AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Headphones => Topic started by: Carlman on December 23, 2014, 11:05:36 AM
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Since we've got this forum, might as well write about my latest experiences in trying to find a good system for semi-portability.
Here's the sitch: My wife and I can spend up to 1 hour to ourselves at night. We otherwise work or take care of a 3 yr old. I don't like TV. She likes playing candy crush and watching TV. I would love nothing more than to zone out listening to music while she does her thing so we can be in the same room together... so, it's being together but also doing something for ourselves.
If I go to the big sound room, I'm 2 floors away and likely to get comletely caught up in listening longer than I really have time... Plus it takes a while to warm up and sound 'just right'.
So, how about some headphones? I bought some Sennheiser Momentums because I'd tried them in a store in Cambridge, MA a year ago.. I liked them enough to remember them. When I first got them, I was using a Samsung S4 playing .flac's on the native music player software. It was very good.
Later, I got the iphone6 and installed Onkyo HF and there was a substantial improvement in overall sound. I was like, "oh wow, real music!" So, from that, I started exploring the whole depth of it.. and coincidentally Shane was deciding to start a headphone company for people like us with young children, and a need for 'quiet listening'... Great idea! Shane's tastes are a bit higher than mine in a setup. I like minimal setup... I'll be lying on a couch, thumbing through tunes on my phone... Almost casual listening, which isn't actually possible for me because I tend to get 'into' the music. ;)
So, that's my situation...
The Momentum's are awesome, just full and fun to listen to. They're a little bass heavy but I like it... it's clean and detailed. The mids and highs sound natural.
The only issue is that the overall comfort isn't what I'd like. If they were just a little less warm and tight on my head, I think I'd be better. But there's a slight stuffiness that grows as you keep them on... Kind of feels like I have a cold but only in my ears... it's a little fatiguing from an overall comfort standpoint. SO, that 1 element has driven me to listen through a lot of Shane's stock and look elsewhere for more.
I was looking at some Beyerdynamics and AKG 545's.. and so on .. but it's not worth spending a lot of money and time to me... but it's worth obsessing a little.. haha..
I look forward to what Shane finds next and what's coming at CES this year... I hear there's going to be some things that might be just what I'm looking for.
I think a small tube amp and a pair of big portables are in my future.... we shall see! :)
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Morning
If comfort is an issue I say look into the BeyerDynamic line of over the ear headphones. I have the BeyerDynamic DT-770 600 ohm headphones and I have worn them for hours at work with no discomfort whatsoever. My co-workers often wonder why I go to such an extreme but if I'm at work for over 8 hours a day I might as well make the best of it.
Regarding tube headphone amps. You can have lots of fun there. IME the Bellar HA 540 tube headphone amp is a great match with headphones but I used it exclusively with the 600 ohm DT-770s. This headphone amp has lots of inputs and can even accommodate a 3.5mm male jack so you could hook up your phone to it. It uses a single 12AX7 tube so you can have lots of fun/craziness there with tube rolling. I liked the Sovtek 12AX7LPS with it.
Another fun headphone amp to try is the Bottlehead Crack OTL amp. I liked that headphone amp too. Very sweet midrange with the BeyerDynamics I used with it. I heard it is a wonderful match with Sennheiser headphones.
I had the 12AU7 based Bravo headphone amp before the Bellari and I would say stay away unless you can get it for really cheap. It was noisy and cheaply built. My tech had to repair it.
For me my next headphone exploration will be Shane's modified Fostex T50RP headphones. As soon as I get the money together I'll be trying those.
As for amplification one of these years I'll try something from Woo Audio or top of the line tube headphone amp for Schiit Audio.
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Sounds like an opportunity to offer a free break-in service for Shane. :rofl:
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The Woo Audio "Fireflies" DAC/AMP sounds awesome, but it snot portable. Stupid name, but it looks gorgeous.
It would be cheaper for you to just take up Candy Crush. :rofl:
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My headphone conundrum involves my son using my AKGs all the time for his video games. At least I know they are fully broken in now! :thumb:
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Id go with some Senn HD650s (very comfy) and this iFi iDSD Micro, A DAC/Headphone amp..
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My headphone conundrum involves my son using my AKGs all the time for his video games. At least I know they are fully broken in now! :thumb:
Ouch! :roll:
One can only hope that through using those 'phones he will develop at least an appreciation for good sound that may someday transfer over to an appreciation for high quality music. Hey, you have to start somewhere.
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Id go with some Senn HD650s (very comfy) and this iFi iDSD Micro, A DAC/Headphone amp..
I second that recommendation. Best phones i've ever had. Love open back phones and speakers.
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I have the HD600's - they go on sale fairly regularly and are likely the last phones you might ever need.
I also won KEF hd50's at the last audio show. A nice, lower price point headphone that sounds similar to the Sennheisers but with a different design approach. A bit more full bass in them but just as transparent and very nice indeed.
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Hi Bob
I can't find the KEF HD50s you mention. I only saw the KEF M500 headphones.
Are these the ones you are talking about?
http://www.amazon.com/KEF-M500-Hi-Fi-On-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00CYBOUO0
Are the KEFs you mention a prototype?
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Sorry - yes, that is them. My bad. Those KEF's are a new offering from them. There's a few reviews out there on them already.
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The Senn HD650's were nice... I tried them... but the open back thing doesn't work for my setting(s). Might as well play the speaker on the iPhone as far as my neighbors are concerned.
I also tried the Mr. Speakers version of the modified Fostex T50's and that is a very nice sounding headphone. Kind of big and heavy, though.
BTW, WyWires made a huge improvement on the HD700's I tried. Even if I loved the HD700's, it wouldn't have worked due to the open ear and open-listening situation they created.
The iFi stuff is good but I don't care for its sound signature in general. There is a Nano that sounded different, and I liked that one, with the Mr. Speakers headphones... excellent combo.
I hope to hear some BeyerDynamics at some point... I like bass so I'm not sure they'll be 'the one'.. but maybe. I hope to get to Best Buy or somewhere that sells the AKG 545 so I can give those a listen...
Shane has a lot of cool stuff to try but most of it doesn't work for my situation, especially the open-ear, semi-portable thing. I want a sub-1,k setup that's light and semi-isolated that's very comfortable. Apparently there are some new things on the horizon, though.. so, I plan to wait... My birthday is 2 months... ;)
-C
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My birthday is 2 months... ;)
Yeah, but have you been a good boy?
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I forgot to mention this before with my latest headphone exploration. I decided to go in the other direction price wise and get a sub $50 headphones for kicks.
I got this one and am happy with it. I only used it for movies, video games, music listening on a laptop.
JVC HARX700 Precision Sound Full Size Headphones - Black
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Precision-Sound-Headphones/dp/B0013OWPV4/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1419953418&sr=8-10&keywords=jvc+headphones
Very comfy too. Sonically they slightly outperformed my BeyerDynamic DT48 headphones with some concert DVDs I was listening too.
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I would love to listen to this when it becomes available :thumb:
http://theaudioguild.com/the-collection/#/emac/
Just beautiful to look at, his wires are also very nice
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Check out Audeze and JPS headphones. Shane should be able to hook you up with the JPS. Amazing but not for the frugal.
charles
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Check out Audeze and JPS headphones. Shane should be able to hook you up with the JPS. Amazing but not for the frugal.
charles
Never mind not for the frugal, at $5.5k the JPS headphones are not for the faint of heart either! :shock:
http://www.cnet.com/news/abyss-ab-1266-headphones-run-5495-but-theyre-worth-it/
Given what JPS gets for cable I guess the price shouldn't have surprised be, but it still did. As usual there is a big price to be paid for living on the leading edge. That said, if I ever hit the Powerball, I would be all over these. :drool:
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Thanks to Shane, I listened to a ~$3,k pair of Audeze headphones.. They were truly great in every way (but 1)... and that is weight. Just too heavy for me.
Plus, they're open-backed. Audeze is supposed to introduce a portable this week at CES. I'm waiting to hear what the pricing will be and when I can get some ear-time to see if they'll be 'the one'.
I've already committed to a Lambert headphone amp. It's powerful enough for any headphone on the market... and it allows me to roll 12AU7's, which I have. :) So, that's a done deal.
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Carl,
You mentioned in an earlier post that you own and like the Sennheiser Momentums. I now understand that they have both an on-ear and over-year version. Which have you been using and did you try the other as well? Just curious. I'm looking for a light-weight more-portable headphone that is NOT isolating to use at work (where interrupts are high and I don't like people sneaking up and poking me to get my attention ;-)
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Hey Mike, yes. I love 'em. I have the on-ears and I've used the over-the-ears a good bit at Shane's to hear different dac/amp setups.
Short answer: Either one will do what you want... The over-ears are a little more comfortable and have less bass than the on-ears. They let you hear outside noises but are great at not bleeding out into others' areas.
Long answer:
The on-ears are very comfortable at first... kind of a nice isolation, not too much... and kind of a 'creates its own environment' kind of feel to it. The phones cut about 20% of environmental stuff on their own... not much... but with music playing, they cut 50-60% off at a light/moderate volume.
However, like when I listen at home, I tend to keep increasing volume in tiny increments... and my head/ears get hot after 40-50 minutes of listening. So, I have to take a break from them...
For longer listening sessions, I was looking for something a little more comfortable with at least as good or better SQ.
The on-ears definitely have more bass than the over-the-ears... neither is bad, just a preference. I like the more-bass version. Both seem about the same in the mids and highs.... which isn't highly detailed or extraordinary.. but I like them with a good source in front of them. (E.g. Onkyo HF playing .flac) With a dedicated amp like the Fostex tube portable, they are even nicer, rounder, more 'musical'. mmm.
I wanted a home system... I thought for sure I'd end up with the HD700's and the Fostex tube amp.. but the HD700's wouldn't work.
With the news of Audeze putting out a portable, I thought it would be wise to wait and hear those before getting my other setup.
This just in.... Shane has just texted me that the new Audeze are announced, ordered, and will be at his door in a month. Made of aluminum, and designed by BMW designers. All sounds promising. :) There will be a closed and open back option.. not sure much else.. The OT/first post here has all the info (http://www.head-fi.org/t/749214/audeze-el-8-the-el-8-is-a-must-hear-at-ces-2015). The other 7+ pages has ridiculous speculating.
They will likely be a bit pricey compared to the Momentum.. but I think it says a lot for the Momentum... which I think is the ultimate do-all headphone... btw, it has a super nice mic.
-C
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From a comfort perspective, I have found the Senn HD650's, HD700's, and Urbanites to be extremely comfy. I am not a fan of the Urbanites' sound... not as resolving, fun, or dynamic as the Momentum's.
I tried some Bose Quiet Comfort and wow, those were SUPER comfy. They had kind of cheap feeling materials.. but very light... Excellent functional design as always... but definitely built to a profit-maximizing price point. SQ was 'just ok' and non-offensive as are most Bose products... Definitely couldn't listen 'into' the music... you just listen to it... Great for long listening to talk radio! :)
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Ouch, while the new Audeze is probably a great buy, it's definitely beyond what I'm looking at for work. I do have the Senn HD600s which I love for home escape but would not work in my office. But they do sound great and I find them quite comfortable.
Now after having listening to some of Shane's headphones, I can easily imagine replacing the HD600s at some point, but for work, the On-Ear Momentums are in the price sweet-spot.
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Mike,
Just let me know if you want to borrow the momentums to try at the office...
the audeze EL8 has me VERY excited... I freakin' LOVE the LCD-XC closed back version... but it's definitely on the heavy side.. you notice it on your head after a while... it's also not really portable... and the price of entry is a barrier to many...
the new closed back EL8 is going to get used a LOT by me :) it's almost 50% lighter than the LCD-XC... so not super tiny like the momentums... but definitely much lighter than current audeze models...
based on reputation and the conversation I had with my rep about details, I ordered a crap load of them and one other thing they are introducing today at CES... I'm beyond excited...
I'm supposedly first in line and put in my pre-order first. Who knows if that is reality or my rep was just trying to make me feel special and important ;) they had hoped to ship mid to late february... but emails this morning is leaning more towards first part of march now... all drivers are manufactured here in the USA... but a couple assembly parts are built for them in order to hit the price point... given delays in customs, that must be the slight delay...
looking forward to it... I'm putting up the pre-order pages now on my new website :)
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Is this EL8 over the ear or on the ear? High sensitivity?
The LCD-XC was also one of my favorites at your meet. The LCD3 was superior openness and more audiophile distraction details, but the closed back had such fantastic S/N and only slightly less transient response. As much as I would be tempted by the audiophile fireworks of the open LCD3, I would probably buy the XC for myself. It isolates like sound proof ear muffs.
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Jude put up a video of them on head-fi here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/749214/audeze-el-8-the-el-8-is-a-must-hear-at-ces-2015
here is the direct link to youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbKHYQj8BU
they are about 3/4 the size of the regular LCD series based on visual evidence... and the cups are more oval than full round circles... that will likely work better for a lot of folks. I know it will for me... so I get something that goes over my dumbo ears easier and still is large enough for me...
weight is expected to be ~400 grams... so heavier than what they were hinting at the last few times I talked with them... this is what they sent me for details this morning:
1) New magnetic design – Fluxor magnets (patent pending) – allows us use
single sided magnets to save weight while almost achieving the magnetic
flux density of the LCD series.
2) Has Fazors like LCD series.
3) Uniforce diaphragm (patent pending) virtually eliminates all the breakup
modes common in other manufacturer’s drivers.
4) Industrial design by BMW DesignWorks.
5) Available in both open and closed back versions at same price.
6) First production run production includes standard headphone cable with
1/8” (3.5mm) stereo plug and 1/8” to ¼” stereo plug adapter. The following
production runs will have Apple control cable and 3.5mm to ¼” adapter
plug. (Night & Day Audio will of course upgrade all first production run customers with the Apple control cable free of cost if they wish to switch to it)
7) Apple cable will be available at additional cost. Price TBD.
8) Sound quality superior to anything in this price category
9) Impedance: 30 ohms, Freq response: 10Hz – 50kHz
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I think the output impedance of iPhone's are around 5 ohms.
30 on the 'phones is a good match, right?
I'm no resistance expert.
-C
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You should be able to get ~116dB sustained SPL with the Iphone by itself.... these are seriously efficient cans...
they should be a very good match to just using a phone as the source...
they will have an apple cable with inline mic... not on the first production run though... I'll order more when they are available on the second run and swap out any customer that wants the apple cable.... they just couldn't get the apple cable produced in time for the first run...
the connector is a new proprietary one (grrrrrrrr!)... but it's pretty cool if they had to do it... it's based on the apple connections for macbooks... so it has magnets to hold it in place... and they will offer the connectors to aftermarket cable makers and to the public so they can roll their own cables to their specs... it's not in the first production run, of course.... a few months down the road...
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Cool. 116 should do me. ;) So the tube amp I'm getting should add a touch of warmth and/or desirable harmonics moreso than be necessary to push these.
I'll worry about cabling later.. need to hear them first, make sure comfortable, etc... I'm excited but realistic. 460g is a good bit more than the 190g Momentum's... just need to be sure I can deal with that kind of weight. I'm not kidding myself that these will be 'portable' by my definition... but 'comfortable for home use' and more portable than a home stereo of equal resolution... ;)
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460g is one pound.
My open back AKGs are half that weight, 235g, very comfortable.
The lower impedance of the headphones makes them higher sensitivity as long as the amp has enough current to drive them. Any dedicated headphone amp amp will have enough current. Most cellphones use special headphone driving opamps with high current. Apple owns Beats headphone company now, so their phone can drive those at 16 ohms. Yet those are only 105dB and will get you robbed.
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Audis just came out with these.. They look HOT~!
http://www.head-fi.org/t/749214/audeze-el-8-the-el-8-is-a-must-hear-at-ces-2015
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Looking forward to hearing the Audeze EL8's... Now I just have to waste a month of time doing.. who knows what... ha.
I'm still dissappointed in my experience with the HD700's.. sounded good at first then I couldn't stand them the 2nd time I tried them... I found a review here (http://www.bestheadphonesguide.com/2012/06/hd700-review/) that is very consistent with my experience.
I wonder if they need another couple hundred hours to smooth out... ? Just seems like a mistake the way their curve reads... and such a departure from the Momentum and HD650 sound... But whatever.. Senn doesn't make a closed-back upper-end headphone.. and I need it closed.
I haven't heard Beyerdynamics or AKG's so I don't know how those are either.. but one day..
-C
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while I agree there is the response issue to deal with when it comes to HD700, the review you link had the reviewer not break in the headphones and was using a benchmark DAC1 as the source.... I can't completely agree with any review that says the headphones sound bright when they are using that DAC as their source. wow is that an awful, shrill, in your face, hyper bright source piece.... I've heard people try to say it is neutral and true to the source.... not my experience with it at all... I will never be an owner of a benchmark DAC1, that's for sure :)
the selling point of the HD700 is the comfort factor and the openness they possess... you do have to work around the mid-range into the treble issue... it could be as simple as some EQ in JRiver at 64 bit depth, or some EQ in foobar or whatever your player of choice is... or matching components to them to deal with that response... they love tubes, for example.... with the Unsion SH, they were divine.... at a street price less than half (and closer to 2/3s off) the HD800s, and being the most comfortable headphone I've ever worn, there is an argument to be made for them compared to their competition... but it has to fit the situation, not a universal phone for every occasion, that I can definitely say....
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Well, thanks to a random encounter with a pair of headphones on Shane's table, I am finishing my headphone journey.
There were these blue and silver headphones with triangular shaped ear cuffs that caught my attention.. "Those look nice!" I thought... We had a play date for our boys and were looking at opening some wine so I wasn't there for hifi but.. there was this opportunity!
Shane has picked up ADL as a line to carry. These were the H128's, their more refined entry to the H118's (http://www.adl-av.com/products/headphones/h128/). I tried them, listened, and thought, wow, these sound exactly like what I'm looking for.. a more refined musical headphone than the Momentum. They still have the bass oomph but with detail... and more refined, pronounced mids.
Using my phone, I could hear a lot of little nuances, but also better imaging and instrument separation. These sounded very airy and light... and somehow imaged outside of my head. It was really like someone was singing in front of me! neato! Plus, no major fatiguing or weird peakiness in the highs.
I took them home to 'break them in' more as a service to Shane, because he needed help with that particular task. ;)
I was really enjoying the sound but I could tell the H128's would benefit from an amp vs. straight from the phone. They're 'fine' without an amp but they got a little congested during peaks.
I learned ADL started out by making a little USB DAC (the X1).. after that, they got into headphones. So, I thought it must be pretty good and asked Shane about it. He had one! (of course) It's very light and tiny (slightly smaller than a deck of cards). I had already committed to buying a Lambert tube amp... but it hasn't shipped yet.
I wasn't thinking I'd like it.. but I do, especially on the ADL's. On the Momentums, it reveals more of the issues with Momentum's... such as the smily face EQ'ing.. Seems like there's a 6+db boost in the 40-80Hz area and a 3db boost on the 5,k-8,k range on the Momentum's. That sounds pretty good/fun/musical straight out of the phone. I'm a little spoiled on the H128 refined sound.
I did get a brief chance to hear the 118's at Shane's and they sounded very good as well.. but I didn't listen long enough to pick them apart.. overall, I would recommend them to anyone.
If I could go back, I'd buy the 118's for work and the 128's for home. The 128's most accurately reproduce what I hear in my sound room that I've heard so far and therefore make the music very approachable and instantly engaging.
In any case, I'm now breaking in the X1 and the H128's and will report more later when it's finished changing... and so far I would say it's dramatic changes, but there are some every time I listen.
-C
PS This was my 3000'th post! Woohoo!
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I clearly need to spend more time hanging out at Shane's. Maybe I should bring my grandkids over there for a play date.
I did pick up the Senn Momentum from Shane recently for use at work. I wanted something light and not too isolating since my day is chock full of interrupts. They're perfect for that and at the right price. I use them mostly with my ifi DSD Micro but they work well straight from the phone as well. Senn house sound but far from as refined as my HD600s.
But now you've got me thinking... (damn :duh - May have to check out those ADLs at the next g2g...
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The 118's are a step up in SQ from the Momentum's in my opinion. But it depends on what you like also.. Plus, I think the ADL's offer more isolation than the momentum's... and they actually fit over-the-ear (barely) whereas the Momentum over-the-ear is partially on-and-over-ear for me.
So, the added comfort and isolation likely lend to a better listening experience in the first place.
I'm perfectly happy with the Momentums at work. If something were to happen to them, I know where to get 118's. ;) It is an adjustment to go back and forth to different sounding setups if you do a lot of headphone listening... but I don't. I do a while here and there... and I like having an ultra refined sound at home and a fun sound at work.
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Carlman could you explain the difference in listening experience between the headphones and your main speakers.
Mostly tonality, harmonics and dynamics. Size or scale does not matter. Bass ? Thanks.
charles
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Tonality is somewhat similar. There is a nice open-ness in the upper mids where some systems can sound a bit nasal. My system doesn't do that and niether do these 'phones.
Bass is a bit different, it's just too hard to describe the quality differences. However, it's as good as what I have in quantity. There is a nice heft and solid bottom end with the 128's. With my speakers I get a little more mid-bass detail I think.
It's a good question you've posed... so.. I'm going to sit down and listen to the 'phones in the sound room and comapare this weekend. When I first heard them, they sounded the most like what I have so I was sold instantly. The imaging still amazed me... I thought for sure I'd have to spend more for that magic trick.
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Open is their strength for sure. Cool looking forward to your findings.
charles
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I did get a brief chance to hear the 118's at Shane's and they sounded very good as well.. but I didn't listen long enough to pick them apart.. overall, I would recommend them to anyone.
Based on your recommedation I picked up a pair of the ADL 118s. You were spot on about them being very comfortable and easy to wear. Right out of the box I was very impressed with the SQ.... even before they have any real break in time ont them. And as of yet the only source I have used to drive them is a cheap portable discman and an ipod. I ordered a Little Dot Mk III to drive them but as of yet it has not arrived yet, I can't wait to hear what they sound like driven from a better source. :drool:
Fun, fun, fun......
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PS This was my 3000'th post! Woohoo!
Congrats on making it to the 3K club. :clap
It's good to have some more company. But I don't think either of us will ever catch up to Rich. :-k
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Tom, I'm glad to hear you like them!
The 118's were great in my very limited listening. Same house sound. I wanted that little more refinement. I would wager some WyWires would go a long way on the 118's.
I haven't noticed a huge change after about 50 hoursof playing so far. I did notice a big shift with the momentum's in the first week of use. So maybe it'll just continue to sound very good. :)
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I found that after wearing the MrSpeakers Alpha Dog headphones for a couple of hours I need to strengthen my neck to handle the weight.
I think this workout will do it. :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__H8S_4Zk8o
Compared to the BeyerDynamic DT770 600 ohm pro headphones I have the Alpha Dogs are heavy.
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Hi Guys,
I use Sennheiser HD650's which I like and use at home. I recently bought a pair of Mr Speakers Mad Dogs and really impressed with their sound quality. I think I prefer them over the HD650's but its a tough call. The Mad Dogs do way a bit more but are quite comfortable and have good noise cancelling.
Cheers Rod
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Rod, I've tried the HD650's and Mad Dog's and preferred the MD's. The HD650's seemed kind of out of phase in comparison; a little dryer sound, a wilder soundstage. The MD's seemed more solid-sounding to me.
However, I would almost always prefer a closed-back design. Open-back defeats the purpose of what I'm trying to accomplish; a portable and private listening experience. OB is not for me. I get it, it's expansive... but practically speaking is not an option.
I thought I was finished with my headphone journey until recently. The ADL H128's are still sounding great. The little X1 is still a good DAC/amp. However, Shane brought over a tiny little iPhone firewire cable, about 2" long.... maybe 3. He was asking me to burn it in for him as a favor since I have more iPhone devices that use that connector.
I hadn't thought about that cable as being an upgrade possibility. I didn't really care, I just wanted to get it going for him so he could show it off at the upcoming headphone party/G2G. Within 20 minutes of listening to it, I'd placed an order for one.
Everything you usually hear with a big cable upgrade happened. Instruments were solidly placed in time and space, tones were more natural, imaging was better, etc...
I had a very hard time swallowing the $164 price tag of this tiny little thing but that thing didn't sound tiny at all. It's amazing. I'd be very interested to hear the next version down so the ultimate value can be assessed... but I have no interest in letting this little guy go.
Only down side is the connecting flange sits flush against your iDevice... so, it's not going to work with any case. If I were Furutech, I'd consider a redesign to allow for that... but that's me. Who doesn't have a case on their iphone/touch/pad?
For me, the SQ is worth modifying my case. This completes the awesome sound package. :)
I don't know of much you could get for a complete system under or around a grand that would be better.
I'd be interested to compare what I have against the Audeze EL8's connected to a little tube amp... Probably in the same quality ballpark but very different presentations... who knows?
-C
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I too needed a closed back headphone. I enjoyed Sols/Shane's gtg this past weekend. Heard a lot of headphones, but didn't even pick up the ADL 128's. Weren't on my radar at all, Shane- no recommend for me? Anyhow I spent most of my time with closed EL8's, with a few fostex and audeze xc. Trying to find a smallish head amp/dac to pair with it.
I was auditioning the ADL X1, fostex portable tube amp, IFI micro dsd, and the small bakoon. Shane was nice enough to loan me a few to play with for an evening, then I wrapped up my shopping Sunday before leaving NC. I can tell you the top end audeze xc w/ the DiY JPS cable was kick ass with all the "little" portable amps I heard. If it weren't for the 1) heaviness and the 2) tight clampingof the ear cups , I'd own that pair. I had to take my glasses off to help the comfort.
I settled in on the El8 w/ closed back. Kinda close to same sound as the big boy xc, but much more comfortable and lighter weight. I am curious to try a JPS cable to fit it. Also chose the X1 amp/dac. Fostex had more ballsy full sound, but with little roughness compared to the clean sounding x1. If I Listened to most sub standard digital or MP3 type sound I would have swayed over to the fostex tube amp for some taming of the shrillness.
I also picked up the iFi micro dsd piece, I know I can get use from it in one of my setups.
Rob S.