In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
In all my years of using headphones in a pro capacity, I've not found
any that needed 'breaking in'. And if they 'altered' in any way after
some use - what's to stop them continuing to alter as time goes by?


Usually the altering is the removal of the jack plugs and the fracturing
of the leads and the O/C of the drive units after studio presenters have
had a go at them:!

Dropping them and knocking the coil off centre is common too. A sharp tap
in the right place can sometimes work wonders...

--
*A fool and his money are soon partying *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message


In article ,
Andy Hewitt wrote:

Although IMHO, it seems a bit pointless testing headphones
that haven't been 'broken in' anyway.

In all my years of using headphones in a pro capacity, I've not found
any that needed 'breaking in'. And if they 'altered' in any way after
some use what's to stop them continuing to alter as time goes by?

Agreed.

Let me put in plugs for Senn HD 580s and Sony 7506s. Very different devices,
with very different optimal uses, both highly regarded in professional
circles. I have a one pair of each, and find that there's good functional
synergy between them.

Also, people might consider IEMs - or as they are known to some earphones.

I'm a long-time user of headphones going back to
some Telex phones I bought in the early 60's, followed by a pair of Koss
Pro-4s, and then on, and on, and on. To position my current tastes, let me
say that my *main* headphones for stationary listening are Sennheiser
HD-580s and Sony MDR 7506s. I use Koss UR30s for some casual listening,
monitoring and testing. My portable players include a Nomad Jukebox 3
playing .wav files, and an Audiovox CE149MP CD/MP3 player. I'm an avid
amateur recordist and owner and proprietor of the www.pcabx.com and
www.pcavtech.com web sites. I also use a number of different sound cards
and a Rane headphone amp with various headphones, including the slightly
unusual pairing of the LynxTWO audio production sound card with the HD-580s.

But, we're on the topic of In-Ear-Monitors (formal name for this product
category), so here are a number of items that I use, with US & UK prices.
They all may be worth consideration, just pick a price point!

Koss "The Plug" $19.95 US$ I got a pair from Circuit City on a whim, and
they turned out to be easily worth twice the price. IMO an unbelievable
value. I notice that there are UK sources pricing them at like £12. The
sound is more like 580s than 7506s.
www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/files/graphics/$file/THEPLUG_lg.jpg

Sony MDR EX-70 or MDR EX-71 $33-40. More bass and treble than "The Plug" but
that might mean that "The Plug" is smoother. A little less efficient. I
notice that there are UK sources pricing them at like £25-£35. The sound is
more like 7506s than 580s. http://www.hogwildstore.com/sonmdrex71sl.html

Shure E-2 used to be about $80, now selling for more like $100. The E2c
differs from the E2 in terms of packaging. More highly robust than Hi-Fi.
Very smooth but rolled off at both ends. With a little equalization they can
sound very nice. Did I say that they are very mechanically and electrically
robust? I notice that there are UK sources pricing them at £77.00 and up.
The sound is more laid back than 580s.
http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.asp

Etymotic ER-6 about $120. Originally, I thought the ER-6s were horrible,
but I played around with my collection of earpieces until I got them to
sound tolerable.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6.asp

Sennheiser IE3 IEMs turn out to be FutureSonics' EM3 EARS about $150. IMO
the best sound of the group discussed here. They are reasonably effiicent
and have excellent bass and treble response as well as smooth midrange.
http://futuresonics.umsebiz.com/stor...75&item=370255


Generally, In-Ear-Monitors deliver the ultimate in "close-up" sound. Many
take advantage of the physical seal and tiny enclosed volume to deliver some
of the most ear-popping but non-boomy bass you've ever heard. The E-2s have
enough bass roll-off that this is not usually the case unless you apply some
eq.

They inherently provide considerable reduction of ambient noise, which is
both the good and bad news. If you are using them and someone wants to get
your attention...

"Andy Hewitt" wrote in message
et...
Hi chaps, Haven't posted here for a while, but here goes. I have checked
out Google, and not much help there on this.

I have a budget of up to about £70 for some new headphones. I like
listening to music in the evenings, so concert levels through speakers
are a no-no. I have a very varied taste, anything from Amadeus Mozart to
ZZ Top.

I've had a search around on the internet for reviews and tests, although
the only ones I could easily find were in the US, so I'm not sure how
valid their hearing tests are compared to ours.

Anyway, I've kind of got my eye on the Grado SR60 phones at the moment,
as their reviews are all good, and they are just under my maximum
budget.

I've got the RS-1's, and borrowed the SR-60's.

Make sure you get the "ring donut" ear pads, as they're alot more comftable
& cooler than the flat foam earpads. One thing I don't like about the
Grado's (both bottom & top of the range) is that they don't have ANY cable
strain relief at all. The cable goes into the unit, directly soldered onto
the back of the driver. If you yank the cable it'll knacker the phones.

Personally I found the SR-60's a bit boomy, the RS-1's are alot better in
this regard, although still not perfect(on some material it's boomy,
compared to myriad of other good audio systems & speakers) could be the
headphone amp though.

Nath wrote:

Snipped Text
Anyway, I've kind of got my eye on the Grado SR60 phones at the moment,
as their reviews are all good, and they are just under my maximum
budget.

I've got the RS-1's, and borrowed the SR-60's.

Make sure you get the "ring donut" ear pads, as they're alot more comftable
& cooler than the flat foam earpads. One thing I don't like about the
Grado's (both bottom & top of the range) is that they don't have ANY cable
strain relief at all. The cable goes into the unit, directly soldered onto
the back of the driver. If you yank the cable it'll knacker the phones.

I knew about the foam thing, although I thought that'd changed some
while ago. I'll keep an eye out for that though.

Didn't know about the cable though, nobody has mentioned that at all.
Perhaps a reason to look at Sennheiser with their removeable cable.

Personally I found the SR-60's a bit boomy, the RS-1's are alot better in
this regard, although still not perfect(on some material it's boomy,
compared to myriad of other good audio systems & speakers) could be the
headphone amp though.

Maybe, most of the reviews found the SR60's' if anything, a little light
on the bass.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Snipped Text
Anyway, I've kind of got my eye on the Grado SR60 phones at the
moment,
as their reviews are all good, and they are just under my maximum
budget.

I've got the RS-1's, and borrowed the SR-60's.

Make sure you get the "ring donut" ear pads, as they're alot more
comftable
& cooler than the flat foam earpads. One thing I don't like about the
Grado's (both bottom & top of the range) is that they don't have ANY
cable
strain relief at all. The cable goes into the unit, directly soldered
onto
the back of the driver. If you yank the cable it'll knacker the phones.

I knew about the foam thing, although I thought that'd changed some
while ago. I'll keep an eye out for that though.

Didn't know about the cable though, nobody has mentioned that at all.
Perhaps a reason to look at Sennheiser with their removeable cable.

Personally I found the SR-60's a bit boomy, the RS-1's are alot better
in
this regard, although still not perfect(on some material it's boomy,
compared to myriad of other good audio systems & speakers) could be the
headphone amp though.

Maybe, most of the reviews found the SR60's' if anything, a little light
on the bass.

Personally I think the Grados **** on the Sennheisers. They aren't perfect
but, to my ears, are streets ahead of others that I have heard £100.

I've had a pair of SR125s for 6 years, have wrapped the cable round the
headband, packed them in bags, used them on personal stereos and hifis,
whilst lying down, walking - you get the idea. The solder connection hasn't
failed yet. I also know of many others with Grado 'phones who haven't
experienced problems of this nature, either.

You don't mention what amplifier you are using - do you have a dedicated
headphone amp or are you using the headphone output of an existing amp -
which one? The SR60s can sound rather bright out of the box - they do need
"burning in". Any good hifi shop that sells these will permit a dem and, if
they are happy to demo them anyway, why not ask them to plug them in and
leave them playing the day before you audition them, if they are fresh from
the factory.

JustMe wrote:

Snipped Text
Maybe, most of the reviews found the SR60's' if anything, a little light
on the bass.

Personally I think the Grados **** on the Sennheisers. They aren't perfect
but, to my ears, are streets ahead of others that I have heard £100.

That's very much what I've been reading.

I've had a pair of SR125s for 6 years, have wrapped the cable round the
headband, packed them in bags, used them on personal stereos and hifis,
whilst lying down, walking - you get the idea. The solder connection hasn't
failed yet. I also know of many others with Grado 'phones who haven't
experienced problems of this nature, either.

Indeed, care of the product is surely what matters. To me these will be
quite an expensive buy for headphones, the most I've previously paid was
£20 some 22 years ago for Koss.

I currently have a very old pair of TEAC HP-100's I got off eBay for a
tenner. They're OK, but far from hi-fi quality.

You don't mention what amplifier you are using - do you have a dedicated
headphone amp or are you using the headphone output of an existing amp -
which one? The SR60s can sound rather bright out of the box - they do need
"burning in". Any good hifi shop that sells these will permit a dem and, if
they are happy to demo them anyway, why not ask them to plug them in and
leave them playing the day before you audition them, if they are fresh from
the factory.

I am using a Yamaha 60w p/c Surround receiver, it will be the main
source of power for the headphones. Finding a Grado supplier around here
seems to be a harder task than I thought, I can't even find a hi-fi shop
that's less than a 30 mile drive.

Thanks for the info.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Andy Hewitt wrote:

Hi chaps, Haven't posted here for a while, but here goes. I have checked
out Google, and not much help there on this.

I have a budget of up to about £70 for some new headphones. I like
listening to music in the evenings, so concert levels through speakers
are a no-no. I have a very varied taste, anything from Amadeus Mozart to
ZZ Top.

I've had a search around on the internet for reviews and tests, although
the only ones I could easily find were in the US, so I'm not sure how
valid their hearing tests are compared to ours.

Anyway, I've kind of got my eye on the Grado SR60 phones at the moment,
as their reviews are all good, and they are just under my maximum
budget.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any decent hi-fi shops around
here locally (Durham) to go and try some out (unless someone knows
different). Although IMHO, it seems a bit pointless testing headphones
that haven't been 'broken in' anyway.

It's fairly accepted that heavy duty ( eg PA type ) speakers can be 'broken
in' with a few hours 'conditioning' with the result of a lower resonant
frequency but I've never heard the claim made of headphones - nor can I
think of a rational reason why they should need such conditioing.


Names like Technics, Koss and Sennheiser are also some I've looked at,
in partcilular the Sennheiser HD497.

Beyers are nice too - I have a pair currently.

I think the only Koss headphones around now are the Chinese PRO4AA 'copies'.
Very heavy. The ear seal makes for stunning ( literally sometimes ) bass
though.

Sennheisers and Beyers tend to much favoured by pros. AKG make some good
stuff too. Seems to be an area where the European manufacturers seem to have
an edge.


Graham

In article , Pooh Bear rabbitsfriendsandr
writes
Andy Hewitt wrote:

Hi chaps, Haven't posted here for a while, but here goes. I have checked
out Google, and not much help there on this.

I have a budget of up to about £70 for some new headphones. I like
listening to music in the evenings, so concert levels through speakers
are a no-no. I have a very varied taste, anything from Amadeus Mozart to
ZZ Top.

I've had a search around on the internet for reviews and tests, although
the only ones I could easily find were in the US, so I'm not sure how
valid their hearing tests are compared to ours.

Anyway, I've kind of got my eye on the Grado SR60 phones at the moment,
as their reviews are all good, and they are just under my maximum
budget.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any decent hi-fi shops around
here locally (Durham) to go and try some out (unless someone knows
different). Although IMHO, it seems a bit pointless testing headphones
that haven't been 'broken in' anyway.

It's fairly accepted that heavy duty ( eg PA type ) speakers can be 'broken
in' with a few hours 'conditioning' with the result of a lower resonant
frequency but I've never heard the claim made of headphones - nor can I
think of a rational reason why they should need such conditioing.


Names like Technics, Koss and Sennheiser are also some I've looked at,
in partcilular the Sennheiser HD497.

Beyers are nice too - I have a pair currently.

I think the only Koss headphones around now are the Chinese PRO4AA 'copies'.
Very heavy. The ear seal makes for stunning ( literally sometimes ) bass
though.

Sennheisers and Beyers tend to much favoured by pros. AKG make some good
stuff too. Seems to be an area where the European manufacturers seem to have
an edge.


Graham


Ever heard the colouration on a pair of Beyer DT100's?...
--
Tony Sayer

tony sayer wrote:

Ever heard the colouration on a pair of Beyer DT100's?...

Most I've heard sound quite 'muddy' to me - but that may be because they get
totally thrashed and abused in their intended application.

Not a pair of headphones I'd suggest for home listening.


Graham

In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
Ever heard the colouration on a pair of Beyer DT100's?...

It's difficult to explain why you might want to use something apparently
not of the finest possible quality for monitoring use, but despite trying
most, I still like the DT 100s.

LS 3/5a is a prime example. It may have a restricted and slightly tubby
bass, but anything that sounds fine on those is likely to be very
acceptable on anything else. Balancing on speakers with a 'larger than
life' sound is likely to result in poor overall results for everyone else.

However, I never use cans for pleasure purposes. Hate the bl***y things.

--
*Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.