Head/earphones Recommendations Thread

[trd2970]

Galaxy s3, airplane and taxi usage. .mp3 files...jazz and pop stuff..

Is the beats solo any good?

 

[E1PersonalAudioSg]

Galaxy s3, airplane and taxi usage. .mp3 files...jazz and pop stuff..

Is the beats solo any good?

For the price of it, there are better alternatives. For performance with the business look, AKG K450. For performance with trendy look, Fanny Wang 1000 series or the coming AiAiAi Capital.

 

[kaltzbalger]

Galaxy s3, airplane and taxi usage. .mp3 files...jazz and pop stuff..

Is the beats solo any good?

NOPE.

There are much better alternatives. B&W P5 are good for jazz although quite pricey.
Better yet, Beyer T70p. Many people say it is very good for jazz.

 

[Wanderer-in-Time]

All very good suggestions, but I would like to contribute that good audiophile headphones/earphones should work for any genre of music, even if you are into extreme stuff like brutal death metal. What it comes down to is the build quality of the product, the permanent magnet used (Neodymium is best in my experience) and the cone material (kevlar and ceramic are awesome for this). In this regard I found klipsch to be excellent. Popular brands (the mega famous ones) often are good but they colour the sound too much, adding bass and reducing the mids. What you really want is a flat response and clarity. Plus, good volume, if you plan to use them in noisy public places.

 

[kaltzbalger]

All very good suggestions, but I would like to contribute that good audiophile headphones/earphones should work for any genre of music, even if you are into extreme stuff like brutal death metal. What it comes down to is the build quality of the product, the permanent magnet used (Neodymium is best in my experience) and the cone material (kevlar and ceramic are awesome for this). In this regard I found klipsch to be excellent. Popular brands (the mega famous ones) often are good but they colour the sound too much, adding bass and reducing the mids. What you really want is a flat response and clarity. Plus, good volume, if you plan to use them in noisy public places.

But there are headphones/earphones that excels in one/few genres, while being just okay/not bad for other genres. AKG K550 is quite laidback, lacking the attack/aggressiveness for rock music to be enjoyable, while it is quite outstanding for acoustics. Something aggressive like HD25 is not really good for jazz as compared to K550.

Flat response and clarity is good, but not all people might want that. Too neutral and flat can cause a 'boring sound'. Some might prefer something fun and less technical, like ASG-1 or MG7.

Klipsch, is overpriced. Not bad but they sounds dry, lacks the natural timbre of voice and instruments.

 

[silvernoy]

But there are headphones/earphones that excels in one/few genres, while being just okay/not bad for other genres. AKG K550 is quite laidback, lacking the attack/aggressiveness for rock music to be enjoyable, while it is quite outstanding for acoustics. Something aggressive like HD25 is not really good for jazz as compared to K550.

Flat response and clarity is good, but not all people might want that. Too neutral and flat can cause a 'boring sound'. Some might prefer something fun and less technical, like ASG-1 or MG7.

Klipsch, is overpriced. Not bad but they sounds dry, lacks the natural timbre of voice and instruments.

i had the s4, not sure what you mean by dry but yeah it didn't sound as good for voice and instruments.
good for more on pop and rock and maybe bassy music?

everyone have an ideal pair of headphones depending on what type of music they listen to.
music being flat wouldn't do justice to dubstep and songs with good vocals.
i feel that regardless of whether it is colored or not, all that matters is whether you like what you are hearing.

 

[Gaghiel]

all the gurus...please recommend any that fit my usage/budget. thanks.

- Xperia Arc (Android)
- Music
- mp3
- pop, rock, country, R&B
- IEM (using SoundMagic PL11, Denon C551)
- mic, play/volume (good to have)
- $100-150

i like the C551, but at time a bit 'intrusive' at high - not sure if due to the source (256kbps and above, CBR/VBR), and a bit uncomfortable after a while - too big for my ear?!?!

 

[kaltzbalger]

i had the s4, not sure what you mean by dry but yeah it didn't sound as good for voice and instruments.
good for more on pop and rock and maybe bassy music?

everyone have an ideal pair of headphones depending on what type of music they listen to.
music being flat wouldn't do justice to dubstep and songs with good vocals.
i feel that regardless of whether it is colored or not, all that matters is whether you like what you are hearing.

Exactly my point What matters is whether the music you listen will be enjoyable for your own ears, in spite of the rig being severely colored or very flat.

PS by dry I mean the Klipschs lack the warmness that makes tonal reproduction lush and musical. Idk whether 'dry' is the correct word to explain that though.

Best way is to just go down to Stereo/Jaben to audition. I am sure that their staffs are more than knowledgeable in giving suggestions based on your preferences.Your ears should be the judge on choosing, not reviews or other people's suggesion.

 

[E1PersonalAudioSg]

all the gurus...please recommend any that fit my usage/budget. thanks.

- Xperia Arc (Android)
- Music
- mp3
- pop, rock, country, R&B
- IEM (using SoundMagic PL11, Denon C551)
- mic, play/volume (good to have)
- $100-150

i like the C551, but at time a bit 'intrusive' at high - not sure if due to the source (256kbps and above, CBR/VBR), and a bit uncomfortable after a while - too big for my ear?!?!

It is quite a challenge to look for a third party headset with mic and volume control that will work with the Xperias. Yet to come across any.

 

[Teng Zai]

Hello fellow guru's, would like some advice on what to get

- Your rig : iPhone, PC
- What type of usage : Mostly music, occasional gaming.
- File format used in your source : MP3
- Genre of music you listen to : Most genres of Metal, Rock, Pop
- Headphone / earphone type : IEM
- Other requirements : None
- Budget : Under $100, may consider paying more but currently tight pocket and urgently need one.

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[kaltzbalger]

Hello fellow guru's, would like some advice on what to get

- Your rig : iPhone, PC
- What type of usage : Mostly music, occasional gaming.
- File format used in your source : MP3
- Genre of music you listen to : Most genres of Metal, Rock, Pop
- Headphone / earphone type : IEM
- Other requirements : None
- Budget : Under $100, may consider paying more but currently tight pocket and urgently need one.

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Sunrise Xcape IE is a pretty good all rounder for that price range ClieOS gave it very very high rating for SQ.

 

[silvernoy]

all the gurus...please recommend any that fit my usage/budget. thanks.

- Xperia Arc (Android)
- Music
- mp3
- pop, rock, country, R&B
- IEM (using SoundMagic PL11, Denon C551)
- mic, play/volume (good to have)
- $100-150

i like the C551, but at time a bit 'intrusive' at high - not sure if due to the source (256kbps and above, CBR/VBR), and a bit uncomfortable after a while - too big for my ear?!?!

klipsch s4a, design for android. last time i used it, very solid. i used until i was poison by the forum to get better ones.

Hello fellow guru's, would like some advice on what to get

- Your rig : iPhone, PC
- What type of usage : Mostly music, occasional gaming.
- File format used in your source : MP3
- Genre of music you listen to : Most genres of Metal, Rock, Pop
- Headphone / earphone type : IEM
- Other requirements : None
- Budget : Under $100, may consider paying more but currently tight pocket and urgently need one.

Any recommendation is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

if you willing to pay a bit more, got sennheiser cx-300 ii at 109, klipsch s4 at 129, beyerdynamic DTX101 iE at 119,

if not you can try beyerdynamic dtx71, denon ah-c360, brainwavz m2 or tdk eb-900.

 

[fc7809]

- Your rig : PC
- What type of usage : Gaming, Music
- File format used in your source : (Mp3)
- Genre of music you listen to : (DnB, Techno, Rock)
- Headphone / earphone type : No idea what this means :< Looking for gaming headsets that fully (almost) covers ears.
- Other requirements : Can you help me list price as well? Thanks.

 

[kaltzbalger]

- Your rig : PC
- What type of usage : Gaming, Music
- File format used in your source : (Mp3)
- Genre of music you listen to : (DnB, Techno, Rock)
- Headphone / earphone type : No idea what this means :< Looking for gaming headsets that fully (almost) covers ears.
- Other requirements : Can you help me list price as well? Thanks.

Steelseries Siberia V2, 179 SGD if I'm not wrong.

 

[Teng Zai]

if you willing to pay a bit more, got sennheiser cx-300 ii at 109, klipsch s4 at 129, beyerdynamic DTX101 iE at 119,

if not you can try beyerdynamic dtx71, denon ah-c360, brainwavz m2 or tdk eb-900.

Sunrise Xcape IE is a pretty good all rounder for that price range ClieOS gave it very very high rating for SQ.

Thanks for the quick response guys! So many choices now! I've heard many great things about the VSonic GR06 and Soundmagic PL50 as well. How do they compare with the others?

I am currently leaning towards the GR06 and klipsch s4.

Btw, is this list very accurate? http://cdn.head-fi.org/3/36/36d1c459_IEMchartljokerl.png

 

[kaltzbalger]

Thanks for the quick response guys! So many choices now! I've heard many great things about the VSonic GR06 and Soundmagic PL50 as well. How do they compare with the others?

I am currently leaning towards the GR06 and klipsch s4.

Btw, is this list very accurate? http://cdn.head-fi.org/3/36/36d1c459_IEMchartljokerl.png

I owned the GR06, and my roommate is using S4. I'd say GR06 is very mid forward with thick and warm vocal. Bass and treble is pretty decent. Very good if you listen to many vocal tracks. Comfortable as well. I do not like S4 though. Does not have the naturalness of sounds, or timbre. More balanced than GR06. While pretty detailed and comfortable, the sound signature just does not suit my ears. Xcape IE is better sounding than the two of those. Great detail, fairly balanced with better imaging. Warm, sweet and smooth. A better all rounder.

for sub $100 get the GR06, for 100+ get Xcape. Try them out first, cos this is only my opinion.

PS: |joker| and ClieOS are very respected in worldwide audiophile community. They are very very experienced with IEMs. I found their lists accurate, but still I will choose something I like, not something that is ranked higher by them. At least rankings give you an idea of how an IEM fares in the competition, but rankings should not be the deciding factor when buying.

 

[trd2970]

For the price of it, there are better alternatives. For performance with the business look, AKG K450. For performance with trendy look, Fanny Wang 1000 series or the coming AiAiAi Capital.

Tks...any good place to get the akg ?

 

[E1PersonalAudioSg]

Tks...any good place to get the akg ?

Do check with Stereo or HMV.

 

[Iandao]

iem recommendation for pop vocals (with strong bass/treble) ?

rig: x-fi3/s2 with fiio E11

 

[kaltzbalger]

iem recommendation for pop vocals (with strong bass/treble) ?

rig: x-fi3/s2 with fiio E11

Price range???