Opinion on new headphones?

" V8 Rustler" (handschaltgetriebe6) 03/10/2015 at 01:31 • Filed to: None

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Hello Oppo. The time has come to improve my audio experience and replace my Logitech UE 4000 for something more upscale.

Headphones:

I'm pretty much sold on the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Manufaktur, as they seem to be very good neutral headphones. I don't like headphones were the bass is boosted. Made in Germany.

They can also be customized to any color you like:

Price: 432 USD - 64.80 USD discount = $367.20 USD.

Can be chosen in 3 different impedance 32, 250, and 600 ohms. I'm choosing 250 ohms.

DAC and AMP.

So everyone recommends a dedicated DAC for better sound compared to the internal sound card. My current computer is a 15 Retina MBP. As for the DAC, I'll be choosing the Schiit MODI 2 UBER. USB and optical input. Seems like a good deal, metal body and made in the USA.

http://schiit.com/products/modi-…

Because of the higher impedance, an AMP is recommended, and I'm going for the Schiit MAGNI 2. Also made in the USA.

http://schiit.com/products/magni…

They look like these:

Thoughts??

Flavien Vidal >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 01:42

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I don't know crap about audio stuff... I have had the same MDR-7506 for a LONG time and I'm happy with it :)

I have Logitech G35 for my computer...

Expensive stuff anyway. I wouldn't miind spending quite a bit on speakers, but headphones, nah... anything mid-range from Sony or Sennheiser does the trick for me :)

What's a DAC by the way?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 01:44

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I assume you're going for the 600ohm since the others are not as sonically good.

I don't know what your budget is but the Modi and Magni are a solid combo for the price. Have you looked into the O2 or the Asgard? You might also wanna try a Meridian DAC with a 1/4" output and then save up for a stronger amp. I've tried that at an audio store with an HD800 before. It wasn't bad.

Also, you mention neutral sounding, have you looked into The Fostex TH600/TH900? They're not very picky amp-wise and they are pretty neutral without being too clinical.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Flavien Vidal 03/10/2015 at 01:46

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I love my MDR-v6 (MDR-7506's non-professional model). They're like tanks!

A DAC is a digital audio converter. It basically plugs into your USB or optical output and bypasses the sound card to allow for an external digital signal conversion for more clean audio.

 V8 Rustler > Flavien Vidal 03/10/2015 at 01:48

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You got one of the best and most popular studio headphones.

Sam >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 01:58

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Bro, we all know the correct answer, dawg.

Homie, Beats are the best headphones graced to us by the good Doctor himself, yo.

But seriously, HD800's or bust. Oh, you don't grow your money on trees?

Can you tell that I have nothing to contribute, other than the fact that Beyerdynamics and Sennheisers are two good options?

 V8 Rustler > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 03/10/2015 at 02:03

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The O2+DAC and Asgard 2 seem to be very good alternatives, only missing the optical input. As for the meridian, are you referring to the USB DAC? Wouldn't that small USB sound card have trouble powering 600 ohm headphones?

The Foster seem to have good reviews, but are way too expensive.

Flavien Vidal > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 03/10/2015 at 02:08

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yeah I broke a couple of other headphones in the past, but these ones are very solid and don't seem to be willing to break. They are "bass-less" headphones that take a little while getting used to though...

I bought mine used in Japan too and paid somethingb like 45$ for them :)

They are also very old and "made in Japan" which means they are at least 15 years old :)

Flavien Vidal >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 02:09

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Yeah, mine are certainly over 15 year old...

 V8 Rustler > Flavien Vidal 03/10/2015 at 02:12

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Shame the newer ones are made in China...

Flavien Vidal >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 02:14

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Yeah the ones I have are still made in Japan. They are not necessarily better though... From whatI have read, the very early models used a different magnet that is not as good as the mde in china ones...

 V8 Rustler > Sam 03/10/2015 at 02:15

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Yo, beats is where it's at.

$1,500 USD is WAY OUT of my price range. For that kind of money I would invest in better speakers for my HT.

Sam >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 02:26

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But they're hand-built by German women! To be honest, my daily drivers are the earbuds that come with a Galaxy S5. They adequately average. Also, those are sweet sunglasses.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Flavien Vidal 03/10/2015 at 02:31

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Nice! Mine are almost 8 years old. I've upgraded to the newer replacements but I still use them from time to time. If you want some extra oomph from the bass, you can replace the pads with Beyerdynamic DT220 velour pads. They're more ventilated and feel so soft.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 02:32

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Yeah the tiny dac. It surprisingly has some power behind it. Although I haven't tried them with 600 ohm Beyers before so you are most likely correct.

Have you tried PriceJapan? They usually have cheaper prices on Fostex products by several hundred usually.

 V8 Rustler > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 03/10/2015 at 02:55

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Checked and didn't have any high end Foster headphones.

ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 03:58

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I have these, Status Audio, and they're $49 shipped! They sound very clear, have good bass, and they're comfortable. Just on par with Dre Solos, but way cheaper.

I shot a parody video for a friend, and we used the headphones. You can see the size for comparison.

E. Julius >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 07:06

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I use a DAC when my MBP is docked, and I'm pretty happy with the results. What are the advantages of higher impedance headphones? I've never wanted to spend enough money to have that really be an option so I've never researched that. For now I'm just rocking midrange Sonys and Sennheisers like Flavien : )

KatzManDu >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 07:35

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When someone says "UE4000" I think this:

http://www.shrubbery.net/~heas/sun-feh-…

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19095-01/e…

Mattbob >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 08:39

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that is the worst name for a high quality amplifier brand ever. Also, with an impedance that high, you will definitely need an external amplifier. The advantage is with a higher impedance, you require a higher voltage to get the same power output from the headphones. With the higher voltage range, you can get less compression, and more precise reproduction of the sound, and finer volume control if it is a good amplifier.

nafsucof >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 09:21

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I didn't know ultimate ears was Logitech now! Maybe it always has been? Any how ditch the fake carbon.

ToyDeathbot >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 09:21

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if you posted this a couple of days earlier, I would have recommended you the AKG K7xx since Massdrop was doing a run on them ($199 for a K702 65th is a good $400 saving!)

Also, why not opt for a higher impedance pair of headphones since you're using a fairly decent amp anyways?

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 10:41

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The only thing I have to add is I've heard good things about Sennheiser HD 598, Audio-Technica ATH-M50X and Grado Prestige SR80e. But apparently your choice of the BeyerDynamic is near the tops in most lists too. Is there anywhere you could listen to multiple headphones in one place and take your pick?

 V8 Rustler > ktfright | Kinja Neighborhood Black Guy 03/10/2015 at 11:56

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They seem like a good deal, but I'm looking for something more high end and neutral sounding.

 V8 Rustler > KatzManDu 03/10/2015 at 11:57

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haha, random.

 V8 Rustler > Mattbob 03/10/2015 at 12:35

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Yeah, don't know what they were thinking when they came up with that name. Probably going to order the 600s ohm.

 V8 Rustler > E. Julius 03/10/2015 at 16:56

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So a DAC does make much of a difference. How much of a difference was it compared to the internal audio card? Regarding the impedance, I have not researched a lot, but it seems that as long as you have the required equipment, you should go with a higher impedance for a better sound.

 V8 Rustler > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 03/10/2015 at 16:57

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No, all the stores in Mexico only sell brands like Beats, Bose, Sony and similar.

 V8 Rustler > ToyDeathbot 03/10/2015 at 17:00

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Hey, I actually saw that on Massdrop. I was going to buy them the but the fact that they are made in China kind of put me off.

And yeah, will probably end up buying the 600 ohm version.

 V8 Rustler > nafsucof 03/10/2015 at 17:01

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I think they are a venture, but UE still sells products just under the UE brand.

E. Julius >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 17:07

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Honestly the difference was fairly slight, but noticeable. Mostly the advantage came from eliminating the slight noise/interference from the 3.5mm jack by using USB audio instead. That being said, it's not a dedicated DAC, but a Focusrite Digital Audio Interface that I use for recording/mixing. Definitely still superior to an onboard audio card, but I'm not sure how it compares to a dedicated DAC unit. Also this was on a pair of $100 headphones and some lower mid range monitors, so you may also notice different results with higher end equipment.

 V8 Rustler > nafsucof 03/10/2015 at 20:25

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Also, how do you know if the carbon is fake? It's a 30 USD option on the ear cups, and 10 USD on the band.

nafsucof >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 21:46

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I don't know but it would serve no purpose in this application for weight savings esp over similar plastic or milled aluminum. The picture looks as if the parts are hydro dipped like half of the new wrx dashboard. It could be real carbon fiber but I doubt it! I'm going to look for an actual picture...

nafsucof >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 22:02

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it looks like the large part around the earpiece is carbon fiber but the smaller bits are the same plastic bits hydro dipped to look like carbon, those all get awesome review though!

 V8 Rustler > nafsucof 03/10/2015 at 22:13

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Lifestyle materials such as salmon leather, stylish design in carbon-fibre look ,

You were right, it's fake. Yeah, I guess it would be very difficult and expensive to manufacture such small parts out of real CF. $40 USD is way too much then for just looks.

nafsucof >  V8 Rustler 03/10/2015 at 22:39

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I think the ear cups might be on the outer ring. Making non structural carbon fiber is relatively easy and inexpensive in tube form though. You can treat it just like fiber glass and use similar resins. I've lamenated sheets of carbon fiber to speaker boxes for cars before with good results, though it only tricked fools as they still weigh a ton(still mdf underneath).

uofime > nafsucof 03/11/2015 at 12:45

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Fyi those dashboard pieces are screen printed in mold labels, far more durable than dipping

DrJohannVegas >  V8 Rustler 03/12/2015 at 00:36

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I like my Grados, which I got precisely because of the flat frequency response curve. Bassy headphones kill me. Lots of options for your budget, and with a nice amplifier, they really sing. Open backed, so not as socially-polite as other options, but I love 'em.

That said, I am a filthy hipster.

 V8 Rustler > DrJohannVegas 03/12/2015 at 02:32

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I also considered the Grados. They get a lot of positive reviews, and are made in the USA, but the design... They are awful looking IMO. The beyerdynamic are also kind of open back, but I will only use them at home, so that is not an issue.

Bassy things are annoying. The Shaker audio on my Mustang is sometimes very annoying because it mainly focuses on the Bass.

DrJohannVegas >  V8 Rustler 03/12/2015 at 10:36

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When they are on my head, I don't see them. But, I understand if aesthetics are important to you. Then Grados are no good.