• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

I don’t know much about headphones, and what to buy a pair.

liam rtr

liam rtr

Active Member
So I want to buy a good pair of audiophile headphones, I don’t know anything about what to look for, I’m not buying some pair of Bluetooth noise canceling Bose headphones on Amazon, I’m looking for something reasonably priced that I can use on my stereo receiver. I was looking at vintage headphones but I could go either way, new or vintage, I don’t really know what’s good or bad, so I am asking what other people think. I like 70s classic rock, Led Zeppelin, kiss, Aerosmith, Boston, Fleetwood Mac, and many many more, but I do venture into other stuff, I’m into big vintage loudspeakers, stuff like Jbl l100s, I want good imaging and soundstage, and I don’t mind a warmth to the sound.
 
Register to hide this ad
These are phenomenal and on sale right now:

Can't get link working, just search on Newark.com for Stellar Labs HO-5960

They really do sound excellent, and that is a steal price right now.

They were recommended to me by another AKer and I now have 2 pairs and my wife has one too. She likes them, and that's saying something.
 
Last edited:
I'll not get bogged down with specifics. I'll just throw out some general advice.

I'd skip vintage. With the advances in headphones the new stuff offers great bang for the buck.

Also, since you say "big vintage speakers", be aware that the bass from headphones is different than that from speakers. Phones fire directly into your ear. They have no room interaction like speakers do. You'll get the depth but you won't get that visceral feel that literally moves you like speakers in a room can.

Personally, I like Senheiser's for general listening but Grado's can provide a bit of added "excitement" that tends to go well with rock. Others will be able to expand your choices.

Keep in mind what I said about the bass, though.
 
the skipper said:
I'll not get bogged down with specifics. I'll just throw out some general advice.

I'd skip vintage. With the advances in headphones the new stuff offers great bang for the buck.

Also, since you say "big vintage speakers", be aware that the bass from headphones is different than that from speakers. Phones fire directly into your ear. They have no room interaction like speakers do. You'll get the depth but you won't get that visceral feel that literally moves you like speakers in a room can.

Personally, I like Senheiser's for general listening but Grado's can provide a bit of added "excitement" that tends to go well with rock. Others will be able to expand your choices.

Keep in mind what I said about the bass, though.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice, I understand the difference between speakers and headphones which I mainly why I don’t use headphones, but I decided I wanted to try getting some
 
radioactive said:
you can always send the l300’s my way and ill even pay for shipping since im such as nice guy.
Click to expand...
I suppose I was asking for that. :)

Seriously though, I have a room full of gear and I can be happy with a pair of headphones? What gives? Especially an inexpensive pair like these.
 
Well, you didn't specify a price range or whether you needed open or sealed. For dynamic headphones, the Sennheiser HD800s are considered by many to be the best.
 
faber12 said:
I suppose I was asking for that. :)

Seriously though, I have a room full of gear and I can be happy with a pair of headphones? What gives? Especially an inexpensive pair like these.
Click to expand...
Im not innocent myself I have great speakers and a couple set of Stax electrostatic headphones a pair of etymotic i.e.m's that I could be happy with as well but I'm not getting rid of my bbozak symphony ,Radford s90 transmission lines ,altec 604b or Jensen triplex anytime soon.
 
swechsler said:
Well, you didn't specify a price range or whether you needed open or sealed. For dynamic headphones, the Sennheiser HD800s are considered by many to be the best.
Click to expand...

The OP mentioned audiophile phones but also something like reasonably priced, dunno what's reasonable to him but somehow I don't think the HD800 fits the description :D

Headphones that I would consider "audiophile grade" can be had from about $300 up to $10,000 so the range is wide but I'd venture to say that below $1,000 one would be hard-pressed to find better than Hifiman's Sundara. Those are planars however, and planars are not suited to everyone. The break-in period is quite long (about 200 hours) and during that period they can sound a bit harsh. But once broken in they are very smooth and their SQ reveals their true audiophile nature. Personally I have a pair of Sundaras and to me they sound just as good and even better than my Focal Clears, which are worth $1,500. When I purchased the Sundaras they were $500 but now can be found online from $350 to $400 (this always happens after I buy something dammit). Anyway read the reviews if that falls within your budget range, many will tell you that not only were they a bargain even at $500 but are the best sounding phones under $1,000 plain and simple. There is a warm side to them, they're much less analytical than other planars I have owned (and still own for that matter), they sound more like a cross between high-end dynamics and planars.

Under $300 I don't think there are any cans that would qualify as "audiophile" but some can be made to if you use them with a dedicated headphone amplifier, good ones can be found for as low as $100. Again depending on your budget and if you're weary about planars you can get the Focal Elear for about $500 online. That one originally cost $1,000 and sounds great, looks great as well.
 
I personally would call the HD-600 'audiophile' over the 650/6xx as those add bottom end and roll off top end that good 'audiophile' speakers do not.

Among headphones that I own, the AKG 553s are probably the cheapest that I'd term 'audiophile' or at least close to it. I'd also probably call the HD600s and the Beyer 880s as in the audiophile category though I'm not 100% sure what that even means.
 
cratz2 said:
I personally would call the HD-600 'audiophile' over the 650/6xx as those add bottom end and roll off top end that good 'audiophile' speakers do not.
Click to expand...
The HD-600 is essentially the HD-580 with fancier hardware, the actual transducers are identical. Which means that the HD-58X is the same as the HD-600. You're probably right about the HD-650, though; I converted my 580s to 650s after I broke one of the transducers and they did sound rolled off afterwards.
 
I might - MIGHT - consider the Philip's SHP9500s to be almost audiophile.

That's not to say theh are on the level of Sundaras or the various Focal models but they are pretty natural sounding. I don't hear much coloration or a bass or treble boost. They aren't trying to flavor the sound one direction or another.

They were a fantastic value when they were roughly $50.
 
If you have a guitar center store nearby go check out the AKG k52 k72 and k92 and also the k240 & k340

And listen to them for yourself on their demonstration Rack...

I just purchased two pair of the k 52 $39 each...
I love them and can't believe they are as cheap as they are.
I recommend you get a little bit more expensive k72 or k92 only because the ear cushions are better quality genuine leather versus the 52 but I have no complaints because they're all interchangeable and I can upgrade by just purchasing the genuine leather cushions
 
liam rtr said:
So I want to buy a good pair of audiophile headphones, I don’t know anything about what to look for, I’m not buying some pair of Bluetooth noise canceling Bose headphones on Amazon, I’m looking for something reasonably priced that I can use on my stereo receiver. I was looking at vintage headphones but I could go either way, new or vintage, I don’t really know what’s good or bad, so I am asking what other people think. I like 70s classic rock, Led Zeppelin, kiss, Aerosmith, Boston, Fleetwood Mac, and many many more, but I do venture into other stuff, I’m into big vintage loudspeakers, stuff like Jbl l100s, I want good imaging and soundstage, and I don’t mind a warmth to the sound.
Click to expand...
 
https://www.akg.com/Professional Headphones

You can spend some big coin if you're really serious, but I don't think it's necessary unless you got blessings to be able to do so!

I will say that if I had the coin I would have several high-end pairs from several companies definitely AKG as one of my first choices. ..

But I am very satisfied with the cheapies
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom