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In Reply to: RE: I need headphone help! posted by denton on April 23, 2012 at 10:34:50
I wouldn't hesitate to install headphones/headphone amps on your TV system. I don't have neighbor problems but I still find headphones highly preferable. Most sound problems IMHO with TV comes from clarity of speech and you minimize this issue by using headphones. The volume issue disparity between you and your partner is another - two sets of phones/two amps, and with open phones you can still have conversations.
The only problems with phones is that you really do hear 'everything' that passes thru the TV tuner, good bad and indifferent.
FWIW I use Senn 598's and a Fournier tube head amp on my TV and Senn 650's and a Woo headphone amp on my main system. Both are good matches and that little Fournier is a sonically outstanding inexpensive unit.
Follow Ups:
Please tell me about the Sennheiser HD 598. The measure quite well at Head Room. They appear to be somewhat warmer than my Senn HD 280 Pro, which are very fine. I got them in part based on Tom Danley's recommendation. But I have been looking for a pair of open backed headphones, the better to hear the toddler granddaughter and the telephone. The Senn 598 seems to measure about as well as anything and the owners' comments seem very favorable. Besides, they look so beautiful it's hard to resist.
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"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
An alternative might be the HD 600 (or 580) - sometimes these come on sale. And the latter can occasionally be found at dealers. Depends what you like but the 580/600 sounds better balanced to me than the 590/650 which seems to be tipped up in the treble a little.But I've seen the 600 sell for $299 in the past so maybe wait for a sale. The 580/600 etc line are very comfortable. I've had my HD 600s for over 10 years and they're just as good as the day I bought them in terms of not falling apart - still tight and the velvety ear pads are still perfect. My old Leather headphones from Sony - the leather all frayed and the plastic joints became loose and eventually broke.
But the 598 sure looks good. Most headphones I have heard in the $250 and up range have all sounded quite good - from Audio Technica, Sony, AKG, Grado, Senn, Beyer etc. Big thing is comfort obviously. No matter how well it sounds or measures if it isn't comfy you won't use it. And paying a bit more for build quality might be worth a $100 or so as well.
I received the Sennheiser HD 598 headphones in the middle of May. I like them a lot. The sound is smooth and spacious. They are very comfortable. As Chuck Y said, they are very easy to live with. The only ergonomic problem is that the cable has a 1/4" inch jack, so that it requires the included adapter to fit into my laptop. I have found the headphone outputs of laptops to be somewhat fragile. But I acquired a short 90 degree 1/8" jack to 1/4" female cable so that the headphone out on the laptop is subject to less strain.The build quality seems very good, although I doubt if they are quite as tough as my older Senn HD 280Pro phones. The HD 280Pro is not as open, specious and detailed as HD 598, but they are still quite listenable and, being closed phones, the sound isolation is very good, when that is desirable. They are very clear on voices, though not more so than the newer phones.
The HD 600 is a much higher impedance phone, and so probably would not work as well as well from my laptop. The HD 598 measurements indicate a slightly more even response, but from what I understand of headphone measurements, the HD 600 measures very well, as do the HD 650 and a number of other phones that everybody seems to like.
I sent away for a HeadRoom Total Bithead headphone amp so the higher impedances of the more costly Senns would not be a factor. They say it is capable of driving any headphone except the AKG 1000 and electrostatic headphones. I have attached it to the cover of my laptop. I am not sure that it sounds any different than the soundcard in the laptop, but it does have their switchable crossfeed circuit, which has a subtle effect and makes the image a bit more spacious. It is certainly easier to use its volume control than to change volume on the computer.
Edit 20/06/2012
I have done more testing and the Total Bithead sounds smoother, more spacious, and has more bass and higher highs than I get from the soundcard on my laptop.
I played a few things on YouTube through my main system by connecting the headphone outputs on my laptop and the Total Bithead fed by the USB port, via a converter from a 1/8" headphone jack to female RCA sockets connected to a long interconnect to a spare tape input (input impedance 100 kilohms) on my preamp. The difference in highs and overall detail was evident.
I also compared a couple of CDs played on my laptop using the HD 598 headphones connected to the headphone jacks of the laptop and the Total Bithead. Similar result, definitely more highs and more low end, and a more open, spacious sound.
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"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
Edits: 06/10/12 06/20/12
I don't have much to compare them to now except my 650's. They strike me as being not as extended in either direction as the 650's. For example in my Woo I have to be very careful with tube selection or the 650's get a little sharp in the highs and the bass gets a bit boomy, a bit disconcerting I must admit. With the 598's there is no issue what so ever and they do not get in the way of the music at all. The 650's work well with my Fournier and I don't have the issues above. Different design and tubes. Some might think the 650's are move revealing, some might think they are too revealing but they are never sterile, nor are the 598's which are really easy to live with headphones.
If I have a nit to pick with the 598's it is that they are not built as well, for my head at least. The 598's headband is different. It is a bit broader than the 650's which fits my head perfectly - the pressure from the 650's ear cups is well distributed over the ear. Snug but even. The 598's not so much and the cup pressure is not even on my ears and can be fatuging (not the sound). If you have a medium to small head you might not like the fit I think.
If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer.
Chuck
Thanks Chuck. Your comments were very succinct and tell me what I wanted to know.
Some around here think I have a very big head. But if I get the HD 598, I will have to see for myself how they fit.
I don't like boomy bass, especially in headphones, and I don't like tipped up highs, so your description of the balance seems very good to me, as does easy to live with.
"With the 598's there is no issue what so ever and they do not get in the way of the music at all."
That's what I want!
I've read what the staff at Head Room think, and also some customer reviews there and at Amazon. Most seem to like them a lot.
I would rather have a 1/8 inch headphone connector than the 1/4 inch one supplied as I listen a lot on my computer.
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"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
Which Woo, please?
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
.
Thanks. I've been considering the WA6 for my two Grados. What's your opinion on the WA3?
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
It is a well built 'tube' headphone amp - it sure has a typical tube tone. A bit full in the bass I think, but that will depend on tubes. It is, compared to a SS headphone amp I have, a sonic blessing. The only problem I had with the Woo3 was getting tubes that were quiet. The tubes that came with it were not so. The upgrade of the tubes to tubes recommended by Woo, at least the power tube, was essential. I tried to save a buck by trying to buy it else where. I shouldn't have wasted my time. I succeeded but with shipping and everything (excessive) I didn't save a nickle. Replacing the small tubes was a different matter. I have lots of NOS and current production tubes that I've never had a noise problem with. Not so with the Woo. Probably only meant that I needed to buy a higher grade of tube, but I did get some JJ 6922's to sound dead quiet and sonically rich. Perhaps that particular tube adds to the fullness of the bass I was hearing and warmth in mids and highs. That would be consistent with my use of it in other stuff.
In any event the Woo is a high quality product and I do not regret its purchase. I don't know how essential headphone listening is for you but if looks is not important, don't overlook that little Fournier amp. Its powered by 2 6922's (JJ's) and SS output replacing the tube of the Woo. It has the tubes sound with out emphasis (bloom) that you can get from tubes. If I didn't have the Woo it would be in my main system with my 650's and I wouldn't look back! :-)
Thanks for the detailed reply.I admit that I can definitely be influenced by audio eye candy. I saw the WA6 at a meet recently and was mesmerized by the Sophia 274B mesh plate rectifier tube. I currently use the Peachtree Audio Nova for my headphone listening. Headphone listening is becoming my go-to mode.
Eye candy.
I'm so shallow.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Edits: 04/28/12
I have not heard the 598, but have the 595, 600 and 650 and I prefer the 600, not as bright as the 595, but much better definition and sound stage.
Andy
I thought the 598 was very nice. I've discovered, however, that I'm a Grado man and need that sparkle. Good phone, tho'.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
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