I got some Sennheiser HD280's.

[MrCraphead]

and to tell you the truth, it's not performing up to my expectations. Granted, I've heard that I need to "burn them in" or break them in for a certain period of time to allow the woofers to loosen up? Is this true? If so, how long will it take?

And also, it has come to my attention that either my mp3 quality is horrible (even though it's 192 bitrate) or just the pre-amp in my Klipsch v.2-400 speakers really suck. Do i need to get the Audigy Ex in order to get decent sound from these headphones? When I try listening to a CD on my CD player, I crank the volume up all the way w/ the digital bass and it sounds really horrible. Is that b/c the CD player can't push the headphones enough? I know the HD280's are rated at 64ohms. :frown:

Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on my situation, or offer some advice, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[chocobaR]

I don't know what to say. You can always return them and try some others. I heard the 400s and 500s were really good.

 

[LikeLinus]

Thats why I purchased Grados!!!

 

[0roo0roo]

i don't get whats wrong with your preamp? it crackle when you turn it? i justuse my keyboards volume control, not that mine ever cracked itse just wall mounted and i don't like to reach


but i've heard....


anyways , try using the player from this thread if your paranoid about sound quality.

my klipsch sound wonderful still

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

You do need to break them in, about 100 hours should be fine. After that, if you want, get the M-Audio Revolution for a pretty big sound quality increase. From there, you can get a decent CMOY amplifier for about $30 or $40. That should make a pretty kickin' rad starter system.

 

[MrCraphead]

With all due respect to Sennheiser's, I honestly don't think it's the headphones, but the sound source which is feeding into it. I just never realized how important it was for a good quality sound stream. My Klipsch's sound great as well, but I guess the headphone jack on the Klipsch preamp isn't too great? I have no idea.....

So the M-Audio Revolution is better than the Aud 2 line? And what's a CMOY amp for?

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

The M-Audio Revolution will absolutely spank the Audigy 2 line when it comes to sound quality. and a CMOY amp is so that the headphones can get the power they need to shine. The Klipsch preamp is probably giving your headphones really crappy power. A CMOY is pretty much the most basic amp you can buy, so it's pretty decent for beginners. If you are good with a soldering iron, you can build one for just about $20 to $30 dollars in parts, more if you screw some up.

 

[erikiksaz]

How are you hooking up the headphones? Through the Klipsch? If so, run it through your sound card, not through speakers.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: erikiksaz
How are you hooking up the headphones? Through the Klipsch? If so, run it through your sound card, not through speakers.

There is no way in hell a line out is going to put out enough power to drive the HD280s. If the sound card has a headphone out though, go for it.

 

[thirtythree]

I had HD202's and I like them fine. Then again I'm not an audiophile or anything. My headphones are plugged directly into my sound card.

 

[element]

I have the HD-570s. They sound really good IMHO.

 

[NewSc2]

Truthfully, let them burn in for a couple days, and get used to them. Initial thoughts of my HD580's weren't that great, until my friend wore them and was ranting endlessly about how good they sounded. I put them on, and they finally really did amaze me.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: NewSc2
Truthfully, let them burn in for a couple days, and get used to them. Initial thoughts of my HD580's weren't that great, until my friend wore them and was ranting endlessly about how good they sounded. I put them on, and they finally really did amaze me.

NewSc2 only says that to make himself feel better about the absurd amount of money he's put into it

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: NewSc2
Truthfully, let them burn in for a couple days, and get used to them. Initial thoughts of my HD580's weren't that great, until my friend wore them and was ranting endlessly about how good they sounded. I put them on, and they finally really did amaze me.

NewSc2 only says that to make himself feel better about the absurd amount of money he's put into it

Neurosynapsis is just jealous

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: NewSc2

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: NewSc2
Truthfully, let them burn in for a couple days, and get used to them. Initial thoughts of my HD580's weren't that great, until my friend wore them and was ranting endlessly about how good they sounded. I put them on, and they finally really did amaze me.

NewSc2 only says that to make himself feel better about the absurd amount of money he's put into it

Neurosynapsis is just jealous

yes, jealous of your outdated wardrobe, you AF whore

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: NuclearFusi0n
The M-Audio Revolution will absolutely spank the Audigy 2 line when it comes to sound quality. and a CMOY amp is so that the headphones can get the power they need to shine. The Klipsch preamp is probably giving your headphones really crappy power. A CMOY is pretty much the most basic amp you can buy, so it's pretty decent for beginners. If you are good with a soldering iron, you can build one for just about $20 to $30 dollars in parts, more if you screw some up.

ack, always figured u needed an amp for those fancy headphones soundcards put out so little power these days, didn't they used to have atleast a tiny if cruddy amp back in the day?

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Not that I know of. Line out is a good thing. I'd rather have a line out that sounded good, than a powered output that sounded like crap.

 

[MrCraphead]

Ok, so my best bet would be to upgrade to a M-audio revolution and DL Foobar2000? Any more advice?

Is there something else that I could possibly test my headphones on, to see them truly perform? I know my Sony CD player doesn't cut it, that sounds like crap.....will just any stereo system work better than the sound card on my comp? (Which is the built in AC97 audio on my Shuttle SK41G.)

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Don't forget the amplifier.
and quite frankly, most consumer stereo systems will be crap, and so is the integrated AC97.

 

[radioouman]

I never knew how good headphones could sound until I plugged them into my 23 year old Realistic stereo headphone jack! It is unbelievable!
The amplifier makes all the difference in the world. Just keep trying different devices. I hear a huge difference between the line out in my sound card to the headphone jack in my Labtec speakers.

Most portable electronics have low power amplifiers to conserve the batteries. Try a home stereo amplifier's headphone jack.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Ever a home stereo won't be very good. Sure, it will be much better than an unamplified system, but a dedicated headphone amp should be much better.

 

[MrCraphead]

So, let's say I got a dedicated headphone amp. Would I then be able to use it on all and any sources, and make them all sound a lot better? Or will there still be inherent sound problems with it? i.e. AC97 sound card.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

No, an amp won't make a crappy source any better. This is why i strongly recommend you get an M-Audio revolution. As far as consumer grade equipment goes, it's the best.

BTW, It's just one big chain. The weakest link defines the strength of the chain, so anything from crappy sources, crappy MP3s, or crappy headphones can change the sound.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: MrCraphead
and to tell you the truth, it's not performing up to my expectations. Granted, I've heard that I need to "burn them in" or break them in for a certain period of time to allow the woofers to loosen up? Is this true? If so, how long will it take?

And also, it has come to my attention that either my mp3 quality is horrible (even though it's 192 bitrate) or just the pre-amp in my Klipsch v.2-400 speakers really suck. Do i need to get the Audigy Ex in order to get decent sound from these headphones? When I try listening to a CD on my CD player, I crank the volume up all the way w/ the digital bass and it sounds really horrible. Is that b/c the CD player can't push the headphones enough? I know the HD280's are rated at 64ohms. :frown:

Anyway, if anyone could shed a bit of light on my situation, or offer some advice, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

YESSSSSS

the burn-in time for HD280s is pretty long (100 hours?) as compared to other headphones. just give them some time (at a little louder than usual volumes and upped bass/treble i guess). a separate amp isn't really that necessary though it would help. just remember that they need lots of time

 

[Kenazo]

mmmm..... m-audio is good. we use those @ the radio station I DJ @. Our backup system utilizes an Audigy 2 (just to save a $1000), and although you can't hear the difference playing spots or anyhting, but when it's playing a song the difference is unbelievable. The other cool thing is that it is outputting to the radio at real time, and I can record voice tracks, and I can preview songs, and I can preview whatever else I want, All at the same time.