Nice thread, it's given me some ideas!

Primary concern is comfort - I don't want them digging into the sides of my head, on or around the ears. I'd prefer they "sit" on top of my head rather than "clamp" onto me. I also don't like buds, they hurt my ears after only short sessions.

I'm not an audiophile, and I'll primarily use them for gaming (with movies and music coming quite far behind). Microphone not necessary.

Price doesn't concern me. Any specific suggestions?

BleaK_

Norway593 Posts

February 16 2012 12:27 GMT

#2862

I just got the Hifiman HE500:

[image loading]

( http://www.head-direct.com/Products/?act=detail&id=102 )

Connected to the Audio Gd NFB-10SE balanced dac/amp:

[image loading]

( http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB-10.1/NFB10.1EN.htm )

Connecting them is a 5" balanced Black Dragon v2:

( http://www.moon-audio.com/audio-cables/moon-audio-headphone-cables/moon-audio-black-dragon-v2-headphone-cable.html# )

This is the best I have heard in audio, ever. I hear new details in songs I have listened to hundreds of times and everthing just sounds so natural and balanced. I'm so happy right now. Just listening to music all day now :D

FinBenton

Finland870 Posts

February 16 2012 12:50 GMT

#2863

Nice setup, I have LCD2 which should have almost same sound signature (natural + planar magnet level fast bass

. Would like to try those though. Try listening to some Trentemoller and Röyksopp, the bass is so deep and amazing it brings smile to my face everyday

Sohryu7

Austria27 Posts

February 16 2012 12:51 GMT

#2864

just bought AKG K518DJ yesterday and i'm quite happy with 'em

since i mostly use my iphone to listen to music im in need of a remote to skip tracks and for volume control.

can anyone recommend any remote to plug between my phone and the headphones?

Djzapz

Canada10681 Posts

February 16 2012 15:58 GMT

#2865

On February 16 2012 21:27 BleaK_ wrote:
Connecting them is a 5" balanced Black Dragon v2:

Nice setup, but probably should've invested that $200 somewhere else ^^. People never ever hear the difference in double blind tests as far as cables go.

FinBenton

Finland870 Posts

February 16 2012 16:01 GMT

#2866

Cables are a scam but its nice to have a good looking cable, eye candy

Djzapz

Canada10681 Posts

February 16 2012 16:06 GMT

#2867

Well yeah to be fair I was thinking about getting a cable just to make my HD650/Asgard setup look better but there are some good looking ones for $80. Still a bit to spend given how the performance increase is 0.

Whole

United States6046 Posts

February 17 2012 00:03 GMT

#2868

Hey guys, I'm getting a pair of Audio Technica ATH-AD700 in a couple of weeks as my first pair of headphones around this price. Should I get the lossless file format of some of my favorite bands, or will I not hear the difference?

Djzapz

Canada10681 Posts

February 17 2012 00:29 GMT

#2869

On February 17 2012 09:03 Whole wrote:
Hey guys, I'm getting a pair of Audio Technica ATH-AD700 in a couple of weeks as my first pair of headphones around this price. Should I get the lossless file format of some of my favorite bands, or will I not hear the difference?

You may want to try, but I don't hear much of a difference between high quality MP3's and FLACs. For some music (when there's a lot of stuff going on) there seems to be a slight difference and I can do double blind tests. With slower music, even with my HD650's, and I don't hear it. It could be my ears though - who knows.

But yeah just try it and avoid low bitrate music

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

February 17 2012 01:29 GMT

#2870

Some kind of multiple-lossy encode from YouTube is a lot different than a high-bitrate lossy encode with a modern encoder from a lossless source.

I wouldn't bother hunting for lossless versions of stuff you already own, or re-ripping CDs, unless you think the current versions are low bitrate or have issues. You're free to do whatever you like, and some people are more OCD than others. It's not something I would actively encourage though.

Whole

United States6046 Posts

February 17 2012 01:34 GMT

#2871

What is considered a low bitrate?

seiferoth10

3362 Posts

February 17 2012 01:37 GMT

#2872

I consider anything 128kbps or lower as low, and 192kbps or higher as high, and I avoid VBR.

CorsairHero

Canada9491 Posts

February 17 2012 01:39 GMT

#2873

I can't really tell the difference between flac and 320 kbps.

Whole

United States6046 Posts

February 17 2012 01:41 GMT

#2874

Okay, thank you guys for the help. This thread is so helpful <3

BleaK_

Norway593 Posts

February 17 2012 14:07 GMT

#2875

On February 16 2012 21:50 FinBenton wrote:
Nice setup, I have LCD2 which should have almost same sound signature (natural + planar magnet level fast bass

. Would like to try those though. Try listening to some Trentemoller and Röyksopp, the bass is so deep and amazing it brings smile to my face everyday

Thank you! :D
Hehe, yeah some electronic music goes very deep and it's such a pleasure to listen to. I am rediscovering my whole music collection as we speak, so many missed details that I've never heard. A lot of eargasm has been had.

On February 17 2012 00:58 Djzapz wrote:

Show nested quote +

Nice setup, but probably should've invested that $200 somewhere else ^^. People never ever hear the difference in double blind tests as far as cables go.

Thanks! :D
Hehe, I got them for 90$ and I couldn't find any cheaper on the net. The NFB-10SE runs best balanced, that's why I needed the cable

I also hear a difference when switching cable, but that might be placebo.

Running balanced have huge advantages on this amp though, everything sounds much cleaner and bass is so much tighter.

Zhent

United States3 Posts

February 17 2012 14:21 GMT

#2876

Does a DAC / amplifier provide any quality improvement, or is the only way to do that with an in-system sound card? I'm trying to increase my sound quality without buying / installing a sound card in my computer, but it seems like these only convert the sound coming out of the computer - if that is already shit due to my onboard sound card, will I be stuck?

essencez

342 Posts

February 17 2012 16:43 GMT

#2877

On February 17 2012 10:34 Whole wrote:
What is considered a low bitrate?

Depends on the track and how much details your setup reveals.

On February 17 2012 10:39 CorsairHero wrote:
I can't really tell the difference between flac and 320 kbps.

I have an extremely revealing setup and with some tracks its easy as day and night others not so much.

On February 17 2012 23:21 Zhent wrote:
Does a DAC / amplifier provide any quality improvement, or is the only way to do that with an in-system sound card? I'm trying to increase my sound quality without buying / installing a sound card in my computer, but it seems like these only convert the sound coming out of the computer - if that is already shit due to my onboard sound card, will I be stuck?

I'd say the most cost effective way to improve sound quality would be headphones/speakers followed by DAC and lastly amp. You should check if your current soundcard or motherboard for digital output as its required to use an external DAC.

A soundcard is effectively an DAC/amp combined.

zickoray

United States366 Posts

February 17 2012 22:41 GMT

#2878

So im looking for some in ear head buds that are good quality i work out and listen to my ipod ALOT so i need something other than my Sennheiser HD 595 haha cant really work out in those

so any suggestions to a good ear bud i have prolly 100$ i can drop on them so high quality would be nice

BleaK_

Norway593 Posts

February 17 2012 23:39 GMT

#2879

Sound card would help a ton, but you can also look at usb dac/amps like Fiio E7 or E10. I use a e7 for portable use and on the laptop when I'm on the uni or library.

Scorm

United States104 Posts

February 17 2012 23:54 GMT

#2880

I like my Razer Banshee headset. The sound is good and it matches the set.