CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

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Author Topic: Spending more on an amp then headphones  (Read 6514 times)

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Claritas

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #40 on: September 23, 2015, 06:34:34 AM »

The people I've met are totally willing to spend more, say $300, because people do want better sound. And they seem to know instinctively that they're suckers if they buy beats like sheep. But I was talking about us: all these new closed phones (HP50, FSP, PM3) are for a different sort of sucker. It's the same problem for both groups. The industry is improving, but not fast enough for me to be willing to blow audiophilia's reputation with new people by recommending problematic so-so gear. At that price, anyone can buy a quite good IEM instead.
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Sorrodje

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #41 on: September 23, 2015, 07:18:54 AM »

The question I've had for years is: why is the ~$300 closed segment such a black hole? Maybe it's a golden age compared with the bad old days, but what a pile of ultimately "A for effort" products. I end up having to tell new audiophiles to buy IEMs instead.

I' think because the average consumer of such headphones will use it on-the-go ... then Companies are more focused about the design, the brand visibility on the cups  or such other point non SQ related.  Sound is average and designed for average consumer. Nothing really audiophile.

I disagree a bit for FSP though. Yes the build is definitely shitty but the sound is very good IMO.

Psalmanazar

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #42 on: September 23, 2015, 11:01:27 AM »

Even the "upgrading from Beats" crowd you see on Reddit is hilarious. The amount of people that buy ATH-M40/50x over Sennheiser 558/598 despite one sounding like a flabby Nerf cannon and the other sounding fairly acceptable. People don't care about sound quality, they won't even shell out for an indestructible (unless you pull the cable out) HD 25 that will last twice as long. The amount of V6/7506 I see despite legitimately sounding like holding tin cans with string up to your ears and with some asshole bashing them with a tuning fork every time a cymbal or snare plays. These kids don't listen to fucking instruments, they crank distorted synthesized bass mixed with highly clipped snare samples some asshole mixed and mastered on MacBook speakers; not even a pair of NS10s with toilet paper in a basement anymore. Clipped rap "claps" on the 7506 must be horrible. They want headphones that match their neon wifebeaters, not headphones with good sound.
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Thad E Ginathom

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #43 on: September 23, 2015, 11:59:26 AM »

a snare drum being bashed with ear horns.

I love that mental picture!   :)p13

Quote (selected)
Easy as hell. Headphones pretty much do stop at about $500 (HD 600/650 and the Paradox) with regards to overall tonality. Most of the $1000+ flagships are actually worse in many ways despite being better in other. If you're a consumer who just wants to take it out of the box, plug it into an amp and rock you don't want to worry about shoddy quality control, hot treble, wonky mids, or offensive resonances that need modding to go away it's very hard to really recommend most of the more expensive headphones. People shouldn't have to heavily equalize or have upstream gear that smooths out the high end just because a headphone was voiced by someone with high frequency hearing loss to have treble that sounds sparkly and detailed for ten minutes in the store but is painful for two hours of listening to well produced recordings at 80-90 decibels. The sparkly treble spikes of false detail lovers should be force stand next to a snare drum being bashed with ear horns.
I am the consumer you speak of, and I agree entirely. Respect to those who listen and mod, and extra respect to those who listen, measure and mod, but I'm probably not going to go there. But what Changstar has done for me (even though there is plenty of love for certain expensive items) is to curb a lot of my drooling over the well-known hype-train items. Thanks guys: I'm saving a lot of saliva  :)p7
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Deep Funk

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #44 on: September 23, 2015, 12:15:54 PM »

When I had the AKG K240DF and K500 there was a moment when I had a Sony CD1700. Shortly after that I auditioned a stock HD800 during the Berlin HF-meet.

I did not see the point of the HD800 or T1 for that matter. It was after the Berlin HF-meet that I started thinking "should I upgrade?" Back then I also still had the Pioneer Monitor 10 and I thought "no." For me the small differences were not worth it. I discussed this topic with Solderdude and we both agreed that if you know what has been before, some headphones that are new are not worth it.

Thing is some headphones are very component sensitive so the signal chain in your audio set-up has to work out. Some new headphones are worth it but I am sceptical until the people I trust tell me the right things. Then I might audition or buy.

I think there is no shame spending more on a amplifier than on headphones. Buy a Koss KSC-75, modify it and add a CMoy, done.

Because the KSC-75 exists, well you must spend more on other gear.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2015, 12:57:51 PM by Deep Funk »
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kothganesh

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #45 on: September 23, 2015, 01:16:10 PM »

........But what Changstar has done for me (even though there is plenty of love for certain expensive items) is to curb a lot of my drooling over the well-known hype-train items.....


True dat....... Was briefly tempted to chase the Beyer DT880 and then got a reality check with OJ's flowchart.... Mid if purgatory
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Koloth

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #46 on: September 23, 2015, 01:25:48 PM »

True dat....... Was briefly tempted to chase the Beyer DT880 and then got a reality check with OJ's flowchart.... Mid if purgatory

On the other hand where I live you can get a brand-new DT880 for 159$. That's very much 'who cares'-territory. If you're interested in it, if it satisfies your lust for a new gadget, just go for it, even if it's just a sidegrade to what you own already. The problem starts when you have an HD600/650 and start lusting after a PM1 because of some HF hypetrain: 1100$ for sound thats in many ways worse? Now thats where you need some pirate opinions to kill the hype.
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kothganesh

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #47 on: September 23, 2015, 01:49:15 PM »

Koloth Don't get me wrong. Beyerdynamic India sells the 880 for the equivalent of USD 400. Even with shipping and customs, it should cost me no more than USD 250. Is it still cheap for me? Yes. But for a person struggling to divide time between the HD800 and the Stax 009, any more purchases really does not make sense, IMO. My limited point is that for me, these reality checks steer me well away from any more HPs. Amps are a different matter :))
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Koloth

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #48 on: September 23, 2015, 02:39:56 PM »

Got it  :)p2

Also I didnt wanna come across like an obnoxious ass claiming that 159$ isnt a lot of money. But I feel less angry at a hypetrain for an admittedly great headphone at this price (even if it's just a sidegrade to whatever you currently have) than I do about some FotM HF Hypetrain costing many times more that.
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thegunner100

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Re: Spending more on an amp then headphones
« Reply #49 on: September 23, 2015, 03:32:17 PM »

The DT880/600 + Fiio E17 was my starting setup. I eventually started getting amps that were more expensive than my headphones but once I got to the hd600s + overnight sensations, I started spending way more money on a dac because a dac upgrade meant upgrading both of my systems. Also, Schiit amps are insanely good value. There are way more budget options now in 2015 than when I started this hobby around 2012. A lot of you guys are lucky to have options like the Magni 2, Vali, Modi, Geekout, etc. I didn't have those back then.
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