Headphones

EMRE,....nice ????????, I have heard alot of AK SP1000,but never listen to it.We have no AK-dealers here in Sweden????.

A guy sold an AK Kann two weeks ago here in Sweden,.....I phone'd him,but he has already sold it.....to a guy in England ????.

I have had aktive top-spec system since around 1991,but sometimes when I listen to my headphone-system, I can say to myself.....this is really good. Different to my main system,but really,really good. Have you the same feeling sometimes❓ 

By the way,B&W P5 I have never heard.

/Peder ???? 

Emre posted:

...I still have bwp5, the first batch maybe, i dont ilke them very much...

I didn't much go for their performance either, however the P7 was much, much better and manages to do a great job of blocking out in-cabin aircraft noise without having to resort to noise cancelling (the effects of which - on the Bose nc phones I've used - I find impressive but rather annoying when playing back music).

Richard Dane posted:

The Hifiman 400i is an excellent headphone and ridiculously good value too right now. Fairly easy to drive too so could work well on the HP amp of the Supernait.

Only issue I have with them is that the lead is a bit short and a bit stiff. However it is easily changeable, which is a nice feature.

oh, and I prefer them with the angled ear pads the “wrong” way around...

Could someone recommend a good quality extended cable for these ?

Say 3.5 mtr or so.

Not anything fancy voodoo, just ordinary good standard cable which does not alter performance to the worse

Perol posted:

Richard Dane posted:

The Hifiman 400i is an excellent headphone and ridiculously good value too right now. Fairly easy to drive too so could work well on the HP amp of the Supernait.

Only issue I have with them is that the lead is a bit short and a bit stiff. However it is easily changeable, which is a nice feature.

oh, and I prefer them with the angled ear pads the “wrong” way around...

Could someone recommend a good quality extended cable for these ?

Say 3.5 mtr or so.

Not anything fancy voodoo, just ordinary good standard cable which does not alter performance to the worse

Check yinyoo cables form AliExpress, good Quality best price...

I got a decently built 3m  extension cable from Maplin a month or so ago....it's pretty much covered in the same material as the hifi man he400i cable....and works just fine...I think it was around £15 -£16...you might get a deal on it with the companies imminent demise.

With my Focal Utopia headphones I'm using a 5 foot length of Danacable, model Lazuli Reference.  They sound great.  I see on their website that they're also available for HifiMan headphones.

Quick update, I have purchased the Hugo 2 dac/Headphone amp, didn't need to upgrade the headphones, I have it fully intergrated to my SN2 & CD5XS, with Cord interconnects, so I now have a significant Cd upgrade, and my Sennheiser 595's are totally rejuvenated, fabulous sound, the Hugo 2 has fullfilled two objectives in one, now that's a result, so thankyou for your comments.  Regards.

Richard Dane posted:

I use the Sennheiser HD600s at home on my Ponoplayer (lovely!), either Sennheiser PX100 or B&W P7s on the move with either a Ponoplayer, iPod 5G or AK70 (the little PX100s fold up really small into a dinky hard case which is perfect when travelling really light), and Hifiman HE-400i headphones on my MacBook Pro+Dragonfly - in fact, I'm using them right now as I type.  They're comfy, sound really good, and they're inexpensive.  However, that doesn't stop me from thinking I'd like to try a pair of Focal's Elear or Clear Headphones. Eek!

HI Richard

Long time - no talk....

We have done HIFIMAN & FOCAL Headphones together the last two years - trust me, when I say that there are no comparison between the HE-400 and the Elear or Clear from Focal - which also is indicated by the price...both sound and build quality are in a different league on the FOCAL -  but You are right when you say that the HE-400 - and other HIFIMAN are cheap right now - in fact they often sell cheap directly from their own website. Just remember that if bought on their website (USA based) they need to go back to USA for service etc.

Hi Peter, I'm well thanks. Yup, it's been too long...

As for the Hifiman HE-400is, yes, no way would they compete with the Focal's, I'm sure. The Hifimans are good for the money though (a small fraction of the cost of the Focals), work well in the office on my MacBook pro + Dragonfly, and inexpensive enough that I don't feel the need to treat them too reverently.  Their biggest weakness is probably the build of the yokes, which is plastic, and rather brittle plastic at that.  They're fine at the moment, but I can see them breaking at some point in the future. I was bought mine as a present - purchased in the UK, so I would assume they are covered under UK warranty for now. 

It's a shame that the HD600s don't work so well on the MacBook Pro+ Dragonfly.  However, the 600s are a heavenly match with the Ponoplayers.  I've had my 600s since before the turn of the new millennium, and they still look pretty much like new, so build and longevity are top notch here.

I did briefly get to hold and take a brief listen to the Focal Elear and Utopias a year ago at the Acoustic show. As you say, they are in a different league for build and materials.  I'm very much looking forward to hearing the Focal Clears. 

Any one looking to add an extention cable to get more reach if your doing your listening more than 3m away from your source, should check amazon out, they are selling 2m extention lengths with adapter fitted, it is  actually Microphone cable, I purchased mine on the recommendation from Sennheiser them selfs, I had the cable checked out at a very well known retailers, and yes, it turned out to be high quality 2m shielded cable for £10, Awesome, as our American cousins would say.....