The Audiophile Thread

[RAZRr1275]

I thought I'd start one of these up for talking about headphones, amps etc. I'll start - I currently have some Sennheiser HD-280 Pros and Grado SR80i's - I'm selling the Grados to make room for some AKG K702's and a fiio E7 and E9 set up that I'm picking up. I can't wait to test it out.

[xxxAir23xxx]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

That's wicked man. How do those Seinnheisers sound? I was really looking into purchasing some but got some Dre beats for Christmas last year, so I didn't buy them.

I was looking at the HD 555 model I think. The beats really crank the low end to hell but squash the middle frequencies, so I'm looking for something else in the near future.

In terms of durability how are the Seinnheisers? I mainly use headphones for just listening to tunes around campus and at night in my bed, and have a pretty solid audio system that I use primarily through the day. The beats are good for what I use them for though. Never had a durability problem and they look pretty sexy.

Any opinions of those Seinnheisers (especially compared to beats) would be appreciated!

[adice15]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

Would you recommend getting either iBeats or Klipsch S4i's? I've heard that the iBeats have more bass and overall sound better, but I've also heard that they have terrible durability.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

I have been rockin Sennheiser hd595 with a my fiio e7 for the past year for my computer headphones. I'll use my my Beats studios when I travel or are around the house.

I know people bash on Beats by Dre, but I got them 120 bucks refurbished and are worth every penny! I just prefer to have the bass hit hard when listening to hip hop and are way easier to travel with than my Senns.

As for reliability with beats, its definitely an issue. I have friends who have their ibeats fall apart. Mine have been ok except for the wires have got lose and 1 right now does not work. Sennheisers, I've stepped, sat and crushed them with my bean bag. Still working perfect. I gotta say also they are the most comfortable headphones I have. I can sit there for hours without having to take them off.

If your looking for travel or workout earbuds, I use Bose MiE2 in ears and are amazing. I get really good bass and the ear bud rarely falls out when working out.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

That's wicked man. How do those Seinnheisers sound? I was really looking into purchasing some but got some Dre beats for Christmas last year, so I didn't buy them.

I was looking at the HD 555 model I think. The beats really crank the low end to hell but squash the middle frequencies, so I'm looking for something else in the near future.

In terms of durability how are the Seinnheisers? I mainly use headphones for just listening to tunes around campus and at night in my bed, and have a pretty solid audio system that I use primarily through the day. The beats are good for what I use them for though. Never had a durability problem and they look pretty sexy.

Any opinions of those Seinnheisers (especially compared to beats) would be appreciated!

The Sennheisers are great as far as durability - I throw my HD-280s in a backpack when I'm on the move and they haven't broken. I know someone who owns the HD-555s and does the same thing. I'd strongly recommend the sennheisers - What you'll get is a very neutral headphone with great sounding mids and highs. If you're a big fan of the beats you'll find the senns anemic in the bass department because they won't have as much as a kick as you're used to.

Would you recommend getting either iBeats or Klipsch S4i's? I've heard that the iBeats have more bass and overall sound better, but I've also heard that they have terrible durability.

I'd say the Klipsch S4is - To be honest I haven't heard them but I have heard a few beats products and don't like them at all - Way too much emphasis on bass and not enough on highs and mids for my liking. So largely because of that I'd say the Klipsch ones because I hear their sound signature is more mid and high friendly. I will say this though, if you're a basshead get the beats.

[adice15]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

The Sennheisers are great as far as durability - I throw my HD-280s in a backpack when I'm on the move and they haven't broken. I know someone who owns the HD-555s and does the same thing. I'd strongly recommend the sennheisers - What you'll get is a very neutral headphone with great sounding mids and highs. If you're a big fan of the beats you'll find the senns anemic in the bass department because they won't have as much as a kick as you're used to.


I'd say the Klipsch S4is - To be honest I haven't heard them but I have heard a few beats products and don't like them at all - Way too much emphasis on bass and not enough on highs and mids for my liking. So largely because of that I'd say the Klipsch ones because I hear their sound signature is more mid and high friendly. I will say this though, if you're a basshead get the beats.

Yeah I'm definitely not a basshead, so I ordered the S4i. Thanks!

[Kashanova]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

How about Home Theater Setups? anyone have a custom setup?

[adice15]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

Has anyone used the Sennheiser PX 200 IIi? I already bought the Klipsch S4i but the Sennheiser is gonna be on a lightning deal soon so it will probably be cheaper.

[USF11]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

I love my S4's mainly because Klipsch's warranty policy is so top notch. I've had them around 3 years and replaced them twice no questions asked.

I'm thinking about getting a pair of Sennheiser PXC 450's for the poker tables, any thoughts?

[Blzer]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

My audio set up in my bedroom along with my Samsung 59" plasma PN59D7000:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V667 7.2 630W
Center: Polk CS10
Fronts: Insignia NS-B1112 (bookshelf)
Surrounds: Bose Interaudio 2000 (bookshelf)
Backs: Samsung PS-AR720S (satellites)
Subwoofer: Acoustech 12" BIC PL-200
Headphones: Sony MDR-7506 Professional

Crossover frequency set to the 80 Hz THX standard.

I want to upgrade my fronts to Klipsch towers, but that would mean transitioning all my other speakers to surrounds and weeding out my satellites. Unfortunately, my speaker stands for my backs, although advertised to "have enough screws and mounts to match any speakers," can only match my backs, and neither the Insignia nor Bose speakers can stand on them. I'll probably wait until I move out for the upgrades, so I can acquire more stands to get everything else going.

Overall, I am very pleased with my system, especially for Blu-rays. I don't get to crank it up too high normally since other people are home (it tends to have to stay quieter than -20.0 dB), but like Saturday night when I had the house all to myself, I set it around -12.5 dB and popped in The Bourne Ultimatum. This is a home theater.

It's not the best system around, but it's more than pleasing for a bedroom setting. I might want to take advantage of my 7.2 receiver and add a second Acoustech sub in the back left corner of my room for more punch. I used to own these two smaller 8" subwoofers featured in these images:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-HT-AS7.../dp/B000YO8H5C
http://www.amazon.com/Harman-Kardon-.../dp/B0039UUPH6

So I downgraded to one sub, but upgraded in quality. I wouldn't mind having two of what I have, but I could always keep going higher as far as sub punch if I absolutely desired so.

I wouldn't call myself an "audiophile" in the sense that I study and measure decibels all day, but I know and like good sound when I hear it, and I do what I can to make my movies, music, and games sound like they were intended to.

[Blzer]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

My audio set up in my bedroom along with my Samsung 59" plasma PN59D7000:

Receiver: Yamaha RX-V667 7.2 630W
Center: Polk CS10
Fronts: Insignia NS-B1112 (bookshelf)
Surrounds: Bose Interaudio 2000 (bookshelf)
Backs: Samsung PS-AR720S (satellites)
Subwoofer: Acoustech 12" BIC PL-200
Headphones: Sony MDR-7506 Professional

Not exactly audio tech, but I wanted to mention that this week I also added a Panamax M5400-PM power conditioner. It was between this and a Furman, but I jumped the gun when I found I could get a new one for 30% off, and it's definitely cleaned up the sound in some aspects, especially with the subwoofer.

For a makeshift HT system inside a bedroom, things are starting to look beautiful! I now need to upgrade from my bookshelf to a more appropriate shelfing system for my movies and games, but that's neither here nor there.

[mrpotatohead5]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

Can't say i'm a huge Aduiophile as my current life situation (broke college student) hasn't allowed me to dedicate money to it but I am rocking a Creative Titanium HD sound card in my computer and have a pair of Ultrasone HFI580 headphones that sound great.

I'm saving slowly for a nice custom speaker setup for my rig as well, but I want to do it right when I do it so its going to be a little expensive.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

Any recommendations on some good noise cancelling headphones? They are for my mom, so she doesn't need top of the line audio performance. Trying to stay under $50. If Best Buy has anything good it would be preferred since I'm 2 days from Christmas and I get a discount.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

How about Home Theater Setups? anyone have a custom setup?

My former setup:

TV: LG 50PJ350
AVR: Harmon Kardon AVR 247
Center: Bic America DV-52CLRB
Fronts: Sony SSF-7000
Rears: Polk Audio R150
Sub: Yamaha YST-SW315

Future Setup:
TV: 1080p 3LCD Projector (already have--was free)
AVR: Denon
Speakers: Klipsch or Energy
Sub: 12" sub--not sure what brand

[Blzer]

Re: The Audiophile Thread

Any recommendations on some good noise cancelling headphones? They are for my mom, so she doesn't need top of the line audio performance. Trying to stay under $50. If Best Buy has anything good it would be preferred since I'm 2 days from Christmas and I get a discount.

Are we talking ear buds, or the big kahunas?