Portaphile?

oliverstoned wrote: Depending on the precise HD 25 model, the headphone comes with a silver OR a cooper stock cable. The silver cable sounds HORRIBLE and you don't have to believe in cables to hear the difference.

Depending on the precise HD 25 model, the headphone comes with a silver OR a cooper stock cable. The silver cable sounds HORRIBLE and you don't have to believe in cables to hear the difference.

oliverstoned wrote: Hi, Nice! I think that Grado needs a powerful home-amp to work fully. What cable do you use on your HD25? Stock cable? Cooper or steel?

...so what's the advantage of using a wire that is a poorer conductor than copper?

Zune120 + mini3 + Senn HD25 mostly.

Oliver,
so how does the pico compare to the mustang? I know the pico's come in all sorts of colors too, which should be fun, but whats good quality for the money? Need something to make those Krautrock songs shine through my Grado SR80

I'd say RSA Mustang P51 or Headamp Pico. There are currently among the best and are very small!

I do agree that in ear HP work as long as you are not disturbed by the potential discomfort.

I had the Etymotic research ER4P (good brand), at the time i was driving it with a good RSA Hornet amp: it has great highs (musical and detailed), but even tightly sealed, it was cruely lacking lows.
And when you lack low, you lack dynamic and "image" (soundstage, "3D effect")

But i know some other in-ear do low but often on more expensive models.


I tried many HP for portable use until the end of my quest: Senn HD25




It has the following qualities:

- Affordable price: 150€

- Sturdy design, very important for portable use and durability.

- Good efficiency, making it possible for use without amp if the source is powerful enough and making it greatly enhanced by good portable amp.

- Musically, it's neutral ( a great quality because mots HPs, especially affordable ones suffer from a more or less colored sound which "eats" some of your music) and musical (but it's downgraded by the nasty steel cable provided with some versions, replace it by the cooper cable provided with the Senn 6XX), it's almost like a smaller version of the 600, all musical proportions kept.
I've been to a shop with my full system and compare it to several HPs of the same price league :
some Grados (sound colored and muffled besides but would need a AC powered home amp ), the Denon denon AHD 2000 (disapointed by light lows and lack of neutrality) and few others. I couldn't find better.

- Excellent isolation without any "active" system downgrading the sound.




- It's comfortable an holds well on the head. (BTW it's important to precise that on this kind of earpad/fullsize HPs, the HP's arch must be placed slightly in front of the head and not behind like most youngsters do. It makes the earpads tightly sealed on the ears and make a huge difference in term of lows and so on dynamic, image, etc...same principle than with in-ear HP).
It's also much easier to remove than a tighly sealed in-ear with which you may feel "prisoner" because once it's inserted in your ear-canal, it's complicated to remove.

-The HP cable is replacable, option that you don't find on many HP. Moreover, many cable manufacturers designed custom cables for HD6XX versions such as Cardas, ALO Audio, Stefanaudio, Moon audio and many others.

"Headroom review:

Sennheiser HD 25-1-II
A legend in studio recording and pro audio circles, the HD25-1-II is Sennheiser's best sealed
headphone offering solid isolation and a clean, full tone. The unique headband found on this
closed-back 'on-ear' can is perfect for active listening since the design splits to form a 'hat-like'
brim in front & in back of the head, providing an extremely stable, comfortable fit.
Producers and DJs need the swiveling on-ear cushions which rotate away for one-ear mono
mixing. Sound quality is absolutely terrific with powerful impact, solid bass, and clear
musical detail resolution."

Specs:
Sensitivity: 120 dB/V
Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years
Warranty: 2 Years
Cord Length: 4.5 ft.
Microphone: No
Detachable Cable: Yes
Weight: 140 g.
Connector Type: 1/8" with 1/4" adaptor
Driver Type: Dynamic
Cord Type: Straight Right-Side
Coupler Size: Medium
Isolation: -10dB
Ear Coupler Type: Earpad
Impedance @ 1kHz: 70
Wireless: No
Headphone Type: Earpad
Noise Cancelling: No
Acoustic Seal: Closed




IMO, a good portable system is a great luxury (that doesn't replace a good home setup)
for outdoor listening (i enjoy it a lot in the summer sitting in the garden or while gardening)
and great for holidays making it a decent musical source when you're far away from your system
and your precious records.












Edited by oliverstoned - February 25 2011 at 06:48

10-4

^ Does anybody have a clue about anything in the world today??