Question Buying (In my opinion) Expensive Headphones.

Jago Oswell

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As an unexperienced buyer of headphones and audio equipment I have decided to buy a pair of high end headphones and I could use some advice. The reason is i'm not able to enjoy music as much with cheaper inaccurate sounding headphones after trying my friend's Shure SRH1540 Closed-Back headphones.

I listen to a wide variety of music from metal to classical to edm so i'm not sure if these are good for all music as I only had a few minutes with them. I had enough time with the headphones to appreciate the sound and comfort of them, but it was while listening to music that I wouldn't normally choose to listen to so i'm not certain they would be suited for my taste.

I've also heard good things about the SRH 1840 Open-Back headphones but as I've never tried Open-Back headphones before I'm not sure I'd like them. I would be using these for on the go and home listening so from what I've heard they might not be suited for that but I would really appreciate some input from people experienced in this area. Also if anyone could recommend an amp suited for these headphones because I do not have a clue about them. (Would be listening via iPhone Xs and Macbook Pro)

Thank You!
 
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chris661

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Some thoughts:

- I like my Shure SRH840s, and the 1540s are apparently a good upgrade. I'm not surprised you liked them, and IMO they wouldn't be a bad purchase at all.

- IMO, the "need" for headphone amps is seriously over-rated around here. Headphones, by nature, are pretty easy to "drive". Just as speakers make a much larger difference than amplifiers in a HiFi system, headphones make a much bigger difference than the amp that's driving them. The only time I'd think "man, I really need a headphone amp here" is if the device I was using couldn't get the headphones loud enough, due to lack of current delivery.

- For out-and-about use, you might want to consider wireless headphones. They have some advantages, like having amps built-in. You could also have active noise cancellation, which can really improve the musical experience.

- I wouldn't ever use open-backed headphones out-and-about. As much sound escapes from them as hits your ears, which isn't a fun experience for the people around you. They also allow a lot of background noise in.

- I've lived with my Bose 700 series headphones for a while, and would strongly recommend them for consideration: https://forums.whathifi.com/threads/bose-700-headphones-a-review.112975/

Hope that's useful.
Chris
 
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- IMO, the "need" for headphone amps is seriously over-rated around here. Headphones, by nature, are pretty easy to "drive". Just as speakers make a much larger difference than amplifiers in a HiFi system, headphones make a much bigger difference than the amp that's driving them. The only time I'd think "man, I really need a headphone amp here" is if the device I was using couldn't get the headphones loud enough, due to lack of current delivery.

It depends on what headphones. Just like with speakers some are good enough that you can fine tune the sound with a good amp and less so with a DAC. You wouldn't pair a $99 set of speakers with a $1000 amp and expect to hear a difference. Just like you wouldn't spend $99 on an amp for $1000 speakers.

I have yet to hear a pair of noise cancelling headphones that I'd consider mid-fi much less hi-fi. Do some A-B comparison listening with those Bose vs something like a DT1990 Pro plugged into a good amp. Then do the same with a Focal Clear or an Audeze LCD-X. ;)

The Shure 1540s and 1840s are both quite well reviewed. I haven't heard either to recommend for or against. Open back headphones *generally* have a wider soundstage and better separation. However if you're going to be using them in public they do leak sound and let outside sound in.
 

chris661

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FWIW, I'd be much more likely to spend £99 on an amp (though I'd certainly be looking for used gear for that price) and £1000 on the speakers. The speakers really do make the biggest difference. My ideal split would probably be more like 80:20, though.

With regards to headphones, I'm certain the Bose 700 headphones can be beat for fidelity, and I'm also fairly certain that the headphones you've mentioned would manage that. Certainly the ones that cost over £1000 per set.
That shouldn't be surprising, though: the Bose headphones pack in bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation, DSP, and a touch panel for music control. There's more stuff in there, so of course they might not keep up with the headphones that cost more and do less.

However, the Bose 700s are still some of the best headphones I've tried. The detail and separation is excellent, and the tonal balance is spot-on. There's a reason I recommend these, and it's because I really do think they're a very good piece of kit.

I don't always like Bose stuff - I consider their home-theatre stuff to be pretty universally terrible - but they've done well on this one.

I'd gently suggest that you try listening to them before dismissing them out-of-hand.

Chris
 
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The speakers really do make the biggest difference.
I totally agree with that. Same with headphones.

However, the Bose 700s are still some of the best headphones I've tried. The detail and separation is excellent, and the tonal balance is spot-on. There's a reason I recommend these, and it's because I really do think they're a very good piece of kit.

I don't always like Bose stuff - I consider their home-theatre stuff to be pretty universally terrible - but they've done well on this one.

I'd gently suggest that you try listening to them before dismissing them out-of-hand.

I've heard the QC35s and as I understand it they use the same drivers and are almost identical in sound. Maybe the 700s have a better battery or more noise cancelling modes but the main complaint about the 700s that I've read is that sound quality wise, they're identical to the QC35s and they cost more. They're OK. Even enjoyable. But as you say they pack a bunch in there for that price and the sound quality just doesn't compete with cheaper headphones that are just headphones.

I owned Bose 201 and 301 speakers back in the early 90s. I thought they were good at the time. I never liked their little home theater cube things though. What's the saying? No replacement for displacement? :p

Heck man you're a sound engineer and know more about sound than I ever will. But I've spent the last 12 years or so playing with some pretty good headphones. If I liked them I generally kept them. If I didn't they got sold or returned. Maybe it's just made me a headphone snob. But I didn't mean to come across like that.
 

chris661

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Sounds like you're far more into headphones than me!

I'm happy to bow to your knowledge of high-end headphones - it's not something I've investigated much. My selection are as follows:
- 2x Shure SRH840
- SRH1440
- Bose 700

Which probably gives you an idea of where I am in the headphone world. FWIW, my headphone amp is typically whatever's built into a Behringer UMC202HD.

I'm certain that you're right in saying that other headphones will sound better than the Bose 700s. However, the original poster mentioned SRH1540s (price indicator) and some applications that narrow things down a bit, and I think the Bose 700s are a good fit here.

FWIW, I only got a quick comparison between the QC35s and the 700s, but found the 700s to be better balanced. Might be some tweaks to the DSP in there, if the drivers are shared.

Chris
 
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I have not. In fact they'd escaped my radar entirely and I had to google them. The sound reviews all seem very positive. BUT, after seeing them it's not something I'd ever buy. They're over ear headphones with IEM type inserts? They just don't look comfortable to me at all.

If I was going to spend $400ish on wireless bluetooth headphones it would be the Drop X Panda's. They took the planar drivers from the Oppo PM3's and integrated a THX amp circuit. There are a few amps that match the THX offerings now but they're basically as clean as you can get. A wire with gain. No coloration.


For a while Drop ( Massdrop they changed the name ) had an EU store with VAT included in the pricing but they closed it. Which is a shame because they have some amazing collaborations that generally sound better than original offerings and are cheaper. However quite a few of those things are made in Europe. Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, AKG, Focal ect. and due to whatever trade agreements and taxes those products ended up WAY overpriced in Europe. Hopefully one day they'll try it again.
 

EricLeRouge

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I have yet to hear a pair of noise cancelling headphones that I'd consider mid-fi much less hi-fi.

I used to think the same, until I tried (and bought) the Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones, truly a game changer for me.

I have other headphones (Sennheiser HD600, 650) and amps (Shure, Musical Fidelity), which I don't use anymore since I bought the XM3.
 
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I used to think the same, until I tried (and bought) the Sony WH-1000XM3 wireless headphones, truly a game changer for me.

I have other headphones (Sennheiser HD600, 650) and amps (Shure, Musical Fidelity), which I don't use anymore since I bought the XM3.

Are you EQ'ing them? I think the Sony's are better than the QC35 but they're all warm and muddy mid bass to my ear. The Sennheiser's are midrange specialists and I can see them not being for everyone. Frankly they're both kind of boring if you like sparkle and energy up top or bass impact. I like the 600 more than the 650 but they're more genre specialists than headphones that work with everything. I call the 650s my Dire Straits headphones. :p But what the Sennheiser's do better than just about any other headphone is timbre. They are just dead on for accuracy and I love that. To me that's Hi-Fi.
 

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