| But enough of my conversations with Mrs Wrinkly |
Headphones
•
Page 14
-
-
damagedinc 3,105 posts
Seen 1 day ago
Registered 10 years agoPES_Fanboy wrote:
Another shout for the Y50's brilliant headphones and in black look great. Wasnt a fan of the 450s as i had to much outside noise get through. Y50's solve that with slightly bigger design.
Mr_Sleep wrote:
I have the Y50's, they're excellent at that price point, only downside is they're really hot on your ears. Buy in black unless you're a teenager (even then they look a bit yoofy).
My AKG 450's have finally given up the ghost, I was considering replacing them with the Y 50's, anyone have any experience of those and would they be a reasonable replacement?
K451's are also a great buy, if you liked your old set you'll love em. Don't look quite as ridiculous, either.
For in ear cant go wrong with soundmagic E10's -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 16 years agoQuestion for you headphone geeks, with open backed headphones, how much of the outside world can you actually hear?
For example could I hear a child crying through a monitor?
Are there any which are decent for gaming? -
mal 29,326 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 20 years agoNot as much as those around you can hear of your music's drums.
I heard skype ringing on an adjacent computer on closed back headphones earlier today, so I'd expect you'd be able to hear a child crying through anything short than having your head in a vacuum.
Edited by mal at 20:44:08 25-03-2016 -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 16 years agoNot so much the crying but the coughing followed by puking I need to hear!
Leakage isn't a big deal these would be mainly for when the Mrs had gone to bed. -
mrpon 37,367 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 15 years agoNot got a baby monitor with the visual noise meter? Essential for my noise cancelling headphones. -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 16 years agoIt's got a meter thing but if I'm looking at the screen I'll probably miss it. -
mrpon 37,367 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 15 years agoYou need it in your peripheral vision! Right next to the screen. -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoTempted by the AKG K550 at £95.. has anyone got these or auditioned them? -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoIronGiant wrote:
Yeah, I've had a pair.
Tempted by the AKG K550 at £95.. has anyone got these or auditioned them?
If you're looking for a very natural sound then they're as good as you'll get for the money, but if you like a bit of colour or warmth in your sound you won't like them. They're as flat as it gets.
They're also absolutely enormous, even for large over-ears, and they don't fit most heads very well. There's lots of fixes for them around as most have fitting issues. And the pleather on them is a bit nasty and sweaty. And the cable is miles long and can't be changed.
BUT, for the money they are bloody good quality. The bang for buck is outrageous. But yeah, despite being good value, you might not actually like them. I didn't. -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoHmmm thanks for the feedback.. as most of my music is electronic based, with some rock/metal are there any over ear cans youd recommend? Upto 250 quid at a push.. what did you get instead of the K550s? -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoI have many many pairs. Bit of a 'head case' 
Do you specifically want over-head closed phones? They probably are the best for electronic type music tbh.
Beyerdynamic DT770 are also available for about £100 these days and I would take them over the K550s every day of the week. Lovely warm sound and really nice bass. They're also super comfy with velour pads instead of pleather, which I massively prefer.
To be honest I don't think you'll get a much better pair even if you spend £250. You could go for some Momentums or something which are nice, and a bit more portable, but personally I'd get the 770s. -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoYeah i think so, ive lived with in ears for so long now that just about any pair of proper headphones should make a huge difference!
Im currently listening to stuff like Nine Inch Nails, Moderat, Etherwood, Breakage, New Order, Haelos, Underworld, The Qemists, Leftfield mixed in with a bit of Deftones, Marilyn Manson and Chvrches so mainly electronic based.gif)
I'll definitely look for those DT770 as thats a very appealing price. Thanks. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoYeah, even if you don't want in-ears there's still lots to consider - on ear, over ear, open, closed, semi-open...
It all depends on how you're planning to use them. Open will leak sound but give you a much wider soundstage. But then closed tends to have better bass. On ear are also good if you don't want in-ear, but are looking for something relatively portable.
But still, if you're happy with a large pair of cans the 770s are no brainers imo. Amazing headphones. I paid over £200 for mine and they're worth every penny. -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 16 years agoI do love my Momentums. Perhaps a bit tight on the ear, but they are the 1.0 models, i think this was resolved with the 2.0
Will upgrade when 3.0s come out i think -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoI'll only use them at home.. basically to just relax and listen when kids have gone to bed and the missus is scouring ebay on the ipad 
Im open minded as to what type of headphones, though not too much leakage to anyone else in the room.. id like to hear more detail, dont want huge bass. -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 16 years agoHow about looking at the beyerdynamic dt990 pros?
They are open back but I got a pair the other day and they are really nice.
Might need an amp with the 250ohm versions tho
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyerdynamic-DT990-PRO-Headset-250/dp/B0011UB9CQ -
matrim83 5,713 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoWhat would you guys recommend for watching movies? Its gotta be headphones cause I dont wanna wake the little one up. Is surround sound really a thing in headphones and worth looking into?
Looking to spend about 100 quid or so. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoThe 770s are better than the 990s for electronic music. Again, I would say unless you're really up for spending some money and moving into the Audeze/Fostex type range, you're not going to get a better set of cans.
If you really do want detail though you could go for some Grados. Completely different direction but then you really are going to start hearing the difference. But any open backs (like Grados or 990s) will leak and probably be quite irritating for someone else in the room with you. And similarly you'll be able to hear them. -
damagedinc 3,105 posts
Seen 1 day ago
Registered 10 years agomatrim83 wrote:
If you have a ps4 the wireless headset is brilliant
What would you guys recommend for watching movies? Its gotta be headphones cause I dont wanna wake the little one up. Is surround sound really a thing in headphones and worth looking into?
Looking to spend about 100 quid or so. -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoYou-can-call-me-kal wrote:
It's never straight forward
The 770s are better than the 990s for electronic music. Again, I would say unless you're really up for spending some money and moving into the Audeze/Fostex type range, you're not going to get a better set of cans.
If you really do want detail though you could go for some Grados. Completely different direction but then you really are going to start hearing the difference. But any open backs (like Grados or 990s) will leak and probably be quite irritating for someone else in the room with you. And similarly you'll be able to hear them.
I'll see what my local Richer Sounds have in stock and have a demo of some, or I have a Music Matters store not too far away. Not sure whether a Currys Megastore would stock decent headphones..
Not saying that whathifi are the gospel on everything music but are these the 770s you have?
Review
Edited by IronGiant at 22:13:44 10-05-2016 -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoYeah those. It's true they're not super detailed but they are really great sounding, and again, top for electronic. And j din agree there is much better at that price point, and certainly not for £100.
If you really do just want clarity though perhaps you are better off with the K550s. They are absolutely dead on pure neutral and the clarity is excellent. I just find them boring. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 15 years agoAIAIAI might also be worth a look. I'm fascinated by the modular design and they look beautiful. -
gamingdave 5,087 posts
Seen 10 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoI have a few pairs in the price range, so can give a little perspective. I use my headphones indoors from my AV amp (Yamaha RXV3800) or my portable headphone DAC/AMP, an Oppo HA2.
The K550s are, as You-can-call-me-kal has said, very neutral, and they are indeed very clear and clean. I actually have the 551, but they are the same, just with an inline mic.
They lack a bit of bass, but what is there is well defined. I often use them on longer train journeys, and a little bass boost gives them a nice lift. I wouldn't say they were boring, but they aren't as fun as some of the others. Comfort wise, they are very good, though can get a little sweaty for long sessions. Being closed back there is no sound leakage at all.
My other closed backs are Sennheiser Amperior. These are now sold as HD25 Aluminiums. They are my goto out and about headphones. They really clamp to your head, and isolation is very good, I can use them on the London Underground shutting out nearly everything. Despite the clamping they are comfortable for long sessions, and have a bomb proof construction.
They have a wonderfully punchy sound, bags of bass, but not bloated. Awesome for rock and dance, yet able to handle more subtle music with ease. I rate them highly and they are easily driven so work well straight from a mobile phone if needed. No leakage at all.
My oldest pair of open headphones are Sennheiser HD595, which were superseded by the HD598. The king of comfort! Slightly laid back, these are very easy going, but are still very responsive. Great for all kinds of music and films alike. I can wear these for hours on end and they melt into the head. They lack slightly in bass, but still pack a punch with films when needed, and respond to an EQ bass boost well.
My newest open headphones, and now my most used in the house, are Phillips X2 Fidelio. not quite as comfortable as the 595, but far from uncomfortable. Toe tappingly good with rock, blues and soul. Cracking with drum and bass. Excell with action films.
They are often described as a fun headphone, but to me are actually fairly neutral, they just bring everything to life in a fantastic way. Very happy with them and they get used a couple of hours every night once the wife and kids are in bed. Would buy another pair in an instant if these broke, but they feel very well made so I think will last a long time.
Both the HD595 and X2s are leaky, and easily heard by anyone else in the room, no worse than other open backed headphones though.
I haven't any of the Beyerdynamic range, but they are well regarded.
Buying headphones is always a bit of a mindfield, but I hope this helps.
Last time, when I bought the X2s, I was looking at Sennheiser HD600/650, the X2s, Oppo PM3s and Hifiman HE400i. Did a lot of reading on head-fi, as I didn't have anywhere local to test. The X2s had had a quality control issue, but this was resolved by the time I bought mine. For the price I think I made the right choice, but I'm sure they won't be my last pair!
Oh, and if you want to use them for gaming, the X2s have a removable cable with a standard headphone jack, so you could use something like this as a mic: https://www.amazon.co.uk/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headphone-Microphone-Black/dp/B00BJ17WKK
Saying that, if you get the AKG 551 then the inline mic works well.
To try and break them down, and this really is approx...
Comfort - 595 >> X2 = 550 > Amperior
Build - Amperior >> X2 > 550 = 595
Neutrality - 550 > 595 >> Amp = X2
Bass - Amp = X2 >>> 550 > 595
Fun - X2 > Amp >> 550 = 595
Films - X2 > 595 > 550 = Amp -
Armoured_Bear 31,234 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 10 years agoI personally love my K550s, very neutral and very comfortable with good isolation and low leakage. I use them in work every day.
It's all about taste at that price range, plenty of good headphones. -
IronGiant 6,352 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoThanks for the advice, I've gone for the K550s, at 95 quid they're more than worth a go.
Those X2s sound like a good choice too, some good reviews for those. Coming from my Sennheiser IE80s I'm hoping for a nice upgrade -
mrpon 37,367 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 15 years agoMy Bose QC15 earpads stitching has come loose. Bose want to charge £25 for replacements, a pair I assume. Searching on eBay, non-official are sub £10?
Thoughts? -
Tomo 19,566 posts
Seen 8 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoCor, I just bought a pair of 250 Ohm DT770s on the Amazon warehouse for £79 and they are extraordinary! I appreciate better-than-mediocre headphones, but these are amazing. They sound great, they are sturdy as hell and the ear pads are so comfy, without any wobble. I've just plugged them into a FiiO E10K and it's made them even more lovely. Hearing all sorts in tracks which I didn't realise were there. Dead impressed.
I can't imagine how much better super expensive cans can actually sound. Like, where the hell do the improvements come from?! -
Thats a great price. Would love to try a pair of Beyerdynamic at some point.
.gif)
Sometimes posts may contain links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. For more information, go here.
