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Need Audio Advice

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pointdablame:

I agree with SirWoogie that the best cans are the ones that sound best to YOU, but there are definitely good and bad sets.  No doubt about it.

First of all, you do NOT need $7k worth of audio equipment to use headphones effectively.  You are doing the right thing if you don't have the cash for a full system.  You said you want to get a nice stereo down the road.. then headphones are a good idea if you ask me.

What you DO need is a good headphone amp at the very least.  You can make a cheap CMOY amp yourself that will sound really nice to all but the most serious audiophiles, or you can get a headphone amp premade.  http://www.headphone.com has a few nice amps and some great information.  Put a nice headphone amp between your PC and headphones and you'll get much, MUCH nicer sound.

As for actual cans, I had a set of Grado SR-80s and they were very nice.  Nice range all around and stood clear through higher volume ranges with good equipment.  No lost sound, and it had a very broad stage for a set of headphones.

That said, I'd look at Sennheiser before you decide on that Grado's.  I moved from the SR80s to a pair of Sennheiser HD 580s and have been THRILLED with them.  I love them to death, and they sound much better than the Grado to me.  Give them a shot, I bet you'll like them.  And when you try them (or any headphones) be sure to have at least a headphone amp with you.  Don't plug it into a PC or a test center in the store and think that's what they want to sound like.. it isn't.  Run it through something decent before you make a decision.

Then when you do all that, go buy the Senns.  You can thank me later :)

boykster:


--- Quote from: pointdablame on January 06, 2007, 12:37:44 am ---
What you DO need is a good headphone amp at the very least.  You can make a cheap CMOY amp yourself that will sound really nice to all but the most serious audiophiles, or you can get a headphone amp premade.  http://www.headphone.com has a few nice amps and some great information.  Put a nice headphone amp between your PC and headphones and you'll get much, MUCH nicer sound.


--- End quote ---

100% agree here...put a decent headphone amp between pretty much any 1/2 way decent source and a decent set of headphones and you're good to go...no need for multi thousand $$$ equipment.  Of course you CAN spend that kind of money, but

 :dunno

JONTHEBOMB:

I decided to go with the Grado SR 125, to save money and they have a 1/4'' plug.  The Grado SR 125s will be an upgrade from the headphones that came with my portable CD player.


--- Quote from: pointdablame on January 06, 2007, 12:37:44 am ---You can make a cheap CMOY amp yourself that will sound really nice to all but the most serious audiophiles,

--- End quote ---

I'm wondering how cheap I can go? 
I found a site with instructions on how to make a CMoy pocket headphone amplifier for about $20. 
 
Here is a link to the parts list:
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/20bucks.html


--- Quote from: pointdablame on January 06, 2007, 12:37:44 am ---http://www.headphone.com has a few nice amps and some great information.

--- End quote ---

The cheapest amp on that site is as much as my headphones. :o


pointdablame:

Do yourself a favor and ignore my "try some Sennheiser" comment now.... or at least do it within your return period  :P

I kid, you should enjoy the Grados, and I'm sure they're worlds better than whatever came with your CD player.

As for the amp, you can do it cheaply for decent sound.  The OpAmps are a main component IIRC, and will factor into quality, but I haven't made one myself.  I had one made for me and have been very happy with it, so I won't be able to help with specifics for building one.

A friend of a friend built an Altoid can CMOY amp though and I got to listen to it.  Sounded pretty good for what I think cost him under $40 or so.  Granted I only listened to a few songs with it.

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