Headphones questions

It looks like you're just in time for the Festival of Sound in London at the end of this month.  I think there's an attached "Headroom" section too where you can see and audition lots of headphones, headphone amps etc..

Maybe worth getting in touch with HiFi Lounge, who have a dedicated headphone shop with a wide selection. I’ve found them to be helpful in the past. 

re. Q2 - there are lots of cans with detachable cables (therefore upgradeable to longer lengths).

Before jumping in with an expensive option first job is to ask your self will really use them. I have a Sennheiser hd700 and mojo but I think I use them once in a blue moon.

Maybe consider a used option at a cheaper price and assess from there.

Gary

At that price range there is a lot on offer but you really need to do some listening head phones sound is a very personal thing for sound and fit! Re 1, almost depending on the volume. re 2, Rega ear, Arcam rHead or the Pro-ject head box S2 are woth a listen, with a QED cable to get it close to you listening place. Try to listen to Fostex, Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic in the £400-500 range. Also worth considering if you need noise cancelling if there is background noise is Sony.

I just spent £700 on some beyer amiron homes and a (second hand) chord mojo. I'm very happy and I think they'll get a lot of use as a lot of my listening time is late at night when enjoyable volumes through my speakers make the family grumpy! 

+1 to both Richard & Chrissu's suggestions - HiFilounge have a great selection across price ranges. You will need to give yourself some time to listen though... Paul & Wendy are great; they will most definitely listen to your requirements, suggest options and then leave you to assess in your own time. 

Thanks for all the replies - very helpful. I like the HiFi Lounge suggestion but they are a bit of distance from me

I am going to try to go to the show in Hammersmith next week, and see how I get on there first.

Can wireless headphones be a successful option, or are wired still best ?

Thanks

???? AL9315,...Wired.

/Peder???? 

al9315 posted:

Thinking about perhaps getting a pair of headphones to extend listening times !

1) Are closed back headphones silent to other people in the same room?

2) I would wish the cable(s) to extend to up to 3 m from back of pre-amp to chair, is this possible, or are short cable runs desirable - I imagine headphones come     with a fixed length cable say 1.5m - so I would have to have a cable from - pre-amp to headphone amp 1.5m ?

Reading a few threads a little hwile ago on here, it appears the Rega rHead is good value, and someone I think bought a pair of Quad ERA headphones recently.

I do not have a fixed budget in mind, but perhaps £500 - £700 is feasible.

Was thinking of waiting until Hi-Fi show next Feb and trying some there, but always a lot of distractions.

I do not currently have a dealer, but would consider one, if I knew they had a selection to try from, would be nice to have a shortlist.

Any ideas most welcome - thanks

 

Lots of choices within your budget

Get a good dedicated amp, something like Violectric or Lake People (related) and try some AKG, Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic cans

So many to choose, my experience with K701 or K550/III, DT 250 or 880, HD600 etc..they all are great below the €300 point

Trying yourself is essential, both for comfort and if you want closed or open, above is just an appetizer - much more out there

PaulM160 posted:

+1 to both Richard & Chrissu's suggestions - HiFilounge have a great selection across price ranges. You will need to give yourself some time to listen though... Paul & Wendy are great; they will most definitely listen to your requirements, suggest options and then leave you to assess in your own time. 

Wow - that's quite a place. Could be dangerous for the wallet 

yes indeed.....there is no such thing as just a casual visit I have found.....easier to hide the car keys

To answer your first question:

No - closed back headphones will not be silent to the other people in the room. Generally there tends to be quite a lot of of sound ‘bleed’ into the room.