Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 12111 Location: Bay Area
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:58 pm Post subject:
JB, Wilt, I have a question. I own a pair of Bose - these ones. What "tier" would you place these, from an audio quality perspective? How much more would a higher tier of over the ear headphones cost me? Some of the one's Wilt posted look great - but is the jump in quality really worth the extra cost? I got my Bose as a gift, so I've never really had to spend too much money on headphones, but I've enjoyed these so much I wouldn't be opposed to dropping a few hundred on a nice set. Would use mostly for listening to music, business calls, and sports - no gaming. Eclectic music taste.
@ Triumph - How does the R162 stack up to the Elac? I'm quite fond of Andrew Jones' gear.
I personally like ELAC better, but that is for my taste. Don't know which you'd prefer.
The R162 probably measures better than any of the sub $600 ELAC speakers besides the Debut Reference. It is very flat/neutral sound. The engineers trickled down some of the technology from the higher Revel line of speakers from Harmon into the R162. But for me personally, I thought the speaker sounded too dry. Again, I don't know what sound you'd prefer, that's just me.
Thankfully, Harman has a nice return policy for the R162, so if you don't like it, you can pretty easily return it (which is what I did).
I'm leaning on picking up the Wharfedale 220 you were looking at. I know it's crazy but aesthetics matter for me. That 220 is about as compact a speaker you can make for it's 5" driver. I might Amazon it to see if it'll work. _________________ KOBE
JB, Wilt, I have a question. I own a pair of Bose - these ones. What "tier" would you place these, from an audio quality perspective? How much more would a higher tier of over the ear headphones cost me? Some of the one's Wilt posted look great - but is the jump in quality really worth the extra cost? I got my Bose as a gift, so I've never really had to spend too much money on headphones, but I've enjoyed these so much I wouldn't be opposed to dropping a few hundred on a nice set. Would use mostly for listening to music, business calls, and sports - no gaming. Eclectic music taste.
Not really a fan of bose but these in particular really surprised me. Compared to other Bluetooth headphones like the Sony WH series (probably the gold standard), it's right there. There's going to be an SQ sacrifice going Bluetooth compared to wired headphones. Plugging in my Sony's vs using the Bluetooth is night and day. Bluetooth is still great. You can love it and be none the wiser but once you plug it in, you'll go "oh, THAT'S what it should sound like". You can't beat the convenience of Bluetooth and I find myself using my bluetooth headphones 10x more than any other piece of audio gear I own. _________________ KOBE
Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 3103 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:15 pm Post subject:
jonnybravo wrote:
Triumph wrote:
jonnybravo wrote:
@ Triumph - How does the R162 stack up to the Elac? I'm quite fond of Andrew Jones' gear.
I personally like ELAC better, but that is for my taste. Don't know which you'd prefer.
The R162 probably measures better than any of the sub $600 ELAC speakers besides the Debut Reference. It is very flat/neutral sound. The engineers trickled down some of the technology from the higher Revel line of speakers from Harmon into the R162. But for me personally, I thought the speaker sounded too dry. Again, I don't know what sound you'd prefer, that's just me.
Thankfully, Harman has a nice return policy for the R162, so if you don't like it, you can pretty easily return it (which is what I did).
I'm leaning on picking up the Wharfedale 220 you were looking at. I know it's crazy but aesthetics matter for me. That 220 is about as compact a speaker you can make for it's 5" driver. I might Amazon it to see if it'll work.
Oh OK. Never heard the 220, but I have the 225, which is the 6.5 inch driver version of the line. I really enjoy them. Now, they are not going to wow you with speed and detail, but the midrange is really sweet and warm. It is not what I would consider a highly resolving speaker, but a musical one that sounds smooth and fatigue-free. And it does look nice in rosewood or walnut finish.
If you are really into looks, I highly recommend the Wharfedale Denton 80th, which you can buy through Music Direct (or through MD on Amazon). It's at the top of your budget, but I do not think there is another $500 (or even up to $800) speaker with this type of build quality (gorgeous real veneer wood finish and tweed vintage style grilles).
JB, Wilt, I have a question. I own a pair of Bose - these ones. What "tier" would you place these, from an audio quality perspective? How much more would a higher tier of over the ear headphones cost me? Some of the one's Wilt posted look great - but is the jump in quality really worth the extra cost? I got my Bose as a gift, so I've never really had to spend too much money on headphones, but I've enjoyed these so much I wouldn't be opposed to dropping a few hundred on a nice set. Would use mostly for listening to music, business calls, and sports - no gaming. Eclectic music taste.
If you want to have wired headphones, you have to consider open vs closed. If it's open (meaning that they leak sound both ways), there are countless great headphones between $100 and $400. Any Sennheiser in that range is good. You can't go wrong. AKG also makes some great, affordable headphones. In the sound department, they will outperform the Bose easily.
If it's a closed headphone you want, the most popular by far is the Audiotechnica M50x. That one is just above $100. I've owned one before but ended up selling it because I prefer open headphones. Drop.com also has the Meze 99, which is made out of wood. Great reviews and it looks cool. It's $200.
If you prefer the practicality of bluetooth, Drop has their new Panda headphone. It's the first serious attempt at making bluetooth headphones sound good. And based on the reviews, people like it. But their next shipment is in November. They're $400 and are packed with technology. _________________ ¡Hala Madrid!
Joined: 10 Jul 2009 Posts: 12111 Location: Bay Area
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:31 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen (pun intended)! Got a few options now, should be fun engaging in some good ol' fashioned american retail therapy later
Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen (pun intended)! Got a few options now, should be fun engaging in some good ol' fashioned american retail therapy later
If you are willing to spend $400 on something that sounds good and is practical, I'd pre-order the Panda on Drop.com. https://drop.com/buy/drop-wireless-headphones#overview You will have to wait a while for the next drop, but it's probably going to be worth it. I'm thinking about ordering a pair myself. _________________ ¡Hala Madrid!
Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen (pun intended)! Got a few options now, should be fun engaging in some good ol' fashioned american retail therapy later
If you are willing to spend $400 on something that sounds good and is practical, I'd pre-order the Panda on Drop.com. https://drop.com/buy/drop-wireless-headphones#overview You will have to wait a while for the next drop, but it's probably going to be worth it. I'm thinking about ordering a pair myself.
Oh that's interesting. I have an Audeze Mobius headset for gaming. Off to head-fi.org to do some research. The Audeze are great but the build quality feels cheap and battery life kind of sucks in today's market.
*edit* No way...these are essentially bluetooth Oppo PM3's? Time to start scouring ebay.
I've never preordered from Drop, can we get a refund if we change our mind before it ships? _________________ KOBE
Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 3103 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:20 am Post subject:
Someone in Cerritos is selling their KEF LS50's on craigslist for $700, which is a good price for a former Stereophile class A product. If you can deal them down to $650 or so, would be outstanding for the money.
Someone in Cerritos is selling their KEF LS50's on craigslist for $700, which is a good price for a former Stereophile class A product. If you can deal them down to $650 or so, would be outstanding for the money.
Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 3103 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:19 am Post subject:
panamaniac wrote:
Speakers: 2x Klipsch R-15PM speakers, which I got bundled alongside a Pro-ject turntable on a nice deal.
Subs: 1x Klipsch Reference R-10SW (300w)
I use this mainly for my LP listening. Speakers have a Bluetooth option, so I can also play my phone or computer through them. Have had this setup for a few years, and I think it sounds killer.
I’ve purchased many headphones and earbuds over the years, in search of the perfect one. Lately I’ve settled on my Grado prestige series, which are crisp and dynamic and not too bass heavy. Last Christmas I added the Reference series to the collection, which sounds flatter and less dynamic which I need for mixing/mastering. Sometimes those overly explosive headphones will trick into thinking your mix is slammin’, when it’s really just the headphones.
Nice gear.
I've had Klipsch speakers a couple times, most recently the 2019 CNET (Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac) Speaker of the Year - Klipsch RP-600M. They were so fun to listen to. Superb dynamics for rock music.
I also used to have a couple Grado/Allesandro headphones (SR-60, MS-1, HF-1) back in the day. I enjoyed them for rock music as well. They are kind of like the Klipsch of headphones I suppose. Unfortunately, I could not wear Grados for lengthy listening periods because my ears would inevitably get sore from the supraaural pads.
Speakers: 2x Klipsch R-15PM speakers, which I got bundled alongside a Pro-ject turntable on a nice deal.
Subs: 1x Klipsch Reference R-10SW (300w)
I use this mainly for my LP listening. Speakers have a Bluetooth option, so I can also play my phone or computer through them. Have had this setup for a few years, and I think it sounds killer.
I’ve purchased many headphones and earbuds over the years, in search of the perfect one. Lately I’ve settled on my Grado prestige series, which are crisp and dynamic and not too bass heavy. Last Christmas I added the Reference series to the collection, which sounds flatter and less dynamic which I need for mixing/mastering. Sometimes those overly explosive headphones will trick into thinking your mix is slammin’, when it’s really just the headphones.
Nice gear.
I've had Klipsch speakers a couple times, most recently the 2019 CNET (Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac) Speaker of the Year - Klipsch RP-600M. They were so fun to listen to. Superb dynamics for rock music.
I also used to have a couple Grado/Allesandro headphones (SR-60, MS-1, HF-1) back in the day. I enjoyed them for rock music as well. They are kind of like the Klipsch of headphones I suppose. Unfortunately, I could not wear Grados for lengthy listening periods because my ears would inevitably get sore from the supraaural pads.
I love them. I also love the simplicity of two speakers plus a sub. Got turned on to Klipsch products after hearing about them on a podcast, Let There Be Talk (from Dean Delray).
Also looking to upgrade my turntable soon. As well as getting a pair of monitors for mixing. Currently looking at the KRK Rokit set, they seem competitively priced and have great reviews.
This is HI FI...HIGH Fidelity, and what that means is it's the HIGHEST..QUALITY...fidelity of any system out there... Hi Fi, that's two very important things to have in a system.
--Don Cheadle re: def of hi fi, Boogie Nights
Is this with or without the TK-421 modification? Cuz they do that in-store.
Joined: 20 Jul 2002 Posts: 3103 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2020 3:28 pm Post subject:
Any of you guys have personal recommendations for test tracks or anything you feel demonstrates the highlights of your system?
Or just any album or song recommendations that you just think sound great on your system would be cool.
I remember when I was still going through a merry-go-round of different speakers. The moment I knew I would keep the KEF LS50's is when I put on Fiona Apple's "The First Taste" (off her debut Tidal). I immediately realized the LS50's were better than anything else I had had when it came to resolution. The beginning of the track is very sparse with Apple's close mic'ed vocals and a couple of piano notes. On any speaker, you can hear her taking breaths and the sound of her lips opening. But on the LS50's you can hear even more details like the sounds of her tongue hitting her teeth way more clearly. It was a "wow" moment for me.
I typically care more about a gear's ability to sound natural or musical, but this amount of detail was really cool to hear. And I think if you pair the LS50's with the right upstream components, it can sound pretty natural and not overly bright, which is what many people complain about with these speakers. I don't have that issue.
Any of you guys have personal recommendations for test tracks or anything you feel demonstrates the highlights of your system?
Or just any album or song recommendations that you just think sound great on your system would be cool.
I remember when I was still going through a merry-go-round of different speakers. The moment I knew I would keep the KEF LS50's is when I put on Fiona Apple's "The First Taste" (off her debut Tidal). I immediately realized the LS50's were better than anything else I had had when it came to resolution. The beginning of the track is very sparse with Apple's close mic'ed vocals and a couple of piano notes. On any speaker, you can hear her taking breaths and the sound of her lips opening. But on the LS50's you can hear even more details like the sounds of her tongue hitting her teeth way more clearly. It was a "wow" moment for me.
I typically care more about a gear's ability to sound natural or musical, but this amount of detail was really cool to hear. And I think if you pair the LS50's with the right upstream components, it can sound pretty natural and not overly bright, which is what many people complain about with these speakers. I don't have that issue.
Last of the Mohicans soundtrack is amazing. _________________ KOBE
True. There's a store I used to frequent called the Digital Ear in Tustin in the 90s.
I remember them..... If I'm not mixing-up memories, I got a little pair of Magnepans from them.
And I got my Velodyne Sub woofer from them years ago... _________________ “Always remember... Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”
Not nearly into the high end stuff you guys are talking, I was always happy with my Yamaha separates and NHT Speakers. It freed up enough money to amass about 5,000 records and CD's...
And I was really surprised no one mentioned B&W Speakers, man I love that brand, even the lower level ones sounded great to me, and I'd love me some a pair of the $60,000 Nautilus speakers... _________________ “Always remember... Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”
Not nearly into the high end stuff you guys are talking, I was always happy with my Yamaha separates and NHT Speakers. It freed up enough money to amass about 5,000 records and CD's...
And I was really surprised no one mentioned B&W Speakers, man I love that brand, even the lower level ones sounded great to me, and I'd love me some a pair of the $60,000 Nautilus speakers...
Any audiophile live in a townhouse? What are you guys doing to soundproof your place? It's an issue I'm going to have to deal with in the near future. _________________ KOBE
This is a John Curl design featuring high bias Class A/B power. This beast weighs 40 pounds with a huge toroidal transformer and can drive 205 Watts into 8 ohms and 315 Watts into 4 ohms. Basically you can power most any loudspeaker on the market with this. Really big, muscular sounding amplifier.
2) Parasound New Classic Model 275 Power Amplifier - $275
Review:
This is a really nice Class A/B amplifier from their New Classic line, which is aimed at getting a lot of bang for the buck. I initially thought I would sell this as soon as I got the HCA-1500A, but it provided a different flavor of sound that was still worth keeping around. It is very neutral sounding compared to the big dynamic sound of the HCA-1500A.
This is a digital surround processor, which works great, but it works even better as a 2-channel preamp/DAC feeding a power amp for music listening. The DAC chip used in this from Crystal Semiconductor was developed in conjunction with Meridian. If you have any experience with Meridian gear, you know their house sound is refined and smooth. This piece is no different. Also features Meridian's optional Tri-Field mode, which can convert two-channel signals to play through the main L/R channels + the center channel. Really cool way to listen to music if you have a 5.1/7.1 setup.
This amplifier is one of the best values in hi-fi available today. Even at it's retail price (~$550+ shipped to the US from the UK) it is a bargain. Really clean/neutral sounding amplifier that pairs well with a wide variety of loudspeakers because it is so even-keeled in presentation.
These headphones are in very good shape considering they are from the 80's. If you've never heard electrostats before, these are a good example of the classic Stax house sound without having to pay a small fortune for their current line.
It's possible I will also sell the KEF LS50 and Wharfedale Diamond 225 speakers, but I need some more time to evaluate them compared to my new Quad S2 speakers.
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