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February 24, 2010 - 9:51pm
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Which headphones are good for rock music and which for classical?
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I think both the HD600/650 and AKG701/702 are great all-round headphones, good for both rock and classical. Several people tossed in their perspectives on the differences in sound character in the other thread. Which you will prefer is a matter of taste which I'm afraid nobody here can decide for you.
Afaik the DACPort was only released a couple of months ago so I don't think any print mags have caught up with it yet. I saw a user review over at head-fi. Sounded very complimentary and was completely in line with Audio Rigger's comments on this board.
However IIRC you started off looking for a DAC/headphone amp that could also serve as a system preamp. The CEntrance is intended as a portable solution to connect one PC to one pair of headphones and lacks several features you would want of a system preamp. Looked from one of your comments in the other thread that you had ruled it out for that reason.
You've narrowed it down to some good choices and either will do equally well with rock and classical. Get the best DAC that you can afford because all the cans you've mentioned will be ruthlessly revealing of the DAC's inadequacies. I don't know the DAC that you've mentioned, but I own the 701s and I've heard the Senns at length.
If you haven't already, look over at www.head-fi.org . I'd want to double check on your planned DAC/amplifier.
Dave
I think I might be in the minority opinion on this subject, based on what I read on some headphone forums. I've seen people go as far as list a dozen or more musical artists, in a question about which headphones would be the best choice for them.
I go about it a bit differently. I try and pick a headphone I think has good accuracy and low coloration, figuring it will work fairly well with a larger variety of music. If I wanted to vary from a neutral sound, I would base it on my personal general preference; for more or less bass for example.
My thinking comes from my belief that the sound of the recorded material I listen to varies less with the music type, than it does from recording to recording without regard to music type.
To say it another way, no matter which type of music in my collection, some recordings are brighter, some bass heavy, duller, etc..., so I would be more likely to choose different headphones based on recording characteristics, than music type, if anything. As it is, I just shoot for the middle with AKG K701.
Anyway, these are just a couple of my thoughts
I'm totally hooked on Sennheiser sound, and have been for decades. HD600's as my reference, and 3 small pairs for portable use. I listen to all types of music. For me, Senns really shine on acoustic music, but they do a great job on rock 'n roll as well.
I use a pair of Grado SR125's on the computer, and to play my guitar into.
Recently demoed the AKG701, very nice 'phones, but I just can't say they were better than my Senns.
I have often seen the AKG 701s at good prices off Amazon retailers. There is quite a difference in the sound between the Senns and the AKGs, so make sure you are making the right decision long term for youself.
Headphones are terrible for your hearing health. Unless you are already hearing impaired.
Yep, just ask someone with tinnitus. Whenever I listen on headphones for even half an hour (probably too loud) I have hissing in my ears when I go to sleep. Be careful out there!
Is this the same as reading is bad for the eyes?
Maybe, listening too loud with headphones is bad for your hearing.
For whatever reason (perhaps because they feel like they are not bothering others) many listen to headphones at a much higher sound pressure level than they would speakers.
Turn the volume down...magic.
What?
I think people try to reproduce bass in headphones like they hear it through speakers - but it doesn't work since speakers also are vibrating/impacting the body. People turn up headphones wishing they could hear (actually, feel) more bass.
Perhaps. Good theory.
If you are in the minority then so am I. I hear and read the same thing about speakers.
IMO, a speaker or headphones should sound good period. They should not be selected to sound good on a narrow range of music. If that's the criteria for selecting "cans" or speakers, what's next, selecting them for a specific song by a specific artist?
A set of phones or speakers should sound good regardless of the music being played.