Headphones - New Technologies?

[GChief]

Thank you, Sir, for your reply. I'm beginning to get the feeling a lot of it is subjective. Unfortunately the nearest city that might have a stereo store where I can compare different headphones is Klamath, Oregon, 70 plus miles from me. I was thinking of buying two used ones from Amazon or eBay then reselling the brand I liked the least. I'm still trying to decide which ones to try first, as long as they come recommended and have an impedance of not more than 150 ohms.

Guitar Centers typically have HPs set up to try out.

 

[stevex]

The edit link disappeared on my posted list of headphones under consideration. Apparently there is only a limited number of times a post can be edited. But thank you, everyone, for your suggestions.

 

[Old Guy8]

The edit link disappeared on my posted list of headphones under consideration. Apparently there is only a limited number of times a post can be edited. But thank you, everyone, for your suggestions.

Edit function is usually only available to Subscribers ($25/year). That's my experience anyway.

 

[keitht]

The hd58x is really easy to drive with just about anything. The sound is very
much in line with the other Senn models. The hd650 likes more power, but
Scales up well with better amps.
Lower end Grado models can be a bit in your face with the sound. I've had
4 different models including the rs1. The best one for me is the ps500, which
has a warmer sound.
You might want to look at headphone meets listed over at head-fi. You can often
hear a bunch of different models in one visit. I've had the privilege of hearing
some really high end gear. I used to live in Dallas and really enjoyed the meets
I went to. Some pretty well known headphone people were there including
Pete Millett. He's known for designing a bunch of DIY headphone amps.

 

[heyraz]

In the old days we used to audition headphones at the local Brick and Mortar Audio store. Those stores have mostly gone out of business.

Now... that's what Amazon and its liberal return policy is for. Order a pair or two, audition them and return what you don't like.

(Don't feel bad about returning stuff to Amazon. They helped put Brick and Mortar stores out of business. Returns are the cost of doing business).

 

[melofelo]

Thank you, but a Marantz 1150 is a professional 75 watt amp, as far as I know, where as my 1060 is only a 30 watt amp. So I don't know that a HD650 would work with my amp at all. But I've read a lot of great things about the HD58x and is definitely one of the one's I'm seriously considering. And thank you for the referral to head-fi.org. I'm definitelf spending a lot of time there now too.
Thank you, Sir.

I doubt the 1060 will have any trouble driving modern day Sennheisers. Those 1970s *30 watts* were pretty robust.

 

[GChief]

Those 1970s *30 watts* were pretty robust.

But those watts really do not matter, most HP jacks are driving HPs with less than 1w.

 

[keitht]

The number of places with headphones to test are few and far
between. AUDIO CONCEPTS in Dallas has a pretty decent set up.
They carry Grado and others. I'm not sure what their current
lineup is. They had some headphone amps and headphones
sitting out to listen to. They used to be a Stax dealer.
Headphones vary so much in sound ,look, and comfort.
I have 6 pairs sitting around. I guess it's better than the days
where I had 6 sets of speakers. My vintage amp collection
needs downsizing as well. Good luck in your search. The
hard part is staying in budget.

 

[melofelo]

But those watts really do not matter, most HP jacks are driving HPs with less than 1w.

Agreed. 70s headphones tended to be rated 300- 500mw max and that was using the relatively inefficient paper cones. The later mylar drivers required even less to get decent volume from a standard headphone jack...often with a max rating of around 200mw

 

[GChief]

That's why I posted it, some do not know that, don't want people thinking they are getting 30w at the HP jack

 

[stevex]

I doubt the 1060 will have any trouble driving modern day Sennheisers. Those 1970s *30 watts* were pretty robust.

That may be true, but not sure I want to test-buy high-impedance headphones to test it out.

But those watts really do not matter, most HP jacks are driving HPs with less than 1w.

Agreed. 70s headphones tended to be rated 300- 500mw max and that was using the relatively inefficient paper cones. The later mylar drivers required even less to get decent volume from a standard headphone jack...often with a max rating of around 200mw

Very interesting info, and worth considering.

(Don't feel bad about returning stuff to Amazon. They helped put Brick and Mortar stores out of business. Returns are the cost of doing business).

I never feel comfortable returning things unless an absolute necessity. I once started a battery online web site called Hot Batteries.com, where I sold batteries for just about any phone, cam corder, camera, laptop etc you could think of. After a year or so my wholesale suplier became very slow in fulfilling my orders. So I took a trip to his warehouse. What I saw was a mountain of returned batteries, enough to fill two dumpsters. Whenever someone returned a battery for any reason, it was thrown into a pile. No attempt was ever made to test, recycle, repackage or sell as used the batteries sent back. Within a year of my trip he was out of business, and so was I.

 

[heyraz]

I never feel comfortable returning things unless an absolute necessity.

If e-commerce is all we have, how else can we audition headphones?
You're not going to hurt Amazon's bottom line. Returns are part of the e-commerce landscape.