General purchase advice: Ask your questions/for advice here!

I need advice!
6696

Really struggling with getting best headphone experience.

I live in small, tightly packed estate, so need to use headphones whenever drunk and in need of stupidly loud listening experience

Bought Fiio K19 headphone amp and Meze 109 headphones. Fantastic sound quality! :slight_smile:

Problem is… I miss crazy house-shaking sub-bass from 300 real rms watts subwoofer.

To my surprise, bolting two 5 inch 15 watt drivers (driven from cheap Chinese amp) to the underside of office chair restores much of the sub-bass experience

Question 1) How can I get more sub-bass to my chair? Low-Fi fine. Butt has poor hearing.

Question 2) Is “exciter” the solution?

Question3 ) Why am I the only headphone user that finds lack of butt-shaking a problem?

All ideas gratefully received…

Many thanks, Robin UK

6697

Hello, Konichiwa, Ne hao, Bora da, Shwmai, Namaste, Gruetse, Shalom, Hola, Bon jour, Guten tag, Ciao, G’day, What about ya, Nah then, Haway, Salami, Haloumi, Bontempi, Oy oy savaloy.

I have purchased a new Blackstar Beam Mini guitar amplifier, a lovely piece of kit. It has capacity to record guitar and voice via wired plugin, and I will want to listen and record/hear guitar and voice simultaneously. It is also a bluetooth speaker.

Could anyone suggest a good TRRS headset (headphones with inline microphone) to record singing please, with 3.5 mm jack?

Thank you

Have a nice day

:slightly_smiling_face:

6698

Skullcandy has a special headphone for that. When you are drunk you probably don’t care about the details anyway. Just have a drunk headset and a sober headset.

2 Likes
New Here? This Is The Spot To Introduce Yourself
6699

Hey i can’t decide on what headphones to get, idk if there are better options then this, also i don’t want to spam but since i can’t post for myself I’ve commented this post on multiple posts, plz don’t ban if it broke any rules.

My use case: mostly watching anime for hours at a time, lying in bed. I want punchy, engaging music (not flat/reference-boring) and dialogue that comes through bold and clear without straining to hear it.

Requirements:

  • 200-300g range — this is a hard constraint, I’m in these for hours lying down and anything heavier gets uncomfortable fast
  • Budget: $300-500
  • Open or closed, still deciding — see below

Where I’m at: I already own Audeze Maxwells and like their punch/bass a lot, but they’re heavy (~490g) and just not viable for bed use over long sessions. So I’m leaning toward the Sennheiser HD 550 (237g, ~$300) as an open-back option — from what I’ve read it’s tuned to have noticeably more bass/sub-bass extension than the HD 600/650/560S, while staying light and comfortable.

My plan: compare the HD 550 against my Maxwells directly to figure out if I actually prefer open-back’s clarity/soundstage, or if I’m just an inherently closed-back bass person and should look for a lighter closed option instead (HD 480 Pro and ATH-M50x are on my radar as backups).

About the Headphones category
6700

Avoid the ATH-M50x like genital warts. Perhaps the most overrated headphone I’ve heard. Hot, grainy treble. All kinds of bass bloat. Shallow pads with skull-crushing clamping force.

Beware …

2 Likes
6701

The 550 will leak sound due to the open-back design. If that’s not a problem they’re a great option, albeit they won’t have the same bass extension and punch of the Maxwell. If you want a similar experience to the Maxwell but in a more comfortable, lighter weight chassis, the 480 Pro is a great option.

I agree with @pk500 about the Audio Technica’s - they’re not a good headphone.

3 Likes
6702

Looking for a closed-back that combines HD 480 PRO sound quality with Audeze Maxwell loudness/impact

I own both the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO and the Audeze Maxwell. I think they are both good, but they each do different things better.

To my ears, the HD 480 PRO has better overall sound quality, especially for music. I prefer how it handles vocals, instruments, and the overall balance.

The Audeze Maxwell sounds louder and has more effortless bass/impact, which can make it more exciting for anime, movies, and gaming.

I bought a FiiO BTR13 because the HD 480 PRO sounds quiet from my Samsung laptop’s headphone jack, and I want to hear how it performs with a proper DAC/amp.

I am looking for a closed-back headphone that comes closest to combining:

  • The HD 480 PRO’s sound quality, musicality, and natural presentation.

  • The Maxwell’s loudness, bass impact, and more effortless dynamics.

  • Strong performance for anime, i watch in bed

  • Clear dialogue and good separation during busy scenes.

For anyone who has used the HD 480 PRO with a proper DAC/amp: should I expect the BTR13 to significantly close the gap in loudness and bass impact versus the Maxwell, or is most of that difference simply the headphones’ tuning and driver design?

6703

BTR13 may have not enough power especially through 3.5mm output.
Loudness depends on amplifier output power.
If you need a bluetooth amplifier I’d suggest to look at Qudelix 5k instead for more power + PEQ as a bonus.

6704

A few thoughts -

  1. I’m not a fan of closed-backs in general. If you need one, I guess you do, but it’s not for the sound. Even when we get into $$$ level pricing, they can exhibit artifacts and internal echoes. I guess the ZMF Verite closed was the best I’ve heard, but open backs at less than half the price sound better to me and are less fatiguing. That said …

  2. A word about DACs or more specifically DAC/AMPs. I do like some FiiO equipment, and the fact that your choice has an internal battery for power avoids some of the limitations of DAC/AMP dongles that rely on the USB for power. However the HP 480 PRO has a 120 Ohm impedence, so it will be a bit harder to drive than headphones with low impedence, and that 220 MW rating on the FiiO is at 32 Ohm, so divide by 4 to get what it can put into 120 Ohm. And that’s Balanced - you might want to invest in the Sennheiser balanced cable for those headphones. Otherwise, divide by 2 again… not a huge amount of power. Looking at the Qudelix 5K, it does not appear to have more power - and it’s also good for what it is.

The question arises - Why do you need a Bluetooth DAC/AMP, and if you do, why do you need one with a small form factor? Those are your limitations.

To hear how it sounds with a proper DAC/AMP, you should plug it into a decent WIRED, and probably plug in to the wall type DAC/AMP. Then you’ll be able to determine if the problem is the Sennheiser or your DAC/AMP and address it accordingly.

Where do you live? That will affect the options you have for testing stuff out. I don’t live in a big city - it’s not easy to go to a show, and the closest audio stores worth a damn are fairly far away. If you are US based, then the choices for mail-order are different than if you are UK or Euro based.

3 Likes
6705

Yes, rechecked and it seems Qudelix 5k indeed should be close in output power to BTR13.

And Qudelix 5k drives my hd480 pro loud more than enough through 3.5mm and there is still 8db headroom.

6706

I’m in agreement regarding closed back headphones. I had several, and wound up selling all of them save two:

  1. Sony MDR Z1R: For a closed back, it has some excellent sonic qualities. It’s one of the very few closed back options that seems to work with most music genres.

  2. Sony MDR Z7: My first plunge into audiophile cans. I keep them for sentimental reasons. Still occasionally use them with a AK 240 portable player.

1 Like
6707

I keep a Sennheiser Momentum 4 closed back. I think of it as good mid-fi with lots of occasionally useful electronic gimmicks. Fine for streaming movies and short term listening.

2 Likes
6708

I wondered if any of you could help;

I had a Sennheiser G Zero, before they were bought over/partnered with EPOS.

I’m considering buying the same headset but

I’ve seen comments that the quality and customer support has drastically been lowered.

A wired Sennheiser would be my preferred choice/style.

1. What is your budget?

\~USD$200-350 \[£150-260\]

2. What are you looking for?

Budget PS 5/TV listening Headphones

3. How will you typically be using the gear?

Sat at a desk \[PC\] and in a chair \[console\]

5. What do you intend on using for a source?

PC soundcard output and using a PS 5 controller over bluetooth or the TV audio jack if the cable's sufficiently long.

6. What material will you be using your gear for?

PS 5/TV listening

7. Are you willing to buy used?

No.

I had a Sennheiser G Zero, before they were bought over/partnered with EPOS. I’m considering buying the same headset

but I’ve seen comments that the quality and customer support has drastically been lowered, on top of the fact I can’t find a new pair.

The previous Sennheiser G Zeros lasted me 5+ years with a lot of patch ups, 3+ sets of earpads, and 10+ knock

off cables.

Three headsets I’ve bought in the past month:

1] Sennheiser HD 599SE Open-Back Wired Audiophile Headphones via amazon

2] Sennheiser PC350s via ebay

3] EPOS H6PROs via amazon

The above all sound nothing similar to the Sennheiser G Zero’s; the audio’s missing something. Firing a gun in Cyberpunk 2077 etc

it’s as though these backup

headphones only register the bass or something.

Perhaps there’s some sort of external power booster that I can buy or something.

I primarily use them for watching TV series/movies, and less so using the P S5.

Thank you for any help and your time.

6709

Hi everyone,

Thanks in advance for your help!

I’m currently trying to decide between the HifiMan Arya Organic and the Arya Unveiled. As for a DAC/Amp, I’m currently planning to buy a FiiO K13 R2R to drive them. My primary use case is general daily desktop use—a mix of gaming (including competitive games), movies, and music.

I’d really appreciate your experience and recommendations. Ever since I sold my Sennheiser HD 700 five years ago, I haven’t been truly satisfied with any setup. Back then, I could pinpoint enemies in games with incredible precision, almost like I had a radar. I haven’t found a single pair of headphones since that delivered the same level of satisfaction.

Do you think either of these Arya models can fill that void? Also, if you know of better DAC/Amp alternatives to the FiiO K13 R2R for these headphones, I’m completely open to suggestions.

Or do you think nothing short of an HD 800S will make me genuinely happy again, and I should just go straight for that instead? Budget isn’t an issue, I just want to make the right choice.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

6710

I saw your post on Reddit but am happy you’ve also found your way here. I feel this place is friendlier, and the people have less of an agenda.

While watching movies and gaming, if impactful sub-bass is a requirement, the Arya’s would be my choice, preferably the unveiled because the Organic is too bright to my ears. The HD 800S does roll off in the nether region, and while not completely devoid of sub-bass, it’s not as present. For all other reasons, though, I’d choose the HD 800S. Its ergonomics and comfort are far better suited for long gaming sessions, and the precise imaging and larger perceived soundstage are both fun and helpful for sound localization such as footsteps and gunshots. It’s built like a tank and has a great reliability track record too

Nothing beats comparing them for yourself, though. Definitely audition each headphone if you’re able.

3 Likes
6711

I think the K13 R2R would be the weak link if you are going for precision in imaging. R2R dacs require expensive parts for the best accuracy and there just isn’t enough budget with the K13 R2R. I know all the extra features are attractive but it’s worth thinking about your priorities.

2 Likes
6713

Hello again! Yeah, I do have a bit of a hard time trusting online reviews. To be honest, I’m well aware of Sennheiser’s level of quality and comfort. I used to own an HD 700, and even after hours of continuous use, it never gave me a headache or made my ears sweat. I really regret selling it. Now I’m torn—should I just go all-out for an HD 800 S, or try a different adventure with the Arya Unveiled? So for me, what really matters most is pinpointing the exact location of my opponents in competitive games. I’ve tried plenty of headphones, and while I can hear the sounds, I often struggle to tell if an enemy on my right is right next to me, further away, or slightly to the front. My main goal here is getting better imaging and spatial awareness—that’s priority number one for me. Soundstage width and accurate positioning are crucial. Bass and overall punch don’t really matter to me; that’s not what I’m looking for at all.

On the other hand, the Arya Unveiled is genuinely heavy. When you think about it, you wouldn’t want that resting on your head for hours. Plus, the earcups are pretty bulky, and the fit on the face just doesn’t feel right to me. I actually had the chance to try the Ananda Nano for a few hours. The soundstage is remarkably wide and it’s an unbelievably impressive headphone, but it’s still heavy and clunky. In terms of comfort and ergonomics, I don’t think either of them even compares to the HD 800 S.

That said, we can’t ignore the price difference—there’s a massive gap between them. I really don’t know what to do; I’m completely on the fence. I haven’t had the chance to try the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled, and unfortunately, I won’t have the opportunity to test it either. However, I did try the Ananda Nano for a few hours before. It’s an incredibly heavy and bulky headphone—when I put it on my face, my initial reaction was literally, ‘What is going on here?’ Yes, the soundstage and overall spatial width are incredible, but for some reason, it just felt way too cumbersome to me. I’m really not sure if wearing it for long hours would get uncomfortable, but it has so many glowing reviews and it’s much more budget-friendly than the HD 800 S. I really wish I could give it a test run; it would make this whole decision so much easier…

6714

Comfort is always the primary factor imo

why not get the HD 700 on the sales markets? I am sure there will be reasonable pricing for them

6715

I’ll chime in: I’m not that impressed with the HD 800S. It an expensive one-trick pony to me. Has exceptional, almost artificial, soundstage but isn’t that special anywhere else in the sonic spectrum for its price range. Good detail retrieval, though.

But the one thing you’ll get with HiFiMan is quality concerns. Build quality and HiFiMan are two terms allergic to each other. That said, I’ve owned two HiFiMan cans and had no problems with either. But the build is cheap, without a doubt.

1 Like
6716

Which of these DACs/amps should I choose, or which one would you choose?

I’m quite torn when it comes to DAC/amps; I just can’t seem to make up my mind. Should I make a significant investment and buy a high-end device, or would the FiiO K13 R2R suffice? I feel like I want something better, but since I lack experience, I’m unsure what the right choice is. My primary use case is at the PC, with gaming and music being my top priorities.
I’m undecided among the models listed below, but I wanted to get your opinion as well. I don’t plan on constantly swapping gear; I want to buy one and be done with it. That said, I do enjoy trying out different headphones. I’ll be using the device mainly for PC gaming and listening to music. I don’t mind spending money on headphones, but for some reason, I hesitate when it comes to DACs/amps. Here are the models I’m considering; if you were in my shoes, which one would you choose? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.
FiiO K13 R2R / K17
Luxsin X9
Topping A900 / DX9