Headphones!

[Tyler]

I'm a headphone guy, I've bought several pairs during the last couple years. It's mainly what I listen to music on, I have a pair at home and at work.

At work I've got a pair of Sony MDR-V700 cans. At home I've got a pair of Grado SR-80 cans.

The Sony's are my favorite for long listening sessions (especially at work). Before I bought the Sony cans I picked up a pair of Sennheisers (can't remember the particular model). I hated the Sennheisers (which cost more than my Sony) and invested in Grado.

The Grado's sound is excellent. Their not as comfortable as the Sony headphones but they're arguably the best headphone's I've ever listened to.

Who else here shares my headphone addiction?

[rjp]

AKG

best headphones i ever had.

renny

[petzi]

I prefer electrostatic headphones, Stax Lambda Signature is currently the best in the market. It sounds best with the dedicated Stax amp.

[Mick Jones]

Sometimes, when I feel sorry for my neighbours, I use headphones. My Sennheiser Hd600s sound pretty good, if a little too 'in the head' to ever replace good loudspeakers.

[Graham Start]

I've got Fostex T-20s (which I've had for several years) and Sony MDR-7506s, which I bought last year. I use them for both making my own music (apartment life *sigh*) and audio restoration. I bought the 7506s on the advice of several other people, who told me that they are now the standard reference headphones.

Well... I guess they're the standard because they're the headphone equivalent of NS-10s -- bright and HARSH. I know headphones basically cannot have a flat frequency response, but I find the T-20s much better in terms of tonality. However, the 7506s are useful for audio restoration in that by being so bright, any flaw (system noise, minor clicks, etc.) is glaringly obvious. But I cannot listen to music on them for long periods of time. I recently got a needle drop of a hi-hat-heavy disco album from a friend who uses an Audio-Technica OC-9 cartridge. *OW!!* *OW!!* *OW!!* *OW!!* *OW!!*

Fortunately I have my setup going through my old Mackie 1604... cut the treble by 6db and it's still bright.

[BradOlson]

BTW, Mackie is still in business today and we at NorthernLightFX do carry that line of product.

[Dan C]

The headphone section in my vintage tube Fisher is like buttah!
I don't use phones much anymore, they're bad for the ears and mine have had too much pressure over the years.
Only so often to I use my Grado SR-60's with the Fisher. It's a lovely combo, but I prefer listening through the Tannoys whenever possible.

Dan C

[indy mike]

I've got those Grado 80's, too - for the dough they're a swell buy - I just wish they were a little more comfy to wear...

[MagicAlex]

I have Sennheiser 580s and am happy as a lark. I must try some Grados first chance I get.

[Tyler]

Originally posted by MagicAlex
I have Sennheiser 580s and am happy as a lark. I must try some Grados first chance I get.

Grado's are fab, sound great with or withour a headphone Amp.

[Casino]

Grado be de best. Got the SR125 myself...

[JohnG]

Love both my Grado SR60's and Senn 580's.

[Claus]

The best headphones... in my memories are Stax (but no comfort to my ears), Sennheiser and AKG. I bought the AKG K1000 a couple years ago... it's the best what I've heard...

[petzi]

Originally posted by Claus
I bought the AKG K1000 a couple years ago... it's the best what I've heard...

That's an outstandig headphone. I have heard of people who use it while sitting next to a subwoofer in order to get the feeling of bass...

[Claus]

Originally posted by petzi


That's an outstandig headphone. I have heard of people who use it while sitting next to a subwoofer in order to get the feeling of bass...

I have no problems with the bass... a "closed" heaphones brings a better bass performance, but I do prefer the transparency of the AKG system...

[Ron Stone]

Sennheisser 600s and an Musical Fidelity X-Cans headphone amplifier. I've been debating wheter to buy one of the dedicated cable upgrades made for this very popular headphone.

I find the Sennheissers very comfortable and lightweight, with just the right tension. Lots of other 'phones felt like vises, or were so twitchy turning my head would cause one side to slip. And I could never go back to closed-end 'phones, which feel hot and claustrophobic.

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by Ron Stone
Sennheisser 600s and an Musical Fidelity X-Cans headphone amplifier. I've been debating wheter to buy one of the dedicated cable upgrades made for this very popular headphone.

I find the Sennheissers very comfortable and lightweight, with just the right tension. Lots of other 'phones felt like vises, or were so twitchy turning my head would cause one side to slip. And I could never go back to closed-end 'phones, which feel hot and claustrophobic.

I use this combination since my pre-amp has no headphone amp with the Cardas cable upgrade, it is very sweet (good price on the combo from Music Direct if anyone is interested). I agree with you on how they fit, I wear glasses and they are very comfortable (have some older AKG's that are too tight)

My dream system would have the electrostatic headphones from Sennheisser (the Orpheus, see the link) that come with the dedicated tube headphone amp that is so elegant looking. It is only $15K. Claus, have you ever heard it?

http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm_eng.nsf/root/products_headphones_homeuse_hifisystems_ 03074

[petzi]

I am not Claus...

[jkerr]

I love my Grados. I've got the SR-60 and the RS-1. I do agree they aren't the most comfortable but that is just as well since I shouldn't over use them! A couple hours at a time at the most. Plus they sound great at low volumes. One thing is, I only like them in a quiet setting. If its noisy, I don't like to turn them up to compensate.

I used to listen my RS-1's a lot. It did make me want to put together a much better system. So now they don't get used as much anymore. The SR-60's I use at work mostly or on vacation. They work perfectly with my Archos mp3 player. The SR-60's are such a great value.

[Tony Plachy]

Originally posted by petzi
I am not Claus...

petzi, sorry I forgot about you, have you ever had the chance to compare the Orpheus to the Stax?

[John Buchanan]

I'm now running 3 pairs of headphones - Jecklin Float Electrostatics powered by an old cheap Rotel integrated amp (unbelievable dynamics, rolled in the bottom end and a little bright - some of this may be due to the Rotel), Stax Sigmas (better bottom end, slightly rolled top end) and Stax Lambda Nova Signatures (unbelievable bottom end (!!), no edge to the top end, dynamics OK - not in the Jecklin class) both of the latter through a great overlooked Stax enegiser - the Stax SRM 1 Mk 2 Pro.
The kids call the Jecklins "The Darths" and all laugh when I've got them on (one must suffer the slings and arrows to listen well) and the Stax Sigmas are termed "The Barbecues"

[Kayaker]

I also have the Sennheisser 600s and the Sugden Headmaster Headphone Amp. I love this combination. Very detailed and very comfortable for hours of listining. I am also thinking about the Cardas cable upgrade.
Good information on headphone is at
http://headwize2.powerpill.org/index.htm

[Mattb]

I have had great luck with Grado SR325's.

[sgraham]

I understand that the percieved response of headphones can vary from one individual to the next. I listened to my friend's Stax electrostats and hated them. To me they sounded very weird indeed.

I have Sony MDR-V6 and Sennheiser HD-580 (which I took a while to warm up to (different freq. response, which I perceive as not as flat as the Sonys) but now listen to for pleasure often).

[Jason Brown]

I have a pair of Sony MDR-V6s that I used to wear all the time when I was living with family, roommates, or a spouse, but They've become pretty ratty over the past 15 or so years, so now I just use them with my bass when I'm traveling. I bought a pair of their replacements, the MDR-V600, but I didn't like them as well as the V6s, so they've stayed in the bag.

I got serious a couple of years ago and got the Grado SR-325s because they seemed to be less reliant on dedicated amplification than the Sennheisers (and with 4 CD players at the time, I wasn't about to dink around with a headphone amp), but they were way too harsh plugged into my then Yamaha receiver without turning the bass way up, so I'd pretty much given up on them.

Now, with a warmer receiver, and with only one (and a much better one) CD player, I'm going to have to break out the Grados again and see how they are now. They'll probably pass the test now, and I may be interested in a headphone amp now too.