Official Eargasm (Audiophiles thread)

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-22-2014, 08:48 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
iLoqin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: No Way
Posts: 6,826
Car Info: Nadda
Thumbs up Official Eargasm (Audiophiles thread)

Well we had some kinda turn off from the Beats epidemic, but I wanted to ask some real questions...

Maybe giving prices + time with headphones, pros/cons:
High
Mid
Low

1) Headphones, on-ear, over-ear, which one is more comfortable? I wanted to just plug 'em into my computer or iphone and be all good.
-I listen to music like on pandora, I don't do any crazy stuff like music editing or anything major like that. Just fun listening and sometimes some gaming. Watch movies.

2) If you're say working out, what's the best in-ear set?

I tried to amazon them, but there are a crap ton... I also like buying from Costco if they had any... super great return policy. Plus I try to bargain shop online whenever some come on sale for a steal of a price!
iLoqin is offline  
Old 01-22-2014, 09:53 PM
  #2  
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
Jodice112's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Jose, Ca
Posts: 3,334
Car Info: '06 WRB STi
I prefer over ear headphones for comfort. If you just want to plug them in with no amplification, ATH M50 or HD 598 which are both sub $250.

Honestly you'll probably like a good set of IEMs over headphones without an amp. I'd get something like VSonic GR07 or Westone 2. You're music choice influences what kind of signature that you'll like. Check out head-fi.org.
Jodice112 is offline  
Old 01-22-2014, 10:13 PM
  #3  
Registered User
iTrader: (17)
 
Javirex23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 2,178
Car Info: 07lmtd 6spd wrx eq tuned
i received the DNA headphones for christmas and love them!
at first i was like "yay, thanks!" but really thought "overpriced, should've bought me some silicone hoses or a front sway bar lol"
after having them for a month, i like the sound they produce and are great for an all around headphone....
Javirex23 is offline  
Old 01-22-2014, 10:37 PM
  #4  
Registered User
iTrader: (18)
 
Scoobywax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Posts: 3,228
Car Info: 2006 obp wrx limited sedan
Surprisingly skull candy in ear buds are pretty wicked sounding.

Just gotta get the right size bud caps.
I use the smallest ones.

The bass is phenomenal for $20 headphones. I've had mine for over 5 years and they are still playing great!
Scoobywax is offline  
Old 01-22-2014, 10:38 PM
  #5  
Registered User
iTrader: (23)
 
glider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: South Bay
Posts: 751
Car Info: 2011 STI Sedan
+1 on the ATH M50 for general listening. Easy to drive, unfussy, foldable, don't share your tunes with everyone around you and sound great.
glider is offline  
Old 01-22-2014, 11:23 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
iLoqin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: No Way
Posts: 6,826
Car Info: Nadda
Yea, at $150 are the ATH M50's have been the sub $200 killers so far on all the reviews I keep seeing.

Second, more DJ & Dance is Crossfade LP's which is about $150 too.

I like the sub $200 price point.
iLoqin is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 06:41 AM
  #7  
Registered User
iTrader: (11)
 
queeg9k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cheesesteakville
Posts: 6,833
Car Info: 05 wrx wagon, 90 celica alltrac, 66 mustang
Should we keep the headphone talk to one thread?
queeg9k is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 08:49 AM
  #8  
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
 
wombatsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 7,441
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
For IEMs, I have used a load of them, Shure's, Etymotics and a couple others. So far my favorite is these:

Amazon.com : JBL Reference 220 Headphone (White) : Jbl Earphones : Electronics Amazon.com : JBL Reference 220 Headphone (White) : Jbl Earphones : Electronics

Though mine are black. I actually got a couple pairs of these years ago and for some reason I kept listening to these over the Shures (E2C, E3C) and the Etymotic (no idea, these were a friends, looks like earplugs of death, one blue one red). The JBL's are great straight out of a phone or iPod and do definitely sound a little better with an amp. I have not mentioned these because most likely no one has heard of them, but I really like them and have them with me every day. Only downside is the cloth cords - though they are really nice - do transfer noise into the buds when moving, and these would not be suitable for working out as the cloth would soak up sweat and such. Eeew.

Currently still breaking in my Sennheiser HD380's which are probably an entry-level device, but the nicest sounding thing I have had on my head since I can remember. These are nothing short of amazing so far, and they are only getting better. Got about 18 hours of break in so far and the bass is really waking up. Compared to other phones I have listened to, these just "go away" in that they are so comfortable, and the sound, while awesome, sounds a little farther away when compared to my Sony MDR-XB700's. IEM's are "right in your head" and while they sound good, can lead to fatigue because of this, and (from what I have read) having the channels Left and Right completely isolated in your ear for long periods of time. In normal listening, there is some bleed between channels (your left ear can hear music from the right channel) but not with headphones. Headroom's amps (like the Total Airhead I am using right now) have a "crossfeed" function that is supposed to help with this, and I feel that it does. I can listen to this amp all day long, no issues.

I was in a Datacenter most of last night, so was using my Bose QC15's for this. While the noise canceling is impressive on these, I have been enjoying them less and less. I did notice a dude cruising around with a red pair of Beats around his neck though. I should paint my QC15's red and call them BEETS BY J.

Originally Posted by queeg9k
Should we keep the headphone talk to one thread?
I would not be against that.
wombatsauce is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 04:29 PM
  #9  
Registered User
iTrader: (18)
 
Scoobywax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Posts: 3,228
Car Info: 2006 obp wrx limited sedan
Headphones are great until you are wearing your favorite pair walking down the street and step out into traffic on accident.
Noise cancelation seems like a bad idea now huh.
Scoobywax is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 04:35 PM
  #10  
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
 
wombatsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 7,441
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
Originally Posted by Scoobywax
Headphones are great until you are wearing your favorite pair walking down the street and step out into traffic on accident.
Noise cancelation seems like a bad idea now huh.
wat.
wombatsauce is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 04:46 PM
  #11  
Registered User
iTrader: (18)
 
Scoobywax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Posts: 3,228
Car Info: 2006 obp wrx limited sedan
Originally Posted by wombatsauce

wat.
You heard me....
or did you?
Noise cancelation I forgot.
Lol or does that stand for( what a troll. )

Just giving what I get around here lol.

Last edited by Scoobywax; 01-23-2014 at 04:48 PM.
Scoobywax is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 05:08 PM
  #12  
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
 
flat489's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saratoga
Posts: 1,946
Car Info: '11 STI
Originally Posted by Scoobywax
You heard me....
or did you?
Noise cancelation I forgot.
Lol or does that stand for( what a troll. )

Just giving what I get around here lol.
what?


Ive still been going back and forth on the HD380s and the ATH-m50s. It seems like I would be set either way I go.
flat489 is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 05:27 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
 
iLoqin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: No Way
Posts: 6,826
Car Info: Nadda
Majority of audiophililes all over youtube and even CNET rate the ATH-M50s as their go to or in the top5. I don't hear too much of the HD380s. Although I was looking for reviewers who are trying to spend under the $200 mark as a consumer.
iLoqin is offline  
Old 01-23-2014, 08:30 PM
  #14  
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
 
wombatsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 7,441
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
Originally Posted by iLoqin
Majority of audiophililes all over youtube and even CNET rate the ATH-M50s as their go to or in the top5. I don't hear too much of the HD380s. Although I was looking for reviewers who are trying to spend under the $200 mark as a consumer.
My HD-380's were $135 off Amazon. Never heard of the ATH-M50's before today. Would like to hear them, but these days - seems like you need to buy all the ones you want to try, and return the ones you don't like. Anyway, would be great to compare them.
wombatsauce is offline  
Old 03-28-2015, 09:17 PM
  #15  
VIP Member
iTrader: (7)
 
wombatsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 7,441
Car Info: 2018 Golf R Variant
Originally Posted by wombatsauce
My HD-380's were $135 off Amazon. Never heard of the ATH-M50's before today. Would like to hear them, but these days - seems like you need to buy all the ones you want to try, and return the ones you don't like. Anyway, would be great to compare them.
Just an update - my Sennheiser HD-380's have changed my life. These are wonderful, and I cannot wait until I can afford to pick up a set of HD-650's. The main reason I have not yet is that I never get any time to myself, and my listening environment is not conducive to use of open headphones.

I still use my Bose QC15's occasionally - but only inside of datacenters and then only connected to my phone or ipod. The amp makes them crap out a bit..

Leaving for Frankfurt in 2 weeks, planning on just taking the 380's and an amp. First time!
wombatsauce is offline  


Quick Reply: Official Eargasm (Audiophiles thread)



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:07 PM.