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- Zero Surge 8R15W-1 | Salamander Synergy Equipment Stand
Back in 2011 I did somewhat of a limited search for headphones to replace our completely worn out fifty-eleven year old AKG-K240's. I was trying to stay under $200, although I think I may have tried a couple of sets at a slightly higher price.
All were over the ear... or intended to be anyway. Here are the ones I trialed:
Beyerdynamic DT880 Premium 250ohm
Sennheiser HD-598 (I think I had another mode too, but can't remember the model number - they were more expensive)
Audio Technica ATH-M50s
Audio Technica ATH-A900
AKG-K240 MKII
... and not sure why, but I did try the MEElectronics A151-BK Balanced Armature In-Ear
There may have been another pair or two, but I am drawing a blank on which ones... thinking a pair of Sony and I may have tried another pair of Sennheisers too.
I also purchased the FiiO E10 USB DAC Headphone Amp, which I still have but rarely use.
The A900's stayed with me because they sounded good and were very comfortable. However, I will admit, they don't have much of a sound stage nor do they image very well. I don't think I was really striving for that back then, or perhaps was not expecting much from sub $200 headphones. I don't know. I still like the A900's, but I know they are far from the super nice headphones out there.
I decided I would try again and see if I could find some that would image better and have a better sound stage. Closed back are going to be preferable because I listen a lot while in the room with my wife, and the one time I tried the semi-open backs (DT-880's), she was not fond of them, although I remember them perhaps being a little better sounding than the A900's.
Main criteria... closed back and over the ear, must be comfortable and not press too hard, which was a major issue with the Sennheisers that I trialed last time. Improved sound stage and imaging over the A900's. Trying to keep price at around $300 or less if possible, but might step up a little more if they are worth it.
So here's my line up thus far:
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK Sonic Pro
Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS Solid Bass
V-MODA Crossfade M-100 (with XL Memory Cushions)
AKG K 553 Pro
AKG K550
Sony MDR-1A
Monoprice Monolith M560 Planar
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro - 80 Ohm
And I really want to try the OPPO PM-3's ... which will be the most expensive of the sets in this list, so I may get the best of these and then try the OPPO's last.
There is nothing fancy about this trial of headphones... I am playing samples of my favorite music and using the process of elimination.
All were over the ear... or intended to be anyway. Here are the ones I trialed:
Beyerdynamic DT880 Premium 250ohm
Sennheiser HD-598 (I think I had another mode too, but can't remember the model number - they were more expensive)
Audio Technica ATH-M50s
Audio Technica ATH-A900
AKG-K240 MKII
... and not sure why, but I did try the MEElectronics A151-BK Balanced Armature In-Ear
There may have been another pair or two, but I am drawing a blank on which ones... thinking a pair of Sony and I may have tried another pair of Sennheisers too.
I also purchased the FiiO E10 USB DAC Headphone Amp, which I still have but rarely use.
The A900's stayed with me because they sounded good and were very comfortable. However, I will admit, they don't have much of a sound stage nor do they image very well. I don't think I was really striving for that back then, or perhaps was not expecting much from sub $200 headphones. I don't know. I still like the A900's, but I know they are far from the super nice headphones out there.
I decided I would try again and see if I could find some that would image better and have a better sound stage. Closed back are going to be preferable because I listen a lot while in the room with my wife, and the one time I tried the semi-open backs (DT-880's), she was not fond of them, although I remember them perhaps being a little better sounding than the A900's.
Main criteria... closed back and over the ear, must be comfortable and not press too hard, which was a major issue with the Sennheisers that I trialed last time. Improved sound stage and imaging over the A900's. Trying to keep price at around $300 or less if possible, but might step up a little more if they are worth it.
So here's my line up thus far:
Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7BK Sonic Pro
Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS Solid Bass
V-MODA Crossfade M-100 (with XL Memory Cushions)
AKG K 553 Pro
AKG K550
Sony MDR-1A
Monoprice Monolith M560 Planar
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro - 80 Ohm
And I really want to try the OPPO PM-3's ... which will be the most expensive of the sets in this list, so I may get the best of these and then try the OPPO's last.
There is nothing fancy about this trial of headphones... I am playing samples of my favorite music and using the process of elimination.
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