CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?  (Read 9102 times)

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raif

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2012, 06:45:50 AM »
I always loved the Grado HP-1(with flats) for vocals.  Of course I haven't heard one in like 8 years so maybe there is a bit of a Rose-Colored Lens going on there.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2012, 06:56:38 AM »
Mmmm...HE90. 


I can't get the R10 to work for me for some reason.  Maybe last time it was the Amarra issue.  Don't think I got to try them w/ the PWD.  The bass heavy one sounded best in mids and highs w/ the, ahem, 'source' at the time but the bass was ridiculous and worse than an M50.  The bass light R10 was thin, brittle and dry yet better balanced but that might have been the, ahem, 'source'.
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rhythmdevils

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2012, 07:40:49 AM »
So how different is your "best vocal" list from your "best headphone" list?  Seems like they are pretty similar lists for most of you so far, which goes to show how important it is to get vocals right.
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n3rdling

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2012, 07:44:26 AM »
One of those R10s Andy has is the shit.  Best one I've heard I think but he won't sell it. 

Actually I can't get the HD800 to work for me.  I came away from that meet thinking every headphone was good to great (I put heavy emphasis on midrange tonality) except for the HD800 which is tonally very off.  I've thought about getting it a few times but I'm back to having no desire to get it now.  It would probably be a good video game or movie headphone but not my cup o' tea for music.  Does the HD700 sound similar in the midrange?

edit: Just saw your post RD.  I already kinda covered it, but the midrange is by far my top priority.  Something like the 240DF is a bit on the slow and muddy side, but the midrange is very nice which is why I've praised it in the past.  If a headphone/speaker nails midrange tonality I will like it.  I only had to hear the Quad 57's for a few minutes before I knew it was pretty much exactly what I wanted in a speaker.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 07:48:14 AM by n3rdling »
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raif

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2012, 07:52:14 AM »
I was reading up on everyone's impressions on that meet and I would have to question using a Metric Halo as an audiophile source.

I won't get into the stability/reliability of the Amarra software as it would undoubtedly start a holy war with someone, but if setting up the Amarra 4 is the same as the LIO-8, then it is far from a plug'n play experience.
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Marvey

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #15 on: April 20, 2012, 08:09:30 AM »
Quote from: n3rdling on April 20, 2012, 07:44:26 AM

Actually I can't get the HD800 to work for me.  I came away from that meet thinking every headphone was good to great (I put heavy emphasis on midrange tonality) except for the HD800 which is tonally very off.  I've thought about getting it a few times but I'm back to having no desire to get it now.  It would probably be a good video game or movie headphone but not my cup o' tea for music.  Does the HD700 sound similar in the midrange?


It's that poor transition and cohesiveness from the lower mids to the upper mids isn't it?

HD700 is no different.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 08:12:33 AM by purrin »
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n3rdling

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #16 on: April 20, 2012, 08:12:32 AM »
I'm not really sure what it is to be perfectly honest.  Everything sounds slightly higher pitched than it should and nasally.  One of those SA Sonys had a similar problem.
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Marvey

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #17 on: April 20, 2012, 08:14:25 AM »
higher pitched = elevated upper mids/lower treble 6kHz
nasal = bumped up lower mids at 500Hz.
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rhythmdevils

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #18 on: April 20, 2012, 08:22:26 AM »
Have you heard the Anax version Milos?  Your impressions match mine pretty well though the foam mods do go along ways and I've never heard them well amped with plankton and kelp and various other sea creatures :p
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gurubhai

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Re: What are your top 5 headphones for vocals?
« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2012, 08:24:58 AM »
So, what are the criteria by which you guys judge the vocals ?

Of the top of my head, for me its :

Rendition of emotion behind the song
timbre
dynamic range
smoothness
clarity/detail
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