and more expensive than the odac deal I got. It also wouldn't match. This is my end game, I just had to know if the odac sounds better than a 'cheap' usb dac.
>>55476215
Don't tell him anything, Bose is pretty decent despite what audiophiles think.
>>55476101
Anything is an upgrade from SE215.
>>55475229
You won't be able to get accurate measurements past 10kHz. You could make your own dummy head to measure headphones.
And yes, with APO you could make it very flat.
>>55473957
M6 Pro.
>>55475229
>1) can this be done?
Theoretically yes, practically no.
>2) what gear should I take to measure the FR of my own headphone in the best way? How much should I spend?
Thousands.
>3) by using Equalizer Apo, I can theoretically turn my headphone into a totally neutral headphone by mirror-reversing the FR I get from my measurements. Is this right or is there anything else I should take into account?
You'll get it flat based on the coupler you're using but it will not be flat when you listen to them unless you can get exact copies of your head/ears/shoulders made into a dummy head.
>>55476557
Can you say anything more about M6s Pros
>>55476561
>>55476557
Then I must assume that it's impossible to reach perfect neutrality through EQ and measurements. Buying a close-to-neutral headphone is the only safe way.
>>55476678
You could EQ close-to-neutral headphones as well, two filters can improve the HD600 by removing the mid-bass emphasis and adding a bit of bass extension provided you've got the headroom on the amp.
The mids and highs on them are very good but you can even tweak it by ear with APO or using info from measurements on other websites.
>>55476510
SHP9500, HD558
>>55476752
>HD600
The distortion in the subbass is what prevents you from raising that, not your amp. The upper midrange also needs taming, the 3-4kHz on the HD600 is awful.
>>55476752
> provided you've got the headroom on the amp.
?
>>55476796
No, the distortion is not audible, you can boost it as long as you don't past 0dB on the EQ and it will not distort. It won't reach driver limits even at extreme volumes.
3-4kHz on the HD600 is flat.
>>55476801
Extra power on the amp.
>>55476872
>3-4kHz on the HD600 is flat.
No it's not, it's elevated and makes the HD600 unbearable to listen to. The 650 at least fixes this issue.
Don't tell me you're one of those DF circlejerking fanboys who don't realize headphones are not DF and DF-equalized headphones sound bright and lean.
>>55476906
It's not elevated though.
HD600 has too much bass to be diffuse field equalized, when studies claim that DF headphones are perceived as bright, they are referring to equalized headphones to the target curve.
I bet you've never listened to speakers in a decent room because they have that same upper midrange emphasis at your eardrum.
>>55476906
> HD600
> unbearable
Lol what?
>>55476872
>No, the distortion is not audible, you can boost it as long as you don't past 0dB on the EQ and it will not distort.
I seriously can't understand your words.
>3-4kHz on the HD600 is flat.
If the peak is audible, no, it's not flat at all.
>>55476961
>I bet you've never listened to speakers in a decent room
I have and that's exactly why I can't stand the HD600 whereas the HD650 are much, much better.
>>55476557
Yeah the Bose will be nice for his stupid open offices so he can be the only person there getting any work done
>>55476980
There is no audible distortion on the HD600.
You can boost the sub-bass to extreme levels without distortion at high SPL, the driver is physically capable of producing the sub-bass output but because of the open back design it does not have flat sub-bass.
On the 3-4kHz peak, it's how the headphones were equalized, it's not elevated on the HD600. The Shure SRH-1840 has more 3-4kHz energy and that's flatter than the HD600 on diffuse field equalization.
>"HD600 is flat"fags are back
I'm out, these autistic poorfags pretending to know anything about audio but just parroting r/headphones are not worth the time waste.
>>55477000
We're gonna have to disagree.
Even listening to headphones like Beyer's DT880 which have a recession at the 3-4kHz sounds a bit muffled to me compared to speakers.
Would you also say the MDR-V6 has a 3-4kHz peak as well? Those sound very real minus the retarded bass.
>>55477077
It's not muffled, it sounds more distant, which is why the HD600 are commonly referred to as having zero soundstage whatsoever.
>>55477067
It's flat by headphone standards, only the SRH-1440/1840 and Etymotic ER4 are more neutral. DF starts at 200Hz so I'm completely unbiased here.
>>55477094
>soundstage
>real
Thanks for the laugh.
>>55477109
>>55477094
>>55477077
I'm frankly a bit confused by all of these contrasting opinions on the HD600. I was going to buy it and to compare it side by side with the K702, but I think that I'm simply going to enjoy my K702 and eventually adjust its sound through EQ.
>>55477164
It's just fanboy shitposting.
You can EQ a K702 to sound better than a HD600.
Would an DAC/amp do any real difference with a pair of M50x?
>>55477242
Are they loud enough? If yes, you don't need an amp.
Does source make weird sounds? If yes, buy a DAC if no then don't.
>>55477242
Nope.
They've got a flat impedance.
>>55475229
This is something that I have ended answering in form or another dozens of times before. I've even posted about that in the previous thread. I'll be a bit slow answering this in full.
Let's start short.
>1) can this be done?
Yes, absolutely. This is what parametric EQ does, so of course it can. A convolution operation will do this more exactly.
>2) what gear should I take to measure the FR of my own headphone in the best way?
A microphone and way to measure the transfer function of the headphone as used in a realistic way. This is what all headphone measurement boils down to, and a way to measure it accurately and precisely.
The price of such measurement equipment will vary from 100 dollars for a homemade coupler to around 15 thousand USD or so for dummy heads.
>Is this right or is there anything else I should take into account?
The idea is sound but considerations must be made for the physical design of the headphone, The linear limits of the driver and magnitude stability limit the benefits to be had, by introducing other sound parameters and introducing output uncertainty.
>>55476678
>Buying a close-to-neutral headphone is the only safe way.
This may turn out to be the worse idea. If we have parametric EQ at least, "neutrality" of the natural response is lessened in importance, but it can have many other existing problems. The ER-4, SRH1840, and HD 600 can demonstrate some of these problems.
>>55477264
>>55477276
Okay, thanks.
>>55477067
>HD600 is not flat fag is back
Name 5 more neutral full sized headphones then.
What are some good <$100 headphones with great soundstage?
Help a brother out /hpg/, you guys seem pretty chill for a general.
Never been really into audio quality or anything, but don't want to throw my money away like I seem to have been doing for a while now.
>Budget: ยฃ130 but can stretch to ยฃ150 (that's $168 to $194 right now, but who knows what it'll be tomorrow?)
>Location: Uk
>Source: A desktop computer
>Open or closed: Closed would be ideal, I don't want to piss off my housemates.
>Comfort level: I'd be wearing these while gaming/listening to music/watching films for a few hours pretty much solid, so ideally they'd not be uncomfortable
>Past headphones: Shitty iphone earbuds, and the HyperX Cloud gaming headset
The headset just started to die on me, and people keep saying headsets are a shitty overpriced meme. I know jack shit about sound, but the sort of music I'd be listening to is mostly extreme metal, then a clusterfuck of other genres.
>>55477291
Ok thank you very much for your answer. I missed the last thread, then I didn't catch your post. The fact is that I have a K702, which is fairly neutral and bright, and I'd like to turn it into a perfectly neutral headphone. The process you talked about is very complicated though, infact I don't understand some concepts.
> convolution operation
> couplers
>>55477363
AD700X
>>55477391
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sony_mdr7506_kopfhoerer.htm
>>55477398
K702 is supposed to be warm overall, that is with an ideal seal though.
>>55460914
>tfw your brother joines you on the hd600 greatness
Arrived a couple hours ago via amazon prime, he sold his x2's for them.
>>55477559
>tfw no audiophile brother
>>55477484
I don't know if the seal of the K702 to my head is ideal, but warm isn't the way I would define it. I mean, when I first switched from the X2, I didn't notice such a big difference in the mid-bass, even though on the K702 everything else sounds better: better sub-bass, better mids, better treble. The only problem of the K702 is the sibilance in some poorly mastered tracks (like s, t, ch sounds being the most distinctive sounds from the singer's voice).
What are the best headphones you can buy?
>>55464415
>Looks about right for those. How is the SE535 with that correction?
Like this. I'll measure the physical dimensions later.
>This is probably more of an aimless idea, but can you get a microphone (something with a very high frequency range) to drive the canal and measure that output?
Not sure I follow.
>>55477398
Not that anon but...
>coupler
A name for a device used to measure headphones(as well as in-ears, earphones etc). Includes a microphone and some type of ear simulator.
For the measurements of in-ears I've been posting I use a a very linear measurement microphone, an audio interface(which is essentially a microphone preamplifier and a AD-converter) and a short piece of silicone tube which acts as an ear canal. I use O2+ODAC for driving the headphones/in-ears. Pic here:
https://a.uguu.se/nKkg6jhIwAlV_setup1.jpg
It's a crude method which seemingly only works fine on dynamic driver in-ears. Acoustic impedance causes problems with BA-drivers which I'm in the process of trying to fix with a correction curve.
>>55478044
HD 600.
>>55477720
There's a common tale that the K702 needs hundreds of hours of burn-in. It's partially true; the driver doesn't change in any way but the pads get worn and conform to your head a lot better and the seal is better as a result.
>>55478214
So the technique of hundreds of hours of burn-in with pink noise in a sock drawer, ie. not using the seal, was entirely accidental . . .
>Budget
Under 150
>Location
US
>Source
Pc
>Preferred Type of headphone
Full size
>Open or closed
Open
>Comfort level
Used for many hours at a time so very comfortable
>Preferred Tonal balance
Bassy or warm
>Past headphones
On ear bose that are very uncomfortable after 30 min also
sennheiser HD 439s, I likes the openness of the 439s because I could accually hear myself talking while gaming and wouldn't yell for no reason like with the bose
>>55477580
It's a nice feeling :(
How do I find better cable for msr7? Can anyone recommend one?
It's not about sound quality snake oil, just comfort issue.
>>55477398
I was trying to describe it in a compact way, although I was not telling all specifics.
Coupler refers to the device the headphone/earphone are fitted to be measured, cardboard box or dummy head.
Convolution can be taken broadly as the combination of a function that represents a starting point, such as the frequency or the impulse response of a headphone, and combining it with another function (ex. any EQ) to get a new response.
In the context of audio, it refers to using the entire impulse response, rather than only the frequency, and using that to create an target response.
>k702
Places to start trial EQ cuts are around 2-2.5 kHz and 6-7 kHz.
I bought a pair of cx300 ii from Amazon. They sound OK but the highs are shit to me. I checked if they are fakes. They're not to my eye, and I have a proper seal. So do all iems suck this much? I love my 280s, even though they aren't amazing, they sound great for the price. What do you guys think of shure?
What's best for various kinds of metal?
Neutral or v shaped?
So my shitty apple headphones I was using that came with my phone broke after like 2 weeks of use
I'm looking for some headphones to wear on the tube on the way to work.
>Budget
~ยฃ20-ยฃ30
>Location
UK
>Source
Phone
>Preferred type of headphone
IEMs
>Open or closed
-
>Comfort level
comfy is preferred, apple """"earpods"""" are fucking uncomfy man
>Preferred tonal balance
I'd go for neutral, bassy is okay
>Past headphones
like I said apple earphones that were complete dogshit
pros:
play/pause button for phone
mic
volume controls
cons:
uncomfy as fuck
lost colour within two days
leaked sound horribly
>>55479524
>cx300 ii
There's your problem. That's one of the worst models in Sennheiser's IEM range.
Either get one from the newer generation CX x.00 series (if you can get them for a similar price), or just get a Piston 3.
>>55479637
.45 in each ear
Just bought a nuforce ฮผdac 3 to pair with my k7xx:s when they arrivw, currently using k550:s with it. How badly did i fuck up in terms of the ฮผdac? Its pretty much the only sub-200โฌ option i found near me.
>>55479637
You want to listen to metal and remain trve? Follow these instructions carefully.
Find the lowest quality recording with the most compression and loss you can (it won't be hard if you're listening to proper kvlt metal), then burn it onto a tape.
Go into the trash dump near your house, and find some speakers. Meet up with your mates, and kick the shit out of the speakers. Use those.
Then, get completely hammered while listening to it with them, rant about globalism and commercialisation before burning a church/YMCA clubhouse to the ground.
>>55477398
>>55479437
Transfer function would refer to how a system output changes from the input, a headphone's not-so-constant response with a constant voltage as an example.
The previous thread had some discussion about headphone measurement and accuracy issues. It relates to what EQ can and cannot do if you read it carefully. Some snippets and comments.
>As for headphones, a simple flat-plate coupler would be the best I think...The ears won't work with any reasonable accuracy and they are a pain in the ass to deal with on some headphones because how little they flex and how much they protrude.
>It's certainly the easiest [to] build and most consistent. Overly optimistic sealing is an obvious problem...Better to test that using closed headphones, you'll never reveal an issue using the HD800.
Fitting headphones matters to test leakage/sealing effects on bass. Not every headphone can be like the HD800 and not care about fit. This affects closed headphones more acutely, which can have bass levels all over the place.
You want the measurement to resemble how the headphone performs in usage, not some measurement of how it sounds as a desktop speaker.
>The main reason IEC recommends that the headphone should be reseated over multiple positions and averaged is to get around directional nulls, partly from the ear itself. That also happens to serve as a quality indicator, showing the response stability and effectiveness of EQ.
Between the ear's resonances and the resonances in the headphone, the high frequency response of a headphone can vary significantly over space. Even a millimeter shift can create a very large change. Better built headphones can minimize the variation...or can be made really small to prevent movement, complicating fit and comfort, and not truly solving the variation from fit problem.
Constant EQ cannot be used to correct a moving target. You would be limited by how much the headphone's sound varies and what frequencies it varies over.
>>55478050
Roughly right. Maybe slightly excessive above 800 Hz. The dynamic KZs seemed slightly short on the 5-10 kHz region, but are comparable to Seeko's, barring pair deviation.
Not bad so far.
>Not sure I follow.
A bit of an idea as to how to qualify the coupler's acoustic impedance: drive it using a higher acoustic impedance source. Needs to have sufficient bandwidth with high stiffness (low compliance), and microphones with very high resonant frequency should fit. The upper frequency limits are closely related to the resonance.
Thinking it over, we don't really need to qualify a coupler built around a simple tube.
How well do ath-m20x perform with a phone?
(I don't have money to buy an amp)
>>55482155
No need to get an amp for that anon
>>55482391
thanks
Superflux Hd 681 EVO or Superflux HD 668B?
What headphones under $85 are best at reducing external noise?
I often ride the bus, so consider loud engine noises, human beans interacting loudly and shitty bus music.
I use my phone as the source (obviously).
Also, should I consider buying earbuds because of my low budget?
Can earbuds be better if you consider sound quality and noise reduction than headphones under $85?
>>55482943
668B unless you want an absolute fuckton of bass
>>55483189
Thanks, would you prefer the regular 681 over the 668B?
>Budget
$40.
>Location
USA.
>Source
Phone.
>Preferred type of headphone
IEM.
>Open or closed
Closed.
>Comfort level
Pretty comfy.
>Preferred tonal balance
Neutral or bassy is fine.
>Past headphones
I had the SoundMagic E10s before and I liked them, but I lost them. I want to buy them again but I'm not sure if they're still recommended at this price range.
>>55483498
nah, except the headband the regular 681 is usually considered inferior to the 668B
>>55483522
>but I'm not sure if they're still recommended at this price range.
They still are.
>>55483586
Perfect, thank you.
Hey /hpg/, I got a pair of AKG K553s a few days ago.
I need recommendations on what's the best amp or sound card to complement it, seeing as I have none.
Thanks for your advice in advance.
PS do sound cards improve audio input?
>>55483582
Preciate it. Expect to order a pair of 668Bs in the next few days along with some velvet ear pads.
looking for a good pair of earbuds/iems for around 100 (PA), thanks
>>55483856
Yuin PK1 are supposedly the best earbuds around $100/โฌ100. Ive never owned a pair but love my PK3s
>>55483800
Hi,
I have akg k550. I don't think you need an amp, especially since the main suggestions (o2+odac, magni/modi) will cost more than your headphones but give only a tiny sound improvement.
Have bone conduction headphones gotten better? I want to be able to listen to music while still being aware of my surroundings. I did some research a few years and found that the tech still wasn't there yet
hpg does anyone happen to know which headphone the sennheiser g4me one and g4me zero are based on?
>>55483913
usd not europoor brexit money
>>55483968
Just use earbuds, not IEMs.
>>55474371
Had the odac for a year with hd600 and he560. changed to the schiit stack 2 uber last month, it has noticeably more bass and yet sounds somehow sounds cleaner.
I have my finger on the buy button /g/. HD 600 or HD 650?
>>55484146
650
Every review says they have more detail, and only the memers on hpg think they're "darker"
>>55484146
tried both two years ago, kept the 600 for having a more natural sound.
>>55484146
HD600, HD650 if you want a mellower sound.
>>55484036
Well they're $155 USD now on amazon. Thy will have a price drop down to $120~ when stock comes in to the other sellers besides hifiman. If you can't wait. Go eBay.
>>55484189
But they are darker. It's really not up to discussion. And "reviewers say they have more detail" is worthless, doesn't really mean anything.
>>55484146
One is neutral and cheaper, the other is dark and more expensive.
say one bad thing about the headphones you own
>>55486545
Stock response is harsh, not very enjoyable.
>>55486545
T1 - too much treble
LCD-2 - not enough treble
HD598 - grainy/undetailed compared to my other headphones
But I love them all.
>>55486545
Shallow pads.
>>55486545
Wireless makes it shit but I still enjoy them.
>>55486545
hd598 makes me want to buy another dt880, and the 100hz bump make the impedance on my dacmagic plus seem like it was a waste of money
>>55461822
Yes. Super comfy as well.
The O2 is funny. In it's name is "Objective". As if testing for noise and current draw is the only real specs to worry about. And that of course can be done objectively of course. However, to not subjectively test for the best possible results is not a good design. What if car makers never tested their cars on a track or a master wine maker never tasted the final product? So who is keeping the original designers op amp choices? We question them when it comes to great name brand gear, why not a DIY builder's design? I digress.
I too was not in love with the O2 when I first made mine. It certainly sounded better than the other consumer and pro-sumer headphone amps I had on hand that were built into other devices, but there was something missing. I heard this especially when I heard other gear at a fall headphone meetup. And when I started looking at mods for my DAC in changing the op amps, it dawned on me that the O2 might could also use some improvement.
>>55487553
I'm extremely tempted to blow half my bank account on this thing.
Anyone ever tried the ath e40? Everyone said it's better than the shures
Is the HD 589 worth getting over the hd 600s and 650s?
>>55487835
You got your question backwards. The HD598 is a shitty and ugly compromise to HD6x0 series.
>>55487576
There is a new and improved version
>>55487835
I see the HD 650 and HD 600 better headphones in every regard, other than lowered sensitivity.
>>55487922
At fucking double the cost, yes.
What's a good desktop amp under $150? I have this gift card that I'm trying to use up and I thought an amp might be a nice addition.
>>55488052
Magni 2
>>55486545
HD800 - too bright in their stock form, needs modding to sound their best. Can have too much bass on certain music. Paints flake over time.
HD650 - too much mid-bass that fucks everything up in the lower mid to bass areas. Ability to resolve details not very good compared to the best things out there, esp. the HD800. Not very comfy for prolonged wearing.
FitEar Aya - midrange is accentuated, can sound too forward with certain music. Seems to be tuned with female vocal in mind.
ER-4S - no bass. Don't let people fool you into thinking that these have bass, the entire sub-bass region is MIA. Literally has to wear ear-raping grey triple flange for best sound.
>>55487576
Not sure how much the 1 grand price is going to last but they are unbeatable at that price range.
>>55487561
Anecdotes from listening sessions of O2 Op-amp rolling? Stupidest shit ever.
>>55488315
>resolving detail
...
>ER-4S - no bass
It does have extremely good extension as sub bass goes right down to 20 Hz and below. The diffuse field equalization it has makes it bright sounding overall to most people so this last octave, as always, is hard to hear. I preferred to boost it up a bit but saying that it has no bass is quite wrong.
THIS PIECE OF SHIT. Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to put giant ass plastic balls in the cups? I could barely wear that shit for 10 minutes and I took it back within 2 days of buying it.
>>55488411
>giant ass plastic balls in the cups
what
>>55488423
Take your damn finger and stick it in the driver. Can you feel the round thing? That's what I'm talking about.
I'm considering getting the E10 for exercise but the idea of it constantly falling out/breaking due to sweat is off putting
Should I go for sport earbuds or just stick with the E10? (If yes, then what's a good recommend at <$50)
>>55488438
Yeah I can. But those things don't even come close to my ears.
>>55488449
Then you have some fucking tiny ears son.
>>55488438
The driver protection? How big are your ears? Hot damn.
>>55488460
I think the problem is more with your huge ass ears anon
>>55488315
>Can have too much bass on certain music.
First time I hear people complain about the HD800 having too much bass.
>>55488465
>>55488491
My ears are 55mm large. The average ear is 63mm large. You people have ears the size of peanuts or some shit.
>>55488518
Hm ok, you say that the inside of your ear touches the driver? I don't have that problem, so I guess my ears are just flat. And yours aren't.
>Then you have some fucking tiny ears son.
Or maybe it's because your ears are not that large, and the driver gets closer to your ears because of that.
Anyway, sux 2 b u.
>>55487561
Only poor people pretend that the O2 is the end of all things. The thing is you don't have to spend that much to get something much better, subjectively and objectively.
>>55488644
> implying more expensive amps improve the sound quality
>>55488644
>get something much better, subjectively and objectively.
Subjectively better can be any trash design you cram together. Objectively sure, but I can only memorize some DIY designs which actually perform better than O2 in meaningful areas such as noise levels. O2's build quality is easy to top and aesthetics are subjective.
HD600 or HD650? I'm planning to upgrade soon but I'd like to hear more opinions
>>55488942
Listen to them yourself.
>>55488947
And how to do that exactly?
>>55488964
Abuse return policies.
Etymotic HF5 or ER4p-t, if I'm just listening to 320/v0 mp3s direct from my Xperia ZR with Walkman music player?
>>55486545
>HD600
They're more than a decade old and heavily battered by usage. The pads have been replaced twice over, the headband has lost whatever clamp it had, and the drivers are yellowing.
>>55488512
The HD 800 has more of a V-shape than people give it credit for. It's also why the 800S was never a big deal.
>>55487922
It's not really improved. It makes one (or two) potential improvements and introduces another flaw.
>>55488942
If you have to ask then just go with 600
>>55488987
>just
320kbps mp3 is already good enough.
I'd say it's worth going for the ER4PT, that is if you know you can handle the Etymotic triple flange fit.
>>55484069
Hmm that's interesting. Ah well I already have my engraved o2 amp and my odac is on the way and i'm pretty sure I will stick with this for life. Shame i'll probably not get to ever try the schitt stack, although most people say it adds colour and tat's not what i'm looking to add with my hd600's, they're warm enough for me already.
>>55488987
HF5 (and mic versions) or the ER4SR. 4PT is near the same as HF5 in sound, but with annoying stock cables (that can be replaced). I wouldn
>>55488942
Both headphones have totally replaceable parts and a moderately high amount of clamp. Loses treble over time from earpad degradation. Sennheiser's MAP policy makes it hard to find these at a compelling price new, just find it refurbished or something.
650 - More bass extension, more bass in general. Less 2-6 kHz stuff
600 - Subbass roll with flatter bass otherwise, still somewhat midbassy. 3-5 kHz can be emphasized. Maybe. Sometimes.
>>55481059
>>55477398
If we try to measure the headphone using a load that is not out own head, we need to be concerned about applicability to its actual use case. People do not share ear shapes, and have different proportions.
The tendency of artificial ears being stiffer than real ears has been touched upon previously, and the standard canal simulator for measuring in-ears has a bit of a damping problem around the 13-14 kHz range.
DIY designs will have issues with acoustic impedance simulation and in
If you decide to just measure the sound inside your ears and try to apply that to yourself, that also has some caveats. Whatever way you measure that will include amplification and diffraction effects from the ear. The line you get will not remotely look straight. Fleshy tissue changes slightly throughout the day depending on the person's awakeness, blood pressure, hunger, and so on.
The typical ways to measure human subjects would be with a probe tube placed right at the eardrum or with a little mic that fitted in an earplug. The tubes have frequency range issues and concerns with putting something right up to the eardrum. The plug mics have an obvious problem in not allowing the subject to listen as the measurement is performed.
Even with all the concerns given before, EQ is still the only way you can seriously expect anything flat 20-20k. You need to pick a headphone with a stable response that is minimally affected by leak or by reposition. Frequency rolloff, so long as it is stable, generally isn't a serious problem so long as we have the voltage on hand and the headphone retains sufficient linearity.
Practically speaking, you want the comfort to be good and the distortion to be low as well. Headphones that can fulfill this are clustered in the upper price range. In-ears are all over the place, but some can hit them well for cheap once we get past the eartip selection.
>>55477398
There are good EQ candidates for in-ears both cheap and pricey, and there would be countless more if they bothered with damping.
As for my evaluation of the K702 as an EQ candidate, there are definitely better headphones than the K702, at least as our factors of distortion, leakage, and positioning are concerned. It fares decently well in all those categories, even so.
Did you get all those posts?
>>55460914
>Budget
up to $200
>Location
Straya cunt
>Source
Onboard audio, I think its an ALC887 on an H97M-E Asus mobo drives my Fidelio X2s without any notable issues.
>Preferred type of headphone
I want to use them outdoors for music so they must isolate and not leak while being reasonably compact and not make me look like a complete douchebag.
>Open or closed
closed
>Comfort level
comfy for 40mins~1hour, I don't think I will be wearing these headphones very long it will mostly be for commute.
>Preferred tonal balance
Something a little different from my X2s with more accentuated mids and highs that are present but don't make my ears bleed. The bass must also be present but not the main focus. I don't care how wide the soundstage is already have X2s for that.
>Past headphones
Fidelio X2, koss porta pro, some cheap logitech gaymen headset
Thank you for your time
>>55490515
My bad wrong source, for outdoor use my source would be a motorolla razr i XT890.
If worse comes to worst I might by a cheap portable amp the DAC should be sufficient.
>>55488942
I'm >>55488315, HD650 is better. HD600 is like HD800 done wrong.
>>55488441
URGENT BUMP I'M SHOPPING RIGHT NOW
E10 w/ COMPLY SPORT VS A SPORT EARBUD
>>55490515
MSR7 seems to fit the bill, anyone have any experience with it?
>>55488942
hd600 lad
Unless you want lmaoniggabass with no detail.
>>55491330
Neutral-ish sound.
Relative peak around 8-10 kHz, it doesn't go above the midrange and bass. If you take that away, the headphone can seem a bit dull.
I thought it would be priced higher, if you find one in budget, it is a better option.
>>55491022
>e10
I don't think it would fall out that easily if you fit it properly. Over ear wiring helps a little.
>>55491816
I've decided on the MSR7 cheers
>>55488987
HF5, they sound the same anyway.
>>55489004
>another flaw
Distortion? I haven't kept up with the HD 800 S launch.
WHat music player do you guys use on *nix? I've tried a few and I'm never satisfied.
P.S. Copped a pair of XBA-H1 from best buy for $75. Hard to get a good fit, have to adjust often but they sound just as good as the ath-m50. Not as good as my dt990 250ohm. They open up with an amp but that defeats the purpose.
>>55491816
thanks m8
>>55492055
>Distortion? I haven't kept up with the HD 800 S launch.
A modded HD800 has significantly less distortion in the bass region than the HD800S.
>>55488644
Doesn't help that the best solid-state amplifiers are all DIY designs.
>>55487561
Amps are transparent when FR, noise, distortion, output impedance are within acceptable levels.
The O2 meets these criteria so its transparent.
I get that it's not enough audio jewelry for a faggot such as yourself. Maybe if it was priced $2000 and came in a fancy case with a fancy knob then you'd find it better.
>>55489969
I got all the posts. I fixed the sub-bass roll-off on my K702 through EQ Apo time ago and it didn't produce any distortion. It's time to fix that again and maybe tone the treble down a little bit.
>>55493782
And you can't hear it regardless so it literally doesn't matter.
