• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

total audio noob looking to get a low end headphone set-up

B

bockchow

Platinum Member
ok thus far i've never used anything better than $20 headphones. after i bought my ipod i decided to be a little bit more involed in my audio. i've been looking around for the past couple days and i've decided to go with the Sennheiser HD500's instead of the grado's that everyone here loves.

the main thing i was wondering about where those heaphone amps, i know nothing about them. i'd like to kinda check them out with something cheap like $50 or so but everything i see starts at like 200. i found this to kinda give you an idea of what i'm looking for. i don't need it to be portable since it's always going to be sitting on my desk. so no need to recomend those mint box things. would an amp for $50 be useless even if i can find one? do i even need one?
 
Originally posted by: bockchow
ok thus far i've never used anything better than $20 headphones. after i bought my ipod i decided to be a little bit more involed in my audio. i've been looking around for the past couple days and i've decided to go with the Sennheiser HD500's instead of the grado's that everyone here loves.

the main thing i was wondering about where those heaphone amps, i know nothing about them. i'd like to kinda check them out with something cheap like $50 or so but everything i see starts at like 200. i found this to kinda give you an idea of what i'm looking for. i don't need it to be portable since it's always going to be sitting on my desk. so no need to recomend those mint box things. would an amp for $50 be useless even if i can find one? do i even need one?
Click to expand...
No, you don't need one. The output from my soundcard drove my HD600's just fine.
Headphone amps are primarily for improving the quality of the amplification. Its purpose is not to make things louder. I'd say save your money or put it towards something else. If you list your system components, I can give you a recommendation on what to do.

my system 😀
 
system specs
1600+ xp hopefully a 2400+ in a week or two
asus a7v266-e
512mb crucial ddr 2100
ati 8500dv aiw
fortissimo 2 sound card
win2k going to be xp in probably a week or so
400gigs worth of HDD
 
I meant your stereo setup, not your computer setup 🙂
If you're running it off your computer, I doubt you'll need a headphone amp.
Get your headphones first and try them out. They'll take a bit to break in. You can leave them running overnight with some music at moderate volume to speed up the process.
I think the sound card will drive your headphones to a high enough volume.

What are you using the headphones for? Music? Movies? Gaming? or just general use?
If you haven't ordered them yet, I strongly suggest you take a look at a pair of Sony MDR-V6's (not V600's).
 
HD500s have 32 Ohm impendance, so you don't need a dedicated amp at all (though it would help of course, it always helps 🙂).

But those are not popular headphones. I would look elsewhere.
HD280 pro are also 32 Ohm - good for portables, closed, these are considered as very good audiophile headphones and not the most expensive.
Also check out:
HD 497 - light, open, cheaper, great sound balance
PX200/100 - designed for portables

The next step are those top of the line headphones which include:
HD 580
HD 600, these two are 300 Ohm, and they absolutly require a good amp
(and also HD 570, HD 590 - less popular, different line)

That's all Sennheiser has to offer, no reason to look at the midclass HD495, HD500 type headphones - they are not worth it IMO 🙂
 
i do everthing on my computer, don't even have a tv or a stereo. i'll check out the others that you guys mentioned
 
ok checked out a couple pairs. i was under the impresion that the hd500 was a slight upgrade of the hd497 wich didn't look all that comfortable and is actualy rather ugly. the sony MDR-V6 looks nice but i don't think it's what i'm looking for. the HD280 pro on the other hand is looking realy good. it has an Impedance of 64 from what i'm reading on headroom (of course i have no idea what Impedance is) and it's also sealed which is kinda what i'm leaning towards. if i don't need an amp that bumps my budget up a bit. the 280's are $99 on headroom is that a good deal?
 
Ah, but HD4x7 and HD500 are completely different series. HD497 is the top of HD437 - HD457 - HD477 - HD497 line, while HD is the entry to HD5x0, but no match for the rest of HD5xx.
But, true, it's all plastic and silver-white painted plastic too... Some people say it's not very comfortable - it doesn't cover your ear but sit on top of it. But the price vs sound quality ratio is very good for them, you can be sure of that.

MDR-V6 is often recommended, it's a good choice.

HD280 are HUGE headphones, it's closed so it will block background sounds and won't leak sound (and HD280 is especially good at this). But you have to decide, most people who casualy listen to their mp3 can be satisfied with much less than these (Koss KSC-35, PX200 etc). These are a step in the direction of real hi-fi headphones (like Beyerdynamic DT880), but being 64 Ohm as you said, any source can drive them (sound card, pcdp), so you don't need all the expensive equipment.

Many people if they have the money, go ahead and buy HD600 for example, and then without proper source, amp, cables it's a waste IMO, they will not make use of the potential of these headphones.


EDIT: besides, go to http://www.head-fi.org, if you haven't found it yet and search the forums for any headphone you seem to like.
 
well this is all new to me so this is just what i think i want right now and is subject to change. i'm looking for general computer use, games, movies, music. around the ear, sealed, very comfortable and good for very long sesions (8+ hours). and something not terribly unatractive when i happen to use them with my ipod. thinking a budget of about $100.
 
In that case, I'd *highly* recommend the Sony V6's to you. Seeing as how you are in beaverton, the wilsonville Fry's should have a pair you can try out. If not, you can try a guitar center. They may not have the V6's, but you can try the 7506's - they're identical. The V6's are aimed at consumers while the 7506's are aimed at production studios.
They're around the ear, sealed, very comfortable and good for very long sesions. They come with pleather pads, but you can put a set of velour on there like I did to mine. Yep, I own a pair. In fact, I sold my HD600's for these.
The V6's really do sound that good... to me, the HD600's just weren't worth the extra money.
The strengths of the V6:
Very rugged and reliable, folding, sealed, they get plenty loud off just a sound card or a portable player, most musically accurate headphone (for the money) up until the HD580, arguably the best bass response out of any headphone (best I've ever heard - very accurate and very deep).
They're a design that is almost 20 years old. They haven't changed it because they work so well.
Try them out locally and order them online.. they can be had for ~$60-70 new. Velour pads are another $20.
link to head-fi thread - They're highly recommended there.
If you get a chance to try them out, report back your impressions 😀
 
Originally posted by: bockchow
the 280's are $99 on headroom is that a good deal?
Click to expand...

I just ordered the Senn HD280's from amazon for $81 shipped to my door. If you wait a little longer, I'm sure they will drop more (they were like $70 for a while I think) but I got tired of waiting.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top