Headphones

I stupidly have been doing this...seems like they don't have an automatic low power mode. Am I destroying the battery?

So I just began my head-fi journey and I have the HD600. I like them a lot but I wanted to have something with more punch/impact/bass for my pop/rap/hip-hop/k-pop/EDM guilty pleasures.

I have heard the Focal Clear MG (OG no longer available locally), which I think is pretty good but didn't wow me (although it's US950 locally so not a bad deal). My research on this forum and others indicates that the Audeze LCD-X is what I am looking for. There's only one shop in my town that offers it and I made a hike out there to audition them.

For whatever reason, it underwhelmed me. It's good but it I had to try to like them. Maybe I expecting a more powerful bass but it honestly did not impress me more than Clear MGs and Clear MGs have better vocals.

I happened saw the Fostex th900mk2 signature edition at the Audeze dealer. I decided to give them a go. First, it was more comfortable than the LCD-X. (LCD-X was like--I can bear this for the sound if i like the sound enough). The Fostex had some of the best bass I have heard from a headphones. Kanye/Jay Z/Nas etc. all sounded great. Maybe it's the signature edition tuning, I didn't the mid range was as bad as people make it out to be -- l listen to a few Asian love-ballads --the vocals were clear while complimented by the instrumentations, which were clearly separated. The treble was bright but it didn't bother me, but maybe I am getting older (close to 40).

The down side is that the Fostex is like 1500 locally, so i need to go back to another shop and compare to the Clear MG -- to see if I like it for 500 more. Also, the Fostex doesn't seem as well reviewed as the other two mentioned -- and I wonder why. Also at 1500, HIFIMAN Arya Organic is also in play.

Anyone have any thoughts?

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Ops added all the text to the title...

I know this is possibly the funniest thing you’ll read today. I’m on a tight budget and I kinda hate the way my laptop makes them sound. I blame it on my laptop for using a cheap card and calling it Bang&Olufsen.

Can I use Logitech’s DAC usb plug for Audio Technica m50x? Will it improve the sound compared to my built in audio card? Or it’s better to save up and buy a proper audio interface?

Sorry in advance if it isn’t possible or marked with a wrong flair ;/

Hello guys.

A few days ago I got a new headphone.

It's the Fostex T50RP 50th anniversary edition.So not a T50 in a standard way because it has T60 drivers, T60 earpads and a different headband.My old headphones were audio technica ATH-M30.

I'm only driving them through my PC.

Mainboard is an AsRock B650E Steel Legends Wifi with a Realtek ALC897 Audio Codec sound chip.

The biggest difference compared to my old headphones was that the Fostex headphones were a lot quieter which is probably normal given that they are way harder to drive and given that they are planar headphones. Usually I was using 30% volume on windows and that was more than enough for me. Now with the Fostex headphones I have to use something between 40-50% but I still have the feeling that somehow punchiness is missing. They are way more clearer and more detailed compared to my old headphones but my old headphones had more punch (as in bass). At least that's what I'm thinking.

I read a few days regarding this "issue" and some people mentioned that the Nahimic sound driver could be an issue. But I tried both... With and without (completely uninstalled everything that was related to it) and it made zero difference. Now when playing songs I can hear still random noises in the background but it's at the exact same place where it was when listening with my previous headphones. That gives me the impression that a DAC would be a good idea.

My question is now: Is there something I can change on the windows settings to make my Fostex headphones fuller and louder without damaging my ears or is an amplifier the only solution here? Because originally I haven't planned to purchase amp and/or DAC and finding a good budget option is hard. Already tried looking for something on AVexchange but most people selling CONUS only or one guy doesn't even reply anymore (he sold a JDS Labs Atom stack but it seems like he is either banned or didn't came online anymore for a few days now which is a bummer). Also it's hard finding good options because I'm from Germany so majority of amps would cost extra taxes like Schiit stacks or JDS Labs stacks. But I read about quite a lot of issues with Schiit (ground issues, overheating issues, some headphones died when you did not turn them off etc.). For iFi it's a bit similar. There seems to be an issue with the autoplay function where everything is delayed somehow. I really don't know what to do at this point.

Thanks for everybody who is able to help.

I love the fit of Airpod Pros, specifically the fact that they sit outside the ear canal. I can't deal with anything in my ear canal, my breathing and heartbeat are too loud, the cable is too microphonic, my ears get too hot, and most importantly they hurt after 10 minutes. I'd love to get some cabled IEMs that fit like the Airpod Pros.

Any suggestions? TIA!

Compared to tidal I notice the bass sounds much worse on Apple Music, the highs are shrieking and the song sounds more convoluted. Has anyone else had this experience? Apple Music to me just doesn’t sound that great.

Im here listening to my hd650s with my ifi go bar and they sound cleaner in low gain, but are they properly amped or should they sound better in high gain? I switched to high gain and it sounds maybe with more body but not as controlled, what is the proper Gain for an hd650?

I'm laughing now, but...

My dog knocked a glass of apple cider onto my ....u12t, Sony M-9, and Project Red. They didn't get too wet, just a splash. I dried them, now have them locked up with silica packets.

Is there anything else I should do? How long should I wait to test if they're working?

Thank you!

So, i have blessing 3s which sound more distorted when plugged to moondrop's dawn pro through 4.4 (Line K is in the picture)

I switched to 3.5 cable from the arias and it sounded better, more clarity and such, no longer were those weirdly "quiet parts" of the song or weirdly "distorted" mids and high ends.

Anybody can help me out with this one?

Ah yes, i kinda left the stock cables for moondrop blessing 3s when i went on vacation so ye, arias it is.

I have gone through 3 pairs of these headphones in less than 4 months luckily great return policy so I just swapped them out. first pair developed really high pitch squeal second pair opposite ear to first pair continuous cracking noise. And now tonight I believe my third pair only lasted a week as I was sitting playing PlayStation listening to music they just cut out. I think strange didn't warn me of low battery I try to charge it and nothing no charging lights no life at all... And I will add I haven't dropped or damaged them in anyway I'm just shocked 350 euro and can't last more than a couple months?! Also I loved the headphones sound quality my first expensive pair of headphones I've ever bought but this has really soured it for me sadly. any suggestions on a better pair of over ear wireless headphones would be highly appreciated. !

Got my Dark Saber a week ago. Left side 2 pin connector fit pretty tightly compared to the right. Tried to swap to using my Littlewhite and pulling the stock cable out pulled out the whole 2 pin socket and some of the shell. Reached out to Moondrop, they told me to contact the seller. Reached out to Apos, they told me to pay $425 for a replacement but could offer a 35% discount.

This is definitely the last plastic IEM I get that doesn't fill most of the shell with resin, and probably the last Apos or Moondrop purchase I make.

https://preview.redd.it/sftlhii1g8wb1.jpg?width=425&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90353bded1a87ff94141b68440ea1e6125a3b8e0

Quick question on where i should solder ! The outer pin with the hole is for earth, and the 2 inner bits seperated by black plastic are for left and right channel right? Just dont want to mess it up and ruin something ! Thanks (:

This new S7/S7 Pro platform (not to be confused with aptX Lossless) allows headphones and speakers to connect to phones using "micro-power" wifi for up to 192kHz lossless music quality in the S7 Pro. Some other features includes better adaptive ANC and more powerful DSP.

Disclaimer: This post aims to serve as a mini guide/review for other audiophiles looking to dive into kilo buck territory. This post is also meant to serve as a discussion for a kilo buck IEM meta discussion, and how certain IEMS stood the test of time .As always your preference may vary, I cannot stress this enough

Meta - In this sense, how hyped they are currently. Was measured on how many reviews you can get for it in headfi, reddit, and common consensus from audiophile groups. Not a good measurement on how technically good an iem is, but can be a rough estimate on how popular/hyped a certain iem is

Would really appreciate insights from others on 1kusd and up iems that you think stood the test of time and were they worthy of the hype they got/currently have

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All gears were used with Wm1a / Paw S1 / Hugo V1

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Shure Se846 (currently owned) - it had legendary status for a long time but has since been powercrept (sorry gamer term) and made obsolete by newer tech. Most definitely not worth the srp today given its technicalities but it really got the hype back in the day and for a very long time. IMO and preference, not worth the srp as the resolution is not 1kusd worth, but maybe Im being a bit unfair as at its time of release cuz im not yet into audio by then. Can be found real dirt cheap today tho. Currently just using mine for gaming

Noble K10 Alu (currently owned) - Probably one of the iems that made Noble relevant. Became hyped due to how "neutral" it is, tho i'd argue it is bright neutral. It is a pretty old iem that was succeeded by the encore and katana, and even got a massdrop collab release. Unlike the Se846 however I think its sound and technicalities is still relevant today and rightfully so. The main issue so to speak for it is that its SRP of 1650usd was pretty steep. They might be worth their srp if it was 1kusd, but it is the noble premium pricing that audiophiles talk about. They go off cheap as of the moment in the second hand market and is a decent pick up. The Hype for this one is well deserved, but imo not worth the extra premium price

Campfire Andromeda (currently owned) - I am a bit biased for andro because they are my personal fave. I owned an Anole VX, Z1r, Ier M9 and solaris at one point yet andro was still my fave out of the bunch. The tuning is warm enough for a comfortable listening session, but detailed and technical enough to make it stand out of a lot of iems. It is considered by a lot to be the "gatekeeper" for kilobuck iems, and IMO very well deserved the hyped it got and sound is still pretty much relevant today (which is why they are still being milked by Campfire LMAO). An all rounder iem for a lot (if not all) genres. Imo, well worth the SRP, and can never go wrong buying it second hand/b-stock for a cheaper price. I sold my andro to replace it with.... an Andro 2020 :D

Fir Audio VxV (currently owned) - Part of the most recent pick up of iems I got. Tagged as an everyday carry or EDC and imo fits the bill. Tuning is kinda like a safer Andro. Bigger bass, a little bit recessed upper mids compared to andro and smoother treble. People argue the build quality, resolution and technicalities are not enough for a 1kusd iem. While I may agree with the build quality part cuz it's mostly plastic, IMO its technicality is worthy of 1k considering brands like noble and obravo have released IEMs recently that's waaay more expensive with comparable resolution. I think part of why people has this opinion on technicalities is due to the popularity of Moondrop iems and how their iems usually punch well above their price point, albeit not being known for a fun tuning. IMO the VxV deserves more hype, but still 50-50 if it is worth the 1kusd srp. If you can get it second hand for a good deal imo is an easy cop.

Anole VX (previously owned) - Got it cuz it was hyped by crin and other Audiophiles. While I can agree that it has one of the best detail retrieval and resolution for an iem, it made me realize that this kind of soundsig is not fun to listen to being a bit too analytical. Definitely not an all rounder but detail retrieval is definitely summit-fi level. IMO worth the hype it got, but not worth the SRP of 2.5kusd if im not mistaken. Got mine second hand for like 1.5k usd for reference. It maybe just me not liking analytical sounding iems

Sony Z1R (previously owned) - From what I can remember, really good bass but midrange timbre is kinda off on some genres like acoustic songs. From my memory the iem together with andro that sounds more like a headphone than other iems. Had to return due to fit issues, which is what I can read as the main issue for these. Still dont know why sony didnt quite try to make it the same shape as the ier m9. Can see this soundsig to be a benchmark for a lot of people for a long time.IMO Worth the hype for sound alone and unique experience it gives. However NOT worth the SRP considering the glaring fit issue. For people aiming to get this IEM I advice to have it tried on your local audiophile shop, borrow from other audiophiles, try in events like Canjam and not blind buy like me.

Empire Ears Legend X (previously owned) - From what I can remember are bass cannons. Bass bleeds into lower midrange, but to be fair it had really good resolution for a "Dark sounding" iem from what I can remember. IMO really not worth the SRP and has the premium pricing curse like Noble, but hype probably justifiable for bassheads

I've owned my pair of MDR-V6s for 4 years now, and I absolutely adore them. They were my entry into headphone collecting and headphone repair. They sound amazing, everything is crystal clear.

I've tried a lot of headphones as well. Things like MDR-V600, V700, V900/HD, SHP9600, Superlux HD681, Grado SR60, ATH-M50X. And now I've tried HD 599s and HD 6XXs... And my V6s STILL sound better than all of them. That can't be right.

Nicer and nicer headphones close the gap, but nothing does it like my 7506s and my V6s. Some have bass that sounds as good, some have mids that sound as good, some have top end that sounds as good... nothing has the whole package.

I'm just so confused... each time I go into a pair of headphones finally expecting to have something that makes me say "wow, this is better than the MDR-V6." And then I go back to V6s, and they sound better.

Hey r/headphones!

So I bought a Technics SU-V500m2 amplifier secondhand to power my turntable. Unfortunately it lacks a manual and I cant find any information on it online.

Now I want to buy myself a pair of Beyerdynamics DT990Pro to listen to my records on this system, but I have no idea if it will have enough juice to power the 250 ohms the DTs have.

Any help or maybe different headphone recommendation is welcome!

Hey yall

I got a pair of CCA C12 IEMs. I know they are Chinese and not on the level with super expensive ones, but when I plugged them in they were very tinny. Not much base at all. I got them to play FPS games because people say you can hear quieter sounds good with them and they are more comfortable for long sessions. I currently use DT990 pros and a SoundBlaster amp. The DT990 are so much clearer and rich than the IEMs. Do I need to adjust the equalizer somehow or is it just the way it is? The only good part was that the IEMs could be used at a lower volume than the DTs. Thanks for any help before I return the IEMs

Usually when reading reviews th general consensus seems to be more prominent highs lead to better detail retrieval and resolution in a set of headphones, especially iems and more laid back highs are often seen as muddier. Are there any laid back treble/dark headphones with amazing detail retrieval and resolution?

Last week, the left earpiece of my Sennheiser IE300 earbuds malfunctioned. I contacted the authorized service center in my country. After some time, they informed me that they did not have IE300 in stock and offered to replace it with IE200. I declined their offer and insisted on either repairing my IE300 or receiving a new one. They argued that IE200 is an equivalent replacement for IE300, Sennheiser told they so. Is IE200 truly equivalent to IE300? What should I do?

If I have a balanced DAC/amp and balanced headphone cable…do I need to change anything between source and DAC/amp? Currently I use USB from PC to DAC/amp. Asking as the amp I’m looking at supports balanced input but I’m unsure what the use case is for that as I’m a noob. Thanks.