Looking for info on headphones

Headphones are even more individual than speakers. Each has a quality all their own. Mating them with a dedicated headphone amp is almost a necessity. I use Senn HD600 phones. I have a dedicated tube amp from ASL. I have played them through the Creek 5350SE and it is very good. I have played them through the phone jack of my CD players, and an Onkyo receiver. It was terrible. Some headphones sound better with tube amps. For now I would recommend the Sennheiser HD600 but by all means do more research on head-fi before you buy. It is also a good place to buy used phones and amps. Once you hear good headphones, you will want an amp. Good luck!

Am I the only one that thinks buying used headphones is creepy? I understand you can replace the pads, but still...

Cruz123 - Nah, not any creepier than kissing girls I really didn't know all that well.

Sfar

Thanks… I had a pair of Senns many years ago D50’s (?) I think. I sort of Felt like and sounded like planar speakers … they didn’t eliminate outside sounds well at all… I didn’t keep them long. I think they were around 150 – 175 and that was back in ’90-’92, somewhere.

Newbie
Thanks.

Sadly… you’re probably right… as usual.. But I’m a gonna try. I had a complete audiology exam yesterday. I’m clearly in the normal range… don’t hear any dog whistls, however my sensitivity was quite high, but as I suspected my left ear is down 4 to 5db, from my right.

Consequently as I’m to this point, singule, I figured to grab a pair of these goobers and kill two birds with one stone… save the gear/tubes some, and overcome the deficiency or disparity between left and right ears. Over that of relegating myself to the nearfield seating position or off center, as my usual perch.

With that in mind… another feature may be needed… volume/level control in the headset.

Stanwal
Hmmm.

Stax sure get a lot of press..

RE “Sennheiser 600's … better than your speakers”

Whoa. I like my speakers too…. With my particular setup, of course. I well may add an amp expressly for them later on as Newbie alluded to my tastes for sonics… but for now, ‘no can do’. I’ll make a selection with that possible future addition in mind…. Just not as expressly as an intentioned one.

Cruz123
No… me too, some.

Shadorne
Check… Thanks…

Sennheiser HD25 Pro & AKG 240S.

I do like the notion of good bottom ends and leading edge definition, albeit not to the point of having to endure short lived sessions because of fatigue. Likely that’s a non issue here. I don’t crank anything up extensively or for extended periods. Just once in a while.

The variety of sources is a consideration for me too as no dedicated amp is going to be in place right off.

Tgrisham

“More unique than speakers”
Super.

I suspect the ‘head phone amp’ all are alluding to here is/are dedicated HP amps.

Wouldn’t a Y off the output taps of a line stage preamp do for a while?

Any phones here have the vol adjustment for each side? This too, may be a non issue given this intensely near field situation HPs present.

This matter of imp that Shatern mentioned… how crucial is that in picking HP’s?

Thanks so very much so far. it's a big help for sure.

I've also just headed down this path - wanted the option to listen to music at reasonable volumes when the house is otherwise under a noise ban - ie my 2 year old is sleeping! I picked up a pair of AKG K702s for $270 and an Audio-gd headphone amp for $335 plus delivery. The combination is still burning in but already sounds staggeringly good. My only previous headphone experience was with Ultimate Ears in-ears with my iPod and a pair of lower model Senns. The AKGs sound far more transparent than these others. They definitely need amplification, however - though I'm sure your headphone output from your amp would more than do the job.