Buying $550 headphones

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: dxkj
Cheapskate

http://www.ultimateears.com/custom/UE-10-Pro.htm

 

[Rubycon]

I have a PA2V2 portable that I've used a few times but most of the time I'm using a mains connected amp OR the firebox (depending on the gig).

Whatever you do NEVER use the EQ on the ipod. I have a 5G ipod which is much quieter than the 4G. The SQ of the ipod is actually very good for its purpose. Of course everything I put in there is PCM. With 60GB there is no real need to lossly compress the stuff.

When I have some quiet time (rarely hehe) I plug into a PS Audio GCHA. I have some custom tube boxes but they all are gassy now.

Try comparing it to an EAC rip. Of all of my gigs are 24 bit which is better than CD.

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
How crazy am I? Here's how I see it. All people have hobbies. Some people are obsessed with their comptuers (I used to be, but now I'm bored of it, haven't upgraded in a year), some with TV's, some with cars, the list goes on. I'm into music, and headphones are really important to enjoying music.

I'm gonna grab the Ultimate Ears UE5c custom-fit earphones. I have an appointment with an audiologist on Thursday to make impressions/molds of my ears to send over to Ultimate Ears. They'll then create a handmade molding of my ears for the earphones, and they'll then send it back to me. Total cost is $600, since the impressions cost $50.

Everyone says they sound AMAZING though, and provide great noise isolation as well. It'll be perfect for me for my upcoming trip to the South of France with the family.

Call me crazy, but I'm really into good-sounding music .


Update: Just got back to NYC, where I had impressions of my ears made. Basically, they put a little string with a little piece of cotton on the tip in your ear. They then take silicone putty, and put it in a syringe, and inject it in both your ears. You're biting on a little brick, so your mouth is open, and you wait a few minutes. They say this is the closest feeling to being completely deaf. It sure as hell was pretty weird. The audiologist then gave me my mold samples, which looked pretty nasty, and I sent them over to UE. Cost $50, and took ~10 minutes.

um...you realize the quality won't be any better than I get with my 19.99 sony headphones?

edit: well if that's your hobby good for you. It's no stupider than buying a 800 dollar video card or something, and you sound happy, so I hope they turn out great...I voted yellow, that'd look snappy

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
I have a PA2V2 portable that I've used a few times but most of the time I'm using a mains connected amp OR the firebox (depending on the gig).

Whatever you do NEVER use the EQ on the ipod. I have a 5G ipod which is much quieter than the 4G. The SQ of the ipod is actually very good for it's purpose. Of course everything I put in there is PCM. With 60GB there is no real need to lossly compress the stuff.

When I have some quiet time (rarely hehe) I plug into a PS Audio GCHA. I have some custom tube boxes but they all are gassy now.

Try comparing it to an EAC rip. Of all of my gigs are 24 bit which is better than CD.

Do you buy this stuff yourself?!

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: SLCentral
How crazy am I? Here's how I see it. All people have hobbies. Some people are obsessed with their comptuers (I used to be, but now I'm bored of it, haven't upgraded in a year), some with TV's, some with cars, the list goes on. I'm into music, and headphones are really important to enjoying music.

I'm gonna grab the Ultimate Ears UE5c custom-fit earphones. I have an appointment with an audiologist on Thursday to make impressions/molds of my ears to send over to Ultimate Ears. They'll then create a handmade molding of my ears for the earphones, and they'll then send it back to me. Total cost is $600, since the impressions cost $50.

Everyone says they sound AMAZING though, and provide great noise isolation as well. It'll be perfect for me for my upcoming trip to the South of France with the family.

Call me crazy, but I'm really into good-sounding music .


Update: Just got back to NYC, where I had impressions of my ears made. Basically, they put a little string with a little piece of cotton on the tip in your ear. They then take silicone putty, and put it in a syringe, and inject it in both your ears. You're biting on a little brick, so your mouth is open, and you wait a few minutes. They say this is the closest feeling to being completely deaf. It sure as hell was pretty weird. The audiologist then gave me my mold samples, which looked pretty nasty, and I sent them over to UE. Cost $50, and took ~10 minutes.

um...you realize the quality won't be any better than I get with my 19.99 sony headphones?

edit: well if that's your hobby good for you. It's no stupider than buying a 800 dollar video card or something, and you sound happy, so I hope they turn out great...I voted yellow, that'd look snappy

Don't you think you're pushing it a little?

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: SLCentral
How crazy am I? Here's how I see it. All people have hobbies. Some people are obsessed with their comptuers (I used to be, but now I'm bored of it, haven't upgraded in a year), some with TV's, some with cars, the list goes on. I'm into music, and headphones are really important to enjoying music.

I'm gonna grab the Ultimate Ears UE5c custom-fit earphones. I have an appointment with an audiologist on Thursday to make impressions/molds of my ears to send over to Ultimate Ears. They'll then create a handmade molding of my ears for the earphones, and they'll then send it back to me. Total cost is $600, since the impressions cost $50.

Everyone says they sound AMAZING though, and provide great noise isolation as well. It'll be perfect for me for my upcoming trip to the South of France with the family.

Call me crazy, but I'm really into good-sounding music .


Update: Just got back to NYC, where I had impressions of my ears made. Basically, they put a little string with a little piece of cotton on the tip in your ear. They then take silicone putty, and put it in a syringe, and inject it in both your ears. You're biting on a little brick, so your mouth is open, and you wait a few minutes. They say this is the closest feeling to being completely deaf. It sure as hell was pretty weird. The audiologist then gave me my mold samples, which looked pretty nasty, and I sent them over to UE. Cost $50, and took ~10 minutes.

um...you realize the quality won't be any better than I get with my 19.99 sony headphones?

edit: well if that's your hobby good for you. It's no stupider than buying a 800 dollar video card or something, and you sound happy, so I hope they turn out great...I voted yellow, that'd look snappy

How the fvck will it not be any better then your Sony headphones?

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
I have a PA2V2 portable that I've used a few times but most of the time I'm using a mains connected amp OR the firebox (depending on the gig).

Whatever you do NEVER use the EQ on the ipod. I have a 5G ipod which is much quieter than the 4G. The SQ of the ipod is actually very good for it's purpose. Of course everything I put in there is PCM. With 60GB there is no real need to lossly compress the stuff.

When I have some quiet time (rarely hehe) I plug into a PS Audio GCHA. I have some custom tube boxes but they all are gassy now.

Try comparing it to an EAC rip. Of all of my gigs are 24 bit which is better than CD.

Do you buy this stuff yourself?!

Yeah, wow, I'm jealous.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: So
$550 is really crazy. I am very happy with my $70 Senns...

Ditto

I hope the OP realizes that he'll need a $1000+ amp to show off those headphones. Probably closer to $2000.

Otherwise, he just spent $600 on something he'll never get the full potential out of.

I have a $85 pair of Senns(HD280) and a $70 pair of Grados (SR-60). The obvious models. Pretty much best bang for hte buck.

no amp, but well worth it. Then again, these things are amazing xcompared to just about anything in the price range.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
um...you realize the quality won't be any better than I get with my 19.99 sony headphones?

edit: well if that's your hobby good for you. It's no stupider than buying a 800 dollar video card or something, and you sound happy, so I hope they turn out great...I voted yellow, that'd look snappy

Don't you think you're pushing it a little?

Just a little .

I went back to my Sony G52 (the behind the neck ones) after exclusively listening to my KSC75s for two weeks. When I first got the KSC75s I thought the difference between the Sonys and the Kosses were negligible. VERY VERY WRONG! Huge difference - the Sonys sucked so much I cringed in disgust and threw them down after a minute (I'm not even joking). The music sounded like it had been thrown in a mud puddle, run over by a semi, then pulled through a sewer drain.

Originally posted by: SLCentral

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
I have a PA2V2 portable that I've used a few times but most of the time I'm using a mains connected amp OR the firebox (depending on the gig).

Whatever you do NEVER use the EQ on the ipod. I have a 5G ipod which is much quieter than the 4G. The SQ of the ipod is actually very good for it's purpose. Of course everything I put in there is PCM. With 60GB there is no real need to lossly compress the stuff.

When I have some quiet time (rarely hehe) I plug into a PS Audio GCHA. I have some custom tube boxes but they all are gassy now.

Try comparing it to an EAC rip. Of all of my gigs are 24 bit which is better than CD.

Do you buy this stuff yourself?!

Yeah, wow, I'm jealous.

Bahaha, you guys have yet to see the rigs some of the bastards have over at Head-Fi, especially this one guy called Jahn. Absolutely ridiculous. What they have will probably make your brain asplode.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: So
$550 is really crazy. I am very happy with my $70 Senns...

Ditto

I hope the OP realizes that he'll need a $1000+ amp to show off those headphones. Probably closer to $2000.

Otherwise, he just spent $600 on something he'll never get the full potential out of.

I have a $85 pair of Senns(HD280) and a $70 pair of Grados (SR-60). The obvious models. Pretty much best bang for hte buck.

no amp, but well worth it. Then again, these things are amazing xcompared to just about anything in the price range.

You're saying that without having tried anything else. :roll:
I have the Sennheiser HD497 and the Etymotic ER-4P/$70 Little Dot Micro+ amp, and it absolutely blows away the HD497. My friend and I compared the HD497 with the HD280, and both agreed the former sounds better too.
You won't need a $1000 amp to show off those headphones :roll:
Maybe $100-200 would offer a sweet spot.

 

[SLCentral]

Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
What kind of setup do you have to use on a daily basis?

My issue with portable audio is that while it may sound like heaven, it's still missing all the bass that you can get with large cabinet speakers and a true subwoofer. The headphones may reproduce all the sounds insanely better than a $5k 2.1 system, [/b] but it still won't shake the floor or anything.

Obviously we're talking two completely different things but it's for those reasons that I haven't been able to bring myself to buying a good set of headphones. I have the Shure E3C's and this is probably the most I'm spending for the time being.

Tell us how the custom molds are, that's one thing I might do for the E3C's I have. From what I hear, you can't even feel them being there for many hours at once. (lol, no pun intended)

Wow, you know very little about audio. Shaking floors is not music reproduction. It's a side effect.

To all ... Keep in mind thath te bleeding edge of headphone tech will cost you about $6000 (headphones + amp). The same can not be said for floor standers.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

Stuff made for ipods generally suck.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
um...you realize the quality won't be any better than I get with my 19.99 sony headphones?

edit: well if that's your hobby good for you. It's no stupider than buying a 800 dollar video card or something, and you sound happy, so I hope they turn out great...I voted yellow, that'd look snappy

Don't you think you're pushing it a little?

Just a little .

I went back to my Sony G52 (the behind the neck ones) after exclusively listening to my KSC75s for two weeks. When I first got the KSC75s I thought the difference between the Sonys and the Kosses were negligible. VERY VERY WRONG! Huge difference - the Sonys sucked so much I cringed in disgust and threw them down after a minute (I'm not even joking). The music sounded like it had been thrown in a mud puddle, run over by a semi, then pulled through a sewer drain.

Originally posted by: SLCentral

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
I have a PA2V2 portable that I've used a few times but most of the time I'm using a mains connected amp OR the firebox (depending on the gig).

Whatever you do NEVER use the EQ on the ipod. I have a 5G ipod which is much quieter than the 4G. The SQ of the ipod is actually very good for it's purpose. Of course everything I put in there is PCM. With 60GB there is no real need to lossly compress the stuff.

When I have some quiet time (rarely hehe) I plug into a PS Audio GCHA. I have some custom tube boxes but they all are gassy now.

Try comparing it to an EAC rip. Of all of my gigs are 24 bit which is better than CD.

Do you buy this stuff yourself?!

Yeah, wow, I'm jealous.

Bahaha, you guys have yet to see the rigs some of the bastards have over at Head-Fi, especially this one guy called Jahn. Absolutely ridiculous. What they have will probably make your brain asplode.

Yeah, I've seen their setups, especially the pics of the meets they have...insane. I can't wait for their next meet in the NYC area...they had one in NYC last weekend, but I didn't hear about it until the day after .

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: So
$550 is really crazy. I am very happy with my $70 Senns...

Ditto

I hope the OP realizes that he'll need a $1000+ amp to show off those headphones. Probably closer to $2000.

Otherwise, he just spent $600 on something he'll never get the full potential out of.

I have a $85 pair of Senns(HD280) and a $70 pair of Grados (SR-60). The obvious models. Pretty much best bang for hte buck.

no amp, but well worth it. Then again, these things are amazing xcompared to just about anything in the price range.

I :heart: my sr60s. I was skeptical since they were well below $100, but after reading so many reviews, I went for them. Even without an amp they were well worth $6-. After I finished my amp......:Q. The e2c's I have don't even compare unless I juice those up too.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

Stuff made for ipods generally suck.

Yeah, I agree. But the fact is that while I'm on the go, I don't want to be carrying around a portable amp. It's just not practical.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: SLCentral

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

Stuff made for ipods generally suck.

Yeah, I agree. But the fact is that while I'm on the go, I don't want to be carrying around a portable amp. It's just not practical.

I used to say that.. until I got my amp. Now I refuse to listen to my earphones unamped. My amp is pretty small and portable anyways.
BTW you can get this amp, which is basically the size of two AAA batteries.
http://www.fixup.net/products/IV/imgp2190.jpg
Very high quality amp. Amazing what they can pack in something that small.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: SLCentral

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

Stuff made for ipods generally suck.

Yeah, I agree. But the fact is that while I'm on the go, I don't want to be carrying around a portable amp. It's just not practical.

I used to say that.. until I got my amp. Now I refuse to listen to my earphones unamped. My amp is pretty small and portable anyways.

Yeah, I can see myself doing something like that once I get a desktop amp. Well, we'll see. At this point, I really don't like the idea of taking two "boxes" around while away from home.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

:thumbsup:
and very true.

I hardly use my headphone amp. I usually care for quality when I'm at home relaxing.

 

[yhelothar]

BTW you can get this amp, which is basically the size of two AAA batteries.
http://www.fixup.net/products/IV/imgp2190.jpg
Very high quality amp. Amazing what they can pack in something that small.
Info here:
http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1759

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

:thumbsup:
and very true.

I hardly use my headphone amp. I usually care for quality when I'm at home relaxing.

I wouldn't bother with an amp with a cheapo E2C either.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Do you buy this stuff yourself?!

No I use a wish list that gets satisfied quickly.

It's a career, I don't make big bucks and then again I have no real bills either. In the end I'm happy and that's all that matters.

 

[SLCentral]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
BTW you can get this amp, which is basically the size of two AAA batteries.
http://www.fixup.net/products/IV/imgp2190.jpg
Very high quality amp. Amazing what they can pack in something that small.
Info here:
http://www.fixup.net/talk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1759

Very interesting. Have you had the chance to listen to it yourself?

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

wow, I hope they sound really good. I haven't read through the thread, but I hope you have a nice headphone amp?

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Originally posted by: SLCentral
Okay guys, here's what I've decided after a lot of thinking:

I'm def. eventually going to invest in a amp for the home. Probably set it up right by my bed, so I can lie down and relax and listen to music with amazing quality. Maybe I'll have it by my computer instead. That's not important.

But, for portable use, I just think that it doesn't make sense to use an amp at this point. It's too much to carry, and the one amp that's built around the design of the iPod (so it clips in) has gotten poor reviews, especially for use with the Ultimate Ears custom line. I'd rather sacrifice some sound quality while on the go in order to keep it portable.

:thumbsup:
and very true.

I hardly use my headphone amp. I usually care for quality when I'm at home relaxing.

I wouldn't bother with an amp with a cheapo E2C either.

I guess. You'd be suprised that it does help with these "cheapo" headphones. Almost all portable players underpower headphones.

I like how you assume things without trying any of it. (ie. FLAC, grado, e2c, amp with all of the above) Btw, i did not make an assumption about lossless sounding better than lossy files. It is just straight up fact that the two will not be the same. Whether it is noticeable to some people is a different story. If you listen to a lossy source over and over and over, your ears will be able to pick up minute differences the next time you listen with a lossless source. (simply. ear gets used to hearing a certain pattern, small changes will become apparent)