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Mossip

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Any other Paddock audiophiles doing their damndest to get tinnitus? Just kidding, watch your volume, guys. I recently got an obsession with headphones. These are my favorite:


Grado RS2e

Just wondering what people that know more than me think. Might save some of my bonus for a really expensive pair. Thinking the Sennheiser HD 800's.
 
D

dgtatu01

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Sep 21, 2005
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I have these, they are not cheap, but they aren't $500 either. They are quite good and I like them a lot. My ears can tell plenty of difference between these and almost everything else I have ever put on (that includes Beats and Bose). The improvement above and beyond these would be so incremental and costly I would not invest in it.
 
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UK 82

UK 82

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I currently use a pair of cheaper Grado's and love them. I might be upgrading by the end of the year and have my eye on V-Moda. Right now though I'm in the market for a new headphone amp.
 
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Mossip

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Jul 20, 2007
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dgtatu01 said:


I have these, they are not cheap, but they aren't $500 either. They are quite good and I like them a lot. My ears can tell plenty of difference between these and almost everything else I have ever put on (that includes Beats and Bose). The improvement above and beyond these would be so incremental and costly I would not invest in it.
Click to expand...

ATH-MX50? Have a pair, and they're the best bang for your buck. No contest for a bargain, but it gets better. If you don't want to spend money, just stick with those. Great headphones...
 
Deeeefense

Deeeefense

Heisman
Staff member
Aug 22, 2001
44,304
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I just bought these Naztech headphones today - Amazon $90.00
Great sound, has active noise cancelling, plus volume control and track skip function. It paired to my Iphone 6 in about 30 seconds and also to the TV about as fast. Listened to TV in the kitchen 35 feet away from the unit no problem. Light and comfortable.

 
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exemjr

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Dec 3, 2005
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I have Senn HD650s that I love. Also have a pair of HD598s that I listen to at work. Also very good, 650s are a little better.
 
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mashburned

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Mar 10, 2009
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Deeeefense said:
I just bought these Naztech headphones today - Amazon $90.00
Great sound, has active noise cancelling, plus volume control and track skip function. It paired to my Iphone 6 in about 30 seconds and also to the TV about as fast. Listened to TV in the kitchen 35 feet away from the unit no problem. Light and comfortable.

Click to expand...

Those are gay as hell man. Do they even have Plex?
 
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Deeeefense

Deeeefense

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Aug 22, 2001
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Mashburned said:
Those are gay as hell man. Do they even have Plex?
Click to expand...

Hey the only other option they had in stock was pink :)
I don't use the Plex ap but I have heard there are headphone comparability issues with it. They offer a musicbrainz proxy for a $1 a month that is suppose to resolve any issues.
 
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Crushgroove

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Oct 11, 2014
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dgtatu01 said:


I have these, they are not cheap, but they aren't $500 either. They are quite good and I like them a lot. My ears can tell plenty of difference between these and almost everything else I have ever put on (that includes Beats and Bose). The improvement above and beyond these would be so incremental and costly I would not invest in it.
Click to expand...
I had a set of 50s, gave them to my daughter when I got a set of 40s for x-mas b/c ZeosPantera said they somehow sounded better than the 50s... and he was right. Much easier on the ear. I also highly recommend the ZMF cowhide pads (also recommended by Zeos) to add some space between your ear and the driver to give it a much wider soundstage and better imaging. I dunno how, but that extra 3/8" makes a massive difference in these cans. Mkaes it sound more like an actual set of speakers instead of the music being force-fed into your head.

If you buy a lot of hifi equipment, especially headphones, amps, DACs and speakers, you need Z Reviews in your life. He does this **** for a living and his opinions/reviews are usually spot-on.

Z, who normally hates Audio Technica, also says the ATH MSR7s are the best over-the-ear cans AT makes and some of the best he's heard. Just FYI.
 
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UK 82

UK 82

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FusterCluck said:
I had a set of 50s, gave them to my daughter when I got a set of 40s for x-mas b/c ZeosPantera said they somehow sounded better than the 50s... and he was right. Much easier on the ear. I also highly recommend the ZMF cowhide pads (also recommended by Zeos) to add some space between your ear and the driver to give it a much wider soundstage and better imaging. I dunno how, but that extra 3/8" makes a massive difference in these cans. Mkaes it sound more like an actual set of speakers instead of the music being force-fed into your head.

If you buy a lot of hifi equipment, especially headphones, amps, DACs and speakers, you need Z Reviews in your life. He does this **** for a living and his opinions/reviews are usually spot-on.

Z, who normally hates Audio Technica, also says the ATH MSR7s are the best over-the-ear cans AT makes and some of the best he's heard. Just FYI.
Click to expand...
Z Reviews are really good. He's helped me out on a few occasions when shopping for new gear. His review of the Phillips Fidelio X2 cans might persuade me to buy a pair. Yeah Phillips, not known for great audio/video but if you check out the reviews from the experts it's certainly worth considering.
 
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Crushgroove

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Yeah, I've purchased a few Z items over the past few years. Started with the Emotiva XDA-2 DAC and I still have a set of SX6's in my garage that sound better than most any other speaker I've ever purchased under the $500 watermark.
 
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Bill Cosby

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May 1, 2008
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Where do you people actually use these headphones?

Maybe I'm strange, but I use headphones at work, the airport, gym, etc. I buy cheap earbuds because (1) I inevitably lose or break them, and (2) I cannot imagine wanting to completely drown out the noise in my environment so I'd be totally oblivious to what's going on around me.
 
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Crushgroove

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Bill Cosby said:
I cannot imagine wanting to completely drown out the noise in my environment so I'd be totally oblivious to what's going on around me.
Click to expand...

Not all headphones are created equal. Open back designs sound more open and don't block out sound. Earbuds are complete **** and bad for your ears.
I have kids and my home office abuts the theater room, which is not soundproofed. I don't like hearing the ******** they watch (games and loud movies) through the wall or down the hall and, conversely, they don't want to hear John Hammond's guitar and harmonica at volume 11.
 
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UK 82

UK 82

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Feb 27, 2015
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Bill Cosby said:
Where do you people actually use these headphones?

Maybe I'm strange, but I use headphones at work, the airport, gym, etc. I buy cheap earbuds because (1) I inevitably lose or break them, and (2) I cannot imagine wanting to completely drown out the noise in my environment so I'd be totally oblivious to what's going on around me.
Click to expand...
I use mine strictly for home use and usually after my wife has gone to bed. I only listen to FLAC, hi-res PCM, DSD, CD and SACD. No MP3 unless I'm streaming from Google Play.
 
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Crushgroove

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UK82 said:
I use mine strictly for home use and usually after my wife has gone to bed. I only listen to FLAC, hi-res PCM, DSD, CD and SACD. No MP3 unless I'm streaming from Google Play.
Click to expand...
Man after my own heart. I prefer vinyl, but I also spend lots of money at HDTracks, too.
 
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UK 82

UK 82

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FusterCluck said:
Man after my own heart. I prefer vinyl, but I also spend lots of money at HDTracks, too.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm a vinyl guy myself. I have 3 turntables and about 800 albums. I've been buying a lot of LPs from Acoustic Sounds. Like HDTracks they also have hi-res and DSD downloads.
 
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Moopyj

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Dec 19, 2016
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I've often thought of opening like a "headphones" store. They have sunglass hut , it would be a terrific idea I think to start a business that offers the best ear audio gear and maybe a repair store. I have problems with the wires and inevitably mine break. Somebody needs to get on that.
 
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M

Mossip

All-Conference
Jul 20, 2007
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Bill Cosby said:
Where do you people actually use these headphones?

Maybe I'm strange, but I use headphones at work, the airport, gym, etc. I buy cheap earbuds because (1) I inevitably lose or break them, and (2) I cannot imagine wanting to completely drown out the noise in my environment so I'd be totally oblivious to what's going on around me.
Click to expand...

Use strictly at home. I listen to a ton of music and just really enjoy it. If you can call sitting on your *** hitting 'play' a hobby, then I guess it's a hobby of mine. Like any other hobby it can get expensive, and once you go down the rabbit hole it's over. I can't imagine throwing on a pair of cheap earbuds for anything other than podcasts/talk radio.

It's analogous to bourbon enthusiasts buying expensive bottles while casual whiskey drinkers pour some coke over their Early Times. Nothing wrong with either.
 
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Crushgroove

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UK82 said:
Yeah I'm a vinyl guy myself. I have 3 turntables and about 800 albums. I've been buying a lot of LPs from Acoustic Sounds. Like HDTracks they also have hi-res and DSD downloads.
Click to expand...
Very nice. I'm at about half that. Really enjoying all the new releases, but man they're expensive now and the QC is allover the place. Just sent the new Alison Krauss back b/c it was such a poor pressing. I pay more than I should, but the ebay boutique dealers find all the good, old stuff, clean it well and pass it on in fairly easy fashion.

I've acquired a few decks, nothing special. I have a (cheap) cartridge addiction, though. Currently looking to upgrade to an entry-level mid-grade player. Lots of research. I "want" (or just like the idea of) a Thoren's auto for the convenience, but not sure of the sound quality of their new decks and can't find a dealer close to test drive one. Also eyeballing the Rega P3, Pro-Ject 2Xperience SB, ClearAudio Concept and the VPI Traveler. So much reading.
 
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Mossip

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Hey @FusterCluck and @UK82 what do you think about this guys rankings? He doesn't really get into the really expensive stuff (i'm not sure I have an ear worthy of those anyway). I follow him a lot for tech stuff; curious what you thought.



Edit: Seems like he focused on wireless for this. :flushed:
 
Last edited:
UK 82

UK 82

Heisman
Feb 27, 2015
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Mossip said:
Hey @FusterCluck and @UK82 what do you think about this guys rankings? He doesn't really get into the really expensive stuff (i'm not sure I have an ear worthy of those anyway). I follow him a lot for tech stuff; curious what you thought.



Edit: Seems like he focused on wireless for this. :flushed:
Click to expand...

With the exception of the V-Mod I'm really not familiar with any of them. Of course I'm not the guy to ask about wireless headphones either. I've always preferred things hard wired if possible. I had a set of wireless cans many years ago and they were hit and miss. Today's technology is much better and some people would never go back to wired. From my research the past few months there are some headphones that keep showing up on "best of" lists. Sennheiser SD 600, 650 and 800, AT MX50 and MSR7, Phillips Fidelio X2, Oppo PM 1 and Bose noise canceling to name a few. I've never been a Bose fan, great marketers though, but their headphones must be pretty good.
 
UK 82

UK 82

Heisman
Feb 27, 2015
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I actually had a pair of these back in the 70's. After about 45 minutes my ears were in terrible pain.

 
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Crushgroove

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UK82 said:
With the exception of the V-Mod I'm really not familiar with any of them. Of course I'm not the guy to ask about wireless headphones either. I've always preferred things hard wired if possible. I had a set of wireless cans many years ago and they were hit and miss. Today's technology is much better and some people would never go back to wired. From my research the past few months there are some headphones that keep showing up on "best of" lists. Sennheiser SD 600, 650 and 800, AT MX50 and MSR7, Phillips Fidelio X2, Oppo PM 1 and Bose noise canceling to name a few. I've never been a Bose fan, great marketers though, but their headphones must be pretty good.
Click to expand...

+1 on wireless. I've never had any, so I really don't know anything about wireless headphones. I assume everything is BT-oriented now, so I guess RF is still the answer for any range outside of 15', which is a red flag (to me) for sonic compromise. I may be wrong about that stigma, but that's the reason I have no experience.

I have watched that guy for cell phone/tablet reviews and related items before. He's seems pretty well informed and presents fairly unbiased reviews. Usually, the reviewers that are myopic shills or just erither hate/love everything don't make it long. He has a good following and all those views for a reason. I'd definitely value his opinion during related research.
 
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joeyrupption

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Jun 5, 2007
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I bought a Stereo! Wow! With two speakers!

But then I heard the quad with the four speakers and I was like this is it, so I got rid of the stereo and got the quad.

I'm listening to this thing and I'm like 'Hey this sounds like ****!'

So, I got rid of that and got the dodecaphonic with the 12 speakers. This was more to my liking; for a while. But the gear gets pretty sophisticated pretty fast and I got rid of that and got the milliphonic with the 1,000 speakers.

And I'm listening to that one and I'm like, 'Hey, this sounds like **** too! The other one was **** one, this one is **** too!'

So, I traded that in and got the googlephonic, which is the highest number of speakers you can have before infinity.

Sounds like ****!

So, then I said, 'Hey, maybe it's the needle!'
I had the typical diamond needle. I searched around got the moonrock needle, cost me 3 million bucks, but what the hey. So, now I have a googlephonic stereo with a moonrock needle.

...Sounds like ****.

It's OK for my car, but I'd never have it in my house.
 
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Mossip

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Joey Rupption said:
I bought a Stereo! Wow! With two speakers!

But then I heard the quad with the four speakers and I was like this is it, so I got rid of the stereo and got the quad.

I'm listening to this thing and I'm like 'Hey this sounds like ****!'

So, I got rid of that and got the dodecaphonic with the 12 speakers. This was more to my liking; for a while. But the gear gets pretty sophisticated pretty fast and I got rid of that and got the milliphonic with the 1,000 speakers.

And I'm listening to that one and I'm like, 'Hey, this sounds like **** too! The other one was **** one, this one is **** too!'

So, I traded that in and got the googlephonic, which is the highest number of speakers you can have before infinity.

Sounds like ****!

So, then I said, 'Hey, maybe it's the needle!'
I had the typical diamond needle. I searched around got the moonrock needle, cost me 3 million bucks, but what the hey. So, now I have a googlephonic stereo with a moonrock needle.

...Sounds like ****.

It's OK for my car, but I'd never have it in my house.
Click to expand...

My God, this is spot on.
 
A

awf

Heisman
May 31, 2006
10,411
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When my wife is home I play my guitar through a Zoom Box. I have a pair of Sony MDR 7506. They are about $100. They are the very best inexpensive head phones you can find.
 
M

Mossip

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Jul 20, 2007
5,709
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Never owned these, but in my experience, Sony puts out quality stuff. Bass heavy but undeniable quality. Love their stuff..

 
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