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Starter headphone set up to blow my mind?

IDC I think I have had the same issue as you where refreshing my browser page recreates the bloody post!!! :)

Anyway yes the Kii are great - but as many people have said I don’t think they could be compared to headphones, so am interested to see how the different experience makes me feel overall :)
 
Another thumbs op for the Sennheiser HD800. They sounded it bit too revealing on the treble end but after extensive online research I gave the Dupont Resonaters a go and this solved the excessive high end. Another recent upgrade was to replace the stock cable with a set made by Custom Cables. This gave them a lovely natural analogue tone; even when listening to digital sources. I prefer them sound wise to the Beyerdynamic T1 2 ( + too heavy and uncomfortable in the long run) the Etymotic ER4 (painfully uncomfortable to get a seal + light on the bass) and a host of other amp H/P’s combinations that I’ve tried over the decades. I use the Senns with the Teddy Headphone Amp; especially for late night listening and to mildly put it, I’m knocked out by this combo.
 
kanwar said:
God knows why the second half of the above cut and paste is green. But at least it looks....hopeful???
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It is the text that has been associated to the link to the BD T1 2 you posted ... if you edit it you can adjust that ...
 
I had Grado SR325 which I rebuilt after a driver failed, @martin clark makes a very good point, these are OPEN back, about as open as it can get, no getting away from the sound spilling out everywhere, no way can you sit next to anybody and expect them to ignore your music! This has to be a fundamental choice you need to answer first.

For what it is worth, Grados are a very simple bit of kit, you can build your own and get top end Grado performance for less, and an individual set of headphones if you were to go that way https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/grado-sr325-replace-driver.222508/ shows what I did in repairing mine, but you can start from scratch and buy all the bits and have non-Grado Grado style headphones for less and enjoy the process.
 
Grenadier_45 said:
Because they're active, as a result of the ANC function, just about anything will go loud through them. You can plug them into a good source, and they'll do a good job at preserving it.

Since you mention Tidal from your phone, don't rule out bluetoothing direct, and enjoy no wires. Again - try without preconceptions if you can...

The wonder of the things is that just about everything sounds great through them, sharp without ever sounding harsh, smooth without sounding fuzzy. Might remind you of your speakers...

I have had HD600s for 2 decades, and Oppo PM-3s more recently. I use these Sonys in preference to either. The fact that you've got in-built noise cancellation (which you can turn off) along with EQ, and also a sound position tool in the app on the phone, means you can put the sound out in front of you at the click of a button, if you don't like the 'between the ears' effect headphones have.

If you're also half-considering IEMs, however, I have one more suggestion: Etymotic ER4. You must get the things deep in your ear canal and you therefore need to sort out whether the silicone or foam tips suit you best because they're lousy if they're not well inserted and sealed. After much experimentation, I use the Comply precision tips. However, when you get it right, they're like plugging the music direct into your brain. Get it right and they'll make listening to the Kiis sound like you're listening through a duvet, without sounding in any way bright. Oh, and these blighters really do need a very good source to shine - they don't much like Apple phones or iPods. I use mine with a Sony NW-ZX2 on the move, and occasionally a Linn Akurate DSM/3 at home.
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I also have ER4s, SE535s, HD600s, and B&W P7s. For me the SE846s top the lot. Plus will make the most of any source.

For IEMs, discomfort over time, ease of inserting correctly, fit and seal, and ear wax are all common objections. I have had a few pairs of IEM and have experienced all the above. but the SE864s, once fitted with custom moulded gloves took all of those away. It's about the fit and seal to get these things singing. Not a close enough fit, they are uncomfortable and SQ is compromised through 'frequency leakage'. Too close a fit and they are plain uncomfortable for any time. I got custom ear gloves from Ultimate Hearing Protection Systems. You supply (local audiologist) an ear impression, then they make custom fit for your ear. They specialise in Shure and cost was £120 for what has been a totally transformed experience in both fidelity and comfort over time, plus ease of insertion. MIndblowing.

Mix and match hardware for the headphones in my armoury is, MF Xcans (retired), FiiO E17 dac headphone amp,
FiiO Mont BLanc for IEMs, Sony NWz A15 Walkman (native FLAC support, great internal dac), iPhones/pads, Moto g6,

And in main system I have Benchmark dac2 HDR - Pre amp/dac which is also a headphone amp.

At home, Listening to FLACs either on my network or streamed from Qubuz, the SE846s straight into the DAC2 HDR is the most stunning sound.

On the go, the Sony NW/Fiio and SE846 combo is tops.

iPhone 7 qubuz app FLACs into SE846s is next best. That's without any external dac btw.

SEs and Apple are more than capable of making the most out of Spotty 320k streams, YouTube etc. Nothing to be sniffy about there - easy, uncomplicated, pocketable.

I barely use the HD600s, and for my over ear fun, I really enjoy the B&W P7s. Unlike the senns, they have a very easy in house sound, erring on the smooth, but fun and very pleasing for most rock/pop/folk. The wireless BT is also great. I couldn't wear them walking down the street (that goes for any over-ears) but they are great for travelling, although i left the first on an aircraft seat - never to be seen again..

I may look at a portable amp dac for Apple with BT, but cannot be bothered with CCKcamera connection kit.

I would ditch all the others for the Shure 846 IEMs if I had to make a Sophie's Choice. Only with custom mounds is the caveat.
 
Fit is everything when it comes to headphones. I love my HD800S but seldom use them as I personally just can't get decent bass from them. I strongly suspect this due to having a narrower than average skull which, combined with the 800/800S's loose fit and oversized earcups, means I don't get a complete seal all the way around my jawline/neck. Despite being a technically inferior headphone with poorer resolution/transparency, I find myself using my HD600 a lot more as the earcups are smaller, thicker and spongier and provide much stronger clamping force on my head which gives a punchier and more extended bass response than the 800S, despite the 600 rolling off earlier in measurements. The ATH-ADX5000 achieves a level of transparency and resolution comparable to the 800/800S and provides a superior fit and bass presentation on my head, but its midrange and treble balance is a little more skewed. It can however be EQd to mimic the 800/800S's tonality fairly easily.
 
I use Audeze lcd 3 for my headphone listening powered by a hicap and naim headline, tryed 800s very little bass the audeze have a good bass, though not the most comfortable of headphones. I just love them because I put up with the comfort not that bad at all.
 
For those want to dip their toe for little investment, lots of chi-fi IEMs are getting solid reviews around the web - small outlay, decent performance on par with some of Shure's line etc. As ever, be mindful fit is absolutely key with IEMs. Long-term comfort is worth researching also.

The usual sources (Guttenberg, Darko) have all recommended some of late.

Lots of info online elsewhere too if you want to deep dive.
 
As a lifelong 2 channel listener I started off not wanting to spend much on headphones. For a while I was happy at the Hifiman 400i level but have moved up significantly (Chord MScaler/TT2/Abyss 1266TC) in the last year or so. Like a hifi system the value priced stuff can be very good. Likewise the summit stuff is awesome.

For a value priced setup I'd go Focal Elear or maybe Hifiman Sundara with an iFi Micro iDSD Black or used Hugo 1
 
I think I will probably go closed back, over ear, thinking more about it. Then if I got amp I could use them on the go

So will start with my AKG K550 for now

Was looking at the Chord Mojo any thoughts on that?

At home I could stream to my streamer and then out via optical to the head amp.

on the go - are there any I can plug an iPhone into directly? With the Hugo I think I would need a Lightning to micro USB adapter?

And how do I make sure I am using the iphones digital output and avoiding the built in DAC?

Or what about the audio lab Audiolab M-DAC nano? Bluetooth connection. Cheaper. Probably good for on the go at least?
 
Tried the AKG K550 straight out the iPhone 7 - someone please tell me the iPhone 7 DAC is awful - because they sounded awful :)

EDIT - just found out the DAC is in the tiny Lightning port to 3.5mm adapter. So as it’s not made by Devialet we can safely assume it’s utter pants being so small!!!!!

not sur if it’s worth pursuing a headphone DAC amp with them, or wait till I listen some better ones!

plus they were really uncomfortable - could feel my ears pressing against the hard plastic driver cover
 
jamington2004 said:
A few examples of the other ones you tried zippy?
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Shure 1540 (much praised by others, not by me), Sony 1000XM3, Bose something-or-other, Grado (can't remember the exact model)

Not only were the Sennheisers better, they were a lot less money than some. The Sennheisers also had the right balance between bass and treble, where most others were too bassy.
 
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