Hi-Fi headphones for quiet listening

[kratu]

I'm looking out for a decent headphone for quiet listening. I usually listen to ambient music. In other words, it is down-tempo, beat less, "instrumental" music (for subconscious intergalactic space journeys so to speak)

I can very well add classical music to the mix. The remaining 30% would be a variety of other genres (EXCEPT Rock, Pop, Techno or uptempo music).

That essentially means, ambient music requires ultra wide sound stage, all around performance (neither bass heads nor bright sounding earphones).

1. My preference is towards warmer, organic sounds (think Boards of Canada). I'm keen on Vinyls for the same reason and might add this as a source later on.

2. Indoor use; so portability is not an issue. However, comfort under prolonged usage could be a factor for consideration.

3. Noise isolation preferred but not mandatory (esp. if it compromises audio quality)

4. Circumaural, open design might be good. I'm open to others too.


I currently own Sennheiser CX-400 II. It's quite decent for the money. The low-frequency range output is quite good; however, I see that the mid to higher-frequencies are a bit distorted and not that profound. Also, since these are ear canals, the sound might not have a large soundstage.



1. Audio preference (Music / Movies) = 100% for music

2. Budget = Rs. 20-30K

4. Source (CD /DVD /Satellite /Other) = iPod/CD/ Phono (in order of preference)

5. Existing components to be integrated with new purchase (Speaker /Amp /Cables /Equaliser /Other) = Need to buy. Recommendations are welcome.

6. Can used AVR be considered (Y/N) = Y

7. Other details /preferences = Described above.



8. Other query-1 =

Are there stores in Bangalore that will let me audition the phones?

9. Other query-2 =?
In my research, I've heard some good things about Sennheiser HD 650. However, I'm not sure if that fits well to my preferences. Also, would need to see if there are more headphones in that range. These have some good ratings too.

Beyerdynamic T50P
Grado SR80i
AKG K550


So, what would you recommend?

 

[Chaos]

Check out the Sennheiser Momentum as well.

 

[abhi_jollyguy]

@Kratu,

If you want an headphones which sounds best with everything or anything so I would recommend you Beyerdynamic DT770 and Sennheiser HD600. I would put Sennheiser HD600 on the first priority here.

If you want headphone which is classical music master(as you described above) so Beyerdynamic DT660.

 

[jai1611]

Try the Sennheiser HD650. I use them with a Matrix M-Stage amp and the combo works very well.

 

[tirthankar]

+1 to the Senn HD 600/650. They are extremely well suited to your musical preferences. I have the 650 and they are very organic sounding with the right amp and excel with classical. You can also get the 600 and replace the cord with one from Cardas and you are all set.

You will need a good headphone amp to drive these though.

 

[rohitmusic]

My idea was exactly same to have quiet listening.
I found the Fostex t50rp very very relaxing indeed. They are especially good for genres of music like vocals/instrumentals and relaxing music. They are rather flat (read as studio use) out of the box but have read with some tweaking they have proved to have great potential.

I found them quite good out of the box without any mods.

They do need amplification to sound good though.

There is nothing special about their sound signature and they are very flat. Trebel and Bass are just about there which made them very easy to listen to for long listening sessions. I guess their this nature is what I like the most that they are non intrusive in music listening and just let the music play on its own. I found them very relaxing!

BTW they are orthodynamic. I found the sound very flat and uninvolving in beginning but after few hours of listening I just could not help pick these up for a listen.

YMMV

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I have come to headphone listening only in the last couple of years. The reason I didn't do it before was I find closed headphones claustrophobic, and always have done. For commuting, ok, I can shut myself off from the world, but at home I just don't want to.

Open back headphones are disturbing to others and allow others to disturb you. If silent listening really is your criteria, then you must go for closed-back. People who know both tell me that open-back to give more feeling of space. If you listen to spacy music, maybe you need that!

 

[spirovious]

Few in your budget-
Search | whathifi.com

 

[edge111hussain]

Are you going to extend your budget for an amp? The sennheisers will need an equivalent amp to do any justice to their capabilities. At 30k, the hd-650 + amp might not fit in.

You should consider the he-400 for the same reason. Its easy to drive and a basic amp or no amping at all will do.

If an amps coming in then, beyer DT-880 600 ohs, Hifiman he-4/6 he-500(light amping), Denon d 5000/7000. This list goes on man at your budget.

If an amps out of the picture, i would also consider the audio technica ad-700 and ad-900 for a very good soundstage.

 

[longshanks]

If you want to use the headphone with iPod or a laptop without an amplifier i suggest this.

6moons audio reviews: Focal Spirit One

But you plan to use an amplifier with enough power then HD600 or 650 would the best best, i personally have been using HD600 for many years and i found it is hard to beat sound that i get from HD600 under 1000$.

 

[kratu]

Check out the Sennheiser Momentum as well.

Thank you, I'll try it out. Is this better than Sennheiser HD650?

@Kratu,

If you want an headphones which sounds best with everything or anything so I would recommend you Beyerdynamic DT770 and Sennheiser HD600. I would put Sennheiser HD600 on the first priority here.

If you want headphone which is classical music master(as you described above) so Beyerdynamic DT660.

Thanks Abhi. I'll check DT660. Sennheiser HD 600 is replaced by HD 650; and could be unavailable for the same reason. However, I'll see if any stores have a stock.

Try the Sennheiser HD650. I use them with a Matrix M-Stage amp and the combo works very well.

+1 to the Senn HD 600/650. They are extremely well suited to your musical preferences. I have the 650 and they are very organic sounding with the right amp and excel with classical. You can also get the 600 and replace the cord with one from Cardas and you are all set.

You will need a good headphone amp to drive these though.

Thanks Jai. and tirthankar. That's another +2 for HD 650 from satisfied customers.

My idea was exactly same to have quiet listening.

I found the Fostex t50rp very very relaxing indeed. They are especially good for genres of music like vocals/instrumentals and relaxing music. They are rather flat (read as studio use) out of the box but have read with some tweaking they have proved to have great potential....

Checking this out.

I have come to headphone listening only in the last couple of years. The reason I didn't do it before was I find closed headphones claustrophobic, and always have done. For commuting, ok, I can shut myself off from the world, but at home I just don't want to.

Open back headphones are disturbing to others and allow others to disturb you. If silent listening really is your criteria, then you must go for closed-back. People who know both tell me that open-back to give more feeling of space. If you listen to spacy music, maybe you need that!

Thad, yes open back headphones are known to give more sound stage and "spaciousness". Since, I live alone I don't have to worry about disturbing others. And ambient music isn't that loud anyway.

Few in your budget-

Search | whathifi.com

Thank you for the link. I've been through this earlier and I think What Hi-Fi has some good expertise into the subject.

Are you going to extend your budget for an amp? The sennheisers will need an equivalent amp to do any justice to their capabilities. At 30k, the hd-650 + amp might not fit in.

You should consider the he-400 for the same reason. Its easy to drive and a basic amp or no amping at all will do.

If an amps coming in then, beyer DT-880 600 ohs, Hifiman he-4/6 he-500(light amping), Denon d 5000/7000. This list goes on man at your budget.

If an amps out of the picture, i would also consider the audio technica ad-700 and ad-900 for a very good soundstage.

Nope, the budget of 30K is excluding the amp. That means, I'll add an amp to the picture. From what I've read, a good headphone set is worthless unless it's driven by a solid amp. I've read about some DAC+amplifier used for headphones like Nuforce Icon. Since, I do have plans to add speakers at a later stage, I think I'll go with the "regular" amp like what you've suggested.

If you want to use the headphone with iPod or a laptop without an amplifier i suggest this.

6moons audio reviews: Focal Spirit One

But you plan to use an amplifier with enough power then HD600 or 650 would the best best, i personally have been using HD600 for many years and i found it is hard to beat sound that i get from HD600 under 1000$.

Yes, I'll go with the amp route.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

From what I've read, a good headphone set is worthless unless it's driven by a solid amp

Hmmm.... Does that mean that a decent set of headphones is not worth buying unless one buys a headphone amp at the same time? No, I don't think it does.

Unless you end up buying something very specialised, then I'd suggest buying the headphones first and thinking about anything else later. Whatever you plug the 'phones into is almost certain to sound better. Enjoy this as step one. It certainly won't be "worthless!"

I've been musing about step two for about a year now...

 

[edge111hussain]

Hmmm.... Does that mean that a decent set of headphones is not worth buying unless one buys a headphone amp at the same time? No, I don't think it does.

Unless you end up buying something very specialised, then I'd suggest buying the headphones first and thinking about anything else later. Whatever you plug the 'phones into is almost certain to sound better. Enjoy this as step one. It certainly won't be "worthless!"

I've been musing about step two for about a year now...

Trust me on this. Certain headphones just dont sound good without amping. Couple of years back i had the opportunity to hear the sennheiser 650 @ sennheisers office at andheri. They hooked it onto a lenovo laptop. Sounded bad. Next i connected it to my fiio E7, lil better but still just didnt sound like a 25k headphone. My then cx-500 iem sounded leap yrs better.

My point being here is, ofcourse if the op connects the headphone to his avr, it will sound decent. But then you dont buy a 25k headphone for just decent sound. you invest that kinda money on a headphone to get the best out of it. Else just simply look at headphones that dont require amping.

 

[sbg]

From what I've read, a good headphone set is worthless unless it's driven by a solid amp

looks like there seems a confusion .

per what I could make out by the statement - the reference for a good headphone means 100-300 -600 ohms. but this is not always the case.

The amps always help - whatever your headphone be, but it is not a necessity for a "quiet listening" .

most of the portable players/cellphones/soundcards are able to drive these, but your volume /db levels may be less in comparison to headphones with lower impedance.

pls. google for "Benefits of High Impedance Headphones".
High time for all these knowledge gathering before making the plunge.

 

[edge111hussain]

looks like there seems a confusion .

per what I could make out by the statement - the reference for a good headphone means 100-300 -600 ohms. but this is not always the case.

The amps always help - whatever your headphone be, but it is not a necessity for a "quiet listening" .

most of the portable players/cellphones/soundcards are able to drive these, but your volume /db levels may be less in comparison to headphones with lower impedance.

pls. google for "Benefits of High Impedance Headphones".
High time for all these knowledge gathering before making the plunge.

Think the reference point here r the sennheiser 600/650. In that case a good amp is a must. Also considering the 20-30k price point, i really cant think of any headphone that will run at its optimum without a good amp to support it.
even something as portable as the audio technica ath-m50 sounds so much better when amped.

Regarding impedance. lets take the example of the deyer Dt 880. I mentioned it above cause its one of the best i have heard for the op music preference. Anyways the same headset comes in 3 variants. 32ohms, 250 ohms and 600 ohms. now anyone who has heard all 3 will instantly tell you that the 600 ohms is in a different league all together. But then the same people will also tell you that without a good amp, the 600 ohms variant is a waste of money and you rather buy the 32 ohms variant.
I am not an expert here. Just an end user that has used plenty of mid-high end gear and am talking by actual experience.

Maybe im not explaining this properly, but if the op plans to go step by step, he rather buy a different headset now and when he plans to upgrade, let go of the old one and buy the new one with the matching amp.

 

[vivek.saikia]

As you have mentioned "Intergalactic space", I would whole heartedly suggest you the HiFiMan HE-400.
Believe me, I explore space everyday using these

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Think the reference point here r the sennheiser 600/650.

Given that you know the headphones, and I don't, I will certainly "trust you." Personally, though, for better or for worse, I'd like to go through the experience of discovery.

Then, the whole amplifier thing itself is a whole other story: just analogue or combined DAC for digital in? I've heard people say that, even an analogue -> analogue amp makes a difference, but what worries me is that it will be amplifying the faults of the analogue device? These are some of the things that have kept me musing rather than buying

 

[sbg]

I do agree with you on these phones to be driven by amps.

But we do have choices for a "good headphones" that does not escalate to increasing you investment beyond your headphones.
Say for example most of the Shure Headphones are within 65-75 ohms.
most of the Klipsch are with 32 ohms ( I'm referring to the same price bracket)
if not sticking to headphones - earphones are also avlb that can be comparable.

I "may" have to agree that most of the Expensive Headphones should be better than the rest on some benchmark ( otherwise they CANNOT be demanding the price )

do we need amping for Denon's AH-D600 or AH-D7100 ( 25 ohms)
you say DT800 ( these are in 32/250/600 ohms) why not T5p without the amp, does this mean these will be inferior to 600 ohms+amp?
--- I've never heard them and I cannot comment on these.so asking and trying to understand and not loose the subject on "...good headphones..." ?

Nope, the budget of 30K is excluding the amp. That means, I'll add an amp to the picture. From what I've read, a good headphone set is worthless unless it's driven by a solid amp. I've read about some DAC+amplifier used for headphones like Nuforce Icon. Since, I do have plans to add speakers at a later stage, I think I'll go with the "regular" amp like what you've suggested.

If the choice is Amp+HP ( say 30K + another 10K aprox for the amp) , then why not consider HP around 40K+ bracket too( without the amp) - possibily these are better than HD600s.

coming to the main point, I too will recommend HD 650/HD 600 anytime with amp( good experience with - STX-> HD600 for a brief time ) but personally I'm on STX-> shure SE310 ( a bit bass shy )

 

[edge111hussain]

I do agree with you on these phones to be driven by amps.

But we do have choices for a "good headphones" that does not escalate to increasing you investment beyond your headphones.
Say for example most of the Shure Headphones are within 65-75 ohms.
most of the Klipsch are with 32 ohms ( I'm referring to the same price bracket)
if not sticking to headphones - earphones are also avlb that can be comparable.

I "may" have to agree that most of the Expensive Headphones should be better than the rest on some benchmark ( otherwise they CANNOT be demanding the price )

do we need amping for Denon's AH-D600 or AH-D7100 ( 25 ohms)
you say DT800 ( these are in 32/250/600 ohms) why not T5p without the amp, does this mean these will be inferior to 600 ohms+amp?
--- I've never heard them and I cannot comment on these.so asking and trying to understand and not loose the subject on "...good headphones..." ?

If the choice is Amp+HP ( say 30K + another 10K aprox for the amp) , then why not consider HP around 40K+ bracket too( without the amp) - possibily these are better than HD600s.

coming to the main point, I too will recommend HD 650/HD 600 anytime with amp( good experience with - STX-> HD600 for a brief time ) but personally I'm on STX-> shure SE310 ( a bit bass shy )

I aint disagreeing to anything that you are saying. But in my experience, the 20k+ amped headphones do perform better than the non amped counterparts in the same league.
Its like a he-400 v/s he5 + v good amping. Now for my purpose the he-400 or Denon d2000 is more than sufficient, it might not be the case for the op considering the fact that he has decided to make an investment of ard 30k. Also if you end up doing an A/B comparison, one will realize the true potential of a properly amped headphone.
I have always been scared of getting it wrong and that probably explains me not sticking to a high end headphone that needs amping. But then again have been there, done that, got it wrong and hence simply put fwd the importance of a good amp when it comes to high end HP. (also do understand my above comments r coming from suggestions made earlier by someone that a good hp will sound good irrespective of good amping), hmmm, again, they wont...

 

[mpw]

like many of you.. i have been fence sitting on the headphone for a while

)

finally took the plunge and got myself a sennheiser CX300 from sennheiserindia online shop..

Now i realize.. this "in ear' thingy is Ok for my mornign walk / jog but what i need is a closed back or a headphone like the Grado SR60i or Sr80i..

I have read good reviews of thr Shure 840 too..this costs about $179.

Preferably for quiet listing - it would imply that the ambient be quiet but once you put a headphone amp into the picture.. i would assume it restricts mobility.

Maybe it would be better for me and the OP to look for something that sounds good ( or acceptable ?? )simbly plugged into an Ipod / sansa etc..

Ofcouse if the Op feels a headphone amp is a must.. then its a must and my thinking will not apply.

I think the universe is better explored in motion

Warp 2.. Mr Zulu !!:lol:

aye.. aye.. cap'n !!

good morn and have a nice day !

mpw