Recommend me some headphones - Allrounders, no amp required.

[bigboss]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people.

So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

 

[JoelSim]

There is a substantial difference between Spotify and a CD. That is Spotify at 320 played through the DAC of my CD player, same speakers, amp etc. A very noticeable difference.

Have you tried ripping to both FLAC and MP3 and ABXing? I think you may get a surprise.

However, I play a lot of internet radio, Spotify, more so than CDs these days to be honest and 320mbps is just fine unless you want to really get the last ounce out of listening with no other distractions.

From what you have said I would highly recommend the AIAIAI TMA-1, really. At home or on the move via iTunes or whatever, this sounds wonderful for your type of music.

Ah, That's another to the list, cheers. I see our local HifiKlubben have these. I had written them off as another lifestyle products like Beats...

No, I think they are much more of a step up from Beats, proper sound but more versed towards dance music being a DJ brand. I don't think they have 100% of the absolute detail of say a Beyerdynamic T70 or DT990 which are very neutral, but for what you listen to they are spot on.

On your other point I don't download music, don't have anything on iTunes, can't be bothered. Just use Spotify and Ibiza Global. For critical listening, a CD. So I can't comment on FLAC etc, but on Spotify the 320 is nowhere near as good as CD quality.

 

[fr0g]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

I am British, so use Please and Thank you rather more than most here in Sweden, where it is normal not to say it at all (which shocked me at first). But the levels we are speaking about above are bordering on "Lovey mode". Not my style at all. I prefer a more "matteroffact" type of discussion...That does not mean it is rude, just wanting simple exchange of facts and thoughts without the cheese...

 

[bobshek]

A pair of in-ears I am quite interested in at the moment and within your budget by a good 25% is the soon to be released Sony XBA H3. Like the well reviewed AKG K3003, these use a big dynamic driver alongside a couple of balanced armatures. Considering that the K3003 retailed for £1K and the XBA H3 retails for £300.... they might be worth looking into once they eventually come out and some people post some views on them.

On or over ears I like right now are my Beyerdynamic DT1350 Facelifts (need an amp to sound their best), Sennheiser Momentums (over ears) and the newly released B&W P7s are both over ears that can be powered by an iphone etc.

Best to go out there and try a few to see what you like.

 

[fr0g]

Best to go out there and try a few to see what you like.

I agree.

The Sony sounds interesting. But I am veering back toward "on-ears" (fickle, I know ).

So far I am hoping to demo the Momentum (on-ear) and those AIAIAI (silly name).

 

[dalethorn]

Ah we are getting there. There is no staw-man, or in fact disinformation (we will have to agree to differ maybe on that). I haven't once said "It is impossible that anyone can differentiate at 220 VBR, although I do believe that for more than 99% that holds true. No, I know exactly what happens to high frequencies. They get lopped off. But considering I can't hear anything above around 16 KHz (I've tested it), then it's irrelevant. And quite frankly I am bemused with the idea that you think I have been rude to you. And the whole tone of this reply is bizarre. "I get what I wished for".... really? That's a rather overblown response to someone who is simply interested in people's views on some headphones.

The purpose of the forum is to share, to help other people. You seem to think it was created to serve you and your false impressions of MP3 high fidelity. Maybe someone here thinks you're worth helping - I sure don't. I can't help a blind man to see.

 

[dalethorn]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

Please and thank you are very common to all english-speaking countries, including the USA. It's courtesy, plain and simple, and this BTW is an english forum.

 

[Anonymous]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

I am British, so use Please and Thank you rather more than most here in Sweden, where it is normal not to say it at all (which shocked me at first). But the levels we are speaking about above are bordering on "Lovey mode". Not my style at all. I prefer a more "matteroffact" type of discussion...That does not mean it is rude, just wanting simple exchange of facts and thoughts without the cheese...

So you're wrong "bigboss", he is British. You're nitpicking now, I believe. Honestly, trying to get some plain decency in a thread and you get this!

Oh, and there's no cheese fr0g, but why try and impose the 'Swedish way' - they just sound plain rude. Even you said you were, at first, "shocked" by it.

Well said Dale.

[/quote]

 

[dalethorn]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

I am British, so use Please and Thank you rather more than most here in Sweden, where it is normal not to say it at all (which shocked me at first). But the levels we are speaking about above are bordering on "Lovey mode". Not my style at all. I prefer a more "matteroffact" type of discussion...That does not mean it is rude, just wanting simple exchange of facts and thoughts without the cheese...

So you're wrong "bigboss", he is British. You're nitpicking now, I believe. Honestly, trying to get some plain decency in a thread and you get this! Oh, and there's no cheese fr0g, but why try and impose the 'Swedish way' - they just sound plain rude. Even you said you were, at first, "shocked" by it.

I'd say it's extremely unlikely the Swedes are "just rude" - more likely they're rude to Home Boy here for obvious reasons.

 

[fr0g]

Ah we are getting there. There is no staw-man, or in fact disinformation (we will have to agree to differ maybe on that). I haven't once said "It is impossible that anyone can differentiate at 220 VBR, although I do believe that for more than 99% that holds true. No, I know exactly what happens to high frequencies. They get lopped off. But considering I can't hear anything above around 16 KHz (I've tested it), then it's irrelevant. And quite frankly I am bemused with the idea that you think I have been rude to you. And the whole tone of this reply is bizarre. "I get what I wished for".... really? That's a rather overblown response to someone who is simply interested in people's views on some headphones.

The purpose of the forum is to share, to help other people. You seem to think it was created to serve you and your false impressions of MP3 high fidelity. Maybe someone here thinks you're worth helping - I sure don't. I can't help a blind man to see.

Preaching to the converted. As for "false impressions". No, my opinion. We all have them. I know the "limitations" of mp3, and I also believe those limitations fall mainly out of the range of hearing of humans. If you can hear the difference in an ABX, then good on you. Maybe share your test results and given input files? I for one have never managed it with anything above 200 Kbps.

At no point was I "rude". And I have no feeling that anyone was here to serve me. I asked for opinions. That's it. I don't "need" help, I was simply interested what people's ideas might be.

Little did I know I'd get a grilling because I didn't gush with gratitude for the first reply.

Weird to say the least

 

[fr0g]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

I am British, so use Please and Thank you rather more than most here in Sweden, where it is normal not to say it at all (which shocked me at first). But the levels we are speaking about above are bordering on "Lovey mode". Not my style at all. I prefer a more "matteroffact" type of discussion...That does not mean it is rude, just wanting simple exchange of facts and thoughts without the cheese...

So you're wrong "bigboss", he is British. You're nitpicking now, I believe. Honestly, trying to get some plain decency in a thread and you get this!

Oh, and there's no cheese fr0g, but why try and impose the 'Swedish way' - they just sound plain rude. Even you said you were, at first, "shocked" by it.

Well said Dale.

The Swedes are not "rude", it's simply a different cultural norm, I am not trying to impose any "way", I am simply trying to garner impressions.

Some people seem to be able to simply give theirs, whilst others seem intent on nothing but trouble. (Have you said "anything" constructive?)

 

[fr0g]

I'd say it's extremely unlikely the Swedes are "just rude" - more likely they're rude to Home Boy here for obvious reasons.

No, they aren't "rude" at all, see my previous reply.

I'll ignore the personal insult. Thank you for your time Mr Thorn,

To be honest it's all rather silly. that people get all worked up about such a thing.

OBS is interpreting my "tone" as being rude, when he plainly can't hear me, We all have different styles of writing and of course body language does not come across.

I doubt if anyone met me they would think I was rude. Maybe I have picked up some bad habits over here, (when translated back to English), but there is certainly no intent to offend.

Either way it's a rather daft, unconstructive diversion.

My opinions on MP3 are mine. I have ABXd and settled on the level that I can personally not detect any differences from the source. So discussion on that is at best, moot. (Unless someone can point me at a particular test that I am able to pass).

I will be using the headphones unamped, mainly on a laptop, but also from an iPhone and a Windows phone.

So far my candidates are the Sennheiser Momentum on-ear, the AIAIAI TMA-1, the Sennheiser i80 and Shure 535. Although I am doubting I can test the plugs and the more I mull on it the more I think I will go for on-ears rather than plugs.

 

[bigboss]

I think asking fr0g to say "please" or "thank you" is totally uncalled for. Using "please" or "thank you" is ingrained into British culture, and people get offended if someone doesn't say it. As far as I can remember, fr0g does not live in the UK. In many countries, you don't have to verbally thank anyone. In fact, in some countries, saying "thank you" actually offends people. So let's not nitpick on these things. If you find it rude, don't offer any advice. Simples.

Please and thank you are very common to all english-speaking countries, including the USA. It's courtesy, plain and simple, and this BTW is an english forum.

As I mentioned before, if you expect to be thanked everytime you help, then by all means, don't offer any further advice. Please & thank you is not common to all English speaking countries. There's a world outside the USA & UK you know.

I'm sure you know Dale, if anyone doesn't agree with your notions, you become openly rude to them. I've seen this many times. How is that acceptable then? Just like your response to fr0g regarding VBR... It's certainly worse than a "please" or "thank you".

I certainly don't expect to be thanked everytime I offer advice. Anyway, my response is meant to offer a constructive advice instead of retaliation. So I'm out.

 

[pauln]

Another thread gone bad.

fr0g's tone was, to my mind, conversational and I find it hard to see where exactly he could have put in a please or a thank you.

It's not as if he's a new guy asking explicitly for advice - in that case a more formal request with a please and thank you is warranted and expected.

Bearing in mind as well that fr0g has three times as many posts as dalethorn and ten times as many as one box system; I think fr0g can be thought of as the "local guy" here and perhaps he thinks of this forum as a "virtual" pub full of mates with a common interest. In that environment, formal courtesies are neither expected or given.

 

[bobshek]

Fr0g.... if you're going out and about with the Momentum On's be wary that I didn't find the isolation that great on them.

They're alright if you're going for a quiet walk around a park, but if you're walking around the City with buses and commuters.... not much cop. Think it's to do with how puffy the ear cushions are and the clamping not being as tight as the ones I've mentioned below.

If you are still wanting to try them, either borrow a pair first or get them from a seller like Amazon who have a great return policy.

My Momentum's Over, Amperiors, DT1350 and the T51P's fare much better.

IEM's are still the way to go for isolation.

 

[fr0g]

Another thread gone bad.

fr0g's tone was, to my mind, conversational and I find it hard to see where exactly he could have put in a please or a thank you.

It's not as if he's a new guy asking explicitly for advice - in that case a more formal request with a please and thank you is warranted and expected.

Bearing in mind as well that fr0g has three times as many posts as dalethorn and ten times as many as one box system; I think fr0g can be thought of as the "local guy" here and perhaps he thinks of this forum as a "virtual" pub full of mates with a common interest. In that environment, formal courtesies are neither expected or given.

Sums it up entirely, cheers...

 

[fr0g]

Fr0g.... if you're going out and about with the Momentum On's be wary that I didn't find the isolation that great on them.

They're alright if you're going for a quiet walk around a park, but if you're walking around the City with buses and commuters.... not much cop. Think it's to do with how puffy the ear cushions are and the clamping not being as tight as the ones I've mentioned below.

If you are still wanting to try them, either borrow a pair first or get them from a seller like Amazon who have a great return policy.

My Momentum's Over, Amperiors, DT1350 and the T51P's fare much better.

IEM's are still the way to go for isolation.

Isolation is not a major factor, so long as they don't leak. They will probably get most use at work

The Amperiors are another option, but AFAIK they are discontinued...?

 

[bobshek]

Amperiors are great..... head over to Head Fi or eBay and grab yourself a bargain. They're currently £130 or so.

Plenty of change then to get a nice amp to help with dynamics etc compared to a smartphones normal headphone output.

They still go loud enough via an ipad or iphone.

 

[dalethorn]

Bearing in mind as well that fr0g has three times as many posts as dalethorn and ten times as many as one box system;

Yeah, like the quantity of his rude posts adds up to something good. Ummm, no.

The point can be seen more clearly when he was extremely hostile to OneBoxSystem who merely requested courtesy.

And your contention that people can expect favors (that's what they are) without courtesy is illogical. Unless of course your idea of comraderie is to hang out with a bunch of rude louts. Try headfi for that, and I can name a couple more... Or maybe that's those individuals' intents anyway - to disrupt the good aspect of the forum and replace it with drivel. If that's the case, they are succeeding.

 

[eggontoast]

FFS give it a rest, if you find his posts rude (which they are not) don't reply to them, simple. Not sure why some on here feel their advice is sooooo f**king valuable, get over it, it's not.

 

[fr0g]

Bearing in mind as well that fr0g has three times as many posts as dalethorn and ten times as many as one box system;

Yeah, like the quantity of his rude posts adds up to something good. Ummm, no.

The point can be seen more clearly when he was extremely hostile to OneBoxSystem who merely requested courtesy.

And your contention that people can expect favors (that's what they are) without courtesy is illogical. Unless of course your idea of comraderie is to hang out with a bunch of rude louts. Try headfi for that, and I can name a couple more... Or maybe that's those individuals' intents anyway - to disrupt the good aspect of the forum and replace it with drivel. If that's the case, they are succeeding.

LOL!

My "extremely hostile" reply was a jokey response to what was an utterly bizarre, non-contributary and meaningless post IMO. It was "ironic humour", thus the "Please", "Thank you" and more importantly (spelt out for the less observant in the audience), "But seriously".

If anyone is turning this forum into drivel, it's you and your "friend" stirring up a wasp's nest over a meaningless irrelevance.

I tried to be nice about it, but seriously please stop messing up the thread with precious lovey inanity and go and watch Wizard of Oz or something.

 

[Craig M.]

FFS give it a rest, if you find his posts rude (which they are not) don't reply to them, simple. Not sure why some on here feel their advice is sooooo f**king valuable, get over it, it's not.

:rofl:

Good post.

I'll be interested in how you get on fr0g, my own experience of in-ears is mixed - I've tried Denon (lovely but bass light) and Sennheiser (impressive for about 5 mins and then fatiguing - can't remember the Denon or Senn model names but they cost about 80 quid each), so far I've found the bundled ones with my iPhone 5 easiest to live with but they are a bit loose in my ears.

 

[iceman16]

Have'nt read the whole thread, but I just bought this afternoon a Sennheiser Momentum (circumaural) headphones from my local dealer Audio-T. I have demo and listen to the likes of Grado 80i /125i/ B&W P5, P3/ Focal spirit one and I end up with the Sennheiser Momentum black(circumaural). I spend 3 hrs listening and the Sennheiser works the best for me.

 

[fr0g]

FFS give it a rest, if you find his posts rude (which they are not) don't reply to them, simple. Not sure why some on here feel their advice is sooooo f**king valuable, get over it, it's not.

:rofl:

Good post.

I'll be interested in how you get on fr0g, my own experience of in-ears is mixed - I've tried Denon (lovely but bass light) and Sennheiser (impressive for about 5 mins and then fatiguing - can't remember the Denon or Senn model names but they cost about 80 quid each), so far I've found the bundled ones with my iPhone 5 easiest to live with but they are a bit loose in my ears.

Have'nt read the whole thread, but I just bought this afternoon a Sennheiser Momentum (circumaural) headphones from my local dealer Audio-T. I have demo and listen to the likes of Grado 80i /125i/ B&W P5, P3/ Focal spirit one and I end up with the Sennheiser Momentum black(circumaural). I spend 3 hrs listening and the Sennheiser works the best for me.

Please don't! You'll get an attack of the Gwyneth Paltrows if you're unfortunate enough.

But (to both of you gentlemen, ignoring the Divas among us for a while), I am kind of settling on "on-ears", ie more portable, chuck in a bag style. I think my Shure 215s will remain as stalwart in-ears, but for work and evenings at home, I want something light and easy to chuck in a bag (specifically a laptop bag).

The faves at the moment are the AIAIAI TM thingies, the Sennheiser Momentum (on-ear) and the Sennheiser Amperior, and maybe even the HD-25-2?

Still recovering from full blown flu at the moment, so biding my time to go do some testing!

But seriously, Craig, the bundled iPhone 5 in-ears, really? solid plastic, uncomfortable and not as good as my cheapy Creative bundled ones...Thin sounding and super hard to wear...Maybe it's the fit, but mine are long binned... (ie, in the bottom of a drawer, somewhere..)

 

[John Duncan]

My brother-in-law went out with a Swede for five years, and she was the nicest person you could possibly hope to meet. She was also inconceivably beautiful, but that's another matter.

As for perceived rudeness on fr0g's part, I'm afraid I'm struggling to see it. You should try some of the other forums he's on...