How many members here have a headphone rig?

[hifi-freak]

I'm curious about it...are there members with expensive headphones and headamps as well? which one you have?

[poppachubby]

Nothing fancy, but highly enjoyable and extremely transparent.

Logitech Squeezebox Touch / Sony PS2 Transport (not pictured)
Valab (Teradak) NOS dac
Electric Avenues PA2V2
AKG K240S
Audioquest King Cobra

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5369645321_fa0c595190_z.jpg

[Mr Peabody]

I have a Musical Fidelity X-Can and Sennheiser HD-600's.

[Poultrygeist]

I have a pair of Grado's driven by the Audio GD NFB-12 ( combo headphone amp, DAC and preamp ) with Zu cabling.

[Hyfi]

Grado 125s but no separate amp, just my Rotel 1050 and Hafler 945 to drive them.

[Jack in Wilmington]

I guess Mr P and I have the same rigs. Musical Fidelity X-Can and the Sennheiser HD-600's. I have my Rotel running into the inputs on the X-Can and the X-Can outputs running into the inputs on the Jolida. That's probably a little unconventional. Haven't taken the Senns out since getting the new speakers.

[TheHills44060]

Nope but sometimes wish I did. Right now I just have some el cheapo Sony MDR-150's (I think) that I've been using for quite a few years and got em plugged straight into a stereo preamp. Used to use headphones all the time in high school when I still lived at home.

[atomicAdam]

I have K701's with the Trends PA1.0 Tube headphone amp and/or the KingRex HQ.

[rakeford]

I have some Sennheiser HD650. I just use my RX-797 receiver headphone jack. Sometimes, I use the headphone jack on my Yamaha CDC-765 CD changer.

I also have some HiFiMan RE0 earbuds that I use with my laptop, not really expensive, but maybe to some for earbuds.

[BillB]

Cans:
AKG K701
Sennheiser HD600
Grado SR-80
Etymotic MC-3

Amps:
Benchmark DAC1 (HPA-1)
Schiit Valhalla
TEC-TC7510

Bill

[Mr Peabody]

BillB, how would you compare the 600's to the 701's?

[02audionoob]

AKG K702 here...and the search for a USB DAC/headphone amp occasionally goes on. For now, mostly from a Sound Blaster.

[BillB]

@MrPeabody

I like both a lot. The Sennheisers are a bit more polite sounding, sweetened up a bit if you will, with bass tipped up a little. The AKGs have a more neutral presentation with the bass rolled off gradually.

If I want to "get inside" of a recording I'll use the AKGs with the Benchmark. If I want a warm relaxes sound I'll listen to the Sennheisers on the Schiit. Normally though they're mated with the complete opposite amp, giving both a little more of a balanced sound.

As for comfort, the Sennheisers edge out the AKGs only because they have the soft headband pads versus the rubber/leather padded on on the AKGs. I do prefer the earpad shape of the AKGs though.

Bill

[Poultrygeist]

Headphones are nice and very useful when listening in the late hours but they will never take the place of good speakers. It's less of a natural way of listening to music.

[frahengeo]

Audiogd NFB-12 & Senn HD800s. Just got the NFB-12 and so far so good.

[Mr Peabody]

Frahengeo, ever heard the HD600 to say how much improvement the 800's are?

[frahengeo]

Frahengeo, ever heard the HD600 to say how much improvement the 800's are?

Unfortunately, no. I would've like to have compared the HD800s with the 600/650, the Beyerdynamic line, and the Denon 7000. Not aware of any specialty stores like that around the Boston area.

[Mr Peabody]

Have you been to Spearit Sound? I know they carry Beyer and Grado. They have a store in Boston but I'm sure that's a big area. If I was even remotely close though I'd be there, they carry some awesome gear.

[frahengeo]

Yes. I've been in their store a few times and don't recall seeing a headphone section. Its a fairly small store.

[Mr Peabody]

I wonder if the Hampton store is larger, they sure carry a lot of lines according to their website. Jack is a good guy, I bought my CJ and Siltech from them.

[Happy Camper]

I am in the middle of a love affair with HiFiMan planars. The HE-500 were in the house last week so I was able to compare to the HE-6. Many have commented that the new planars from them and Audeze are better than any of the current flagship cans (HD-800, T-1, PS-1000, etc.

The difference between the two HE cans are sensitivity and coatings. The 6s need a speaker amp to drive them (I'm running 2 Rotel RMB-100 monoblocks 125w @ 8ohms). The 500s can be ran from standard headphone amps and even portables. They also play well on low wattage speaker amps.

[Mr Peabody]

How much do those Hi-fi man run? Who carries them?

[winston]

there you go Mr P, AA, has the HE-4 & HE-5LE, 5 to 700 each, also open box HE-5LE for $594.00 hurry :lol:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1HMHE5LE&utm_source=Email+Newsletters&utm_campaign=f6e40cd77f-AAWCN5_13_2011&utm_medium=email

[Mr Peabody]

I'd love to hear a pair but not enough just to buy them without a reason right now.

[Happy Camper]

http://www.head-direct.com/

[Ajani]

Cans:
AKG K701
Sennheiser HD600
Grado SR-80
Etymotic MC-3

Amps:
Benchmark DAC1 (HPA-1)
Schiit Valhalla
TEC-TC7510

Bill

I also have

AKG K701
Benchmark DAC1

[hifi-freak]

Wow guys, i'm impressed what amazing setups you have. I currently have:

Headphones: HD650, Grado SR325's
Amp/Dac: Burson HA160D

Im thinking on upgrading headphones, maybe the LCD-2's.

[Happy Camper]

I'd love to hear a pair but not enough just to buy them without a reason right now.

Next time back in the Lou, I'll give ya a holler. I have family there.

[Mr Peabody]

Happy C, that sounds great.

hifi-freak, how would you describe the difference in sound between your Grado & Senn's?

[hifi-freak]

hifi-freak, how would you describe the difference in sound between your Grado & Senn's?

I have different music tastes, i use my Sennhs for jazz and classical, Grados for Rock. Each have different sound signatures.

The 650's are more suited for slow music, (more laid back) while the grados are nice for fast paced music with nice attack.

I know, they are very different headphones.

[Mr Peabody]

Yes, they are different and I was interested in getting some one else's take on the two. That's nice to have both. Appreciate the feedback.

[Happy Camper]

I can also bring RS-1, HD-650, K701. I feel the HEs are better than all of them but budget has some bearing.

[Mr Peabody]

HappyCamper, that is saying something, Comparing the brands would be fun.

[hifi-freak]

Comparing the brands would be fun.

Yeah, it would be nice if members with headphone rigs make some comparison threads.

[Happy Camper]

The Sens. need a bright system to make them shine. A darker system will not go well with the Sen. line. But if you match the source/amp and cable upgrade, the HD-6xx are a reference can in the $500 range. As freak mentioned, they do natural instruments very well.

Grados are a rocker can. Not that they don't do other music well but they are voiced for electric guitar. Yes they are colored, small headstage, and in your face but listen to a live rock performance or a small acoustic venue and you will want to order a pitcher and/or fire one up. The HF/PS series use a metal cup w/wood liners and have been crowned their best production all rounder. The GS/RS/Pro series use wood cups. The MS-2/SR-325 use metal cups and the lower SRs are plastic. All their headphones can use different pads that change their character.

I haven't been a big fan of Sens because I had my rig set up for the K-701s. Once I heard them on a rig set up for them, I changed my mind. The HD-800s are a high end hp and IMO are their best production hp.