Headphone Corner

[Jasonovich]

Someone quoted on another thread I'm the Darth Vader of the headphones wasn't meant as a compliment, but it's pretty cool. Luke Skywalker I'm your F'ath Pha - now say it in a Dutch accent. Oh behave.

Anyway, I understand there have been other headphone threads but let's start one up, kind of a free reign for anyone just want to talk about headphones or thinking of buying a new pair.



Something I picked up on the Adams website, yes they're doing headphone and these are enclosed design that have port holes on left and right like the one's you find on speakers but these are meshed and sit on top of the rim frame. One reviewer commented they can fill the gush of air coming out. A bit like me, lot of air coming out from all places 🤣

It's an interesting feature, I can't recall any headphone manufacturer adopting the same or something similar. I wonder if this improves the sound quality of enclosed designed headphones? There are some reviews popping up on YouTube, nice to have the feedback.

View: https://youtu.be/qeF-lbw6ckY?si=zaVED0vTBtS8yPyW

 

[Navanski]

So what is it about headphones you want to talk about? Why start a new section?

I have a pair of Monoprice M560 planar headphones. They have a wooden back which is attached via strong magnets. This back can be removed meaning that they can be used a closed or open headphones.
As they are they're only reasonable as open headphones, when closed they sound boxy and restricted. However adding a thick layer of felt to the inside of the covers seems to provide the best of both the open and closed options.
Not exactly the same as the vents on the Adams headphones but there you are.
Incidentally, I would be really concerned if there was sufficient airflow that it could be felt. Eardrums are small and fragile.

 

[camcroft]

I have the Monoprice Monolith M565C and I think that they are brilliant although I have only used them for desktop use. I use them in balanced mode. You will see in my signiture that I also have AT headphones but they can't touch the Monoprice ones.

 

[Jasonovich]

So what is it about headphones you want to talk about? Why start a new section?

Thanks for asking. It's just an open forum.
I had it in mind, to have this in place where people can discuss anything about headphones.
No constraints. Use this thread as a basis for knowledge sharing or to give example if someone is looking to purchase high ohms tube head amp, what headphones work best? This could serve as a basis for guidance.
Anything relating to ownership of headphones.
No parameters, no pressure.
I leave it open for anyone to contribute, should they so wish.
If there's no traction, that's fine. Hopefully it will have some purpose or sink like a lead balloon.😄

 

[camcroft]

Thanks for asking. It's just an open forum.
I had it in mind, to have this in place where people can discuss anything about headphones.
No constraints. Use this thread as a basis for knowledge sharing or to give example if someone is looking to purchase high ohms tube head amp, what headphones work best? This could serve as a basis for guidance.
Anything relating to ownership of headphones.
No parameters, no pressure.
I leave it open for anyone to contribute, should they so wish.
If there's no traction, that's fine. Hopefully it will have some purpose or sink like a lead balloon.😄

I wouldn't be surprised if this gets moved into the Headphone section.

 

[Jasonovich]

I have the Monoprice Monolith M565C and I think that they are brilliant although I have only used them for desktop use. I use them in balanced mode. You will see in my signiture that I also have AT headphones but that can't touch the Monoprice ones.

Thanks for pitching the first marble 👍
Yeah these look pretty meaty on the ears.
Are these planar magnets?

 

[Jasonovich]

I wouldn't be surprised if this gets moved into the Headphone section.

Yeah I think it's likely.

 

[camcroft]

Thanks for pitching the first marble 👍
Yeah these look pretty meaty on the ears.
Are these planar magnets?

Yes they are. I will be moving with you to the Dark Side ( Headphone section )

 

[Jasonovich]

Yes they are. I will be moving with you to the Dark Side ( Headphone section )

The. jedi is strong within you.
We shall prevail young Luke. 😊

 

[Jasonovich]

So what is it about headphones you want to talk about? Why start a new section?

I have a pair of Monoprice M560 planar headphones. They have a wooden back which is attached via strong magnets. This back can be removed meaning that they can be used a closed or open headphones.
As they are they're only reasonable as open headphones, when closed they sound boxy and restricted. However adding a thick layer of felt to the inside of the covers seems to provide the best of both the open and closed options.
Not exactly the same as the vents on the Adams headphones but there you are.
Incidentally, I would be really concerned if there was enough sufficient airflow that it could be felt. Eardrums are small and fragile.

So what is it about headphones you want to talk about? Why start a new section?

I have a pair of Monoprice M560 planar headphones. They have a wooden back which is attached via strong magnets. This back can be removed meaning that they can be used a closed or open headphones.
As they are they're only reasonable as open headphones, when closed they sound boxy and restricted. However adding a thick layer of felt to the inside of the covers seems to provide the best of both the open and closed options.
Not exactly the same as the vents on the Adams headphones but there you are.
Incidentally, I would be really concerned if there was enough sufficient airflow that it could be felt. Eardrums are small and fragile.

I think the air from the little vents on the Adams are discharged outwards.
I hear you, you need to look after those ear drums!
I was concerned, it so easy to drum up the volume. I replaced my earplugs for the FiiOs, these I felt were less likely to cause damage to my ear drums.

Really neat feature from Monoprice giving you an option to select closed or open.
I like the felt idea, extra damping can work well. I suspect with the Hifimans probably not a good idea, there's no easy way to dismantle it.
My old Focal Elegia headphone I sold on eBay recently, is a closed design and little sad we had to part company.
It sounds so much like open cans, I had to check the faux perforated holes weren't really open!
The low ohms weren't ideal for my head tube amp. These were replaced with Beyerdynamic Amiron 250 ohms cans, worthy substitute.
They say never use planars with tubes but the Hifimans, surprisingly work well with my tube amp. I think the low sensitivity 83db on Hifimans counters this.
I have to turn the volume to three o'clock to get sensible volume on the Hifimans but works grand without distortion.

 

[Jasonovich]

I was looking again on the Hifiman special deals, I am tempted by the Ananda Stealth Planar headphones, these normally priced £1K new, these refurbished cans are selling for £259. I don't need them, I don't need them...keep saying that 🙂

If you're looking for a good headphone deal here's the link

ANANDA-Stealth Magnet (refurbished)

<p><strong style="color: #0000ff;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Only available in the US, Canada, UK and EU countries. Some units that are being shipped from our EU warehouse will be packaged in a pleather box, which previously serves as the pack

store.hifiman.com

 

[Jasonovich]

Oh Jesus I have to stay away from their sites, oh here's another link for open box bargains.

Still if you're in the game, make sure you remember my name. I thought that was good, it rhymes doesn't it 😆

Open Box

Default Description

store.hifiman.com

 

[Jasonovich]

I can definitely vouch for the Sorvek tube which is really a relabelled winged Svetlana (dating back to 1979), massive improvement on the generic 6N5P. Using converter for 6N2, I was also very pleased with the results from Psvane Art Series 6LS7. I'm getting dead silence from these tubes.

This tube rolling can be a deep rabbit hole, you need to know when you're done otherwise you can go deeper and deeper and yes I'm done with the tube rolling tinkering, let's enjoy the music!

After tube rolling

.Before tube rolling - original supplied.

 

[Jasonovich]

These FiiO's FT1s are a steal! I got these for my commuting to London, these don't sound like £130 headphones.
Great sound, real wood and beautifully made.

View: https://youtu.be/_SAws5hhWPU?si=feQkve5SPbrp57sc

 

[Jasonovich]

Fosi Planar headphones for only £599, this will worry Hifiman! The quality looks pretty top notch also.

Check out Lachlan's video.

View: https://youtu.be/HHMsfRMnraU?si=0vPaNTh_kghQibiN

 

[Jasonovich]

Headphone meltdown?
We're normally homed in on the positive headphone reviews but below irrelevant article goes against the norm.
See 🔗 link 🙂
Yes wholly agree, Dr. Beats and Apple headphones, you pay the additional fashion tax and coolness is no substitute for sound quality but some of those headphones that were lambasted by the reviewer came as a complete surprise, such as the highly praised 600 series Sennheisers or the Audeze planar magnets.
Does he have a point or has the heatwave blown his AI fuse?

15 Headphones Everyone Raves About but Actually Kinda Suck, According to Audiophiles | Headphonesty https://share.google/oRonrGUvjfFmwqTjY

 

[Jasonovich]

Fosi is on a roll. I really like the look of these.
There's no way I can buy them now, my ABS sensor on my car has packed up, this is going to hurt my pocket!
Still I thought I share, if you're looking for a quality Planar Magnets headphone.

View: https://youtu.be/BAzr_5Ye6dA?si=F_HzZJs6eciWhSq_

 

[Jasonovich]

I had email confirmation last Friday from Audio Affairs, my Hifiman HE1000 V2 Stealth planars open boxed I ordered was sold but they will replace with another, an unopened box at no extra costs.

What a sterling dealer, great customer service which you'll not find on AliExpress!

 

[Jasonovich]

I thought I mention the new kid on the block Dunu Arashi, see Passion for Sound review.

I may be wrong but it's a shame traditional brands like Sennheiser, Beyer, Focal and Audio-Technica; don't do Planars.

View: https://youtu.be/2zr2E0SIRbU?si=1BV6qBFSUOqCe3YV

 

[RTHerringbone]

Headphones are my next obvious upgrade and having listened through my current 'phones the other night, I was reminded how nice and intimate the experience is, having been listening "out loud" through the speakers for months.

I currently use an inherited set of Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b which are getting on a bit (at least fifteen years old, but the wear and tear was nothing some replacement ear pads didn't resolve) and most importantly, they're closed-back, noise cancelling cans which feel very enclosed and restrictive sonically.

My budget does tend to be a movable feast but I'd like to set a £500 limit unless something exceptional exists within reasonable distance of that. What I want is detail and a proper feeling of the sound-stage, as my room arrangement denies me that, so I'd like to be able to hear what things "should sound and feel like". I listen to most genres of music but am not bass-hungry.

I've no brand biases and frankly don't know what to look for. My instinct is open-backed, over-ear (no issues about the sound bleeding out) and no noise cancelling. I've no idea of the pros and cons of planar versus non-planar so again, no biases there either. I don't want to get a headphone amp; this will go straight into my existing amp's headphone socket.

Any suggestions and general appraisals of open vs. closed, noise-cancelling vs. not (I feel this is moot here? Given my instinctive expectation that I need open-backed), and planar vs. non-planar are welcome.

 

[Jasonovich]

Headphones are my next obvious upgrade and having listened through my current 'phones the other night, I was reminded how nice and intimate the experience is, having been listening "out loud" through the speakers for months.

I currently use an inherited set of Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b which are getting on a bit (at least fifteen years old, but the wear and tear was nothing some replacement ear pads didn't resolve) and most importantly, they're closed-back, noise cancelling cans which feel very enclosed and restrictive sonically.

My budget does tend to be a movable feast but I'd like to set a £500 limit unless something exceptional exists within reasonable distance of that. What I want is detail and a proper feeling of the sound-stage, as my room arrangement denies me that, so I'd like to be able to hear what things "should sound and feel like". I listen to most genres of music but am not bass-hungry.

I've no brand biases and frankly don't know what to look for. My instinct is open-backed, over-ear (no issues about the sound bleeding out) and no noise cancelling. I've no idea of the pros and cons of planar versus non-planar so again, no biases there either. I don't want to get a headphone amp; this will go straight into my existing amp's headphone socket.

Any suggestions and general appraisals of open vs. closed, noise-cancelling vs. not (I feel this is moot here? Given my instinctive expectation that I need open-backed), and planar vs. non-planar are welcome.

Good to hear your thoughts, I've been hogging this thread and more people joining will give a better balance of opinions.

Planars, dynamics, electro-stats and ribbons all complete for the mindshare. Planars in my opinion give you the best detail.

I'm anxiously waiting for my Hexi's (He1000V2 Stealth), the originals when they first launched in 2018 cost £2.7K and I'm getting a pair (new) for £870!

If planars have you interested so much deals to be had, there are so many good brands other than Hifiman's. There's the Mezes, Audezes, Dan Clark, FiiO's, EFEP, Monolith, Sigva, Moondrop, so many but still meagre, compared to brands producing dynamic headphones.

Sennheiser's 6XX's and 8XX's is the pinnacle of dynamic design headphones but none of them in terms of realism come close to the planar exotic designs like the Susvara Unveiled or the Empyrean II .

You're in a funny place with headphones, it is more personal than speakers, more difficult to predict peoples preference. It makes sense to try them out first, send them back if they don't work out. 🙂

 

[RTHerringbone]

I think the low traffic in here is because the "Headphones etc." sub-category is in a real weird location within the "Hi-Fi" section. It's sort of lost at the top of the "Hi-Fi" section and this thread would possibly be better off in the area below. Currently it feels lost in a little-used sub-section.

Headphones & Audio Accessories

Uncover the secrets of cranking your audio system to 11.

forums.whathifi.com

 

[Jasonovich]

I think the low traffic in here is because the "Headphones etc." sub-category is in a real weird location within the "Hi-Fi" section. It's sort of lost at the top of the "Hi-Fi" section and this thread would possibly be better off in the area below. Currently it feels lost in a little-used sub-section.

Headphones & Audio Accessories

Uncover the secrets of cranking your audio system to 11.

forums.whathifi.com

Ah thanks, maybe the moderator is able to shift it to above link. Cheers 🙂