Headphones again

I own all of the headphones you have mentioned (with the exception of the Grado 225 - I own the 325). All are worth auditioning. You might add to that list the AKG 240DF Vuk has been going on about (I plan to try some of these myself).

Which headphones you prefer will definitely come down to a question of taste. Until recently, I preferred the Sennheiser 600s to all of those on your list. However, since I bought some Beyer 990 Pros a few weeks ago, these have become my new favourites (acknowledging that they are a little slow and dark).

If you listen principally to rock, you might find the Grados to your taste. If you listen mainly to classical and jazz, the Sennheisers and Beyers are extremely good. The Audio-Technicas are competent, but not as good as the Sennheisers. (The old Audio-Technica ATH 911 Sovereigns were a different matter - they were superb.)

You should be able to hear most of these headphones, so I recommend you do so before you buy.

You can drive most headphones using a preamp output, and I gather that a supercap is able to provide this. Vuk is planning to do this, so he should be able to report on the results.

Ross

Definitely try and audition the Audio Technica ATH911. Harder to find than Sennheissers, but well worth it.

I've got a pair, the presentation is more "dark, atmospheric and brooding" compared with the "light and airy" presentation of the Sennies.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

All the advice offered so far is good ,but I have never looked back since I purchased some Grado RS2's.I know they are outside your budget [unless secondhand ones are available]however they are worth the plunge .I listen to them via a Headline and hi-cap and they are totally captivating.

You know what we think about the opinions of reviewers here...

Just kidding, I keep telling everyone to read that Listener article and find out there is a lot more to headphones than what Sennheiser understand.

BTW--what do you make of the 240DFs? They have been suggested to me over the AKGs you are recommending (and which Ross does not like). While I've got your attention, what about a speaker with SBL-like scale and dynamics in the $3500 area?

Vuk.

I am surprised at your commenst as Listener did not abide by source first and didn't bother to hicap their headline and were not using a 52 or a CDS 2 when they did this review. My take (since I know the HD 600s and grado line quite well from CDX/102/hicapnapsc all the way to the top) is that the senns are too revealing and show up the inferior source and pre while grados and beyers cover up the shortcomings with colorations of their own. Now, I haven't ried AKG and am perfectly willing to, but it is not fair to evaluate phones without the best electronics behind them

dave

I need a little bit of advice here about this subject.

I would like to thank all postees for your most helpful and welcome contributions.

So far - gratefully received, taken on board and digested.

It would be nice if Vuk would care to share his experiences rather than intercept those of others - but never mind.

How bout it Vuk?

Thanks again for your responses y'all

Best

P.

My tests have been with P9/82/2*Hicap and P9/52/Supercap, so there is no source problem here. My impressions of Sennheisers and AKGs also seem to correspond to those in the Listener review, which I often mention because many people are more inclined to believe what they say. Sorry that I have not repeated those impressions again--after two or three very recent headphone threads, I didn't want to bore people. Sennheisers are very wonderful headphones until one listens to AKG 240s (I have heard the old and new M series, but have ordered the DF), at which point it's like comparing B&W 802s to NBLs. That really sums it up nicely. Some people like B&W, I do not.

I can certainly understand disbelief and a reluctance to stear away from Sennheisers. 580s and 600s had me thinking it couldn't get any better and I only tried the relatively cheap AKGs because a friend of mine brought them to my house. I would probably have never gone out of my way otherwise. Shame on me. Shame on you.

Vuk.

The Grado RS2s have the reverse problem to the AKG 501s: they are thick, heavy and coloured. While it's always wrong to question someone's personal taste (unless it involves Enya, the Corrs or Sarah Brightman), I just cannot understand how anyone could possibly like the Grado RS1 and RS2s, they just sound so obviously awful and wrong. The 325s, which are much cheaper, are in my view clearly and obviously better in every respect. Chacun a son gout!

Ross

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Listener did not abide by source first

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How so?

I understand that you're upset that we didn't think as highly of your Sennheisers as you do. Do you also take issue with our judgement that the Headline is more musically satisfying than the Headroom Max and the Grado amp?

Any chance of you divulging your mainlined Supercap expeeriences?

It would be really nice if you could share this.

Reason I really need headphones BTW?

I'm wasting too much valuable listening time.

The Credos really do sound sublime with the extra input(curtailed waxing lyrical for everybodies sake). The bug is, I can't listen at the optimum ALL the time as i have to share my space every now and then so... headphones it has to be.

Can't wait

Nearly there now

Best P.

If you are in the market for a pair of headphones, try entry level phones from Stax.
Starting price is somewhere in the region of £450, which is for the phones and amp. They are connected to the 52, via the amp connection.
Ipersonally find these very revealing, together with the PRaT that all naim lovers crave.
My current Stax phones are for sale if you are interested, as I am upgrading.

Hope this helps

Trevor Impett NAP500 Aspirator

I agree with your observations regarding the Grados as muddy and colored. They sound great with low end electronics, covering up source deficiences like a warm blanket, but they just get in the way o fteh music at a higher level. Did you get teh Clou Jaspis 212 upgrade yet?

Vuk,

I'm perfectly willing to try some AKGs, but my question is were you using a hicapped headline or just the standard format. Also, has anyone ever heard a supercapped headline or are the differences lost on the littlest black box with a knob in the naim world?

Three months till I get my ACT 2s!!!!

dave

PS: One day I'll show up on your dorrstep with my Dome (Gilbert and Lewis from the progressive punk band Wire) collection. Then Enya and the Coors will sound wonderful in comparisson.—

I would prefer new ones however as my wife is buying me these things for Xmas because she really doesn't appreciate God Speeds Skinny Antennaes to Heaven at full belt thru the 135s and now i cant wait to hear it thru some cans so there we go - can't have everything in this life can we?

Thanks again for your offer anyhow.

Regards P.

I hope you find the phones you are looking for in super quick time; I have the same problem in that my wife and young children do not appreciate AC/DC through DBL's.

Let me know what phones you end up with, I am very interested

Regards

Trevor Impett

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Did you get teh Clou Jaspis 212 upgrade yet?

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No, and I'm now having second thoughts about it since the Beyer 990s have become my main headphones. If I return to using the Sennheisers I will reconsider.

Ross

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what do you make of the 240DFs?

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I haven't heard them so I can't offer any opinion. They're lower down in AKG's line than the K-501s, for whatever that's worth.

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what about a speaker with SBL-like scale and dynamics in the $3500 area?

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A used pair of Isobariks?

Hey, if you really want scale and dynamics you could try horn speakers!

Vuk.

P.S. Rob, I really like Briks, but I don't want to take the risk now that replacemnt drivers can no longer be secured.

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I would prefer new ones however as my wife is buying me these things for Xmas because she really doesn't appreciate God Speeds Skinny Antennaes to Heaven at full belt

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Has she no taste???

I've got Beyer DT931s. They were 180 pounds, and I think they're pretty good - but I must admit I haven't heard any other expensive ones.

So this doesn't really help much....

Phil

Great album that though.

Thanks for the input and your suggestion. I'm still recovering from the aftershock of a rather major upgrade and have no wish (read cannot currently afford!) to spend any more than i have to on securing and actually plugging in these headphones so all suggestions such as yours are quite welcome.

To anyone who may be wondering BTW

The Hicap formed part of my old 72/hi/180 set up and I would rather not have to use it to hear decent sounds through the cans if I can help it (I'm supposed to be selling that little lot as part of the wifey upgraditis placatement deal but hey... I have a rather cunning plan....:)!

Regards P.

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Ross likes headphones that I recommended better than his beloved Sennheisers.

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Vuk,

A gentle reminder that the world doesn't revolve around you. As I mentioned when we first started discussing these things, I had intended to buy some 990s for a long time, and had in fact rung Headroom to order them some months ago, when I was (stupidly) talked into buying the 931s instead. You merely reminded me of this. In any event, as I recall, it was your friend who recommended them, since you have never heard the 990s.

Ross

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A gentle reminder that the world doesn't revolve around you.

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Both Tannoy and Dynavector made products specifically for Vuk. Behold the stylish V routed into the front of the Churchills

And the big, honkin' V of the XV-1

Joe