Headphone recommendation - Which one of the three?

[Victor Martell]

My options are:

1) Sennheiser HD 580
2) Grado SR225
3) Beyer Dynamic DT 990

All at similar price points. I do intend to use a headphone amplifier with
them. My listening choice is Classical Music all the way. Symphonic,
Choral/Symphonic and Operas mainly, with onyl a smattering of chamber music
(mostly string quartets) and piano/voice (mostly lieder).

Thnx in advance for the advice.


V

[Robert Morein]

580
Most comfortable, best sound.

"Victor Martell" > wrote in message
news:ZKmae.464$Nc.158@trnddc08...
> My options are:
>
> 1) Sennheiser HD 580
> 2) Grado SR225
> 3) Beyer Dynamic DT 990
>
> All at similar price points. I do intend to use a headphone amplifier with
> them. My listening choice is Classical Music all the way. Symphonic,
> Choral/Symphonic and Operas mainly, with onyl a smattering of chamber
music
> (mostly string quartets) and piano/voice (mostly lieder).
>
> Thnx in advance for the advice.
>
>
> V
>
>

[Andy Katz]

On Sat, 23 Apr 2005 07:24:41 GMT, "Victor Martell" >
wrote:

>My options are:
>
>1) Sennheiser HD 580
>2) Grado SR225
>3) Beyer Dynamic DT 990

Sorry, I don't have any of the three, and have no experience with
Beyerdynamics at all. But I do own a Sennheiser 595 and Grado SR 60,
and I find the Grado's ability to elucidate detail astonishing,
especially considering the price difference between it and the Senn.

Classical music? Unless Beyerdynamics really offer something special
I'd go with Grado for classical/symphonic music.

Only caveat is that some find them uncomfortable.

Andy Katz

[[email protected]]

The Grado's are OK but the cords are a bitch to replace, and anyway I
think you should consider Stax if you are very serious, especially
about classical music. Don't buy any but the least expensive factory
Stax amp, because homebrew tube amps dedicated for Stax are an easy
project and beat the factory ones completely.

[Victor Martell]

Thnx!

Some contributors to the rec.music.classical.recordings group suggested the
Stax. I am certainly considering them... the bad thing is that currently I
can't audition any of them (limited mobility), so I have to go on specs and
recommendations...

V

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> The Grado's are OK but the cords are a bitch to replace, and anyway I
> think you should consider Stax if you are very serious, especially
> about classical music. Don't buy any but the least expensive factory
> Stax amp, because homebrew tube amps dedicated for Stax are an easy
> project and beat the factory ones completely.
>

[[email protected]]

Robert Morein wrote:

(snip)

> Most comfortable, best sound.

The above would be my priorities...

I'd prioritize by comfort, followed by sound. I say this because if
they're not comfy, you won't use 'em.

I haven't compared or owned exactly these three models and don't have a
nearby Beyer dealer. However, I have owned many headphones, including
Grados and Sennheisers.

My experience with the above brands is that the Sennheisers are the
most comfy, and therefore I use them the most. I've had Grados (SR40,
SR80, and SR200) for about 10 years and like the sound, but the
ergonomics are clunkier than the Sennheisers. However, after 10 years
with my Grado SR80 headphones, they've either gotten comfortable or
I've gotten used to them.

As mentioned above, I used to have the Grado SR200, which was the
predecessor to the SR225, so my comments might be helpful to you. I
also had the SR80 to compare to the SR200.

The SR80 had a bit crisper sound, while the SR200 sounded slightly more
recessed. I couldn't really say that one sounded better than the other,
it was more like they were slightly different. I sold the SR200 because
it was a higher model in the Grado line and I thought I'd get a higher
price. Before you buy, you might want to try the SR80 also. Many of
them sound quite alike.

Where the Grados excel is in providing the feeling of really being in a
room listening to speakers, not just listening to headphones.

Anyway, I suggest you try all models you can before you buy, while
listening to a CD that you know and like. If at all possible, shop at
the same dealer and evaluate all the headphones at the same time. And
if they're not comfy, don't even bother to listen to them, because
eventually you won't use uncomfortable headphones.

I realize I haven't really answered your questions, but I think that
the above may be helpful.

Also, there are many headphone resources on the web. Here are a few,
but I suggest you use Google.com to look for more:

headphone.com (should take you to the Headroom site)

headwize.com

Also, there's some headphone amps that might interest you, depending on
the quality of sound of whatever you're plugging your headphones into.
Having owned a few headphone amps, generally speaking I think they're
unnecessary, unless you really dislike the sound quality of whatever
you're plugging your headphones into.

> "Victor Martell" > wrote in message
> news:ZKmae.464$Nc.158@trnddc08...
> > My options are:
> >
> > 1) Sennheiser HD 580
> > 2) Grado SR225
> > 3) Beyer Dynamic DT 990
> >
> > All at similar price points. I do intend to use a headphone
amplifier with
> > them. My listening choice is Classical Music all the way.
Symphonic,
> > Choral/Symphonic and Operas mainly, with onyl a smattering of
chamber
> music
> > (mostly string quartets) and piano/voice (mostly lieder).
> >
> > Thnx in advance for the advice.
> >
> >
> > V

[[email protected]]

Victor Martell wrote:
> Thnx!
>
> Some contributors to the rec.music.classical.recordings group
suggested the
> Stax. I am certainly considering them... the bad thing is that
currently I
> can't audition any of them (limited mobility), so I have to go on
specs and
> recommendations...

I owned some Stax electrets many years ago and liked my Grados better.
Also, Stax headphones (because they require special adapters or amps)
can be clumsier to use, if you like to use your headphones in different
rooms, with different gear, while traveling, etc.

But there may be better Stax models out there than my old Stax
electrets; no local Stax dealer here either, so I can't try new Stax
models, unfortunately.

If you want Stax, maybe there's a dealer that will sell via mail, but
allow returns and refunds?

I'm just guessing, but I think Stax may now be sold mostly or entirely
by mail in the US.

BTW, there are usually a few Stax models on eBay.com, if you want to
buy at a lower price and sample Stax that way.

> V
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > The Grado's are OK but the cords are a bitch to replace, and anyway
I
> > think you should consider Stax if you are very serious, especially
> > about classical music. Don't buy any but the least expensive
factory
> > Stax amp, because homebrew tube amps dedicated for Stax are an easy
> > project and beat the factory ones completely.
> >