 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
209.103.248.32
As a new member to headphone audio, Im not sure how to approach this or what to be looking for.
Just got a very nice tube head amp made for myself. Happy to post more on it shortly. Its using a single 6SL7 driving a 6L6 and can do about 1000mw into 100 ohms per channel. So can drive all but the most crazy designs and no electrostats. So thats my power limits.
Currently using HD600s and really love the sound. So far Im finding their short comings being not much emphasis below 50hz. That bugs me the most. They dont have the end all in 3d / staging. Not terrible but not awe inspiring either. I really like their neutral sound. They arent shrill to me at all. And on the whole seem really well designed. Just sucks they dont do sub bass much at all. They also can get a bit congested at loud complex passages. Not bad though. Im glad I got them for use right now. Got em cheap and feel they are a great value.
Im going to be using ALLOT of digital as a source. Currently have a MHDT Havana which I absolutely love. And am an all tube pre and amp guy too. There will be vinyl used too. But so far not as much due to convenience of my digital sources. I all about warm rich detailed sound. But need my sub bass too. Im not after the end all in sparkle and top end detail. I cant stand the mastering of so much digital that I try and make my system tolerable to it.
From what Im reading the sound of the HE500 and LCD-2 sound like they would be right up my alley with what I feel Im missing. Its hard to say without direct exposure though. Im here in SE Wisconsin so not sure of any place to hear within reason. Work all the time and have my son.
One thing that puzzles me about Audeze. They seem really serious as a US company and appear to be trying hard. Wish we could see more like that. But why the 1 year warranty? HiFi man is 3 years and many of the other offerings in the $1K area offer 2 or more. I have no plans of driving em to damage but it would be really nice to see greater stand behind for that kind of money. Im also a little scared by their move to offer the next generation at 2X the money! Seems a bold and maybe dangerous move to long term stability of the company. I wish them all the best and they clearly have made a major splash. But yeah, Im not some super rich audiophile by a WIDE margin. Work hard to scrape up spending $ for my love and try to make it well spent.
Up for all ideas and thoughts on where I should be looking. I certainly not sold on any one product yet. Just yearning for the next level and loving the headphone scene. Listening more and more since getting into it.
Thanks so much for thoughts and reading this.
Dave
Follow Ups:
Well for headphone listeners of all types two things help. EQ and Crossfeed. See Linkwitz sight for these. His circuits are easily created in tubes - if you prefer.
Three most important things in Audio reproduction: Keep the noise levels low, the power high and the room diffuse.
I understand the idea behind, and the benefits of active sound correction. Its just never been a big interest or want of mine (for now, who knows....).
Im personally just not a super picky perfectionist. Im content with the fact Ill hear coloration in my stereo. The way I feel, eh adds character :) Heck right now my favorite stereo Im using is my 60 watt 6550 tube amps driving JBL 4430 monitors. Not at all a perfect setup. But man I love it!
This is what drove me to have a nice beefy tube headphone amp made. Keep that nice tube sound with the needed power to boot. Right now its capable of driving my 600ohm HD600 cans to serious volume levels. Should do fine on the HE500 I just ordered this morning.
So yeah for now Im just gonna go old school purist in my amplifying approach. Its been serving my tastes fine thus far.
BTW whats crossfeed? Briefly skimmed the site you posted. Didnt see anything.
Thanks much
Dave
SO, what do you think about the HE-500's?
Most of the kids on Head-Fi use EQ. It's the only way.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Audeze now offers 3 year warranty on all headphones. This update is retroactive for all headphones.
Right when I thought I made my decision.
Its nice to see they owned up to a warranty one would expect at such a price.
Now all they have to do is drop the price $200 :-) Ha, I wont hold my breath.
I will have to re-evaluate my thoughts now.
Only thing that kinda bugs me allot about these after reading a bunch. Their non removable ear pads. If theres one thing we all know of from using old / vintage headphones, pads wear out. Kinda sucks thinking about these and the possibility they might lie flat after 10+ years with little I could do on my own.....
Thanks much for the update. I will be re-thinking.
Dave
but if you really want one go to headfi.org there a many pairs for sale under 800.00 with the extended warranty applying
wait around. the only did that was because of the drivers failing on both the LCD2 R2 and the LCD3/ Do remember they are still a small company and warranties are only good for as long as they are in business. I personally will stay away from those products until they have a proven and finalized product. With audeze its develop as you go which is the reason I sold my first pair after the wood cracked and blocks cracking on the replacement pair and headband going south and all the other issues I decided grief free was better. If they did not offer that warranty extension I believe they wood be cooked.
Edits: 01/26/12
Yeah I hear ya Frank. Your echoing allot of my thoughts and concerns.
I love the fact HiFi Man has introduced new cheaper products that still appear to be of quality and care. Plus they are branching off into many other avenues. Some may feel for better or worse.
They just overall strike me as a company that stands a good chance to being around years to come. I agree with their moves business wise overall.
I think this will be my choice.
Ive been reading yours and countless others thoughts and experiences over on HeadFi. Yours and Skylabs experience and views on these HE500 cans make me feel confident of this purchase.
Thanks much for helping guide me on this. Keep posting here and there. Your informative and helpful.
Dave
The audeze earpads are not removable but some might argue they are better than the hifiman earpads. I think both headphones have comfortable ear pads but the hifiman headband is much more comfortable to me during listeneing sessions of an hour or more.
I've been listening and comparing both headphones a little more and the thick audeze earpads, especially how they tilt the driver may contribute to what sounds like a more distant, softer beautiful tone. The hifiman earpads force your ears closer to the drivers which might account for the higher level of detail.
I have to say the audeze has a sweet beguiling tone that may not be 100% neutral but I can see why many find it to their liking. If you have the money I would suggest getting both especially since the same amp will drive them to almost the exact same loudness level. Headroom.com will let you return headphones for any reason within 30 days.
I got the LCD-3s about a month ago and have been very happy. My interactions with the Audeze people were great and they were very helpful. I drive them with a Schiit Lyr amp. I know this is not the model you are considering, but I thought I'd share my Audeze intereactions.
I received a set of HE500's a couple of days ago and have been comparing them to the LCD2's. They are both very good headphones. I would agree with most of the comments I've read online about these two headphones. The LCD2's are a little softer and more forgiving with slightly more bass impact but they don't sound quite as neutral as the 500's. The one area I would disagree on is the level of detail retrieved. I've read numberous online reviews that said the LCD2 has more detail than the 500's. With my violectric HPA V200 amp the 500's have noticeably more detail than the LCD2's. Some might say too much. The 500's could be characterized as dryer sounding than the LCD's but I think they are just more revealing. Like I said before both headphones are excellent sounding and I could live with either one. I'm not sure which one i'm going to keep yet. If you have any specific questions on one over the other send me a message.
You thoughts echo what Ive been reading by many others.
Allot of folks on Head-Fi prefer the LCD2 for different reasons. However allot of folks who have heard both give serious recognition to the HE500. And of course many preferred the HE500 also. Kinda 70/30 LCD2/HE500 over there.
Im gonna pull the trigger on a pair of HE500 within a week here I think. I dont believe Im in danger of being let down. The 3 year warranty with a pretty solid record of manufacturing credibility and its happy owner history, I feel my money will be well spent.
As long as they are not bright and shrill to me, should be a winner.
Who did you buy from? Ive read the pads are improved and ship with 2 pairs. Plus the clamp design of pad to can has been better executed. Lastly the cable has been thinned more flexible.
Thanks so much for the shared experience.
Dave
I bought my pair from headroom since they have an excellent return policy and are an American company. Mine came with a pair of leather pads and velour pads. I find the velour to be the more comfortable of the two. The 500's also came with a very thin, light and flexible silver cable.
When you begin to compare the upper tier products you might start to wonder if there really is such a thing as "upgrading". That is, when you move from product to product it's more like moving sideways. Senn 600, with it's signature sound, has a distinct sonic personality that is good for certain types of music and not so good for others - just like so many other excellent headphones. I would keep the Senn 600's and simply buy another pair or two of different sounding headphones so that you might have something right for many different musical occasions.
Yeah I totally understand where your coming from.
With allot of aspects and gear in audio, you reach a point of diminishing returns. Personally I find (as a lame and general rule) at the $1-3K price points, if one shops well, items become very hard to top. Again just a overly general rule.
I think with what Ive read, headphones become very well done around $200-400. And at the $500-800 hard to top. Then at $1k+ a fine art for the discerning and perfectionist.
The more I read and think about it. Il likely pull the trigger on the HE500. Theres been allot of persuasive remarks here and on Head-Fi about them. And I think, should they live up to the comments, they will be that sweet spot where upgrading made sense. With no need to go beyond.
In my case Im looking for an obvious upgrade in sound and deep bass. Not really a lateral shift in sound. This hopefully will be it.
Ill relay my thoughts after it happens.
Thanks
Dave
The HE500's zippier presentation might be a nice contrast to the HD600's darker, more distant perspective. Let us know ...
yes
I really like my HD600s but they're 10 years old. Are the 650s seriously
better?
MK
I have both the 600 and 650
running through a Musical fidelity x -cans tube amp
The 650 have slightly better bass punch but they lose the midrange magic of the 600
I can here so much more midrange detail with the 600.
The 600 pulls the sound of the mid back a bit to get more bass but I find the 600 draws you into the music better then the 650.
You think the 650 sounds better then the 600 at first but the trick of getting out of the way and just enjoying the music is better with the 600
IMHO
IN fact I also have the AKG 701 and I still go back to the 600 !
Edits: 02/06/12
Never owned the 650. From what Ive read not dramatically so. Infact some say they prefer the 600 to its successor.
So as a fellow owner of the 600, does the bass roll off bother you terrible so? Thats really my only major complaint.
Dave
I'm not a bass freak. As long as I can hear an acoustic bass in a well
recorded piece, I'm very happy. I listen almost exclusively to small
group acoustic jazz and bluegrass, some big band (most of recorded long
ago), and western swing from all eras. And the 600s do a very adequate
job reproducing bass, afaiac. It's always possible to do better, of
course.
Yeah, I wouldnt want to imply the bass is dead. Not at all. Just the lack of deep / sub bass bothers me.
Knowing your listening habits. I can easily see how these would satisfy long term. They do most acoustic and jazz just fine. Heck they do everything fine.
Im just used to hearing deep bass in so many other systems and music. Its hard for me to overlook.
They are great headphones. From all Ive read one would have to hit the $700+ mark to do noticeably better by allot of accounts.
Ill soon find out for myself.
Dave
FWIW, I was completely underwhelmed by the LCD-2's. I cannot for the life of me figure out what all the fuss was about.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Thanks
Dave
I've heard both HiFi Man (HE-500, I think) and Audeze at local Head Fi meetups and they are both very good; both would be on my short list.
I thought the Audeze a little more 'present' and carried a bit more of the excitement of the music. On the other hand, listening the HiFi Man 'phones I found myself just sitting and listening... not a bad thing either!
Both of these were hooked up to some expensive looking (and sounding) amps.
I see that HiFi Man is introducing their new HE-400 (at $399) at CES. That's a planar magnetic design... apparently which does not need amplification.
+1
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
you make no mention of the tube headphone amp if it OTL or transformer based. That has lots to do with you selection. I own the HE500 and sold the LCD2 and both do not like OTL amps. Low impedance cans prefer transformer based amps the HD600 you have is 300 ohms and ideal fore an OTL. I would only try the two orthodynamic first before buying any one. I use the hE500 on a Taboo transformer based amp. Both the LCD2 is 50 ohms and the HE500 is 38 ohms. The HE500 does not work well on my CSP2 whereas all high impedance cans sound excellent on the CSP2
I had it custom made with lots of my ideas added. Seems to have turned out well. Just popped in some NOS Sylvania 6SL7-GT tubes into it last night. Just wonderful sound. Loads of power. Very happy with it.
My HD600 are 600 ohm.
Its funny, going from a stereo / speaker environment to this headphone scene is just eye opening! You can now hear levels of detail that are VERY hard to produce with full blown speaker rigs.
With every upgrade / change I make in the system, the more I like the sound of the HD600s. Just miss that added bottom end emphasis. That is really all I feel Im missing much of. Well that and clearly they are not wide open spacious electrostatic sounding. I picked up the Beyer Electrostatic headphones years ago by chance. And man they sound great. But you need a 50 watt amp to drive em.
If I remember right, your fav can is the Tesla T1 correct? How does the LCD-2 and HE500 stack up against one another IYO?
I really feel torn about buying HE500 or LCD-2. Im worried the 500 will be a bit bright to me and may not hold over time... who knows... I love the idea behind the LCD-2 US company and sound, just kinda worried about if Audeze will be around for the long haul going double in price with seemingly the only next offering. If my $1K headphone need work 5+ years from now, can I get it...
Thanks much for the info
Dave
I believe the hE500 is better built than the LCD2 and by the way fang been in business 7 years has a product line and offers 3yr warranty. LCD2 I had first one cracked and needed a replacement has a poor warranty and is made by 2 part time guys using one garage to make them so I would bet on HiFiman lasting much much longer. Plus there is huge QC issues with audeze. The T1 is my reference can but I do listen to all my headphones. With your transformer based amp the orthos will work also explore the new HE400 Fang has a preorder price of 349.00 and some say many will like it more than the HE500. I will hear those at my mini meet on 1/28. Look for the impression to come in a few weeks on the HE400 and I love the HE500 also just not as much as my T1and i do not think the HE500 is bright with the copper cable at all. I think its more warm but the HE400 is going to be a warm headphone also.
Edits: 01/11/12 01/11/12
From what you have said I think the LCD2 is right in your wheel house. They aren't the last word in sound stage expansion or neutral timbre, but they have very good bass and nice liquid textures. They are not that difficult to drive either. The LCD2 is all about warm, rich, detailed sound.
Yeah thats the gist Ive gotten from many other write ups.
I cant help but be somewhat worried about the company and cans. Like I said before, why the 1 year warranty on a fine US made product of $1K? And with the company introducing a next gen product at double the price, and the price is $2K!!! Will they be there for several years to come...
Im just thinking what if a connection on the inside on a can goes bad something like 6 years from now. So now a repair is needed and will there be someone to do that.
Maybe Im over analyzing things... IDK...
May I ask, did the HE500 not do it for you? Your personal preference?
Thanks much
Dave
I wasn't too concerned about the 1 year warranty from Audeze when I purchased the LCD 2's. Although I agree with your comment. An American made thousand dollar headphone should come with a 2-3 year warranty. I fail to see why introducing a $2,000 product would make the company less likely to be around. I expect them to be around for the long haul. There are a lot of companies that I would be just as concerned about in 6 years, not just Audeze. I'm fairly confident if Audeze isn't around in 6 years you could pay another company to fix your issues. I never tried any of the HiFi Man headphones so I can't directly compare them to the LCD2. I've heard they are more neutral but don't have as much bass and aren't as smooth sounding.
It would surprise me if either one had a significantly larger soundstage.
If you haven't already, ask this question on head-fi.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Thanks, just did last night. Been reading on that site for many months. Interesting setup for posting and arranging posts. But a nice, friendly, easy to use environment. Hope to read many ideas soon.
Thanks
Dave
Post a Followup:
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
