Headphones for certain music?

[admin_exported]

Well, in this post I'm referring to both headphones and speakers. 

First I will say I don't know a lot about HiFi. I listen to classical music mostly where I find that two things are vital. That the sound is spacious enough and that the balance is just right so that the instruments come from the right area soundwise when using loudspeakers. If the right speaker is a little too much forward, or where you are sitting is even slightly off, the right could be louder than the left. Does this mean I have a bad system? Do very good hi-fi help a sense of 'surround' when listening to classical? Because I am thinking about headphones now. Perhaps headphones are best for classical. At least balance is not a problem. The only problem with headphones and my question is, are there ones on the market that are really excellent in terms of creating a sense of space? 

 

Thanks !

 

Jai

 

[lonely boy]

Hiya Jaibyrne,

Firstly how much are you prepared to spend? Secondly, are you after a closed back or open back design and lastly what equipment are you using at the moment?

Off hand, the headphones I would recommend would be the AKG K701/K702, they do excel in detail and especially soundstage, but they must be powered by a suitable amplifier, I use a Heed CanAmp myself but other people have their preferences.

But of course, if you can get to hear some headphones in a dealers, I would recommend that firstly, as you are after a specific sound.

e

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Lonelyboy,ÿ

ÿ

thanks for the reply. yeah, I checked out those headphones on amazon. they look great. they are a bit pricey though. Would be aound 300 euro here in Ireland. I was thinking more the 200 mark. Having said that, do you think I am wasting my time getting such good headphones and then plugging them into a laptop or an ipod? Right now, I can't afford both.ÿ

This brings me back to the other question, would a good amp for around 200 - 250 be a better bet. Would that provide the space I am looking for? I could always purchase the headphones later. My speakers are from a Samsung HT-TX35R - DVD 5.1 Home Cinema System. I don't know how good these speakers are but interestingly when I use them for concerts on TV I notice less the balance I mentioned. Instead there is an eveness. Maybe this is the surround preset of the amp? Whereas right now I have the speakers connected to a aiwa microsystem that is pretty rubbish.

Jÿ

 

[idc]

I would 2nd the recommendation for the AKGs and they can be bought on ebay for £170 odd, new but without a warranty. Add in the tiny FiiO E5 amp and you get enough power to drive those headphones from an ipod or laptop (though ipod is much better). The sound is frankly amazingly good but does lack soundstage and spaciousness. By that I mean all of the sound is in your head as opposed to flowing arond you and being at times outside your head. The spaciousness you speak of comes with much more expensive amps such as the X-CAN V8P. The difference is spaciousness is dramatic from less expensive amps. A standard amp with a headphone socket can sound good, but again it will not give you that spaciousness. With your budget I would start with headphones, maybe lower down the AKG range, or the Sennheiser HD595s as good all rounders and then add the FiiO E5 which will sort you for ipod and PC listening.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice idc. In a fit of annoyance I threw out the old micro hi-fi and I am going to get headphones. I checked out the Sennheisers you mentioned and I might pick up that tiny amp too - it's cheap. As for a better amp with more spacial awareness, or what you call it, I will have to save for that but it will be a good investment some time in the future.ÿ

ÿ

J

 

[survivor]

Denon headphones are good for classical music. The 880`s might be out of your price range but you could probably afford the 770`s if you shop around.