Looking for Headphones

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  • DeusExa
    DeusExa Posts: 491
    edited December 2009
    shack wrote: »
    I've run my Sennheisers straight off of an iPod or my CDP and they sound very nice without any amp.

    Was referring to HD6xx/K70x series or higher. Then again, the K50x/K60x series are hard to run also.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited December 2009
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    There has been a huge (15 pages of posts since Oct) discussion at Rock Grotto about cheap Chinese built SuperLux HD681 headphones (similar to AKG 240's) at . . .

    http://rockgrotto.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=review&action=display&thread=4559

    They are currently available for $45 delivered US by an eBay seller at . . . http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160325598103

    At that price just for kicks, I'm going to give a set a try and compare them to my Sennheiser's.

    While these are built like 240's, the poster's rank the sound up there with 701's!

    My Superlux HD-681's Headphones just arrived.

    I did an immediate comparison with my Sennheiser 570 Symphony's ($250 in 2001). The 570's are by no means high-line, and not best suited to reproducing bass-heavy passages, but they are extremely comfortable, and highly regarded by many.

    The $44 Superlux "cheapies" simply ROCK. I am totally blown away by their ability to reproduce everything from classical to hard rock, and I have read in the Rock Grotto forum cited above that they only get better over time.

    The only upgrade needed would be velour ear pads as the vinyl supplied could become uncomfortable for extended listening.

    Good luck with your search. I think with a set of replacement earpads mine is over, and the Sennheisers will soon be up for grabs in the FS thread.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited December 2009
    I forgot the image. . .
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,771
    edited December 2009
    Those do look awfully nice for $50, especially if they can do OK without an amp.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2010
    Sorry to dig up a little older thread, but has anyone listened to the AKG K702? I am interested in getting a pair, and haven't been able to demo them yet, but am looking for input. I know they are the remake of the K701, so I would assume they have a similar sound?

    akg-k702-k-702-headphones-head-phones-earphones-audio.jpg
    Jake
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited January 2010
    billbillw wrote: »
    Those do look awfully nice for $50, especially if they can do OK without an amp.

    I am amazed, and no amp is needed if you have a way to plug them in. I have been plugging them in and listening critically as follows:

    --- headphone jack in amp driven by Dynaco PAS-3X tube pre with Telefunkens
    --- headphone jack in amp driven by Conrad Johnson PV-7 pre with Mullards
    --- headphone jack in Bellari VP-130 phono pre with Bugle Boy
    --- headphone jack in LG Rumor LG Rumor 2 used as am mp3 player
    --- my kids iPods
    --- 2 of my Dell laptop's soundcard headphone jacks.

    At 32 ohms it seems anything can drive them, and they just flat out always sound great. They are good across the spectrum. Bass is simply outstanding but not overpowering. Mids are sweet just as they should be, and highs are right there. Sonically, listening to these phones is like listening to my SDA-2B TL's (which is a very good thing) :).

    The only downfall is that for extended listening (more than 30 minutes) they really would benefite from velour ear pads which cost about $35 aftermarket (almost too much to put into phones I paid just $45 for).
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited January 2010
    shack wrote: »
    It would be hard to go wrong with Grado, Sennheiser or AKG in the price range you are talking about. All make excellent headphones and it boils down to subtle sonic differences, comfort, and style. Each brand has a solid following. Grados have a nice sound and really good reputation, but when I was first looking for some cans, they were uncomfortable as hell. I understand they are better now. However, I have always preferred the Sennheisers myself. I like the way they sound and fit. My brand loyalty was strengthened when I called them about purchasing a replacement part that broke on the headband section of a modestly priced set of cans. In less than a week I had a COMPLETE, brand new headband section delivered by the USPS...AT NO CHARGE. Fifteen minutes with a soldering gun and screwdriver and my set was as good as new. That is why I will stick with Sennheisers.

    +1, I heard a pair of Grados in your price range before I left for China...was looking for a good set of phones but not willing to pay that much...nonetheless they were phenomenal. They made most 200 dollar entries sound very poor in comparison (of course I ended up with one of those cheaper man. models.

    Sennheiser, of course a giant in the industry as well but I haven't heard their higher end phones!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited January 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Sorry to dig up a little older thread, but has anyone listened to the AKG K702? I am interested in getting a pair, and haven't been able to demo them yet, but am looking for input. I know they are the remake of the K701, so I would assume they have a similar sound?
    [/IMG]

    Yes. Almost dead on. Removable cord and no more toilet white color.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2010
    sucks2beme wrote: »
    Yes. Almost dead on. Removable cord and no more toilet white color.

    Do you have a pair? If so what is your opinion of these cans?
    Jake
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited January 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Do you have a pair? If so what is your opinion of these cans?

    I don't have one. But I've spent time with them. Head fi has lot's of
    opinions on the sound. They seem to be picky about amplification.
    They don't have the bass of Senns. They sell lightly used at about
    $200. I'll be at the DFW head-fi meet this weekend. I'll try to do a
    head to head using my setup. I have other impressions, but they may
    not be accurate, since they were on somebody else's rig.
    I've got a Millett minimax I'm using now that should drive
    about anything well. The minimax is a DIY amp that can be built for about
    $200, with circuit boards and custom cases available for order.
    I've had other AKG cans around here, but not the 7xx series.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • louhamilton
    louhamilton Posts: 209
    edited January 2010
    I went with the Denon AH-D2000's. I wanted a closed ear versus the open ear like the Sennheisers. The purpose was so only I would hear them not others.

    I was also considering the D5000 but in the end, I did not need the Mahogany shell.

    I'm extremely happy, plus my laptop has been able to power them sufficiently until I get an external headphone amp.
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  • esowden
    esowden Posts: 55
    edited January 2010
    louhamilton wrote: »
    I went with the Denon AH-D2000's. I wanted a closed ear versus the open ear like the Sennheisers. The purpose was so only I would hear them not others.

    I was also considering the D5000 but in the end, I did not need the Mahogany shell.

    I'm extremely happy, plus my laptop has been able to power them sufficiently until I get an external headphone amp.

    Very nice cans. I own a pair and absolutely love them.
    Den
    Parasound 2100
    Parasound 2125
    Denon DCM-390
    LG BD390V
    Martin Logan Preface(x2)
    Denon AH-D2000

    Bedroom
    Adcom GTP-350
    Parasound HCA-800II
    Panasonic DVD-S54
    Denon AH-2000
    Polk S4(x4)

    ಠ_ಠ
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2010
    I will be getting a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-A700 and AKG K702 in for demo. I'll be interested in their comparison as they are both are open back, circumaural designs. The AKGs are about twice the price of the ATs, but it should make for an interested comparison and help narrow down what I want.
    Jake
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