what headphones do you use?
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 9:54AM
I'm currently using Denon 1001 headphones and a simple CMOY amplifier. I'm happy with my setup, but suspect that some pricier Sennheisers or something may be in my future...
What's good for classical?
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 11:11AM
#2
RE: Home
I just got some AKG K-271 MkII - which are closed back phones designed for studio monitoring and broadcast work.
They're designed to be 'neutral' - ie, for monitoring - which I think 'automatically' suits all types of music. If I want to add 'colouration' to something (heavier bass, enhanced mid-range) I can do it with EQ, rather than be permanently stuck with the colouration that the headphone designer thinks I want.
Ideally I'd have open-backed phones, but the only times I actually use them are on trains, when I'm in the office, or in bed when my partner's asleep, so noise leakage is an issue (both ways when on the train - there's always lots of extraneous noise from the train itself and even in the so-called "quiet carriage" people can be surprisingly noisy).
I used to use Sennheiser PX200 - now superseded by the PX 200 II
- which were great.
But when they died recently, after several years use, I decided to 'upgrade' to the AKGs, which have much better noise isolation, and still have the right combination of impedance and sensitivity to work fine direct from an MP3 player - even if they are rather bulky to transport, and make you look a bit like a Cyberman.
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 2:06PM
#3
RE: Home
This is something I've needed to think about a lot because my wife and I both work from home, and she wouldn't get much work done with Schoenberg or Ornette Colemann howling from my speakers. I use Bose on-ear headphones like the ones (hopefully) showing below; clarity/depth of sound like you wouldn't believe, and now I listen through my headphones even when I'm at home on my own! 
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 2:46PM
#4
RE: what headphones do you use?
I've just been testing these
for a forthcoming issue, and they're not only very comfortable indeed, but sound rather special, too...
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 3:31PM
#5
RE: what headphones do you use?
Andrew - What noise-reduction headphones would you recommend I use for listening on the tube? I don't like carrying my bulky Bose 'phones around with me.
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 5:34PM
#6
RE: Home
I have an elderly pair of Sony in-ear noise-cancellers I have used for many years while travelling, but they stopped working in one ear on my last long-haul, and I haven't got round to replacing them.
But given they must have lasted for getting on for ten years, I'd say Sony noise-killers are a pretty good bet.
That said, I used some SoundMagic in-ears – from the same source as the Phonaks above – for the rest of that trip, and while not active noise cancellers I found their tight fit in the ear, after a bit of playing around to find the right 'tip', meant they kept out most of the ambient sound, and made music very enjoyable.
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 9:23PM
#7
RE: what headphones do you use?
Grado RS1s at home, nice clean, neutral sound. Eymotic ER4S when travelling, fit into a shirt pocket and give good isolation in airplanes. Koss KSC75s skiing and kayaking, one of the best headphone bargains on the market, good sound and inexpensive enough that you don't have conniptions about ruining them.
I find headphone amps make a huge difference. My travelling amp is the size of a deck of cards and works off 4 AAAs.
Tue, Apr 13 2010, 9:36PM
#8
RE: what headphones do you use?
I've tried noise-isolating headphones like the Shure series which come in a dizzying array of series. Dizzying in that you can't tell the difference between different sets. What makes one set worth $100 and the other $500? They work well, but are very expensive: up to about $500 for the most expensive set. The fit is comfortable as they are packaged with "tips" for various sizes.
Wed, Apr 14 2010, 1:00PM
#9
RE: what headphones do you use?
My fav Senneheiser HD600; open-backed so if the music's quiet I listen past midnight (no traffic noise!). Regards, M
Wed, Apr 14 2010, 2:40PM
#10
RE: what headphones do you use?
Surely these in-ear phones represent a real risk for the hearing - from Mahlerian crash on tam tam straight to eardrum?
Wed, Apr 14 2010, 4:52PM
#11
RE: what headphones do you use?
I find headphone amps make a huge difference. My travelling amp is the size of a deck of cards and works off 4 AAAs.
What headphone amp do you use?
I recently tried a FiiO E5 but really didn't find it made any difference.
I'm using the AKG K-271 MkII phones I mentioned above, on a Cowon S9 mp3 player. The output of the S9 is quoted as a relatively low 29 mW per channel into 16 ohms, so I'd thought even a very modest amp like the FiiO E5 - which is quoted as putting out 150mW into 16 ohms (presumably 75 mW per channel) - should make a difference.
So I'd be interested to know what the realistic 'entry level' price might be for something that would actually improve matters.
Wed, Apr 14 2010, 7:21PM
#12
RE: what headphones do you use?
Surely these in-ear phones represent a real risk for the hearing - from Mahlerian crash on tam tam straight to eardrum?
I think not, if levels are kept sensible.
Wed, Apr 14 2010, 7:33PM
#13
RE: what headphones do you use?
[What headphone amp do you use?]
The portable is a Headroom Total Airhead, my home amp is a Home Headroom. Headroom no longer makes the 'Home' product but I seem to recall it was about the second or third one down in their line-up, so you could look at whatever is equivalent these days. They still make the Total AirHead, and they've improved it since I bought mine, adding a gain switch. Which I could use, because the Etymotics are difficult to drive even with an amp. But what's surprising to me is the difference it makes to the Koss KSC75s. I always think twice about taking it with me skiing because as small as it is, it's still one more thing to mess around with and it's a tight fit in my pouch. Plus, I'm not really out there to listen to music. But I've had the Florez/Bartolli Sonnambula on my portable lately and two days ago, for the first time, I took the amp with me. The difference was huge - much clearer right through the range. Perhaps it's simply a case of the extra power allowing you to run the portable at lower volume and therefore getting cleaner output from it. All I know is what comes into my ears is much better. The fade out of bells at the end of the work is transfixing. On the downside, you can also hear all the internal grumblings in the portable.
As for the home amp, I bought it mainly because my set-up (all Quad) doesn't include a headphone jack. I'd run a QED headphone box/speaker switch on the speaker outputs for years, but wasn't happy with the headphone sound. The amp was well worth it for me, but I do wonder if I'd have found it so if my main amp had its own, properly configured, jack.
I've dealt with Headroom a number of times over the years and found them first class in every respect, including answers to queries.
Thu, Apr 15 2010, 1:24PM
#14
RE: Home
I think not, if levels are kept sensible.
That is perfectly true, of course, but it is easier with headphones than with speakers to let the volume level become too high. Moreover, the risk of hearing damage from headphones is higher than with loudspeakers, even at comparable volumes, due to the close coupling of the transducers to the ears. One of the benefits of headphone listening is the ability to detect musical details. Any hearing damage would have substantial impact on that experience. It is not only the hearing of pop listeners with their i-pods which is in danger.
Fri, Apr 16 2010, 10:23AM
#15
RE: Home
Grado SR325is with a Firestone Audio Fubar IV.
Sennheiser CX300s for iPod, though have just got an iPhone so am looking for a set with inbuilt mic, and am considering Etymotic.
I use a Sony MDR-CD 2000 at home:
And a Sennheiser Px-100 for my mp3 player (Iaudio, just fall into water yesterday, sniff!!)
PS, at work I use a Beyers Dynamic (closed), see my Avatar!
Rolf