Advice on Headphones and Amplifier
Listening tastes are very varied......
everything from Bob Dylan right through to Massive Attack.....but predominantly it tends to be based around female vocals (Adele etc) / Pink Floyd / Roger Waters / Red Hot Chili Peppers / Nirvanna / Alice in Chains / Eric Clapton / Steely Dan / Chris Rea......I could go on and on and on but that may give you an idea.
I'm really torn between the Grado's and AKG's at the moment....
Might also be worth while auditioning some Beyerdynamic DT-880's or possibly 990's wouldn't bother with the 770's as they are good for electronic, dance, hip hop etc but the mids are no good for vocal's, classical etc.
Don't think you can go too wrong with an x-can for the money. Others to consider for similar money are a little dot 1+, Fiio E9/E7 combo the latter being usefull for PC music or improving the an ipods headphone out. Both are good performers for the money.
You never know I may end up buying both eventually and then use either depending on what mood or music I'm listening to 
They are not bass shy, they are bass detailed with a bass and not a BASS sound. Both will thump out bass when it is there in the first place, they just do not over emphasise it like many other cans do pandering to modern tastes.
They are not bass shy, they are bass detailed with a bass and not a BASS sound. Both will thump out bass when it is there in the first place, they just do not over emphasise it like many other cans do pandering to modern tastes.
Certainly looks like Bass rolloff on the frequency sweep also http://graphs.headphone.com/graphCompare.php?graphType=0&graphID[]=353&graphID[]=723
They are not bass shy, they are bass detailed with a bass and not a BASS sound. Both will thump out bass when it is there in the first place, they just do not over emphasise it like many other cans do pandering to modern tastes.
Having just listened to the SR60's for 45 mins or so.....I would agree with your comment IDC. I certainly wouldnt say they are Bass Shy. I'm not into room shaking Drum n Bass....I like to hear Bass when its there in a controlled manner alongside strong mid and high's.
I listened to a variety of music on the SR60's and they seemed to be just what I was after.......
IDC, your comments on the Grado's and AKG and really just confirmed the Grado's are what I am looking for
Having just listened to the SR60's for 45 mins or so.....I would agree with your comment IDC. I certainly wouldnt say they are Bass Shy. I'm not into room shaking Drum n Bass....I like to hear Bass when its there in a controlled manner alongside strong mid and high's.
I listened to a variety of music on the SR60's and they seemed to be just what I was after.......
Enjoy the Grado's
Take a look at Alessandro - I own the MS2i and they are known for being better than Grados own 325i.
And the bonus is you pay for them in dollars so you get more for your money.
The Ms1i is equivalent to the sr125i and all for 70 quid inc free shipping to UK.
I would never buy Grado in UK as overpriced.
Considering Alessadros are made by Grado Labs but tweeked to obtain a more neutral sound.
Cheers for all the advice guys...its been a great help.
Just on the Amplifier Side I am seriously considering the Fubar IV Plus....mainly because of the future proofing this offers and also the functionality......as I see it the Fubar will allow me the following options.....
1) Headphone listening via my main HiFi system
2) Improved sound connected to my laptop for headphone listening via the USB DAC
3) Potential to have a small lounge based system for listening using the digital connections to a Digital iPod Dock
All in all that's potentially 3 systems via one box
3) Potential to have a small lounge based system for listening using the digital connections to a Digital iPod Dock
So it does all three but the only caveat is it doesn't leave much room for upgrading the individual components.
3) Potential to have a small lounge based system for listening using the digital connections to a Digital iPod Dock
So it does all three but the only caveat is it doesn't leave much room for upgrading the individual components.
My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue outputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.
Not worried about upgrading individual components.....but the Fubar over say MF X-CAN or a Graham Slee Novo offers 3 options for listening to music (at a higher level) rather than just plugging headphones directly into my laptop or iPod.
My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue intputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.
My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue intputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.
No problem mate, thought I was going mad for a second there.
No analogue inputs on my Fubar IV (non-plus), only digital. Note also that the volume control doesn't affect the line out, so you can't use it as a preamplifier into a power amp. You're correct in all other assumptions though; sounded great with a pre-production Cambridge iPod dock and my macbook pro. Haven't tried it in comparison to the DAC in the Uniti though.
Hi John,
Thanks for that.....I am running a Caspian pre / power combination. Dees this mean that if I went for the Fubar then I connect this to say the tape loop on the pre amplifier for it to run?
That is more like it! X-CANs go for roughly what they sold for originally, so anything under £160 for a X-CANS or V2 is good.
Grado SR80 vs AKG K271 MKII
Comfort - clear winner, AKG because of big comfy pads, of which you have a choice with felt or pleather (vinyl) and the head band adjusts itself over you head. The AKG also comes with two types of cable which detach. The Grados cable goes to both cans and is stiff and prone to twisting.
Sound leaking - clear winner, AKG leaks less sound than any other headphone I have tried.
Sound stage - winner Grado as it is open backed, but the AKG is not bad.
Sound quality - either, the Grado does dynamics and attack, the AKG is more refined and detailed.The Grado's bass is sharper, the AKG more lush. I like both.
Portablity - clear winner Grado as it is more sensitive and can be used fine out of an ipod plus it folds and is physically smaller than the bulky AKG.
Thanks IDC,
What with that and what I heard of the SR60's today I think the decision has been made on the SR80's. They are pretty much for home use only (possibly in bedroom with an iPod) and rarely in the vicinity of anyone else. I like the fact that the Grado's earpieces lay flat.....less chance of breaking them.
You never know I may end up buying both eventually and then use either depending on what mood or music I'm listening to
Main System: Laptop > Schiit Modi DAC & Schiit Magni HP Amp > Headphones
Portable: Rockboxed & Modded iPod (128Gb CF Card) / iPad4 / iPhone 4S / ALO National Amp / ALO Rx Mk3-B Amp / AlgoRhythm Solo DAC
Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 / Beyerdynamic T70p / Heir Audio A.4i IEM / Aurisonics ASG 1.2 / Sennheiser IE6 IEM