Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)

Anaxilus · « **Reply #610 on:** October 18, 2014, 06:51:50 PM »

Quote from: victor25 on October 18, 2014, 06:32:04 PM

Hello,

Sorry to come barging in here with my questions, but if I remember correctly from a long time ago, this is what that thread is for .

I have a Sansa Clip+, and a Leckerton UHA-6mk2. I am going to use it as a portable set-up with my HD650 and Fischer DBA002. Would it be better to use the UHA-6 as an amp (so Clip -> Leckerton -> headphone), or would that be 'gain staging' and actually degrade the sound? If it improves the sound, what volume's would I set both at?

And is it true that the ATH-M50 doesn't benefit from an amp?

That are my three questions, any help is always appreciated, have a great day

1-I believe max the Clip > Leckerton should not be an issue. You can play around with it to see if their is a balance between the two you prefer without concern. In your chain, the only AQ limitation will be the quality of output from the Clip, but there will be no technical issues using it as a source.

2-No it's not true. The M50 was one of my first phones and had it a long time. I never prefered it driven straight from a Clip+versus amped. The slam and dynamics are just better and you might a get a flatter perceived FR as a result keeping the volume lower with better drive quality. There's a lot of reasons people say that about the M50. Point of reference, bias, low volume listening, etc.

victor25 · « **Reply #611 on:** October 19, 2014, 09:29:00 PM »

Thanks, I tried it and that works great. I like the sound best with the UHA-6 @ 12o'clock (half open, gain low), and use the clip as the volume control (which is @ 70-80%). ATH-M50 sounds better from the Leckerton aswel!

I have just discovered Qobuz, streaming CD-quality Flacs (they have a free trial). Would it be worth it to buy the Apple Camera USB kit, so I can use the UHA-6 DAC instead of my iPhone's DAC? I read that the DAC in the UHA-6 isn't so great.

Eric_C · « **Reply #612 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:04:25 AM »

I wouldn't get a CCK. As you said, the UHA-6S DAC isn't highly regarded, and then the CCK would add bulk.

Anaxilus · « **Reply #613 on:** October 20, 2014, 01:26:25 AM »

Geek Out is the best source I've heard for the money and size so far. Keep it below the 1000 as a source only.

Darsus · « **Reply #614 on:** October 20, 2014, 02:11:38 AM »

Hi everybody, I've been reading you for a while, and since I have this dilema, decided to join.

First of all, I know there are similar PortaPro vs KSC75 threads, but I couldn't find what interests me in none of them (or just some chunks of information). Anyway, here's my problem.

Since I want to buy another headphones that I can produce and mix music on until I buy studio monitors (I screwed my Sennheiser HD 215, and they are closed too, that's another minus), I found KOSS headphones as a perfect solution. I've read a lot of great reviews for both models, but mostly about comfort, people rarely speak about their sound difference. I can't decide between those two, so here are the questions I have:

1. Which one has better dynamics? Better feel of instruments separated, exactly. Which one actually glues sound less and produce more realistic sound?

2. Which one has better detailed sound? I've seen some frequency charts, and I could see that KSC 75 has higher response on highs, but which one provides more flat sound (even tho I know they aren't flat at all), neutral and realistic sound? On which model you can hear more "flaws" in songs?

3. Titanium coating? What difference it makes? Is it good or bad?

You can also recommend me some other KOSS headphones, in that price range of course, I would especially like to hear about KSC35(!) but please choose one of those 2 too, because they are most available to me at the moment.

Thank you in advance!

P.S. Please don't recommend more expensive models, I don't plan to invest that much for this purpose. Cheers!

ultrabike · « **Reply #615 on:** October 20, 2014, 02:39:19 AM »

I would love to help you out, but unfortunately I can only speak for the KSC75 since I haven't heard the PortaPros. FWIW, I feel the KSC75 is a good value headphone and very competitive with cans many times it's price. It is however a little U-shapped (not too horribly so). It offers a very good mid-range IMO.

Darsus · « **Reply #616 on:** October 20, 2014, 03:13:17 AM »

Quote from: ultrabike on October 20, 2014, 02:39:19 AM

I would love to help you out, but unfortunately I can only speak for the KSC75 since I haven't heard the PortaPros. FWIW, I feel the KSC75 is a good value headphone and very competitive with cans many times it's price. It is however a little U-shapped (not too horribly so). It offers a very good mid-range IMO.

Thank you, this is quite useful information, since I've never really heard any of them. I did expect U shape, but hearing this is good.

They don't have to be perfect, because, at the end I will touch them (songs) in studio on the monitors. Since I don't have mine, I do the pre-mix on Sennheiser HD 215, which I love for listening to music, and they have pretty good midrange. However, they are closed and they tend to "glue" sound. Frequencies aren't the biggest problem on them, it's the dynamics/levels, and that drives me crazy.

I started collecting money for my first studio monitors, and in the meantime I wan't to have some semi-open headphones that I can do better pre-mix on them, or use back to back with my HD215 (which I have to fix, sigh). My budget is not very big (because of monitors that I'm saving money for) and from all the information I gained, KOSS headphones seam like the best solution, not just because of money, but because of the quality they produce too.

spoony · « **Reply #617 on:** October 20, 2014, 03:58:12 AM »

You should look into the Superlux models at around $30 (PortaPro is usually $39), Solderdude has a modding guide to fix most of their problems and they are a lot closer to a studio can than the KOSS on-ears. That said, the PortaPro stock is a little too bassy, both have similar sound characteristics but I prefer the PortaPro with a thicker foam to reduce the bass output, the midrange is fantastic and a little more transparent to my ears, however, the KSC75 has a wider left-right image due to the distance to the ears thanks to the clip-ons.

The titanium coating seems to produce a more even treble response at the expense of more severe ringing at around 4 KHz.

For future reference, if you want better flatness and transparency, I would seriously look into saving to get a T50RP + modding materials (~$130), a properly modded T50RP is better suited for studio work and hard to beat in value.

Claritas · « **Reply #618 on:** October 20, 2014, 04:46:10 AM »

If you get either of the clip ons, headband mod them or else the cable will quickly wear out. My special lady killed two, each after the same 4.5 months, but the new one I bought her and headbanded is still going strong.

I can't comment on the differences between them because it's been too long since I've heard any besides KSC75.

Best luck!

Darsus · « **Reply #619 on:** October 20, 2014, 05:34:46 AM »

Quote from: c61746961 on October 20, 2014, 03:58:12 AM

You should look into the Superlux models at around $30 (PortaPro is usually $39), Solderdude has a modding guide to fix most of their problems and they are a lot closer to a studio can than the KOSS on-ears. That said, the PortaPro stock is a little too bassy, both have similar sound characteristics but I prefer the PortaPro with a thicker foam to reduce the bass output, the midrange is fantastic and a little more transparent to my ears, however, the KSC75 has a wider left-right image due to the distance to the ears thanks to the clip-ons.

The titanium coating seems to produce a more even treble response at the expense of more severe ringing at around 4 KHz.

For future reference, if you want better flatness and transparency, I would seriously look into saving to get a T50RP + modding materials (~$130), a properly modded T50RP is better suited for studio work and hard to beat in value.

Searched a bit about Superlux, but it seems that they are pretty U shaped, really lack a solid mid, and I'm not really into modding headphones. :/ Have never done it before. But will consider them.

So, Portapro has better mids, but KSC75 react better on that 4k problematic area? On which one you can better hear elements separated from other elements? (not just bottom, but overal, more space between them?)

Quote from: Claritas on October 20, 2014, 04:46:10 AM

If you get either of the clip ons, headband mod them or else the cable will quickly wear out. My special lady killed two, each after the same 4.5 months, but the new one I bought her and headbanded is still going strong.

I can't comment on the differences between them because it's been too long since I've heard any besides KSC75.

Best luck!

Will have that on mind! Thanks!

Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)

Anaxilus

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

victor25

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Eric_C

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Anaxilus

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Darsus

KOSS PortaPro vs KSC75 for music production/mixing?

ultrabike

Re: KOSS PortaPro vs KSC75 for music production/mixing?

Darsus

Re: KOSS PortaPro vs KSC75 for music production/mixing?

spoony

Re: KOSS PortaPro vs KSC75 for music production/mixing?

Claritas

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

Darsus

Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread

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Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread (Read 139949 times)