Headphones, etc.

[Saccopoo]

So, I got a cell phone last July. My first. Bought the HTC One M8 for the main purpose of using it as a music player device first. As such, I wanted to get a quality set of headphones to match with it and decided on the AKG K545 for their performance and portability. Great cans. Very linear and precise.

I believe I made what amounted to the perfect purchase for how I like to listen to music (which is trying to maintain object neutrality) and what I wanted from the headphones (portability, in-line mic1, quality sound) .

I feel that the artists and engineers have already done a lot of work with the music and don't need audio components coloring the sound beyond what was originally envisioned and finalized by the artists.

AKG K545:


Really blown away by how good the sound is through this setup and I kinda got bitten by the headphone bug. Bought a bunch of Skullcandy units to play around with as my local retailer had a great sale on them (some being DQ'ed):

Crusher
- Absolute guilty pleasure. Two drivers per side with one acting as a sub. You want to be "in the club?" Well, here it is. It's really funny and cool to have that bass jacked and having your head vibrate to it. Adjustable.

Also, the Navigator (loves it - so freaking comfortable), Hesh 2 Bluetooth, Hesh 2, and the Lowrider. Skullcandy makes some pretty good cans for the money IMO.

Which got me to thinking about how I have a pair of Sennheiser HD580's sitting somewhere and wondered how an in-home audiophile set of headphones compared to these newer ones.

I hadn't put them on in something like ten years and as soon as I touched them, the foam on the headband and earpads literally disintegrated. So, I ended up paying something like $70 for replacement pads and now I'm thinking that I'm committed to using them for my desktop system. (Especially since I have been downloading all my CD's into FLAC files on the computer for playlist transfers to the phone (bought a 64 gig SD card for music storage on the HTC).)

Sennheiser HD580:


Which got me to thinking that just plugging a 300 ohm impedance headphone into either my Asus Xonar DSX sound card or the headphone port on my lower end Logitech Z523 2.1 speaker system wasn't going to do them any justice, so today I ordered a Schiit Magni 2 Uber Headphone Amplifier and a pair of Audioengine A2+ powered monitors, which will be supported by a Sunfire True Subwoofer Super Junior that I've had in a box that's never been used.

Schiit Magni 2 Uber:


Audioengine A2+:


Oh, I figured while I was at it, I might as well get a DAC/Amp for the Phone to bump up the performance on the go, so I picked up a FiiO E18 Kunlun, which was designed specifically for Android units:



So, what type of headphone/phone/desktop rigs are you people using? Any feedback on the aforementioned equipment?

[Demonpenz]

I play youtube videos through my phone

[stevieray]

tried out the bose the other day..pretty sweet.
how much were the audioengine spkrs?

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by stevieray

tried out the bose the other day..pretty sweet.
how much were the audioengine spkrs?

$249 for the pair.

They've been getting raves, especially the new 2+.

I wanted powered speakers so I could run them through the pre-amp outs of the Magni versus dick around with dials on the backs/sides of the speaker units or through the computer volume controls.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...rs-and-d3-dac/

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

$249 for the pair.

They've been getting raves, especially the new 2+.

I wanted powered speakers so I could run them through the pre-amp outs of the Magni versus dick around with dials on the backs/sides of the speaker units or through the computer volume controls.

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...rs-and-d3-dac/

I can vouche for the Audio Engine's. Excellent speaker. I'm looking into a new set of Sennheiser's.

[DaneMcCloud]

Check out Focal's new headphones ($349). I've been using the Ultrasone 550's in my studio for a decade and they rock. The bottom is so huge you can feel it in the phones, which is rare.

[Molitoth]

I use:

Avid Digi003 > M-Audio SBX10 (Crossover) > JBL LSR305
&
Audio Technica ATH-M50

[DaveNull]

That's a nice looking setup.

I use Shure SRH440's (with upgraded ear pads) connected to my Mac Pro by way of a Fiio Kilimanjaro amplifier.

Nothing special for my phone as I'm usually working around the house if I'm listening to music on the phone. I've got a pair of bluetooth earbuds that get the job done. And by "get the job done" I mean "They don't fall out and can drown out the lawn mower".

[L.A. Chieffan]

I'm in the market for Bluetooth earbuds. I had the jaybird bluebud x which were good but I lost. Any suggestions?

[DaveNull]

These are the earbuds I picked up.

[penguinz]

Nothing beats the $6.00 pair of earbuds i have!

[thabear04]

I have had these for about a year jabra headphones wireless.

[ragedogg69]

Originally Posted by penguinz

Nothing beats the $6.00 pair of earbuds i have!

I am the same way. Got earbuds that were $15.99 and came with a $16 rebate, so they paid me to buy them.

all and all if I had to pay for new ones, I would just buy something from monoprice. They do quality stuff all the time.

[Reaper16]

I just have an AKG k240 for home use. They're good enough that I don't need to upgrade unless I really invest in other home equipment as well.

Those are not great on-the-go, and I've been wanting a better travel headphone than my shitty $20 Sony whatevers that I found in the student union during college like 9 years ago.

[Third Eye]

I'm a big supporter of the Koss Porta Pro. I don't use headphones enough to justify a big ticket purchase and you can't beat them from a price/performance perspective. Plus, the lifetime "no questions asked" guarantee is nice.

http://www.cnet.com/products/koss-portapro-with-case/