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Choices (<$300); Sorry to disturb again
Topic Started: 27 Oct 2006, 09:10 PM (1,261 Views)
aaron-xp
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Boy
Was wondering which of the following headphones I should choose for my potential rig.

Quote:
 
Oops. Sorry for the long title. Had recently starting thinking seriously about what headphone I should go for. Yes, I have indeed started a thread on this, but with different headphones (and without a polling option).

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...21#post2372121

Would really appreciate if I can get a general consensus on this.
I listen to some jazz, classical (very little though) and *gasp* pop-rock.
Yes, I do like a wide soundstage, but it really seems to me that a soundstage is not really a primary consideration, mainly because it's more of good imaging that I prefer. I do like vocals. Bass slam would be nice, but I would rather sacrifice it for a good mid range (bass extension, on the other hand, would be good, especially for the double basses in the orchestra pieces). Comfort is a must (I didn't find the Grados uncomfortable), and they must not cause my ears to overheat in the temperature I am in (around 30ºC-34ºC).

I would be using this with a Sony SCD CE595 (seems to be rather highly recommended for its price range). Almost everything will cost more over here though. The CE595 would be around USD150 (including shipping), and the K501 (which seems rather appealing) would cost more than USD99.

I'm willing to spend USD200 on the headphones (and included the K601 just to see how it fairs against the rest).
Thanks so much.


Any opinions. The K501 seems rather appealing (but for the need for amplification). Will go over to Jaben to try as many of them though.
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ayeosq
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KING
hmmm... 501 needs an amp to drive...
ah dui said little dot II drive it well...
Whole life nonsense...
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Whole Life HARDO GAY!!!
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aaron-xp
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Is there any way to buy them (outside of an MO)? Secondhand would be great, but I don't think anyone wants to give their LD2+ up.
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sukasuka
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AKG AKG!
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ahdui
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aux!
im willing to let my ld2+ off for a 8PK of cos.
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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flu_fighter
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aaron-xp
Oct 27 2006, 09:10 PM
Any opinions. The K501 seems rather appealing (but for the need for amplification). Will go over to Jaben to try as many of them though.

Maybe you can try out the Beyer DT770 and the DT 990.

The 32 ohm versions should be easier to drive.
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aaron-xp
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Both the DT880 and the K501 seem very appealing. Tried both of them and the AD900 and A900.

The K501 sounded really clean, especially the bass, and the DT880 was rather analytical throughout. Prices are decent also, at least when compared with the prices in the US.
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gradesm
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My vote is for the k501.. pretty demanding for a 120 ohm but it's all worth it.... :moneyfly:
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sukasuka
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go for the DT 880. i personally didn't like the K501. it's up to personal tastes but i dare say these 2 are both comfortable to wear. try listening to both.
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aaron-xp
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Dilemma? :P I'll probably go for the K501 though. It's rather similar to my tin/lead/(any other heavy metal) ears, but with a very substantial improvement from my current HQ1700.
I found the DT880 more analytical and slightly dry. Nice, but still, not too my liking as much as the K501. Also found the K501 slightly more "dynamic", if that's the correct word to be used.

How much is the K601, by the way? Forgot to ask Uncle Wilson... :P

PS: It seems that Ahdui has an MS2 and a K501... How does the K501 stack up against the MS2? Was rather impressed by the MS2 the last time I tried it, (can't really remember how it sounds, other than the clarity) though the price would be above budget. Just curious.
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cruise
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The Great One
MS2 IMO does well wit female vocals.. very detailed and bright.. though its above ur budget, but this pair doesnt need an amp to drive them up since it has a 32ohm impedane (correct me if im worng).. tat could save quite a sum on the amp if u dont happen to have one yet..

Oh, MS2 also paired up even better wit Go-Vibes V5.. Wilson recommended me to paired them up while i was auditioning.. Great stuffs?!
Portable Rig:
8G Ipod Nano + Hornet M + custom IC + UM2

"Life is not the amount of breaths you take. It's the moments that take your breath away"
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zonalblitz
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Hi Cruise, could you add to which source did you listen from? Thank you!
If impressing/being impressed is how it gets you around, forget it. It is not gonna happen.
The world of audiophile and fine living is not an Olympics.

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ahdui
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aux!
i used them both on ld2+ as its the best budget amp which can compare or even beat Gilmore Lite Amp in SQ from some reviewers.

MS2 basically gives you more fun listening to music. forwarding sound and the ends are not tight like the k701 and etc. As its 32ohms, it can be easily driven even w/o amp. any amp can satisfy u too but the Little Country does wonders on ms2 i must say!

k501 has a fantastic soundstage for its price and clairty was there.
also another great stuff to add into my collection. however ipairing it with an amp is tough as very lil amps can make k501 perform greattly.Gilmore Lite is voted the best amp to pair with k501 within the budget range. US$300+ iirc.
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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ayeosq
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aaron-xp
Oct 28 2006, 08:32 PM
Dilemma? :P I'll probably go for the K501 though. It's rather similar to my tin/lead/(any other heavy metal) ears, but with a very substantial improvement from my current HQ1700.
I found the DT880 more analytical and slightly dry. Nice, but still, not too my liking as much as the K501. Also found the K501 slightly more "dynamic", if that's the correct word to be used.

How much is the K601, by the way? Forgot to ask Uncle Wilson... :P

PS: It seems that Ahdui has an MS2 and a K501... How does the K501 stack up against the MS2? Was rather impressed by the MS2 the last time I tried it, (can't really remember how it sounds, other than the clarity) though the price would be above budget. Just curious.

ok...
you are listening to what gene???
cause i tried using 501 with go-vibe...
tried metal on that setuip...
the bass is totally very coarse...
but for my 701, i like its hard bass...
correct me if i am wrong...
i think for vocal, might be ok...
if drive by a tube amp...
need to drive with a smoothing amp...
seems like LDII work alright with the 501...
but its vocal...
Whole life nonsense...
Whole life Brutal Death Metal...
Whole life anime...
Whole Life HARDO GAY!!!
Whole life no plan...
Whole life spot US...
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ahdui
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aux!
FYI.

the ms2 and k501 are basically not for rock and stuffs lol.
But they do wonders in vocals,Jazz,Classical and maybe Pop/Ballad
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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cruise
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The Great One
wait!! tat was a month ago.. i cant really remember.. tot it might be PCDP cos i tot i rem bringing Olivia Ong's CDs..
Portable Rig:
8G Ipod Nano + Hornet M + custom IC + UM2

"Life is not the amount of breaths you take. It's the moments that take your breath away"
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ayeosq
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KING
ahdui
Oct 28 2006, 11:21 PM
FYI.

the ms2 and k501 are basically not for rock and stuffs lol.
But they do wonders in vocals,Jazz,Classical and maybe Pop/Ballad

agreed with ten kisses...
Whole life nonsense...
Whole life Brutal Death Metal...
Whole life anime...
Whole Life HARDO GAY!!!
Whole life no plan...
Whole life spot US...
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aaron-xp
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Boy
I don't really listen to rock or metal...

If:

Blues < ---------------------------> Heavy Metal

The furthest I go would be somewhere in the middle, probably soft-core rock.

I'm not really a bass-head, though I enjoy some decent bass slam once in a while, and really appreciate the "cleaness" of the K501...

Argh.... How much more would the K601 cost? Curious again.... Sigh. :P

In terms of genres, jazz and probably some pop-ballads are my favorite. Orchestra music is great too.

PS: Wouldn't that be a decent match to the K501's strengths?
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ahdui
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aux!
think k701 or k501 would be good, y nt try the beyer bt880
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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aaron-xp
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Tried the DT880 30 ohms version already. Found it decent, but rather analytical and dry. May be my source which is causing the problem though.
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ahdui
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aux!
from your taste of finding dt880 dry did u try ms2? its not so dry.
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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Fongalv
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What member?
haha I was about to recommend the dt880 just moments ago but ahdui beat me to it while im on the phone...

being a semi open(or semi closed) headphones, it might be taking the best advantages of both designs and thus suit your needs...I pair mine with a tube amp and it sounds quite wonderful to my ears...

edit: oh yah you would also need to bump your budget abit if you are to go for the dt880s...

Music, without life is lame...Life, without music is crippled...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rigs(outdated image):
32Gb S9 →SMicroIV → e500C → me
2200mAh H140(RB) → Grover S → SMacro3v6/Diablo → e500C → me
Philips CD850(circa '90s!) → 1694A → DA7.2x(TCXO) → Grover UR8 → SP MPX3 SLAM → '03 DT880 / DBE V3 → me
Bushguy @ Head-fi
 

Fongalv can have my firstborn in trade for his pair(of Darths)...

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ahdui
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aux!
OH YA! i missed out on an addition of a tube amp.
thing will be on a diff side. exclude ld2+ as ld2+ doesnt sounds tube at all, or rather it sounds solid state.
Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530
Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod)


Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks
Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb
Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze™ RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530
Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000
Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5



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cruise
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The Great One
DT880 30ohms?? its hitting the stores already??
Portable Rig:
8G Ipod Nano + Hornet M + custom IC + UM2

"Life is not the amount of breaths you take. It's the moments that take your breath away"
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Fongalv
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What member?
Cruise, keep a lookout for the "announcements" portion of this forum ;) ...

Music, without life is lame...Life, without music is crippled...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rigs(outdated image):
32Gb S9 →SMicroIV → e500C → me
2200mAh H140(RB) → Grover S → SMacro3v6/Diablo → e500C → me
Philips CD850(circa '90s!) → 1694A → DA7.2x(TCXO) → Grover UR8 → SP MPX3 SLAM → '03 DT880 / DBE V3 → me
Bushguy @ Head-fi
 

Fongalv can have my firstborn in trade for his pair(of Darths)...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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