Looking for info on headphones

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.

It's likely true that a dedicated headphone amp is going to sound better than the amp built into an integrated amp, at least if you spend a reasonable amount of money. I had a very nice Headroom amp with the Sennheiser 600's for awhile and it sounded great but I found myself not using the headphones often enough to justify the amp.

To your question about considering the impedance when picking the phones, I would think what's most important is that you find headphones you really like first, then if you find you enjoy the experience, find an amp that matches the phones. Because of the issues of fit and the clarity of the sonics, opinions about what makes a great pair of phones seem to be even more personal than for other gear.

Sfa

Thanks... I am begining to see that "to each their own" aspect.

Hens

That combo of yours sure seems attractive enough. I saw a couple reviews on both the Sen 600 & the AKC 701.

In reading some online reviews one note was put which gave me some pause… it regarded connecting the ??? HPs to standard amp speaker connections, instead of ¼ or mini jacks.

That sort of connection, was for older HP systems, right? Or is that an option for current modles, AKC or not?

Thanks, Jim