Headphones Stereo, Headphones Reviews

Grado Reference RS 2 Headphones Review

2009-02-11T21:58:00.001+07:00

Grado ALMOST Best Headphone

By paying $500, it may seem like you should get the top of the line of a companies headphone. With the Grado RS-2, you nearly do. The RS-1 sells for $200 more but the difference is minimal. Most people who listen to them side by side would probably choose to save the extra money......unless money is no object.

These headphones are classy from the getgo. They arrive in a wooden box. They are made of real mahogony wood. The wood is treated not just for great looks (which it has) but for performance. The headband is real leather.

The sound?

Outstanding!

The highs are great, the midranges are tremendous and the bass is realistic and tight. They, in my opinion, outperform all other competitors. Those who cannot afford this much for a headphone may wish to consider a less expensive model from Grado. The SR-80, which sells for $95, is probably the best buy of the entire line. But if you can afford these, they are worth the investment

Grado Reference RS2 Headphones

Phiaton MS 400 Headphones Review

2009-02-05T21:31:00.000+07:00

Phiaton MS 400 Premium Carbon Fiber Headphones :
A New Experience

I couldn't be happier with the product. This thing is just WILD!!!
I previously used Bose TriPort and Sennheiser HD 595, and the Phiaton catches all the sound that the others couldn't. It's definitely a new experience that all hardcore music lovers deserve.

Phiaton MS 400 Premium Carbon Fiber Headphones

V-MODA Vibe Earbuds Review

2009-02-04T22:27:00.000+07:00

Outstanding!!!

I decided to get the v-moda vibe once again after reading the stellar reviews on Amazon. I mean, a product with 4 stars after 312 reviews has got to be good, right? I got the earbuds and decided to try them on (skeptically). I was completely blown away! So much so, that I decided to write my first review ever on Amazon. So here are the pros and cons of these earbuds.

Pros:
1. Phenomenal bass response. It doesnt have the "please make me deaf" kind of "super bass", but has a rich uniform bass - much better than the Shure and Creative buds.
2. Mid range and highs are also great and crisp
3. The fit and maintenance are both super easy. No clogging, not 'ear wax cleaning tools' etc
4. The "seal" is also great - and importantly, consistent. Also, the seal pretty much isolates most sound. So you definitely want to be careful when wearing these. (For example - I couldnt hear the tap running when I was in my kitchen. I couldnt even hear my phone ringing right in front of me)
5. Fits right, no slipping even when you are walking or running

Cons:
None really. The packaging, presentation etc could be better. The "leather" bag it comes with looks kinda cheap, etc. But all of this, in my opinion is purely incidental and immaterial. I mean, do you buy earbuds for the sound or for the way its packaged/accessories?

V-MODA Vibe Earbuds - Gold Edition La Mocha

M-Audio Q40 Closed-back Headphones Review

2009-02-03T22:18:00.000+07:00

A Superb pair of closed cans

I decided to take the plunge and take a chance on this relatively new brand and purchase my first real set of headphones (had an akg k26 p before). Got it on Monday and I've been very pleased with it thus far. Bass is right there and should be comparable to many sub $150 headphones (except the DT770s) judging from other user reviews at head-fi.org. I use it primarily for movies and so sound detail is important and the Q40 definetly delivers on that aspect. The build is sturdy (Not a fan of flimsily made headphones... ahem Grados, Senns, Denons) and its not too heavy. My ears started to get warm after about 1 hour but that's expected with any closed style headphones. Isolation is excellent and sound leak is minimal... although certainly no IEM .

The kicker for me was the price of course. at around 100 bucks incl shipping. I don't know any comparable headphone out there at that price range.

Great for
-hiphop, heavy rock, movies, gaming

Look elsewhere if you're into (Denon D1001?)
-classical, techno

M-Audio Q40 Closed-back Dynamic Headphones

AKG K272 HD Closed-Back Headphones Review

2009-02-02T22:13:00.000+07:00

Comfortable, Durable, Excellent sound

Love these head phones....Nicely made, very comfortable and durable. I love the self adjusting head piece, it eliminates the pressure points you would get in a typical headphone. The headphones rest across the whole top of your head. I chose the closed style to eliminate outside noise which does a very good job. I use them with my ipod and macbook, they work great for both. I do have a portable headphone amp which I use every so often with the ipod, but it is not really needed for everyday listening. My only complaint, if I had one, would be I was hoping the head band would have been leather(like the AKG K701), not a big fan of vinyl/plastic. But I will say, they did a good job with it regardless.

AKG K272 HD Closed-Back Headphones

Monster Turbine In-Ear Speakers Review

2009-02-01T22:08:00.000+07:00

Best I've found, though a bit pricey

I've been looking for decent in-ear headphones for quite a while. I've tried Sonys, and eventually bought the Bose offering, which was disappointing given Bose's reputation and price. Still, they were better than the ones that came with the iPod, so I had just about resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to get from earbuds the kind of sound over-the-ears headphones provide. Then I tried these, and the difference was night and day.

The first thing a good pair of headphones has to do of course is isolate the sound from the ambient noise, especially in a car. The Monster turbines do this better than any I've ever heard, even nearly obliterating the sound of a competing car radio. (I worry about hearing sirens while driving, they're so good).

Once the background is taken care of, the sound is superb -- clear, balanced, and finely detailed. I'm a fairly eclectic listener, and everyone from Puccini to Sigur Ros sounds good through these. It remains undistorted even at high volumes, but high volumes are less necessary with these. Finally, these are comfortable to wear. The soft rubber tips (a variety of sizes and shapes provided) fit comfortably in my small ear canal, and hardly ever fall out.

The only reason I give these 4 stars instead of 5 is the price, which I find to be a bit excessive for ANY earbuds. But it may be a case of getting what you pay for.

Monster Turbine High Performance In-Ear Headphone

Future Sonic Atrio Series M8 Earbuds Review

2009-01-31T22:00:00.000+07:00

Excellent, listenable in-ear phones

I received these in-ear phones from RoadDogOnline through Amazon about a week ago. I have been using Shure E-4's for about 2 years, and Koss over the ear headphones for about 5 years. This is my first review. The Atrio's are so good I thought I would share my thoughts.

Unlike the Shures, these do not loop behind the ears. Using the foam tips, the Atrios stay in place fairly well, though the Shures felt more solidly in place. Construction is sturdy. They don't feel like they'll break apart in your hand. Out of the box, the Atrios provide a variety of silicone and foam ear tips (I'd be very surprised if you could not find a comfortable fit)and a case that's large enough to carry a small DAP along with the phones. The Atrios are considerably more comfortable than the Shures and the over ear headphones.

I drove all three sets of phones from my iAudio X5. I listen to 60's and 70's rock, folk, and classical ripped with a high sampling rate. The Shures are very solid performers, and I don't regret owning them in the least. However, they are a bit light on the bass and almost too crisp in the treble range. The Koss over ears sound very good as well, but are not portable. The Atrios are an absolute pleasure. The bass in comparison to the Shures is excellent, and the higher frequencies are gentler, more mellow. You can just leave these things in your ears forever and listen and listen without tiring. The brightness of the Shures is excellent for critical listening but for just sheer pleasure the Atrios win hands down.

The one significant negative for the Atrios is that they do not block noise nearly as well as the the Shures. My E-4's will go on the plane with me, and the Atrios will be at my desk at work.

Future Sonics Atrio Series M8 Earbuds

Klipsch Custom-3 Noise Isolating Earphone Review

2009-01-30T21:30:00.001+07:00

Superb sound and great value.

Being a Juilliard graduate, I have a need for pure music reproduction. Living in New York City, I also have an absolute need for sound isolation in earphones, which can only mean sound-isolating earbuds.

Being a bit of a connoiseur of earbuds, I own the Shure E5C and SE530, Westone UM2, ER4 and 6. Because of the Klipsch legend in speaker design, I took a flyer on their Custom 3. They are superb.

I chose the Custom 3 over the Image because I prefer the buds that fit the ear like a hearing aid, sitting in the ear canal, rather than the type that stick out of the ear. I never seem to feel comfortable with the latter type, get a good fit, or feel they sit securely. For that reason, I find that I never use either of the ER's. Without all of these re requirements, good sound reproduction is not possible in a bud.

The Custom 3's are warm, bright, and offer resonant bass -- not to mention a spacious sonic field and beautiful instrument placement. For me, as one experienced in earbud fitting, they required no special attention to fit except to substitute the large eargels for the medium which come attached in the box. I don't generally care for the double-flange type as they seem to make for an artificially dampened sonic field and collect earwax inordinately.

The Custom 3's are very lightweight, are no more prone to microphonics than any other bud, and seem very sturdy. I love the hardwire around the ear which makes finding the right ears a breeze. Love the E5C's for the same reason: no fumbling!

I would say the sound of the Custom 3's equals or surpasses both the Shure and Westone models, for significantly less money. I have already ordered a second pair (also have two of the E5C's). Like to have backup!

Bravo to Klipsch for giving us such another beautifully engineered product. Love the demo video, too. Very droll!

Klipsch Custom-3 In-Ear Noise Isolating Earphone

Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

2009-01-29T21:38:00.000+07:00

Panasonic RP-HC500 vs. Audio-Tehnica ATH-ANC7

I originally purchased the Audio-Tehnica quiet point ATH-ANC7 headphones most because of it's overall positive rating vs. Bose Quiet comforts. However, once I received them I viewed some ratings for the Panasonic RP-HC500 and decided to purchase one of those as well in order to compare the two.

My observations:
Cost: Panasonic was ~$7 cheaper.

Appearance: Both are pretty much the same form factor. The slight nod goes to Audio-Technica for it's looks. Both carrying cases are similar in shape and appearance.

Comfort: Both headphones were equally comfortable on my large ears.

Noise cancellation: Panasonic wins by a substantial margin. My wife verified this in our noisy car.

Sound: Both sound the same to me. However, my main focus was on noise cancellation.

Battery: Panasonic indicated that some models come with rechargeable battery (mine came with standard battery). However, using rechargeable batteries is important to me. Audio Technica explicitly stated to NOT USE rechargeable batteries. Panasonic wins.

Accessories: Both brands came with identical accessories except that the cord that came with Audio Technica was about 2" longer. No advantage either way.

I ended up returning the Audio Technica headphones and am very happy with the Panasonics.

Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones

Able Planet Clear Harmony Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

2009-01-28T21:23:00.001+07:00

Excellent, Even Surreal, Once EQ is adjusted

These are excellent headphones, with unbelievable bass(read-accurate).

As equalized they are not particularly accurate though-no doubt to the intention of having them used in noisy environments. Though lacking a documented frequency curve, I would guess it has a pronounced dip in the upper midrange to lower high frequency region, combined with a slightly heavy midbass band. No doubt many people will find this exciting, I am sure this was done again to compensate for an expected noisy external environment.

I am a sound engineer, and I have been looking for very high quality noise reduction headphones for mastering purposes. I suspected when I first auditioned these, that with a little tweaking, I could get them "perfect".

In mastering, one of the biggest problems is dealing with any extraneous noises that may "mask" details in the recording you are working on. traditional headphones simply cannot block all of this noise out. You would be amazed at the noise that creeps into your audtioning that you aren't aware of. The headphones do the finest job of removing this noise that I have ever heard. It is simply amazing. I never realized, even in a controlled listening room, just how much noise was present. In silence with the headphones powered off, then on, I realized I could hear my breathing! Yes, even the smallest amount of noise can effect the quality of music, and how wonderful to have almost everything eliminated.

As stated earlier I had to adjust my eq when using these for mastering, involving listening to hours of reference recordings to get it right, but I got there.

Now I have to say I almost listen exclusively to these headphones for all my audtioning. I have B&W speakers for my reference-anyone who knows anything about speakers, know these are the best, and I still prefer my headphones. NOW this is primarily because of the noise elimination, you simply will not believe the details in music that are buried beneath a noise floor that you don't even perceive.

I can even plainly hear differences between 16bit and 24bit when I am mastering! Its almost frightening.

One last thing. they are VERY comfortable. mastering can often take hours, and its wonderful to have a pair of cans that you can leave on without any ear pain.

Highly recommended. I will be happy to write another review with the supplied eq settings in the future if anyone is interested.

Able Planet Clear Harmony Noise-Canceling Headphones

Denon AH D7000 Headphones Review

2009-01-27T20:55:00.000+07:00

The outer difference looks small, it's time to hear the difference.
We were able to audition D7000 with the D5000 side by side. I brought my faithful SR-71 and iMod 5.5 to hook it up.

To my surprise, the look is similar but the sound has drastically changed from D5000. I'd say the former D1000/D2000/D5000 share the same sound signature but the D7000 is not on the line of the predecessors. I auditioned with two friends and we all share the same impression.

The sound of D7000 is noticeably darker, deeper and laidback. I felt it something like Senn so I thought the impedance has increased or effeciency has lowered. Actually I have to raise the volume to match the D5000. I told this finding to Denon people but they did not have enough technical information about that.

Next, I was amazed by the bass quantity and quality. The bass is huge, deep and much detailed. Wood bass note is realistic and impressive. So my first impression was something like an L3000 blended with Senn.

Sound staging is not only wider than D5000 but it's fairly expansive as if I were in a large hall.
The housing is made of wood but I did not notice remarkable wood resonance like wooden Grados.

As for mid range, the vocal is articulate, rich and full. It's just stunning especially with warm SR71. S-sound harshness could be a little exists but not prominent anyway. The mids to highs are clear and crisp, the timbre of this portion may be similar to the predecessors. But I did not feel it is so airy as it is darker overall.

Some may prefer D5000 rather, as the sound signature is so different. However, I think D7000 is a better can in general. D7000 has better resolution, sounds bigger and the bass is so impressive.

In my opinion, D7000 is a bit expensive and comes to the playground a bit late. But it's surly the new king of Denon cans and well comparable to other kings.

Credit: Sasaki (www.head-fi.org)
More Review @ Head-fi: (1),(2)

Denon AHD-7000 Ultra Reference Headphones

Sennheiser HD 380 PRO Headphones Review

2009-01-26T22:06:00.000+07:00

Awesome Cans!

I got a chance to hear these as a local Guitar center and they sound awesome! I WAS headed in to buy the Sennheiser HD 280's (Pro) until I heard these. The 380's completely blow the 280's away. There is JUST no comparison.

The Bass response is amazing for closed ear headphones. This is quite rare from what I understand.

You can hear all the detail in the highs and mid-ranges and everything sounds crystal clear. Close your eyes and you might think you're sitting in a concert hall. The sound isolation these things provide is SECOND To NONE (Except maybe the 280's)! Even with the volume extremely low I could not hear people talking who were standing 3 feet away from me! I was listening to Guns N Roses when one of the sales guys fired up a Bose system in the same room... it was so loud that (without the 380's on my head) I couldn't hear people talking but with the 380's on I barely heard the music coming from the Bose system.

These are totally worth $200!!!! And I'm not even a hardcore audio guy. If you don't believe me just demo these things are your nearest Guitar Center! Take your current headphones with you so you can compare them.

Sennheiser HD 380 PRO Headphones

Audio Technica ATH ES7-BK Headphones Review

2009-01-25T00:59:00.001+07:00

Impressive

These headphones are very impressive. First, let me admit that I don't JUST use my ipod. I regularly check head-fi.org for reviews and consider myself a intermediate audiophile, as pretentious as that may sound. I was WAY past Bose(the most overrated, overpriced headphones on the market), and wanted something that was actually a great value and sounded great; The ES7's do not disappoint. However, I have been burning them in, and lets just say that these need a LOT of burn in to sound their best. I have been burning them in since Friday at 12 pm, and I have read on headfi.com that these headphones need 300 hours of burn in to start sounding optimal, preferably done with pink noise and not music. When I first purchased the phones, I was somewhat disappointed. They sounded just like the overpriced Bose triports, without the boomy bass(although, it was muddy). With burn in, these are already starting to sound great. The bass is slowly tightening up, while the vocals are clearing up and the highs are starting to shine. I can officially say that I am a fan of Bob Marley's song " Exodus" and " No Woman, No Cry" and a few other songs, songs I never liked in the past. The ES7's sound pretty good with my ipod, but VERY good with my headphone out on my PowerBook G4. And this is all in less than a week's time of burning in these phones! Although these phones don't require an amp, I am probably going to purchase an amp/dac combo to optimize my listening experience. This way, I don't have to deal with the sound-card on my powerbook, and my sound experience can truly be called great. Also, when I'm on the go, my ipod--after I amp it up and Rockbox it--will sound a lot better! However, these headphones do not disappoint by themselves, and they will continue to impress someone the longer he/she uses them. Highly recommended.

Audio Technica ATH-ES7-BK Headphones

Koss QZ-2000 Active Noise Reduction Stereophone Review

2009-01-24T00:34:00.001+07:00

Living with QZ-2000 Active Noise Reduction headphones

I own two pairs of QZ-2000 headphones and use them every day on the bus to listen to the radio or Cds. Sometimes I record spoken radio programs on a CD-RW to play back on the bus journey. Basically they reduce the low frequency sounds so that you can listen to spoken voice, very useful when studying languages. Classical music still doesn't work, but most Jazz does, again sitting as far away from the engine as possible helps as well.

When flying I used to use ear buds and heavy ear defenders. The Koss headphones are much better and not nearly as tiring to wear. They aren't much use at the high screaming kids frequencies but even so they do take the edge off it. Although they are useful at reducing noise the normal technique of getting a seat in the center block as far forward as possible should still be used since these tend to be the quietest seats. They are considerably cheaper than upgrading to business class on longer trips. I notice that I am fresher when I wear them than when I do not. I have noticed they don't make so much difference on trains though. I think trains are just quieter.

The reason I have two pairs, well they have a life time warranty and I find that the wires tend to break inside with use. Then I send them off to be repaired and use the other pair.

Could I image life without them? No. Could they be improved? I think so. They are a considerably higher priced unit than other noise reduction headphones which sort of balances out the life time warranty. At ...U.S. I think the factory really should match the headphones and noise reduction units better so that they do sell a mixture that is very sensitive to a feedback loop. Also I think they should do something about the cables between the headphones and noise reduction box.

All in all an excellent first generation product.

Koss QZ-2000 Active Noise Reduction Stereophone

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro Earphones Review

2009-01-23T00:12:00.000+07:00

So far, great headphones!

The headphones sound wonderful, full response, and a nice mix of lows and his. They can take a bit of time to put into your ear. Not as simple as putting on/in a "normal" pair of headphones, but once they are in you do not want to take them out. I have had no problem what so ever with them not fitting securely. You may need to find your right tip size for maximum ear comfort, but the headphones come with several tips for you to do this.

These headphones are a bit expensive, but it is my hope that they will last me several years. I love that the main cord can be replaced!! In fact, that is why I went with these headphones.

Comparing the two, Shure e4c and ultimate ears, I think the ultimate ears sound slightly better, seems like the lows come out better and the his and mids are about equal (best I can tell). I think the lows come out better because the ultimate ears are bigger compared with the Shures, thus allowing more lows (just a guess). All in all I am happy with ultimate ears, they are also a great headphone and better sounding then the Shures. My only hope is that they last a long time! If the cord does go it will be a cinch to replace (and 20.00 later). Here is hoping I don't need to find out about ultimate ears customer service.

UE Super.fi 5 Pro (Black) / UE Super.fi 5 Pro (Clear) / UE Super.fi 5 Pro (White)

Bose QuietComfort 2 Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

2009-01-22T00:06:00.001+07:00

May be right for you...

HOW USED: primarily for flying, but also at my desk w/ my laptop.

COMPARISONS: Before settling on the Bose QC-2's, I tested (on flights) the following noise-cancelling headphones: Bose QC-3's, Sennheiser PX-250's, and Solitudes (LINX, ver. 3). All had good-to-excellent sound, plus individual pros & cons.

CONCLUSION: which headphone is "best" depends on your tastes, physique, and priorities.

PROS (vs. other models): more comfortable for long periods than on-the-ear phones; have the deepest (more comfortable) over-the-ear cups; use normal batteries--you're not compelled to use expensive, proprietary batteries; noise-cancelling component is built-into headset (vs. awkward capsule on wire).

CONS: clunky when turning head to side or trying to sleep; ears may sweat in sealed-off cups. Though not perfect, the Bose QC-2's are the best noise-cancelling headphones on the market (for me). Though pricey, they're worth it, making frequent flying far more pleasant!

Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

2009-01-21T23:54:00.001+07:00

Quality & comfort - no compromise from Bose

I have been using these headphones for over an year now and have done lot of air-travel, both domestic & international. Bose sound quality is the best, without any second thoughts. I own Bose PC speakers and couldn't settle on anything else when it came to headphones.

The high-price was surely a concern, even for a few months after I got these ($375 for headphone..why ..???), but with the quality of sound and the comfort in use during air-travel made it worth. However, I feel that these are not good for everyday use like in gym etc, but are superb for those who travel a lot, either airplane, trains or buses.

Battery life is amazing and it just goes on and on. I have taken direct 15 hr flights and it never ran out of charge. Note that, I did not used it for 15 hrs continuously, but did for more than 6-7 hrs. Headphones come in a nice case with an extension cable and connectors for multiple headphone jacks.

So, if you have decided to buy these but are holding because of price, I'd recommend to go ahead and order them. Save somewhere else as these headphones will prove their worth.

Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

Denon AH-C700K In-Ear Headphones Review

2009-01-20T23:48:00.000+07:00

Superb Earphones

I have actually re-evaluated how I feel about these earphones. Initially, I did not like the way that they sounded or how they felt in my ears. I have large ear canals. I have to wear the largest set of tips on every earphone that I have worn. Sometimes they are not big enough.

These earphones fit differently than so many other earphones. They sit just inside the opening of my ears. The body of the earphones definitely stay outside. They do not feel snug like the Shures. In trying to "achieve a sealed fit" in my ears, I would try to insert them too deeply. They were not comfortable, and I did not achieve the necessary seal in order to get a solid bass response.

What I found really works is to obtain some foam earpieces manufactured by Comply. They are available through Amazon and on their own website. When I inserted these "memory foam" tips onto the end of these earphones, I was able to achieve a very comfortable, "light touch" fit. I found that there is no need to force them to fit snuggly like a Shure earphone. The sound is full and rich. The bass is excellent. I cannot help but think that the aluminum casing and shape give these earphones some of their resonant bass.

Now, I really love these earphones. I have the Denon AH-D5000's which are an over the ear headphone. They are superb. I could not figure out how they could have missed the mark on their earphones. I have found that if you are willing to invest in some foam tips for those earphones that seemingly do not perform as you would like, you can really improve the sound.

Denon AH-C700K Reference Audio In-Ear Headphones

Sennheiser PXC 350 Active Noise Cancellation Headphone Review

2009-01-19T22:36:00.000+07:00

Brilliant sound, solid quality and value for money...

You hear music like a professional does with tremendous detail, clarity and across the whole sound spectrum. Bass is precise and effortlessly well defined, mid range is rich and treble is crystal clear. These are easily the Porsche of headphones. Not everyone's cup of tea, though everyone simply respects and admires their performance, design and quality.

PROS + :
Sound clear and well defined with a variety of music, and are very comfortable to wear for long periods. Outstanding ergonomics mean the cups can effortlessly fit a wide variety of head shapes. However, people with very small heads may find them too large. The protective carry case has gold plated airplane and larger socket adapters, good for travel. My iPods work very well, though you start to notice imperfections of MP3 encoding in your favourite tracks recorded in lower resolution. Build quality is absolutely outstanding, headband, critical hinges drivers and the cord are built to last. They feel and look good when wearing them, avoiding the exaggeration of the "aircraft-marshaler-ear-muffler" look and feel of other brands.

CONS - :
Expensive (but easily worth it). Don't suit smaller heads/ears.

In conclusion, I would challenge anyone in the market for this type of headphone to be anything less than truly delighted with the PXC 350. I don't do the audiophile BS, but I will say the sound is "brilliant". For the price you are getting standard setting technology, solid build quality and fresh enjoyment of your music, as well as comfort in noisy environments (aircraft, bus, trains...etc.). Which all equals very good value for money.

I would recommend the PXC 350 to anyone who wants to hear music professionally, on the move as well as at home or in the studio too.

Sennheiser PXC 350 Active Noise Cancellation Headphone

Shure E5 Sound Isolating Earphones Review

2009-01-18T22:24:00.000+07:00

E5c for the Pros

I play in a hardcore metal band and eventually got tired of not being able to hear for 5 days after a show, so i went on a search for the best sound isolating headphones i could find. Not only are the E5's the best at isolating sound, but they also sound amazing. It sounds like you are sitting right next to the person playing the music you are listening to. The sound isolation is so amazing that when a person is sitting right next to me i cant hear them sneeze even when the music is not playing! They are very lightweight and extremely comfortable. All the little extra plugs it comes with ensures that you will have a comfortable and secure fit no matter what activities you engage in. When using the triple flange tips it is actually hard to pull the plugs out of your ears! Thats just how secure they can be. I would definately reccomend these earplugs above all others for professional or recreational use.

Shure E5 Sound Isolating Earphones

Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones Review

2009-01-17T20:00:00.004+07:00

Hyped, but they really do deliver HD audio....

Replacing my trusty 5 year old V700's I wanted something more "audiophile". Finding quality headphones that you can use as home monitors, on the move interfacing with your iPhone or Blackberry with a mic and call/skip button, and for air travel with active noise cancellation, without draining your mp3 player battery with impedance north of 50 Ohms, was fruitless, until Beats.

However it is not the range of technical features and quality that surprises, it is the sound. They really do excel at providing a completely balanced and wonderfully rich and warm sound stage, at all volume levels. I would recommend these to anyone looking in this price bracket who is not averse to their super-slick-styling.

Listening to a bit of house, breaks, electronica, acoustic, rock, classical and country (I like Taylor Swift...) I found myself smiling and enjoying worn favorites all over again.... Beats are going to be really, really hard for the competition to beat, for a while at least, in this price class.

If you are in the market for noise canceling headphones, home monitors, or smart phone headphones, that provide an engaging sound stage and don't mind a bit of size, these are the phones you've been looking for. However, be warned you will require another $100 or so for Platinum Notes to re-master all of your mp3 tracks, as you will start to hear stark, but subtle differences between the recordings that will become apparent thanks to the excellence of reproduction in these cans. Monstrously Good/Dope/Sick!

Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio High-Definition Headphones

Sleek Audio SA6 In-Ear Earphones Review

2009-01-16T22:00:00.001+07:00

One of the best single balanced armature IEM

SA6 is a great example of how single BA transducer can sound great. Though the overall quality (both on sound and build), I believe there is still room for improvement as SA6 is the first IEM for Sleek Audio. The custom porting (VQ system) works well. For people who love a warm, full, detail yet musical sound, SA6 just might be the one for you. To me, SA6 is on the warm side, but not dark. The mid has a full body that is especially good with vocal. The treble (T++ port) reaches quite far and gives enough detail to show some sparkle but not to a point of fatiguing. Bass (on B+ port, pin hole mod) is accurate and fast, though not the best or biggest impact I heard and lack a good resolution on depth, it seems to well suit the full mid. The soundstage is better than most but not the best I heard. All and all, SA6 presents a very musical sound that can easily make most music more engaging. I'll say SA6's sound signature is a combination of all the nice characteristics I'll be looking for in a pair of IEM. As of why it falls short of being the best is because, though SA6 is really good sounding, it can still be a bit congesting on busy passage. I think it is because SA6 still lacks the best resolution and the body of sound to be ranked as the best. With the new price of $200, SA6 are now one of the best value IEM in the market IMO.

Credit: ClieOS, www.head-fi.org (More reviews)

Sleek Audio SA6 In-Ear Earphones

K 702 Reference-Class Open-Back Headphone Review

2009-01-15T21:42:00.000+07:00

K702 in the Studio

The following review is my impression of the K702, based upon working on mixing and mastering processes with them in my music studio.

After 100 hours I can say that I can trust my K702 100% as my best studio monitor headphones. It's very easy to navigate with them through the frequency response scale within the sound stage environment. The sound is very smooth, airy and clean; no artificial noise, due to the perfect axis in the 3D sound stage. This means the depth is equal to the stereo image which is equal to the frequency response. This brings better instrument separation and musical details to the sound. With these abilities I can be anywhere in the mix and the best thing about it is that I can match the K702 sound with my speaker monitors. (I have to comment here, most of the headphones have problems creating this depth in the 3D sound image.)

No matter what kind of music I'm working on in the studio, I found that the K702 will create the best results. Until I had the chance to own the K702, I was relying on a few different headphones, in that each one gave me a different view and characteristic of the sound. With the K702, I don't have to use any other headphones to check the references anymore. They do the job completely. In my ongoing search for the best studio monitor headphones, these are at the top of the list, so far.

Credit: Acix, www.head-fi.org (More review)

K 702 Reference-Class Open-Back Headphone

Klipsch IMAGE Noise Isolating Earphone Review

2009-01-14T21:24:00.001+07:00

My favorite Headphone ever

I have much experience in Headphones. I have listened to and owned many high-end headphones and in-ear monitors (earphones). The Klipsch Image x10 are my favorite of the bunch. They offer the best package deal that I have heard. Etymotics may be more clear, but at the sacrifice of sound stage and bass. The super.fi 5 pro and triple.fi 10 pro have great bass and sound stage, but they lack in comfort and convenience. Shure earphones offer comfort and good separation, but they do not feature the warm and pleasing sound signature as the Image x10.

These earphones have it all: comfort, sound quality, strong and accurate bass, style, sound stage, separation, clarity, and so much more.

I'd say these could only be faulted for the lack of replaceable cables (which should not be a problem with normal use) and slight micro-phonics in the cables (which can be reduced by clipping the cables to your shirt).

I would advise anyone who values quality, comfort, usability, and MUSIC to get a pair.

At $200 they are a steal!

Klipsch IMAGE Noise Isolating Earphone

BEYER DYNAMIC DT250 Stereo Headphones Review

2009-01-13T21:46:00.000+07:00

Decent traveling cans

These earphones are interesting.

Pro: They are sealed, circumaural cans, and the 80-ohm version (the DT 250-80) is easily driven by portable electronics.

Con: The cans themselves are not all that portable, as they're full-sized and don't fold.

Pro: The cord is detachable.

Con: The plug connecting it to the phones is HUGE (about 2 inches long), and the company (or anyone else, for that matter) does not make any cables for this headset except for the stock cable, making a detachable cable pretty pointless.

You get the idea. Sonically, these things are very good for sealed cans, and I carry them regularly with my MP3 player for travel. Although the external noise blocking is not as good as that provided by earplug-type headphones (such as Etymotic 4 series, another of my favorites) it is quite good, and the phones are useable on airplanes. If you want a full-sized set of headphones that can run off a portable, I would recommend these.

BEYER DYNAMIC DT250 Stereo Headphones

Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone Review

2009-01-12T21:15:00.003+07:00

Extremely Pleasing Transcients

I bought a pair of the ESP 950's in 1994 from a wholesaler for 495.00, I have collected high end audio gear my whole life and have several complete systems; however night time listening can
make your family very hostile...so I use these for stealth listening of my SACD and Hybrid Surrond encoded DVD's and Cd's.
The transcients on electrostatic phones are amazing, they tend to be a little bright with standard supplied connects, so I use my Transparent Audio Music Plus RCA inter-connects to the koss
E 90 unit which come with and runs these babies. Shear heaven!
I have been thinking of having some one build me a tube headphone amp for these headphones...then my family would be hostile again ..cause I would not want to go to work anymore.

Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone

Etymotic Research ER4S MicroPro Earphone Review

2009-01-11T18:29:00.002+07:00

Pretty good ear canal phones

The headphones come with a great case and a selection of three silicon earpieces. The earphones must really be shoved deep into your ears My ear canals are large so that it is hard to get a tight seal unless those earpieces are shoved deep. This makes it a little less comfortable. I found that I could achieve a deeper insertion and better seal if my mouth was open when I inserted the earpieces.

The sound appears to be quite good and accurate. I do not think that the bass is enhanced or exaggerated at all. These appear to be Eymotic's top of the line for a commercially popular product. Amazon has them significantly discounted so that they are very competatively priced. In fact, they are a pretty good deal right now.

The wiring appears stout and is likely to last with proper care. I would say that given the choice, I might pony up a little extra cash and get the Ultra Ear or Shures. I think that you get a slightly warmer sound from either of those ear canal phones and the fit into the ear is not so aggressive.

I do not regret the purchase of the Etymotic ear canal phones, but I think some others are more comfortable. The model that I am referring to is the ER-4P which is meant for mp3 devices. I think it sounded pretty good without a headphone amplifier. However, when I hooked it up to a headphone amplifer, the bass came in quite strong and I found it a better all around listening experience.

Etymotic Research ER4S MicroPro Reference Earphones

Audio Technica ATH W1000 Headphones Review

2009-01-10T22:16:00.000+07:00

First of all, these are two very good headphones (ATH-W1000 and Beyerdynamic DT831), but they are different. It was no problem to discern between the two.

The Beyer DT831 is bright, no doubt. But it DOES have great, deep bass.
It think it's the midrange that is the problem. Somewhere between midrange and very deep bass. Sometimes it's like a voice lacks...something...richness perhaps. Maybe that's why some many says they find the 831 lean.

I suspect the 831's connected to a good CD-player and a tube-amp would be very interesting...

I have a test-CD meant for setting up a hometheater. One track is for testing out the subwoofer, it's just a sine wave that sweeps from 160 Hz to 20 Hz with voice announcements of the frequency. Both phones must have an incredible flat low-frequency response curve. I can't hear any blooming or "humps", but I CAN hear the test tone all the way to 20 Hz. Most impressive.

The ATH-W1000 are a more balanced headphone. It's very detailed, but not too bright. It sounds very complete, from top to bottom, although I hope the deepest bass loosens up a little.
You don't get tired of listening to the W1000's, in more than one way...:-). It's more forgiving without sacrificing detail.

The W1000's costs over twice as much as the DT831's. Is it worth it? I think so. It's exotic, great looking, comfortable, well-engineered and suits most music-styles. It's just more complete.

I hope this has been helpful in any way.

Credit: JensL, head-fi.org (Full review)

Audio-Technica ATH-W1000 Headphones

Ultrasone PRO 900 Headphones Review

2009-01-09T22:49:00.000+07:00

I read many posts on the Pro900, but few real experiences. So here is my first impression after 1 week listening experience.

I did a listening session on Ultrasone pro750, Pro900 and Edition 9.
My references are TripleFi's, Shure 530 and full-size open Philips HP1000.
The Pro 750 sound good, but not surprisingly great and different. Deep bass and very prominent highs. Sounds very much up-front. Voices are really 'there'. I liked it, but not like a big step compared to what I'm used to. And btw. I regard the TripleFi's as my reference for transparency, clarity and clean bass. Definately better than the Shures in this regard.

Then the Edition 9. This is another league! Very smooth and clean sound. Great bass and articulated highs but more layed back than the 750. It's difficult to describe in words but the smoothness is what striked me most. It's like looking a good normal TV and then watch a HDTV Bluray: you first think you see a very good quality image, nothing to complain about (750), then seeing all the details in the HDTV signal you can't believe was possible (Edition). OK, I exaggerate a bit to illustrate what I mean by the smoothness.

Finally, the Pro900. It does not have that smoothness as the Edition to my ears, but it was still in the same league! Great deep detailed bass, and nice highs, prominent, but not as up-front as the 750.

For me the SQ difference did not justify the price difference. Though I was not really looking for new cans, I ended up bying the Pro900.

Credit to: PaulK, head-fi.org (Other reviews at Head-Fi)

Ultrasone PRO 900 Professional Headphones

Sennheiser IE8 Noise Isolation Earphones Review

2009-01-08T22:40:00.007+07:00

These headphones were great before and that was without a proper seal. When getting a good enough seal these are other worldly. Move over SE530s I have a new favorite IEM. The bass is so phenominal. it hits low, hard, and fast, the soundstage has grown, and the highs are more crisp and not as harsh as prior.

The songs I listened to were Linkin Park - My December, Kanye West - Flashing Lights, and East Clubbers - Beat Is Coming.

OMG. My December had so much bass that I never knew was there, but it was still so clear and spread out. the bass wasn't overpowering but a compliment to the song like discovering a buried treasure in a spot you have searched over dozens of times.

Beat Is Coming is my test song for everything. it has almost everything you need to test out a headphone in it. I believe the only thing really missing from it is cymbals.

If anyone wants something that contrasts the SE530s please listen to the IE8. You will not regret it. They have won me over, a SE530 fan for almost 2 years

After 300 hours burned-in. The highs are good, at almost minimum and even almost no rolled-off high. The Bass is tighter and fuller, slightly stronger but less boomy. The Mids are full as well. Separation is also fantastic as well. It's so well placed and natural. I have never heard of such fantastic IEM before (except that the W3 has more details then the IE8).

Credit: AgainstTheGrain and BlueSwift, www.head-fi.org (Full Review)

Sennheiser IE 8 Noise Isolating Headphone

Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones Review

2009-01-07T19:04:00.001+07:00

I have never heard music sound so amazing in my 49 years!

There have been those few times in my life when I have been really blown away by something new in A/V. For example, the first time I heard Bose 901 reflecting speakers, the first time I tried Sennheiser open-air headphones, or the first time I watched a football game in high definition TV. These were moments where I heard or saw a significant jump in performance from what had come before. Listening to the Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones is now another one of these moments.

I won't go into durability, comfort, value, etc. (all covered by other reviews and all perfectly adequate for me), all I will discuss is the SOUND.

The clarity and lack of distortion is amazing. No matter how low or loud you listen, all you hear is pure, clear, amazing sound. Each instrument is vivid and alive. Every nuance the sound engineers strive to embed in their work when recording a record can finally be heard. It's as if the sound bypasses your ears and starts living right in your head. Without any outside interference, you can close your eyes and live INSIDE the music. You have to really experience it to understand. It's like trying to describe high definition TV, you really just have to see it to understand.

If you love music, as I do, this is a worthwhile investment. These earphones will take your entire music collection, even MP3 files on your iPod or iPhone, to a whole new level. I may not need to buy a new CD for months, as just listening to my existing music collection is new and wonderful with these earphones. Even older, less technically superior recordings sound amazing.

Five stars, no question.

Kevin Carmony

Shure SE530 Sound Isolating Earphones

Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro Earphones Review

2009-01-06T18:53:00.002+07:00

High End Audiophile Goodness, on the Go.

These are amazing earphones or In-Ear Monitors (IEM's) as they are also known. I have owned and listened to many many types of headphones and earphones.

Out of the top end IEM's I've listened to or owned (comparing to Etymotic ER-4S, Shure E500, etc.) The Triple.fi 10 Pro earns the top spot and is most used in my portable stable of headphones/earphones.

Having incredible detail, a very large and wide soundstage, the Triple.fi's deliver all of these sonic goodness without losing one part that is often lacking or done so poorly with headphones in general.

Bass.

The Triple.fi's have a powerful bass output, but without sounding overly muddy and boomy. The treble is also very extended, and offer all the "sparkle" and "sizzle" with incredible nuance and detail. Some may find the treble too "bright" and harsh with lesser sources, but I listen to FLAC files.

Comfort can be an issue to some, but it is always a personal choice. I wear glasses and like the memory wire part near the earpiece that can be molded to go over the ear without getting in the way. Also, the silicone rubber earpieces are very comfortable and maintain an excellent seal with my ears.

If you are looking for top of the line, the Triple.fi 10 Pro's should be at the top of your shopping list.

Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro Earphones

Westone 3 Earphones Review

2009-01-05T18:29:00.005+07:00

First let me start off with the weaknesses as perceived by an SE530 owner.

The Shure has the advantage in mids, I wouldn't call the Westone mids recessed, I would just say that the se530's are exaggerated (in a good way). This makes male vocals sound a bit more foward and pleasant in the Shures. The Shures also have a bigger and wider soundstage about them. However, I think this comes at the cost of accuracy and detail.

Now onto the good. Overrall the Westone 3 is the superior IEM. All the INSTRUMENTS sound better and more realistic in the W3. The bass is also better; more defined, pops harder, and quakes less compared to the SE530. There is higher accuracy in every other part of the sound spectrum as well; the highs are much better, I can hear the pick hitting the string whereas on the Shure I could only hear the string itself.

This extra accuracy does have some downsides though. I have experienced a bit of sibiliance for the first time in certain songs. Also, I find these much more fatiguing than the Shures. I chalk it up to the better highs.

The comfort is superior to the Shure's, which I had zero complaints with. It's not that the earpiece itself is nicer, but the lack of the Shure's thicker/heavier cable hanging from your ears makes them disappear on you. Speaking of the cable, this thing is awesome. It is soft, very bendable, thin, light, and seemingly durable. The thin and bendable qualities also make it so you don't have to worry about it ever cracking where it folds over your ear. While my Shure's did not have this problem, I could definitely see how it might occur given enough time.

Overrall, the only small downgrade from what I had is the mids, but it's a small price to pay for the better everything else.

Credit to: Jensen, head-fi.org (Other Westone 3 reviews )

Westone 3 New 3-way Driver

Audio Technica ATH EW9 Lightweight Clip-on Headphones Review

2009-01-04T22:04:00.007+07:00

Little pieces of heaven

They are wonderful to listen to, and eye-catching pretty as well. I don't mind letting others used these - as clip-ons, they are not exposed to personal hygiene like earbuds are. It's important to note these are set up to run the wire around the back of your head and not down the front of your neck. I've found this impacts by a fair amount how well they stay on my head.

Pros: they really sound great, very balanced, easy on the ears (you could seriously wear them for hours and forget you have them on), big sound but easy to carry with included pouch, no "in ear" fitting/discomfort issues

Cons: Only one so far, and it's not much of one - because they are clip-ons and light, I forget I have them on and move quick enough to dislodge them a bit on occassion, like when I play the Air Drums. It's not a show stopper, you get used to it quick enough. I don't jog but I am not sure you could wear them jogging, but for fast walking or a plane ride, they are great.

The price point is a tough one - do you really want to drop $100+ for phones you haven't heard? When I pay this much, I want a really good sound. These deliver and then some. I have pro quality recording phones and these keep up with them very well. Like I said, they are balanced sounding - they are not thumpers, they don't make your earlobes rumble. They play the lows just fine, but if you're used to a car stereo that rattles the windows with a 5000 watt subwoofer, you might find these a little light in the bass.

If you are after clarity, like to listen to what the musician recorded, like to listen to classical, pop, rock and jazz, I think you'll be in heaven hour after hour if you select these.

Audio-Technica ATH-EW9 Lightweight Cherry Wood Clip-on Headphones

AKG K181DJ DJ Headphones Review

2009-01-03T21:58:00.003+07:00

Excellent Isolation and Bass You Can Feel

I have the AKG K181DJ and LUV them, they are fun you feel the music like listening to speakers and a sub, wow!!I Have Senn 555,could hear every flaw. Its kind of like driving a corvette, you can feel every piece of gravel in the road, i would rather enjoy and feel the music instead of looking for technical flaws. (drum & bass, hard rock, alternative and undergound hip hop, lyrics, vocal and bass are my focus)

If it's too pricey their predecessor is the K81DJ and are about 70 bucks and very similar
the 181's have a little wider range and a replaceable cord, lay flat, quality construction, are a little snug, earpads are removeable and can be replaced.

AKG High Performance Closed-Back DJ Headphones - K181DJ

AKG K240 MKII Headphones Review

2009-01-02T21:42:00.003+07:00

GREAT PHONES IMPROVED

The AKG K 240 MK II differs from the K 240 studio ( used in many recording studios) in two important ways:

Two cables are now included. One is the standard light weight cable, the other is a coiled cable.

Second, the ear cushions have been made softer for a better fit. This improves the bass response. An alternate pair of ear cushions have been included as well. Use what works best for you.

All other parts appear to be the same also the sound, but it is easier to get good head contact with these new phones, thus fuller bass is assured. The sound is the best I have heard for the money.

Listening tests were done on classical music for the most part. Opera, choral music, piano, and orchestra CDs and DVDs were used. What is remarkable is the transparency, the ability to hear so many inner parts in a complex choral work. There is no smearing of fast coloratura singing, such as found in early operas. Rock music testing was done too and these phones handle lots of bass very cleanly.

The semi open air design gives a very open stereo image that is very similar to sitting in a balcony seat overhanging the stage at Boston Symphony Hall. Bass- treble balance of the phones also matched the sound heard live from the front balcony. To me having the tonal balance and spacial aspects match a real location in a real hall is nice.

These phones do not produce a " inside the head" effect which is also nice.

Highly Recommended, with a warning, you may not like your speakers after you get addicted to these phones.

AKG K240 MKII Headphones

Panasonic RP-WF6000 Cordless Headphones Review

2009-01-01T21:35:00.002+07:00

Much better than the competition

I used to have Sony MDR-DS3000 but I could not stand the hiss! I bought these headphones after some claimed that there are no background hisses. Unfortunately there are slight hiss in the background when watching TV programming with mostly dialogues. otherwishe the hiss is unnoticeable. I love how the RF transmission allows me to walk around the house while listening to tv unlike the Infrared ones like Sony where you are limited to 90 degree angle in front of the base unit. The connectivity is very good with two toslink inputs, one RCA input, and one toslink output. I have my PS3, cable box, and the dvd player hooked up and its very convenient. I'm not much of audiophile, but as far as I ( an average joe who wants a surround sound for gaming/movies and doesn't want to wake up the neighbor in process) these headphones have great sound. I highly recommend it over any other wireless headphones with surround sound decoder.

Panasonic RP-WF6000 Cordless Headphones

Denon AH D1000S Headphones Review

2008-12-31T21:57:00.003+07:00

Value+Quality+Sound=Denon

Bought these for my wife to watch movies on the pc. She really liked my Denon AH-D5000, so I thought I would get these for her, they are a bit smaller in size as to fit her better. Being that they are a tad smaller they are lighter as well; which works better for her. I listened to them when she first got them and I am very impressed with the sound quality, very close to my AH-D5000, but not as full and warm sounding as the 5000.
Overall they have adequate bass, mid and treble. I wouldn't mind using them for ipod or my laptop for travel. They even came with a storage bag and extension cable. My 5000's didn't even come with a bag. I orignally bought her some Senheisers D555's. The sound was as good as the Denon 1000's, but they were much heavier and the bass was lacking in comparison; wich is to be expected with an open air design like the Senheisers. Biggest comparison was the weight and tight fit of the Sennheisers compared to the light comfortable Denons. Some people have said they felt like cheap plastic; however this is because they are made of magnesium, which is stronger than plastic and lighter, a key feature for long wear. The days of heavy bulky metal phones that clamped onto your head like a vice are limited to professional gear which needs to take a beating and block more background noise. Great Value, Great Build, Great Sound = Buyer recommended.

Denon AH-D1000S Headphones

Sennheiser HD25 Studio Monitor Sealed Headphone Review

2008-12-30T21:46:00.002+07:00

A great closed set of headphones.

First of all I should say that I love these. They're lightweight, innocuous, and do a good job with muffling sounds outside. I've taken these on a flight and they are quite lovely. Instead of that awful humming from active NC (think Bose QCs), they merely attenuate all sound around me. I can still hear the flight attendents, yet for some reason can't hear the baby three seats behind me.

As for sound quality, these are quite lovely. They have a nice, deep and accurate bass that helps distract from the din of the outside world. Vocals are presented quite well, and as everyone else has said here... treble could use some work. I've only noticed the annoyance in classical pieces, more specifically with strings.

These headphones are built well. I've already dropped them a couple of times, and they haven't had a scratch. Plus even if you do manage to break them outside of warranty or are at fault for breaking them Sennheiser has a parts shop to replace most any part.

In short this headphone is a great one. Perhaps the best I've ever encountered for a closed headphone, and my new favorite for portable use. Sure they're a bit uncomfortable, bad for classical strings, and look butt ugly... but that just means that they're great at isolation, good at just about every other kind of music, and have little appeal to a mugger.

Sennheiser HD25 Studio Monitor Sealed Headphone

Sony MDR-7509HD Professional Headphone Review

2008-12-29T21:41:00.004+07:00

MDR-7509 HD vs MDR-7509

Ok so when I saw the MDR 7509 had been redesigned I got all antsy about what I was missing. So when recently buying more cans for studio and CHiPOD use I looked into a few pairs of MDR-7505 phones. The salesman also had some very well priced new MDR-7509HD sets which I picked up on a pure whim.

So I get home and break out the 7505 sets to compare and start with the let down...No such let down came. The 7505 sets although smaller perform extremely well when compared to the old 7509 series.

Then came head to head tests between HD and Previous series 7509's. I must say the low end on the HD set is compromised to clarify their "better Midrange response". I found them more annoying for long sessions of monitoring...I prefer less high end in my sound and a more subdued midrange. Thats just my own preference.The old 7509 series is bassier if that's what tickles your fancy. It certainly does it for me. So I personally prefer the old series and the 7505 set to the HD series. Sorry to disappoint.

This now bring the question...Which of the 7509's are more colored and which are flat? So much for industry standards.

If you are getting them because of the 80 KHz response you won't hear it unless you're a dog eared human being.Typical hearing in a Human is commonly between 15Hz and 20 KHz.

This being said they are great phones but if you get a chance compare both sets before buying and see which you like best. For me they are no loss as I can use them for monitoring and recording with other musicians in studio.Happy shopping and always trust your own ears not someone's reviews. we all hear differently

Sony MDR7509HD Professional Headphone

Sennheiser HD555 Audiophile Headphones Review

2008-12-28T21:31:00.003+07:00

The price seemed expensive, but when I listened to them, that went out the window!

When I first started looking at headphones, I swore that I wouldn't spend this much, but I can truly say that I am glad I did. These are my first pair of Sennheiser's and they are worth every penny.

First, of course, is the sound quality. These are simply amazing. They provide the highs evenly, without making them sound twangy, or just over bearing. It is a good mix of soft and hard highs. The only thing I wish about the sound quality is the bass. I am a bass guy, and these provide quite a bit of bass, but just not quite enough for me. Then again, I am bass hungry, and these are bassy enough for me. They provide an excellent mix of highs and lows.

Second is the comfort level of these. I think my friend put it best. He put them on and he said "I feel like I am wearing a cloud on my head." They are lightweight and don't weigh your head down at all. Also the padding is phenomenal, and surprisingly not hot. I can wear these for hours and not have any sore spot or anything after the session is over.

I don't have any problems with these headphones at all. Just wish the bass was there a little more, but the mix of the highs and lows is very pleasant. I feel like I will now always stay with the Sennheiser name after these headphones.

Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones

Sennheiser HD280 Closed Headphones Review

2008-12-27T21:22:00.002+07:00

Superb quality, comfortable fit.

I'd first like to clear up what seems to be a common misconception about the 280 series phones; these things most certainly aren't lacking in bass. They don't crank up the bass artifically like your average Wal*Mart phones, but they certainly aren't lacking. Their goal is to replicate the original source as closely as possible, if you listen to music with a lot of bass you'll certainly be able to tell.

They sound superb, hopping from blinding pitches to rolling thunders in an instant and not dropping the ball.

I'd go on a huge rant about how awesome they are, but I'm too euphoric with them strapped to my head right now. They're worth the money and, simply put, they kick massive ass.

Sennheiser HD280 Silver Closed Dynamic Circum-Aural Headphones

Pioneer SE-DIR800C Headphones Review

2008-12-26T19:57:00.003+07:00

PERFECT.

Pros: CRYSTAL clear and jitter-free audio signal via highly-stable infrared link. Superb sound resolution throughout audible frequency range. Decodes Dolby Digital and DTS! Comfortable on head, you'll forget it's there. Headphones run off standard AA batteries (no risk of having to buy a proprietary company-supplied battery that is expensive to replace, and not guaranteed to be produced in the future). Headphones are sleek and stylish, and so is the base unit.

Cons: Limited line-of-sight range (inherent with IR signals); limited to about 30 ft. and must be free of obstacles in the Rcv path. Plastic construction of the headphones are a little brittle and not meant to be mistreated. Base station produces a generous amount of heat right near the input AC power receptacle. When starting audio, there is a half-second delay as the base unit synchronizes with the audio stream (minor nuissance, and this might only be a problem with digital audio signals).

Pioneer SE-DIR800C Wireless Headphones with Dolby Technology

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Headphones Review

2008-12-25T20:46:00.001+07:00

Absolutely stunning sound is right

I previously had the AKG 701 headphones as my main headphones. The problem with those is that after several hours they would really hurt my head. They did sound very, very good though. I never realized how much they lacked in the bass department until I put on some old Sennheiser HD-555's.

I "upgraded" to these expecting them to sound about the same or slightly better than my AKG 701s. The difference is HUGE. These sound much, much better. The first week i've been listening to music much more often because these make it sound so much better.

These are by far the most comfortable headphones there is. Easily. No pain and I wear them for up to 5 hours at times when i'm at the computer.

They also work well with my 15gb ipod video, but a headphone amp is suggested. The volume isn't too low on the ipod with these and I actually need to decrease the volume. I wasn't expecting the ipod to be able to power these. Thanks to these, i'm now avoiding mp3 format and have been going with FLAC and Apple Lossless formats.

I'd imagine though that these will not work well with the ipod shuffle or smaller devices. I haven't tested this yet.

I own 6 different pairs of headphones and these are the best. Better than the AKG 701's, Sennheiser HD-555's and Grado SR-80's.

The price on these is very good. I think it's a deal considering my former headphones were much more expensive.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Headphones

Ultrasone PRO 750 Headphones Review

2008-12-24T20:33:00.001+07:00

They were good.

I liked these allot the sound is great and they are comfy as they are cloth cups instead of leather/vinyl on most other models and they provide a full surround sound with more highs.

I have the 780's which are NOT the proline and are about $150 cheaper and to me look better as well, not a real issue since I wouldn't be wearing these on the streets.

The 780's appear better made. The 750's come with two cords of which plug into the left headphone and it has a great case for storage but the sound of the 780's was fuller, richer and live like.

I tested each and for me the lessor model was better but hearing is very different to each person as well as the styles of music you listen to, or movies and gaming as well. As always amazon is great in all they do, at least in my 500 purchases over the past few years. I returnd the more expensive ones and kept the 780's and some extra cash too.

Ultrasone PRO 750 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

Sony MDR-V900HD Studio Monitor Type Headphones Review

2008-12-23T20:27:00.001+07:00

The Best.

Have had the DJ-style MDR-V700 (THE #1 DJ) cans for years since they came out - still the best hi-fi set due to basic technology (50 mm Neodymium with response down to 5 Hz, huge power handling at 3+ Watts and extremely high efficiency at 24 Ohms). These are larger and more comfortable, more suitable for home use and less suitable for travel. Other manufacturers have still not matched the technology/fidelity at anywhere near the price (if available at all). Both are closed designs, relieving outside noise without the large high fidelity sacrifice inherent in any noise cancellation scheme. With its greater cushioning, ELF bass (5-20 Hz) is not quite as formidable as the MDR-V700 model (slight rolloff). Seller is also one of the world's finest.

Sony MDR-V900HD Studio Monitor Type Headphones HD Driver

Audio-Technica ATH-AD1000 Open Air Dynamic Headphones Review

2008-12-22T20:23:00.001+07:00

Absolutely Excellent

I think that these headphones are truly excellent. They have wonderful separation of sound. The bass is quite excellent, but it is not boomy or fuzzy. Like the rest of the sound range, the sound appears to be accurate and unexaggerated.

The phones are very light weight. The frame is made from magnesium. the outside covers of the earcups are aluminium. The cord is heavy duty and come out from only one side. It is less likely to get in the way or get tangled. The wires to each of the earcups are hidden inside the frame. This makes it less likely that they can be snagged leading to a short. the headphones come with a one eighth inch plug and a one fourth inch adapter.

The phones are very comfortable. They fit over the ear rather than on the ear. The earcups are open so that they have a breezy sound rather than the more constricted sound of many closed cup headphones. They do not completely block out sound so that you can hear family members calling to you, but they do not block out all sound either. In other words, you could be catching the news or watching a movie while listening to music.

The headphones are efficient enough that you do not need a headphone amplifier, but they do sound fuller and richer with a headphone amplifier.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD1000 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

Akg K171S Studio Monitoring Headphones Review

2008-12-21T20:21:00.003+07:00

Outstandng for the studio or on the plane!

Just to be clear, these are primarily intended to be studio monitors, used by musicians and vocalists in a studio environment. But AKG made these so light and durable, that they are also appropriate for portable music players, as well as for DJ use. The AKG manual and box both state that these can be used as portable headphones, and that's a primary reason I got them. These are "closed" headphones, meaning the drivers are enclosed in a solid shell and no sound can leak out while you are wearing them. This also keeps-out outside ambient noise for the user. I got these headphones as a low-cost alternative to the Bose QuietComfort II noise-canceling headphones, which I used once on a flight from NYC to London. Although these headphones won't make this library-quiet like the Bose, they are smug enough and have a wide dynamic range to keep-out outside noises very effectively. I'm really impressed with the bass response on these. These are smaller and more durable than the larger AKG K271 headphones, and unlike the K271, these can be taken outside the studio. I'm glad I chose these over competing DJ headphones from Sennheiser and Sony!

Akg K171S Studio Monitoring Headphones

Ultrasone HFI 580 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones Review

2008-12-20T20:18:00.004+07:00

My Favorite Headphones! Great In Every Way!

First, let me say that I own three pair of headphones: Denon AH-D1000S, then upgraded to Denon AH-D2000, and these Ultrasone HFI-580 S-Logic Surround. Out of the three, I prefer the Ultrasone HFI-580.

The HFI-580's are very stylish, light and comfortable. And may I add, they have outstanding sound - good clear highs and punchy base - actually better than the Denons to my ears. Also, there is no fatigue with the Ultrasones after listening a long time. As far as the surround effect, I do hear it come through in some music but haven't tried them with movies yet. The AH-D2000's have a smooth, distinct sound, and were the most expensive but are quite heavy and large. However, the base seems to be lacking in both the Denons, at least to me. I do love the AH-1000's for their comfort and good clear sound. I use a small amplifier, which tends to bring out the detail even more and add to listening enjoyment. All in all, I still prefer these Ultrasones for the bright highs, punchy base, and for the lightweight comfort and good looks. These are by far my favorite.

Ultrasone HFI-580 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

AKG Acoustics K240 Monitoring Headphones Review

2008-12-19T20:13:00.002+07:00

Extremely comfortable and good quality

I received a pair of these as a gift about 18 years ago, and they are fabulous. I finally had to replace them this year because the cord near the jack was having issues and I could only hear one ear. The headset is in excellent shape and should work fine once I replace the jack end of the cord. The new one has a flexible, rubber covering over the area where the cord connects to the jack, so it should not develop the same problem. Here is what I like about them.

COMFORT. The earpieces are padded and sit on your head, not your ears. I share an office so I wear them all day long, and I have never had any problems with comfort (most regular headphones give me a headache or earache after a while). Since they are semi-closed, they breathe a little, so my ears do not get hot. The headband is attached with elastic pieces so there is no adjusting - just put them on and they fit. The cord comes out of the left earpiece, so there is no annoying "Y" under your chin.

SOUND LEAKAGE. My office mate cannot hear my music at all (although I don't listen to music loudly). It blocks enough external noise to help me concentrate, but I can still hear what's going on around me and carry on a conversation while wearing them. (They may leak more sound if you have a heavy beard or sideburns.)

SOUND QUALITY. The quality is amazing. I have read that it is very hard to get good quality sound with closed headphones, so the semi-closed are a good balance between quality sound and preventing sound leakage. I listen to them plugged into my computer speakers, and sometimes I have to skip a song because the non-music noises are so clear (lip smacking, breathing, guitar string squeaks, chimes, etc.).

SUMMARY: Extremely comfortable, quality construction and quality sound

AKG Acoustics K240 Monitoring Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-A500 Headphones Review

2008-12-18T20:09:00.001+07:00

Splendiferous

I went from my default mp3 player headphones to these, mostly because the default ones were giving me static shocks if I would move around and get from certain chairs. Also, the default headphones my mp3 player came with would fatigue my ears after awhile -- couldn't go a long plane flight or wear them the whole time at work. After reading a bit on that the thing called the internet, I learned that these were very comfortable headphones. And they are. I have a big head that other headphones have trouble with or headphones that end up crushing my ears but I've had no problem with these at work, at home, on the plane, gaming, or whatever.

To repeat what another reviewer has said about these: You don't really realize how different music sounds with a good pair of headphones till you listen with them. The first time listening to them, the music had life: for the lack of a better word. Putting in my default headphones, everything sound flat and dull and with my 500s sounded beautiful. Certain subtleties also became apparent as well, guitars had a little extra something to them and songs like 'Rhapsody in Blue' took on a whole new life (a better one). In my week or so with these headphones, I've refound my classical music collection.

I love them and am very happy I got them for less than $100 shipped. Ultra comfy. Fantabulous sound. Great buy.

Audio-Technica ATH-A500 Headphones

Denon AH-NC732K Active Noise Cancelling Headphone Review

2008-12-17T20:02:00.001+07:00

These work well but require some tinkering to sound their

The Denon AH-NC732K is a very nice pair of headphones. They are compact, comfortable, and sound very good. The noise canceling works very well taking care of engine noise and other low frequencies. The included carrying case is perfect to slip in your briefcase or carry on bag and it has enough room for all of your adapters and cables.

The headphones don't fit around the ears like the larger Bose QuietComforts. They rest on and cover the entire ear. I was surprised that they were comfortable to wear. It took a little fiddling around to get a secure fit but it was worth it. The headphones feel like they are creating a seal to achieve maximum noise reduction. In fact if you just put them on without creating this "seal" you might not think much of these headphones so proper fit is key.

My first test was for noise cancellation. A lot of people will use these just for that feature and not even play any music through them. I ran an airplane noise WAV file through my desktop stereo system to simulate being in a plane. After cranking up the volume on my JBL 2.1 system I put the headphones on. There is a small switch on the side on the headphones to turn noise canceling on and off. With it off you could clearly hear the humming of the engines, the beeps of the seat belt indicators, and the general noises of cramming a hundred people in a cabin. Turning the noise cancellation on reduced these noises by 80%. The engines were barely audible and the beeps sounded like they were further away. Overall I was pretty pleased with the noise cancellation. Hopefully they work as well on a real flight.

I tested these for music with an iPod Nano and my stereo system. Plugged into the headphone out of my Peachtree Audio Decco using Sonos as a source I was immediately disappointed with the sound coming out of the Denons. They were bright and harsh with one note bass. I made sure the noise canceling switch was on, it was, and turning it off made the sound worse. I decided to "break in" the headphones before doing any more listening. I plugged them into the Nano and put it on shuffle mode, turned up the volume and then put a towel over them to drown out the sound.

After 5 hours of non stop playing I decided to give them another listen. They definitely sounded better, the highs were smoother and the bass was more relaxed. They still weren't great and for $299 they should be better. I decided to play around with the EQ settings on the Nano. Listening to The Beatles, Norah Jones, The Doobie Brothers, Daft Punk, etc. I checked every single EQ setting on the iPod. Surprisingly the Classical EQ setting sounded the best followed by Electronic , Rock, and Latin. With the Classical setting engaged these headphones sound fantastic. The volume was turned up 90% of the way to get the amount of sound I am used to, which is to say as loud as the real thing.
On my Shure E5C headphones the volume at half way is more than enough.

Comfort 4/5 They are very comfortable but it takes time to get them to fit correctly.

Convenience 5/5 I love the detachable cords, the case, and in a pinch you can listen to music if the battery dies.

Sound 5/5 They sound great once they break in but remember to try the EQ settings on your MP3 player to get the best sound.

Value 5/5 If you can try these at a local dealer and buy them for less than $299 (most dealers will discount) then they are a great deal, especially when compared to the competition.

Denon AH-NC732K Active Noise Cancelling Headphone

ULTRASONE PROline 2500 Headphones Review

2008-12-16T20:19:00.001+07:00

Open and Nicely Balanced

The Ultrasone Proline 2500 throw a unique, spherical headstage, with each instrument/vocal anchored solidly in 3-D space. They offer a dynamic, engaging (somewhat in-your-face) presentation, nicely balanced across the frequency spectrum, with just the right mix of analytic and holistic/synergistic qualities. Stellar midrange clarity--vocals are a pure, straight-ahead delight--and plenty of deep, foundational bass, too!

The 2500 don't do one or two things remarkably well, but they seem to do everything reasonably well. Though not as refined as the Sennheiser HD650, nor as detailed and extended as the Beyerdynamic DT880, nor as fleet as the AKG K701, there's something solid and arresting about the 2500 that makes it hard for me to take them off.

The Proline 2500 take a good while to break in. Patiently allow about 300+ hours for these excellent cans to really show what they are capable of. As much as I enjoyed the 2500, I liked the 750 even better--but I kept both. : )

If you're patient, you can pick up a good deal on these, for about $275-$299.

ULTRASONE PROline 2500 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

Audio Technica ATH AD900 Headphones Review

2008-12-15T13:34:00.004+07:00

Frankly, They Rock

The AD900 were my first set of real cans. Frankly, I think they sound great. They are the most detailed pair of cans I own (also the most expensive, so people reading for truly high hi-falutin' audiophool reviews should go elsewhere, I'm all mid-fi). Truly they do nothing wrong; every aspect of the spectrum is fairly dry. The bass is lean, but well defined -- bass heads should apply elsewhere... maybe Beyer-Dynamic? The coloration on these cans is on the bright side. In fact, they don't sound too much unlike my roommate's Grado SR-125, though they generally go down much smoother and aren't all 'in your face'. They're very open and have some good sound stage in my opinion. The velour (ish?) pads and weird wing support system make them very comfortable and un-sweat inducing. They feel very open, too. I would say there aren't too many genres these cans can't do right. I find orchestral stuff a little boring through the AD900, but I think it shines with most rock, acousticky stuff, and jazz. Having a bit of weight up at the top end of the spectrum, they are not the most forgiving headphones. If the engineer flubbed the recording, you're gonna hear it (which means unwanted distortion, etc. in a lot of my favorite rock. I thought they were defective at first till I realized what was really going on).

These headphones are very durable and very handsome. Obviously they are only meant for at-home use, but I've never managed to scratch them. They are also pretty easy to drive without a dedicated amp. Even my mp3 player and PCDP get nearly the most out of them. If you want a detailed and thoughtful set of headphones for not a whole lot, the AD900 is a good choice. If bass is your main thing, though, you might consider something else.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

Sony MDR-F1 Full-Open-Air Headphones Review

2008-12-14T13:19:00.003+07:00

High Quality Headphones to brag about!

The Sony MDR-F1 Headphones are a respected headphone in the industry, and for a good many number of reasons.

The sound is AMAZING!! I compared them to my friends noise-canceling Bose headphones, and there were many differences. Please note that I turned the noise-cancellation on for the tests, so give it as much help as it could get. Now I should mention that I am a real Audiophile, and can be very picky about this. I rated the sound of the MDR's on a 1-10 scale, with 1 at Discusting and 10 for Unbelievable.

For lower Frequences like a bass guitar or the main beat of a r&b song, they are number one. In there description from sony it is pointed out that they have a special driver on the speaker that aids in clarity and pronouncieation of the bass. And how amazing they work. Simply un-deniable bass from these. It made the Bose look like third-rate over-priced paper-cone speakers. 11/10 for bass.

For midtones Sony did what they do normally, giving it the standard design for those mid frequencies that include slightly lower voices and classical music. But don't underestimate the beauty of Sony and mid's. However Bose out-did them here. I believe that Bose loves to get to this on most of there woofers, so I was expecting this. for the MDR's, I give it 8.5/10 for mids

The High Notes. To many this is the most important. Due to the large size of the speakers and the solid construction, the high notes came out most excellent. Even on the highest pitches, there was no hiss or the very common rattle at high notes. They are made from a solid metal frame which has taken a lot, and can take the High's very well. Now when I compared this to the Boses' I Had trouble noticing any differences, and had to get out my meter on my computer that displays and remakes frequencies to do something like this. Both are almost equal contenders, with the only difference is that the Bose will be a little quietter on the hights, but by about +/- .03 dB. Thats not much. So little that I eventually gave up and said that they were as close to perfect as any will get. 10/10.

Since I LOVE rock of all kinds the MDR-F1's were a blessing from God. One last thing. Open-Air Design. If you feel better off knowing when someone is talking to you when you are listening to music, the MDR-F1 is the answer. Again it is all about taste.

Sony MDR-F1 Full-Open-Air Headphones

Sennheiser PXC 450 Noise Canceling Headphones Review

2008-12-13T10:59:00.004+07:00

Best NC headphones on the market

I compared these headphones side-by-side with five other noise cancelling headphones: Bose QC2 & 3, JVC NC250, Audio Technica ANC7, and Sennheiser PXC-250. My main criteria were sound quality, noise cancelling, and comfort. The only headphone that excelled at all three was the PXC-450. I disqualified all but the PXC-450 on the basis of out of the box testing.

Bass. When I first put these headphones on, I admit that I was a little let down because it seemed to me like they were very weak. Then I realized that I needed to adjust the volume control on the headphones. With the volume issue fixed, my concerns about the bass went away. These headphones do not have as much bass as Bose. However, that's because Bose changes the sound from the way it was intended to push the bass forward. If you like a lot of bass, these headphones might not be for you. However, the bass is definitely there. Just listen to Pon de Replay (Rihanna) or Pass that Dutch (Missy Elliot) for a demonstration of how good the bass is on these headphones.

Sound Quality. Moving past the bass to sound quality as a whole, these headphones are in a different league. I mean, I am hearing details in songs I have heard dozens or even hundreds of times and never noticed. Background singers that before were lost with all of the other sounds can be heard clearly on these headphones.

Noise Cancelling. These headphones have a tight fit, which gives them a lot of passive noise cancelling. They are not so tight, however, to become uncomfortable. Combined with the active noise cancelling, and these headphones are *almost* as good as the QC3s. I feel like the QC3s were a little better at cancelling the higher frequencies, but I think that is why they have the pressure on the eardrum problem. I didn't feel any pressure with the 450. The slight advantage the QC3s have on noice cancelling is more than outweighed by the 450s superiority in sound quality and comfort.

Comfort. Despite being snug, the 450s are very comfortable. The material that the earpads are made of is very soft and I quickly forgot I was wearing them on my flight. The headphones are very big--much larger than the on ear QC3s. However, because they are snug they don't slide around and they really do melt into your head after a while. Also, they don't get hot like the QC2s did.

Portability. Because they are bigger, they are slightly more difficult to manage than the Bose. However, they fold up quite nicely and their case, though larger than both of the Bose cases, is still rather small (and light!).

In the end, once I tried the 450s, there was really no way I could settle for any of the other headphones I tried. All of the other headphones had too many flaws and the 450s were near perfect. Oh, I should mention that I listened for the "ticking sound" that other reviewers complained about in the right earpiece and there was absolutely nothing. Either those reviewers had defective units or Sennheiser has fixed the problem.

Sennheiser PXC 450 Noise-Canceling Headphones

Ultrasone PRO 550 Professional Headphones Review

2008-12-12T23:36:00.005+07:00

Good Mid-range Headphone

These headphones support special cuing in the form of specially placed Mylar cones behind a metal barrier that also serves as a electromagnetic field barrier. Ultrasone claim that mechanism provides the head transfer cues needed to make the headphones sound more like a set of speakers.

While I didn't find the headphones sounded like a set of speakers, I do feel that sound is more natural and robust than with direct placement headphones since it is focused on the outer ear rather than directly on the eardrum. However, I didn't notice any less fatigue while listening than with any comparable set of headphones.

This is a set of cans that will make you notice things in your music that you didn't notice before. The soundstage is strong and present but not too pushy.

You really need a good headphone amp for use with these headphones to get the full dynamic range from them. There's a guy that sells some nice burr-brown portable amps from his ebay store that are inexpensive and work well with these cans.

Pros:
* Very robust hardware.
* Detachable screw-in cable means less chance you'll have to return the headphones for repair after a lot of use due to cable detachment.
* Comes in a very nice zippered case with a spare set of ear pads, both straight and curly cords and a 1/8th" to 1/4" headphone plug adapter.
* Sound is very robust with deep lows and crisp highs.
* Very nice with bassy, bouncy music such as trance, downtempo, drum & bass, house.
* Nicely padded on the head and ears.
* Although the headset is quite large overall it can be folded in on itself for transport so it takes up much less room.
* The unique dark blue colour of this headset is very attractive and noticeable.
* The huge shiny silver logos on the cans are pretty neat too.
* Gold electroplated connectors all around.
* Generous, long, beefy cables.

Cons:
* Midrange is a little cramped if used directly with an iPod rather than going through a headphone amp.
* Ear fatigue is a little higher than with some other headphones (including other headphones in this set's line) due to higher output pressure.
* Good isolation from external noise (I use them on the subway).
* Connector cable plug is really long when paired with the adapter needed to use with a portable device so there's a risk of wrenching the headphone port on your sound source.
* Folding the headset up requires you to unscrew the headphone cable.
* Might be too bassy for discerning audiophiles who are critical about upper-mid to high end frequencies.

Ultrasone PRO 550 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

Audio Technica ATH W5000 Dynamic Headphones Review

2008-12-11T20:12:00.001+07:00

Great headphone, worth the money

Like all headphones, this one too has a distinct sound, ie. it is not neutral. I find the W5000 to be the right balance between warm and neutral. The soundstage is very large, and all the details are present. I find that when listening to vocals, especially female vocals, or listening to a concerto, the solo instrument/vocals tend to stand out, making it harder to hear the details. It sounds very natural, but is a matter of preference. Additionally, the bass is not as pronounced as on other headphones--it is there, and very tight, but not overwhelming. I like it better than the Denon D2000, which is too cold and analytical. Compared to other ATH offerings such as the A900 and the ES7, it has a much wider soundstage, but the flavor of sound is pretty much the same. Basically, you are just getting more of the benefits of those headphones--more details, more soundstage, etc. I have used this with an Onkyo receiver hooked up to a Sony DVD player, and it sounds very good. It also works well with my Cowon D2, and also very well with my Sansa Clip, believe it or not. Basically, it has very low impedance, so I can listen to it at a fairly loud volume with my Clip volume set at 3/4 of max. Overall, a great headphone that gives you great enjoyment, even if you don't spend the extra thousand to buy an amplifier and DAC.

Review at Head-fi : http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/review-audio-technica-ath-w5000-raffinato-158031/

Audio Technica ATH-W5000 Dynamic Headphones

Grado Prestige Series SR225 Headphones Review

2008-12-10T19:50:00.001+07:00

A review of the Grado SR225 Headphones

Hi there!

Would like to just do a quick little review of my recent aquisition of the Grado SR225 headphones, the aim is to contribute opinions to anyone else thinking of buying a pair of these headphones.

First see my previous thread to get an idea of what I was looking for in headphones (Along with this review, this will help you decide if these headphones are right for you).

When I received the package I tried them out for about 20 minutes, I was very pleased but felt like they needed lossening up a litte. I left them running pink noise just above normal listening level for 9 hours along with 30 minute breaks every two hours (BurnInWave default) as some may recomend. To my ears this DID make a difference but I can't imagine much difference between this and playing music through them for a week.

It did take me a while to adjust to the change in listening volume however, I usually listen quite loud to bring out the qualities of rock music. Listening to higher volumes on these headphones does the reverse effect, they sound more "correct" at lower volumes and a it's a bit harder to follow the music at higher volumes (but I suspect the amp and source I am using have some impact on this).

The next day the real test started

Overall impression: Some people will say headphones don't have much of a soundstage compared to speakers, probably due to the lack of natural ambience that effects vibrations after they have left the speakers and possibly also due to the feeling of the sound being in the middle of your head. Having said that, I was suprised by the openess of the sound, I am not going to exagerate and say these headphones sound like a live concert but I did find a very good positioning and seperation of instruments and very clear detail across the whole frequency spectrum and didn't require any sort of crossfeed for my ears.

High's: Before I aquired these cans I was weary/prepared of some grainy treble mentioned in other reviews but I did not experience this effect at all. Regardless of figures and graghs, I thought the treble was spot on where it should be, the treble is very responsive and true to the recording and like you probably guessed, you can hear the fingers moving on the guitar strings easier than you normally would. BEWARE THE "S" PROBLEM: You may require decent amplification to control the higher frequencies as frequently (when listening for it mostly) you will hear the letter "S" as a "szz". I would be interested in other peoples experiences here. I was using a Cambridge Audio 340A amplifer for this test. After carefull listening, these headphones don't seem to add gain to the high frequencies, they are just very good at bringing out whats available and the advantage here is they really clean up some of the softness in older music too.

Mid's: Main thing to say here really is the bass drum is in no way harsh, just right, equal qualities as the treble here and provides a great lead-in for the treble - great in acoustic music. No distortion in male or female voices, very accurate and controlled is the best way to describe this. Drum rolls are really clear here!

Low's: Another area I was uncertain about with mixed reviews saying the opposite either way. I will admit the bass at first will disapoint you if you are used to headphones with bass boost buttons but the weight of the whole sound in these headphones will grow on you until you find yourself prefering this far more. I wasn't too shocked here as my speakers have a similar sound too them. The bass is really deep and precise, the best way to describe it is that you can hear when the bass guitar shifts pitch without intentionally listening to the bass at all. These headphones don't lack bass in my opinion however, if you listen to metal, it will still blow you away and it feels almost like there is a subwoofer (Quiet one of corse) present from the tone that the bass area has. This area has alot of personal preference but if you like alot of acoustic or generally music with well recorded real instruments then it will at least sound "fine" to you. If you listen to pop, r&b, trace, house and so on, then the bass doesn't sound very good at all, probably due to the boosted/synthasied and unnatural feel the low frequencies in this music has, of course, this is just my opinion and could be due to my sources and configuration.

---

Unfortunately in this review I could not provide an extensive comparison with another set of headphones. Other headphones I own are Sennheiser PC160's and some Panasonic wireless headphones but I have listened to a great variety which I don't own.
The last thing you want to do with these very dynamic headphones is EQ them as they will sound soft and flat from doing so through my testing.
You can drive these headphones at very loud volumes straight from an iPod!
Thats the end of my simple review, if you have any questions regarding the headphones or my review I will be more than happy to respond on this thead.

Peace!

Credit: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/review-grado-sr225-headphones-265497/

Grado Prestige Series SR225 Headphones

Grado Prestige Series SR125 Heaphones Review

2008-12-09T19:46:00.001+07:00

Grado is the king

I bumpped into Grado headphone by while wandering around at a local audiophile store many years ago, and it blew me away and I never bothered with speakers and amps since. Didn't know headphone can be this much fun! These retro looking cans are extremely neutral and faithful to the source. I've been using my SR125 at work for 7 years nonstop, they are as good as new. During which time, I stepped on the cord with the cans on my ears, dropped cans on the floor countless times. The foam ear pieces are pretty flat now. But the cans are as good as ever, with nothing going loose, disconnected or falling apart. These cans are made to last for sure.

Got myself a pair of SR325, equally fantastic. A lot more expensive than this SR125. Worth the upgrade? Probably more for my fragile ego more than anything else. I tried expensive cans of different brands, none come close.

Only downside to the Grado is your roommate will share some of your music if the volumn is high enough. After all, these are open cans, that's where the fantastic Grado sound comes from. Some says the cans pinch ears too hard over long period time of continuous listening, I completely agree. But I think the beauty and strength of these Grados are the simplicity and straightforward design and fabrication based on a ingenious and insightful idea. That idea is simply superior than other things out there. That is why you got the Grado sound at such reasonable price.

IMHO, SR125 is as good as anything out there. It's probably like this, Horse draw cart to Model T is a revolution; and so is Grado cans to everything else.

Grado Prestige Series SR125 Heaphones

Sennheiser HD595 Premier Headphone Review

2008-12-08T19:40:00.002+07:00

The Perfect Headphones

Every time I put on these headphones, I am blown away by the immaculate sound that reaches my ears. These are, in my opinion, the best headphones out there. I'm sure hardcore audiophiles would disagree, but if you're a regular consumer, it doesn't get any better than this.

I had previously tried a pair of 580s, and was somewhat dissapointed with them. They were accurate, but they weren't aggressive enough for my taste - they sounded somewhat distant and weak. Since I wasn't about to spend $150 for a pair of headphones that I wasn't totally satisfied with, I decided to invest that extra $50 and try the 595s. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. The 595s solve the 580's problem by angling the drivers so that they are literally right next to your ear, and the result is a much more immediate, much fuller bodied sound.

The 595s are superb with any type of music. The open, but immediate sound stage is great for rock music (you really feel like you're sitting with the band and they're playing around you), and the clarity and precision is great for jazz and classical. I was also surprised how good my electronica sounded - every detail is expressed with crystal clear precision, and the bass is ample but precise and not overbearing, resulting in a great immersive experience. The lows, mids, and highs are all perfectly balanced (at least to my untrained ear), and overall the sound is just unbelievably natural.

Besides sounding great, the 595s are ridiculously comfortable. Because they surround the ears and don't put pressure on them, I have no problem wearing these headphones for 6-7 hours at a time without discomfort or soreness.

Please note that in order to experience all the 595s have to offer, you really need a headphone amp. They sound good unamped, but the 595s really come alive with a good amp. Also, since the 595s have a 1/4" plug instead of a 1/8" mini plug, I would recommend getting the Grado 1/4"-1/8" adapter instead of using the one they give you, as it will put too much strain on the headphone jacks of your equipment.

I wholeheartedly recommend the 595s. For the price, their sound quality and comfort simply cannot be beat.

Sennheiser HD-595 Premier Headphone

Denon AH D2000 Over-Ear Headphones Review

2008-12-04T22:51:00.003+07:00

AHD2000 : Solid, Ultra Comfortable, Beautiful Sound

Before buying a set of Denon's I was using one of the higher-end AKG models, which are semi-open back design and sound very nice, but I was having problems with them comfort-wise; although a pretty light fit, some AKG earpieces are not big enough to fit clear around your ears -- they clamp your ears against your head a bit, which was really uncomfortable after a few hours. I'd heard a lot of great things about these, and I decided to pick them up because:

1. Comfort -- Big earpieces which fit all the way around your ears. The pads rest on your head, not your ears. Mine don't even touch my ears. Nice soft, thick letherette. Also the headband is really nice. Barely any pressure at all. One feature that might not work for some users is the shape of the earpads. They are ergonomically shaped very specifically to fit on your head a certain way. Putting these headphones on flipped around from the marked R and L feels pretty strange. They are very comfy and work for me, but you might want to try them on before buying. The way the pads are angled you really can't wear them with the headband in a lot of different positions. Once you get them settled though, wow are they nice.

2. A closed design. Although my AKG's do sound a little more "airy" and more like listening to good speakers in a room, they have quite a bit of bleed, both outside noise bleeding in and inside noise bleeding out. The ADH2000's do have more bleed than some other closed cans I've used, but outside noise reduction is decent.

3. Excellent sound. According to most of the reviews I'd read, these Denon's are among the best of the best closed-design, fullsize headphones. I was not disappointed. These sound ridiculously good. I really can not put them down. Tried with iPod too, definitely need to turn the volume up, but still more than enough volume.

I do have a few small complaints, although they aren't enough to detract from my 5 star rating and excitement about this headphone. The adjustment system isn't that great. It has a nice ratcheting system, all metal which is really nice, but I don't feel like the detents are strong enough. Mine never get loose enough to come off, but I do find that one side likes to ratchet out a notch after a while. Also, as mentioned the cord is REALLY thick and not very flexible when you first get them, although it is nice to see something that won't get cut when run over with a studio chair or the like.

If you are looking for a high quality, comfortable closed headphone, this is it. I don't see mine retiring for a long time.

Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones

Audio Technica ATH M50 Professional Headphones Review

2008-12-03T22:46:00.001+07:00

ATH-M50 review: the best closed cans I've used

My low-end studio equipment doesn't qualify me to give much of an opinion on such matters, but the ATH-M50s are easily the best closed cans I've ever used.

My trusty Senn 280s have served me well for several years, and I prefer them to the Sony 7506s and ATH-M40s that I've also auditioned in my studio. After reading a series of rave reviews (in Tape Op, Recording, etc.), I ordered the M50s just for comparison's sake.

I was fairly sure I'd send them back after a listen. I never did. Simply put, the M50s are the first closed cans that I feel I can trust for rough mixing, and surprisingly, the first closed cans that make me want to listen just for enjoyment. They clearly live up the street from my old Senns, which I now use solely for tracking.

PROs
* detailed yet coherent sound that mirrors higher-end monitor speakers
* particularly impressive bass response (deep, tight) and soundstage (great imaging)
* very comfy fit, with special fake leather that's breathable and durable

CONs
* rather short coiled cord, requiring an extension for some applications
* slightly looser fit than the Senn 280s (good or bad, depending on head size)

Speakers of any type are hard to recommend since tastes, physiology, and other equipment vary so much, but you may want to audition these if you need a pair for higher-end listening tasks. They work beautifully for me, and the price seems fair (paid $139 new, shipping included). Then again, with my mostly bargain-basement studio gear, what do I know? Make sure you have a good return policy, just in case.

Audio Technica ATH-M50 Professional Headphones

Audio Technica ATH A700 Headphones Review

2008-12-02T22:38:00.001+07:00

Audio Technica ATH-A700 : Music in your Head

How do I start this great review:
I should probably say that when I first received theses headphones I almost returned them. That was because I'm a part time DJ of West Coast Swing and Hustle Music. I needed a pair of cans that allowed me to hear the music even when the dance floor was flooded with sound. Noise canceling head phones don't do a thing for drowning out other loud music, but these over-the-ear head phones would. So I ordered a pair of ATHA8700.

When they arrived, I was a little surprised. They weren't good for DJing at all. They were enormous (the cans / ear-cups wrap entirely around the ear) and there was no way to fold them up and transport them. I immediately ordered a pair of Pioneer HDJ1000.

As I awaited for my new Pioneer headphones, I started using the ATHA700s with my computer and for my home stereo and portable MP3 player to listen to music. I was overwhelmed by the quality of sound, the comfort and overall fullness of everything I listened to. It felt that I wasn't just listening to the band/orchestra, I was surrounded by the music.

Don't get me wrong, these aren't surround-sound headphones....they're just so good that they capture all the nuances of the music as if you were playing in the band or the conductor of the orchestra.

The fact is that these headphones impressed me so much that I couldn't bare to part with them. At the end of the day, I use my Pioneers for the DJ booth and parties, and I use my ATHA700s for everything else.

Sound Quality: 10/10
Comfort: 10:10
Portability: 3/10

Pioneers-
Sound Quality: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10
Portability: 9/10

Enjoy,
Erik

Audio Technica ATH-A700 Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones With Double Air Damping

Beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Headphones Review

2008-12-01T22:50:00.002+07:00

beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Headphones

AKG K601 Open-Back Studio Headphones Review

2008-11-30T21:04:00.002+07:00

Extremely comfortable with well balanced, neutral sound

Working in a cubicle, I listen to music nearly all day, every day. I have been using the AKG k601s for the last fourteen months or so, plugged into the headphone jack of a component size CD player. I listen to a wide variety of music including electronic, classical, and post-rock.
COMFORT.
With this experience, I can confidently report these are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. The are very light on your head, and apply most of their pressure to the area around your ears. The soft, well padded cups fit entirely over my average sized ears, with room to spare--even with eyeglasses. The leather headband pressed on the top of my head a little when new, but that slight discomfort disappeared quickly. Again, I cannot think of a better testament to the comfort of these cans than the fact that I repeatedly wear them for four- or five-hour stretches. I also own a pair of Sennheiser HD595 headphones that I can compare the k601s with. The Sennheisers also are very comfortable, but the ear cups are not as large, and may present problems for folks with larger than average ears.
SOUND.
I have been very pleased with the sound of the k601s. When I first got them, I immediately rediscovered my CD collection, hearing details and nuances I had never noticed before. I'm not talking about a minor difference, but an incredible, eye-popping experience. If you have never heard high-end headphones before, you will hear songs like you've never them before. This is my favorite aspect of the k601s. Whenever I buy a recording now, I always prefer to hear it first over these headphones, rather than my home system. As far as neutrality, I believe they are fairly uncolored. I have not seen anything from AKG, but an impressive response curve can be viewed on www.headphone.com, which, by the way, is a great merchant. Since the drivers are so close to the listener's ears, headphones typically have reduced output in the higher frequencies (i.e. treble) and higher output in the lower frequencies (i.e. bass). The curve for the k601 follows this philosophy, and to my ears, the cans sound fairly balanced across the frequency range. The bass may be a little thin, though the notes are reproduced and audible--just not with large amounts of sound pressure. Again compared with the Sennheiser HD595s that I recently acquired for home listening, the k601s have a noticeably diminished lower frequency output. I'm not sure how I feel about that, perhaps because I have become accustomed to the leaner k601s, and the Sennheisers bass seems more prominent than its higher frequencies. Many folks recommend a long break-in period for the k601s, and I suspect it has to do with getting used to the bass output. They are not heavy hitters as far as bass goes, so hip hop fans probably will be disappointed. I don't know, but suspect--based on reviews and the response curves--that the bass output is one area in which an upgrade to the top-of-the-line k701s would be justified.
DURABILITY.
Using the k601s every day in an office setting has exposed them to a fair degree of wear and tear. I have found them to be very durable, even after repeatedly dropping them onto the floor and running over the cord with my chair. The ear pads have come off, but they just click back on. I returned the cans for warranty service after I started hearing distortion: where the cord connects to the left side had become audible loose, though not visually. This was probably because of misuse on my part (allowing the cord to get caught and having it pull taught on the earpiece at times), but AKG re-corded the headphones for free. The cord itself is fairly thick and well insulated. It has withstood numerous roll-overs.
FUNCTIONALITY.
The headphones have an average impedance overall, less efficient than smaller supra-aura `phones, and less efficient than other circum-aura, open-backed cans like the Seenheiser HD-650s. You will not necessarily need a dedicated headphone amplifier with the k601s. The headphone jack on my Marantz CD5001 cd player drives them very well. I also have had success listening to internet radio, plugging the k601s directly into my desktop computer. I suspect, though, that an Ipod would not have enough voltage to drive these very well, and I doubt you'd want to wear the bulky k601s on the subway or bus. The unique design of these headphones may or may not strike your fancy, but it achieves comfort, as I've already described. I purchased a pair of HD595s, however, for home use because the k601s aren't as suitable for wearing while laying on the couch with your head on a pillow. I must also mention that I use these open-backed headphones in an office setting. Even though they are not a sealed design, I've found that very little sound leaks out at the volumes I listen to. I've confirmed this with my co-workers in the adjoining cubicles. Plus, I like being able to hear my telephone ring or know when someone has entered my cube. If active noise reduction is more important, however, you'll have to look elsewhere.
CONCLUSION.
At from two to three hundred dollars, the AKG k601s are top notch headphones from a well respected, science-based manufacturer with enormous R&D resources. I cannot imagine you will be disappointed with them after an extended listen, except perhaps if you value bass reproduction over everything else.

AKG Open-Back Studio Headphones - K601

Sony MDR-SA5000 DJ Stereo Headphones Review

2008-11-29T01:14:00.003+07:00

Sony remaps the land of high-end headphones once again

I've owned quite a few high-end headphones over the last few years, but this new model from Sony take a page from Metallica, and kills 'em all. The comfort and design are unparalleled, and the materials used are top-notch, outclassing similarly priced and even more expensive cans. The sound is unprecedented, certainly among sub-$1000 dynamic headphones. The frequency spectrum is amazingly well balanced, from the deepest bass to the highest treble, with no readily apparent gaps or peaks. The frequencies transition very smoothly, which results in virtually no listener fatigue. Detail is excellent, surpassing all other dynamic headphones I've heard, rivaling that of the expensive, esoteric electrostatic models. Individual instruments and sounds are rendered wonderfully, each with it's own distinct static place in the spectrum, and are placed with pinpoint precision around your head.

If you listen to a lower-quality source or amp, the SA5000 might not be for you, as it will spit that garbage right back into your face. In that situation, more forgiving cans like the Sennheisers or Grados would be better suited. If you have some great sounding gear though, like my Benchmark DAC-1, then the SA5000 will give you the detail and transparency that other cans will hide.

Here are my impressions of a few other prominent high-end cans compared to the SA5000:

Grado RS1 (An ergonomic nightmare, and no benchmark for build quality, the Grado succeeds in making even a lowly MP3 player sound exciting to listen to. However, it achieves this through a bumped upper bass and upper mids, which can grow annoying when used on a high-class source and amp, which reveals these colorations. Also has the most distortion (sibilance) and least frequency extension of the group. It's best attribute is that bass boost, which is quite thumpin' with the right music.)

Sennheiser HD650 (This headphone makes almost anything quite listenable, with its slow, decay-oriented presentation, and muted high end, it takes the edge right off even the harshest recordings. This is good if you like your hi-fi to whisper sweet lullabies, however it makes the sound quite dull and lifeless compared to any of the other cans mention. The Zu Mobius cable helps fix this, and extend the lower and upper ends, but it is still no match for the detail and accuracy of the SA5000.)

Sony MDR-CD3000 (The SA5000's predecessor, by comparison has bloated bass and a lacking midrange. The extreme frequencies are also underrepresented. Its only "advantage" is an artificially wide soundstage that can make a studio rock recording sound more like a live concert. The cans are also VERY large and bulky, which makes them a tad annoying to wear, though they are very soft.)

Sony MDR-SA5000 DJ Stereo Headphones

Grado RS1 Reference Series Headphones Review

2008-11-28T01:05:00.002+07:00

One of the best headphones ever

I am extremely happy that Amazon.com started stocking Grado products.

To audiophiles, Grado is a very big name. Grado makes some of the world's best consumer turntable catridges, and makes some of the most notoriously fun, musical headphones out there.

The Grado RS-1 headphones are the second-most expensive Grado headphones on the market now. The PS-1 is a limited-edition headphone that is very seldom-made (but it is in production currently) that contains some of the best detail, fluidity, warmth, and excitement than any other headphone. However, the RS-1s are very close to the specifications of this headphone.

The Grado Reference Series 1 is, in my opinion, the true audiophile way to ENJOY your music. Others may say that they do not like the musicality, because it has a very colored sound. Audiophiles normally know that this is not good because it doesn't "faithfully" reproduce the information on your record/CD properly. However, I don't always want to sit there and listen to the minor details of my music. Sometimes I just want to rock out and enjoy myself as much as possible, which is where the Grado RS1 headphones take the responsibility of fulfilling this for me.

The RS1 headphones at first are going to look very cheap to those who are not familiar with them. The headband is leather, but it is thin. The earcups do not surround the ear at all, they just touch them. This is a very open headphone, so outside noise will come in, and your sound will leak.

But these are all very obvious and welcome shortcomings. This leads to a very good performing headphone. While they may not be as comfortable as the Senns, they are definitely faster, more enjoyable, and contain a much more fluid sound than the Sennheiser HD650s. If you want to listen to Rock on these headphones, particularly bands from the seventies and eighties, these are the best option you will have.

Another great thing about the headphones is that they are really easy to drive without the presence of a headphone amplifier. I have experienced, however, that with my Perreaux SXH-1 amp, it really improves the sound quality. Things that the Grado sound lacks are dynamic range and midrange neutrality, but the amp was able to tone down the midrange and bass was much more dynamic than before.

If you wanna have some of the best sound quality on the planet from a name you can trust, then you will want to go with a Grado headphone. Everything from Classical to Metal sounds amazing on these headphones. They are extremely versatile, are durable even though they look like they were from WW2, and, best of all, they are some of the best sounding headophones you can buy. Male vocals, drums, wailing guitars, you name it - Grado will reproduce it faithfully.

Some albums I recommend on the Grado RS1:
Pink Floyd - The Wall
The Doors - Morison Hotel
Todd Rundgren - Something Anything
Neil Young - After the Goldrush
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

Happy listening!

Grado RS1 Reference Series Headphones

Audio Technica ATH AD2000 Open Air Dynamic Headphones Review

2008-11-27T00:54:00.001+07:00

An ideal mix

The ATH AD2000 occupies a unique position in the world of mid-priced stereophile headphones: it has a sound that effectively merges the best of what most people look for in a well-balanced phone. It's easier said than done.

The AD2000 has fine detail - easily capturing everything that the touted AKG K701 does - but with a richness of tone that's surprising. Instead of a "bass-boost" sound, these headphones offer a bass that's fully integrated into the music. Usually this kind of phone will require the use of a headphone amplifier, but through some kind of audio voodoo, these offer a full gain that can be heard easily with any portable gear. The velour earpieces make listening easy, though one may wish to "stretch" the wires backwards to make them even more comfortable.

These are open headpones, allowing the open flow of sound. If privacy is important, you may prefer closed headphones.

These headphones can handle a wide variety of music with ease, though they work best with pop/rock - mnusic that allows their power to come through. But it's striking how nice their presentation of classical instruments can be. One bonus is the AD2000's handling of Japanese music; it almost seems as if the headphones were especially tuned to capture these instruments and production. The AD2000 has earned respect as a fine all-around phone which can handle hard rocking pieces with ease.

Taking the earpads on and off can be an ordeal, so keep some patience stored up in case you decide to do any experimentation. Like so many Japanese headphones, they're held on tight, flexible material. Also, you may want to take care not to damage the "flying wings" that rest on top of your head; they flex for comfort, but may not survive a serious fall. Otherwise, these are extremely solid and well-made. The metal grilles are of the sturdy Sennheiser variety.

Balanced, detailed, full-sounding, and with a solid gain, these headphones offer sonic pleasures missing from products that cost considerably more. Right now, these imports are a bit overpriced, but they'd be quite competitive for around $420 - 450.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 Headphones

Creative Aurvana X-Fi Noise Canceling Headphones Review

2008-11-26T00:42:00.002+07:00

Excellent Headphones!

Let me start out by saying, I'm an audiophile and I fly on planes quite a bit. I can certainly appreciate the sound of well constructed audio equipment. The Creative Aurvana X-Fi headphones exemplify that quality. In the past, I have tried the Bose headsets and definitely feel that they are horribly over-rated (amazing marketing campaign)! I honestly feel they are dull/boomy and do not provide the dynamics and clarity that good music can bring through well engineered headphones. Therefore, I decided to purchase the Sennheiser PXC-300's about a year ago. The Sennheiser's are very decent headphones, and sound great. However, they do not cover the ear and plane noise can still become apparent despite their noise canceling ability. After about a year or so of use, I decided to retire my Sennheisers for a pair of the Creative Aurvanas. What can I say? They are excellent! The noise cancellation is excellent (all external noise at the airport and on the plane seems to disappear), they are very well made, they feel solid and best of all, the sound quality is fantastic! Terrific base with a crisp high end! Never "boomy" the way the Bose headphones sound. I have to admit, I'm a convert to the Creative Aurvanas! Try them yourself. I think you will agree!

Creative Aurvana X-Fi Noise-Canceling Headphones

Koss MV1 Professional Studio Stereophone Review

2008-11-25T00:31:00.001+07:00

Excellent headphones worth your consideration

I have used several brands of headphones and I keep coming back to Koss. I am enjoying their latest model, the MV1, the most. The overall sound quality is excellent - uncolored, accurate and with a surprisingly deep base response. When not in use the "cups" turn making storage easier. When in use they are "forgettably" comfortable. (With prolonged use any headphone can become irritating and one starts to fidget with them - I find that happens far less with the MV1.) They're certainly the best looking headphones I have used. Included are a Koss case making storage simple (no dangling cord) and both sizes of phone plugs. The Koss MV1 Stereo Headphones are a definite recommended buy, more so condsidering the price here at Amazon.

Koss MV1 Professional Studio Stereophone

Grado SR325i Headphones Review

2008-11-24T00:08:00.001+07:00

Absolutely Fabulous

I love these headphones. They come with the 1/4" plug, so you will need to get an adaptor to play on an Ipod. It is harder to find an adapter for 1/4" to 1/8" at any of the mass-market electronic stores. If you intend to get the Grado 325i and want to use them with an mp3 player, order Grado's adapter when you order the headphones. While they will really sound better with a headphone amplifier with an mp3 player, they actually sound very good even without. The amplifier fills out the bass and depth. It really makes a difference with almost any quality headphone, but it is not necessary with Grado all the way up to the GS1000 which sounds even better directly from the Ipod.

The sound is very forward. There is no sense of distance like being in a concert hall. You feel like you are sitting right on the stage with the musicians. They are not as comfortable as the Audio-Technica or the AKG, but if you purchase the comfort rings which fit on the outside of the earcup and fits between the earcup and your ear, they really are comfortable enough. It adds just a bit to some separation which givs you a little bit of a sense of distance.

I also really like the retro look of Grado and that they fit on the ear rather than totally surround the ear. They do not make my head or face sweat. They are also open backed headphones which gives a very nice open acoustic which I generally prefer to the closed backed headphones with the exception of the Denon headphones which are just plain wonderful.

To get to brass tacks, I cannot speak as any kind of expert, but I doubt that the Grado's are really that nuetral which is something the audio reviewers always mention. I do not think that the Grado's sound as colored as the top level Sony--the Sony 5000, but I think that John Grado has been working to achieve his personal ideal of what a very good headphone should sound like. He is imposing a certain sense of his own esthetics onto his customers. I love the way they sound. He may just be smarter than the rest of us and has the courage to say that good taste trumps "science" in setting the sound of his headphones. I do not listen to Grado headphones every day. I tend to listen to the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 the most. To me, Grado's are like a wonderful desert. I save them for special ocassions. When I listen to the 325i or RS-2, it is always a great joy. The GS1000 is just plain over the top. I really love it. The GS1000 does not need the comfort rings. They are plenty comfortable on their own. You can also get the "comfort rings" from any Grado dealer. That is what I did. With rare exception, I have purchased all of my headphones from Amazon or Amazon Marketplace. It has been a good experience uniformly.

Grado Prestige Series SR325i Headphones

Ultrasone HFI 780 Headphones Review

2008-11-22T23:52:00.001+07:00

Would Give them 6 stars or more

I tried many pairs of headphones, read reviews and these are OUTSTANDING, what live surround sound they have and that is just off a computer and ipod touch around the house of course.

I won't be wearing these larger cans out and about. Connecting them to my sound system gave me near the same sound as my 7 channel system puts out and of course on that level you can adjust bass and treble and so on. Even with the pod and computer the sound was simply grand to me.

Shop around as I got mine recently for $204, tax and shipping included. I did check out some others of Sennheiser and Denon, both excellent but double the price and these just have a live sound and let me hear everything.

These are closed headphones and you actually get to listen without outside noises or outside noise at a min. These are NOT noise cancelling though but they will give you sound like you have never heard from headphones. I was used to the $20 pair of ear buds so this is 200 steps up! Again go to real audio stores and try out several pairs as hearing to all is very different. Music, movies and gaming types all play a role in how things are projected or heard by each individual.

Ultrasone HFI-780 Headphones

AKG K701 Open-Back Studio Headphones Review

2008-11-21T23:07:00.001+07:00

One of the very best mid-priced headphones

Buyers have abundant options for mid-priced headphones, and at $300, you should expect stereophile quality. The AKG 701 is thought by many to be one of the very best all-purpose headphones. While they can handle pop music well, they really shine with classical, where their elegance and smoothness of tone come to the fore. At the same time, they're extremely detailed - some feel too much so - allowing you to hear details in the music missing in some comparably priced headphones.

Strictly speaking, this headphone works best with a headphone amplifier. At the same time, it's one of the more comfortable headphones around, with pads that you almost forget you're wearing. The ingenious design automatically adjusts pressure for different heads, and the open design allows for a pleasing sense of space. That latter feature means that you won't want to wear these when you can disturb others, because sound does leak.

Like many top headphones, these have been noted to improve with use as its diaphragm relaxes with use. While these headphones sound just fine out of the box, they improved markedly after a break-in period of up to 300 hours. (This is likely a function of the diaphragm's dual-layer design.) You can speed up the process by playing pink and white noise through the headphones at a solid, comfortable volume for a day or two.

I've owned a number of headphones, but the K701 leaves me comfortable with all types of music. At this price level, it's not so much finding the "best" headphone as getting the one that suits your tastes and needs most satisfactorily. After a long, hard search, the K701 does the trick for me. In its short time in production, users have rated it as tied for top headphone in its range. (The Senn HD650 is the other headphone, which boasts a lush sound, albeit with an overabundance of bass.)

AKG K701 Open-Back Studio Headphones with Flat-Wire Voice Coil

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Review

2008-11-21T00:15:00.002+07:00

Nice flat response headphones

I just purchased a pair of these headphones in the 80 ohm version as opposed to the 250 ohm model listed under this header. The two are similar products used for different applications but like any audio product you have to hear them for yourself.

Despite the subjectivity disclaimer, I will say these cans have a seemingly more flat response compared to the Sennheiser HD280 and the Sony MDR7506 I auditioned side-by-side in the store. The mid-range response of the dt770's was the best quality- because you can actually pick out the mids. The high frequency response was articlate without being pushy, a big factor for me. In contrast, the Sony phones seem to feature an aggressive and unrefined response in the high frequency. Otherwise the Sonys are fine for $100. The Sennheisers (also $100) seem to isolate better than both the Beyers and the Sonys, but I found the Beyers the most comfortable of the three. I don't have big ears, but the Sonys seem to have little chiclet ear cups and isolated the least of the three. The Senns are definitely worth the $100, but I can't figure out why the Sonys are audio industry standard headphones with that almost prickly high pitch response.

I picked the Beyers even though they cost twice as much as the other two because of the exceptionally even response I got from them. When I took them home I tried them out on every little lo-fi device I could find, and they continually made me shiver with their fidelity and overall tempered sound. Do you want to 'hear' your headphones influencing the music? I don't.

The Beyer's base response was hearty, maybe due to lightweight transducers that reproduce sound more efficiently than most cans. But for me it was hearing the mids, a range that humans don't pick up as easily as bass or high pitch sounds, that made these worthwhile. If you want super high quality phones, pick these up.

BEYER DYNAMIC DT770-Pro Closed Circumaural Studio Headphones

Sennheiser HD600 Dynamic Stereo Headphones Review

2008-11-20T20:42:00.006+07:00

The Best Dynamic Headphone in the World

This is the best dynamic headphone in the world, and is rivalved only by the Grado RS-1 headphone. Many studio engineers and audiophile's use these as their REFERENCE headphone...they are a steal for such a high quality headphone. The Grado RS-1 [costs more], and is definately less comfortable than the Sennheisers. These headphones have an extremely detailed, open, airy sound, that nears electrostatic sound. They are also unique in that they suit all types of music very well, they have great punch for rock music, but can perform clasical pieces with all the fullness and detail they were designed.

It should be noted these headphone have an impedance of 300 ohms. Most headphone are 16-32 ohms. What this means is to get the full potential out of them you will need some type of amplifier. Headphone.com offers a couple inexpensive sollutions to this problem, as does audioadvisor.com. Althought they are not true audiophile components, they will greatly enhance your experience with these headphones. If you are planning on travelling with them, you can almost bet you won't be content with their sound when powered only by a portable CD player. I use a Audio Valve RKV Mark II Headphone Amplifier at home, and the headphone.com Airhead on the road. Buy these headphones if you are looking for true audiophile sound, or just the best dynamic headphone, but be aware of their limitations without am amplifier.

Sennheiser HD600 Dynamic Stereo Headphones

Audio Technica ATH A900 Headphone Review

2008-11-20T00:02:00.001+07:00

Very Nice Cans

I purchased these from Audio Cubes through Amazon. I received them in about 5 days (USPS missed me the first time they tried to deliver). These are my 7th pair of relatively high quality earphones and earbuds.

Based on listening, I would give them 5 stars. I also have the Sennheiser HD 280 pros, an old set of Sony MVR 6s, a relatively new set of Beyerdynamic DT-880s, and both Etymotic ER-4p and ER-6 earbuds.

First, I think the A-T 900s are the most comfortable earphones I have worn. Sound is very good. Certainly better (to my taste) than either the Sony MVR 6 of the Sennheisers 280s, but of course the A-T's cost twice to three times as much. I think both the MVR 6 and the HD 280 are good phones for the money. However, the A-T 900 is just a better set of cans.

Compared to the DT 880s, I find them different but both are excellent. The Audio-Technica phones have more emphasis on bass but are not as crystal clear as the DT 880s. I listen to (in rank order) jazz, folk, classical, blues, and classic rock. Probably 70% or what I listen to is jazz.

My initial impression is that I will prefer the A-T 900s for jazz and the DT 880s for classic and folk.

Certainly for the price difference -- unless you are going to primarily listen to classical and have a headphone amp or are going to use the headphones only with a shelf system with a good headphone output circuit -- I would suggest the A-T A900s (which you can get for about $80 less through Audio Cubes if you don't mind delivery from Japan). I also considered the Sennheiser 595 and 600 phones but wanted something I could listen to in bed without keeping my wife awake. If being sealed is not an issue, the Sennheiser phones are rated as excellent and I hope to pick up a pair sometime.

The other option for someone who can purchase only one set of phones or buds is the ER-4p. I have used mine for 6 or 7 years. The Etymotics provide about 30 db of isolation and have excellent sound. I have used mine at the gym, mowing, and riding a motorcycle (you have to wear earplugs riding a bike or you will quickly have hearing damage from the air flow through your helmet). However, I don't like earbuds for listening while sitting in my house reading or writing.

So for a set of sealed cans, I think the AT ATH-A900 phones are an excellent choice. For jazz, the SENN 280s are also very good but I find them uncomfortable for extended wear. The A-900s are very large but light and do not put pressure on the center of your head.

Audio-Technica ATH-A900 Headphones

Denon AH D5000 Headphone Review

2008-11-18T23:16:00.003+07:00

Just about perfect

I ordered these because I was getting tired of wearing my Shure in-ear buds. I ordered them to listen to primarily classical music in an office environment. I already have a set of Grado RS-1s but since those have an open design, they tend to leak more noise ... in AND out.

For the cost of the headphones, the packaging is a little weak. A protective bag for these puppies would be nice. Putting them on -- I would say they are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn -- light years above the Grados. They are designed for a big head, I think because they feel a little loose on my head at the smallest setting (there are 7 variable settings on each side) but since I'm not going to be working out with these on, they are fine and probably add to the comfort level.

The first thing I played was the Bruch Violin Concerto. It sounds phenomenal. I close my eyes and imagine myself listening in a concert hall. The clarity of the sound is amazing -- you can things on the recording that you would miss in a room with other background noise. The bass is warm and solid -- an advantage of the closed head design. The upper ranges are also very well balanced, crisp and clear. In short -- there is no sacrifice anywhere along the spectrum without one range being emphasized over another.

So far, I have only listened to them through my PC and they are outstanding. I can only imagine how great they would be on a real system.

The cord is plenty long so that you can easily move around (stand and pace a bit) while listening. The phones come with an adapter so you can use them in the smaller computer jacks as well as the larger jacks that you find on real stereos.

My ear buds are outstanding for portability (they cost as much as these denons) and the ability to go into your "alone cone". However, prolonged use of the buds can lead to inner ear irritation (yeast infections etc) and get uncomfortable. These are an excellent alternative if you are going to be sitting at your desk for hours on end and want to shut out the rest of the world. The construction appears to be very solid and give the impression that they will last for ever (though you'll probably have to replace the ear pieces when they get skanky).

One note: if you are primarily listening to MP3s, don't bother with this level of headphones. The sampling rate and sound quality of MP3s and other lossy formats just won't have the level of detail to where the difference between an $500 set of cans can offer over a $100.00 set. And in fact, the detail picked up by the more expensive headphones can be quite annoying when it detracts from the music. If you are wanting the true high-end listening experience, rip your music using a lossless format. Sure, it takes more disk space but you'll enjoy your music as it was intended in all its full-bodied glory.

Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones

Sennheiser HD650 Audiophile Open Dynamic Stereo Headphone Review

2008-11-17T23:54:00.002+07:00

Excellent Headphones

I have listened to my music for the last few years using Paradigm Studios including the Signature sub woofer. I have come to appreciate the effortless sound produced by this system, not only its accuracy, but an exceptional soundstage as well. Headphones weren't generally necessary, but if they were, I did have an older pair of Denons. Well, my friend said she wanted my old Denons for her iPod, so I had a chance to look for something newer. I purchased the 650s. Simply said, get ready to hear what you've never heard previously. Good and bad. You hear the entire recording. Clearly. Incredible subtle nuances. You don't miss anything. Play your favorite SACD and it's like you purchased another recording.

As far as coloration, well to me that's subjective. If I were the engineer mixing the recording, I might believe they warmed up the sound just a small, small bit, but if I were listening just for the enjoyment, I'd say Sennheiser nailed it. Open. Transparent. Natural.

The only weakness, and I hesitate to call it that, is the sound stage. Although very accurate in their placement, the 650's don't match the depth and overall spatial presence of the Studios. But then again, with the 650s, I can turn my head or shift my seat and the soundstage doesn't float.

Folks, I'd say the Sennheiser 650s are a great investment !

Sennheiser HD650 Audiophile Open Dynamic Stereo Headphone

Welcome to headphones reviews blog!!

2008-11-17T23:43:00.002+07:00

Buying advice on headphones is a lot like relationship advice? There are no hard and fast rules; everything depends on your individual needs and personal preferences.

The major buying considerations for headphones are form factor, acoustics and price. And they are all intertwined: the form factor affects the acoustics, which affects the price.

This blog will give you advices and reviews for Headphones.

Please!! Read these reviews before buy.

Thanks for coming.