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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Shawn on August 16, 2006, 02:25:29 PM

Title: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Shawn on August 16, 2006, 02:25:29 PM
I was thinking about picking a up pair of Sennheiser HD580, but none of their dealers around me actually carry them so I'll probably have to pick them up online. I'll mostly being using them in my cubicle at work and I'm afraid the open back design will let a lot of sound out and could bother the people around me. Can anybody that's used these (or other open back sennheiser cans) comment on how loud they are to people around you. thanks
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: George on August 16, 2006, 02:53:00 PM
Yeha, they leak quite a bit.  Maybe you should look into comfy closed cans...what will the cans be plugged into?  If its a laptop or desktop, I cannot recommend the HD580's...they need an amp to shine.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Shawn on August 16, 2006, 03:53:49 PM
thanks for the info... I was afraid of that. I was thinking of picking up a headphone amp of some sort to run in front of them.

any suggesstions on good closed cans that are comfortable. I will be wearing them 4-6 hours a day so comfort is a big deal to me. don't want to spend more than $125-$150. I've heard good things about the sound quality of grados, but I've also heard their construction can be a little weak and all of their designs are open air as far as I know.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Evil Taper on August 17, 2006, 12:00:25 AM
I just picked up the Beyerdynamic DT 770 phones and I've been enjoying them, they're very comfortable.  If you look online you might be able to find a deal.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Gutbucket on August 17, 2006, 08:47:21 AM
any suggesstions on good closed cans that are comfortable. I will be wearing them 4-6 hours a day so comfort is a big deal to me. don't want to spend more than $125-$150. I've heard good things about the sound quality of grados, but I've also heard their construction can be a little weak and all of their designs are open air as far as I know.

Yup, all the Grado's are open back, and since they sit 'on' your ears they can get uncomfortable for long sessions.  People buy 'em for their sound not comfort.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: George on August 17, 2006, 09:07:29 AM
ShawnSmith, take a look at all the cans headphone.com offers.  I would recommend the DT770's, but their may be other options available to you on the site.  I personally own the Sony 7506's and they are closed, offer good sound (no amp required) and are built to last.  I've had my pair for 5 years and they are still cranking like the day I bought them.  The pads can be changed out to velour pads which gives them some great comfort for long listening sessions.  Although, the cord can sometimes drag the left earcup down a little too much for me.  I found the headband on the DT770's to be a little too short (the cord was on the short side too, from what I recall)...I had to remove the leather padding on the headband to get enough space to fit my noggin in there (I owned an older version).

Evil Taper, how's the headband on your DT770's?  I know your model (DT770-80) was re-modeled a bit compared to the version I had (DT770-250).  What about the cord?  Is there more give with it?  I remember mine being coiled up a little too tight.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Evil Taper on August 17, 2006, 09:24:26 AM
The headband is metal with a snap on cover that you can change when it gets worn out.  They're big enough and comfortable on my head, and I barely have the ears extended.  The one complaint that I have is that the cord is permanently attatched to the earpiece, I really liked the breakaway cord on my Sennheisers.  I've been running them on a gold connector rat shack extension cable and they sound fantastic.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: nihilistic0 on August 17, 2006, 11:54:05 PM
I have the open back HD485's


anyway, yea they do leak sound, but I don't think it would be enough to bother other people, unless you really cranked up the volume
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Brian Skalinder on August 18, 2006, 01:19:34 AM
FWIW, if someone near my desk wore open headphones, it wouldn't take long for me to rip them off their head and smash them to smithereens.  IME, even low to medium volume would leak enough would drive me nuts.  $0.02
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: RebelRebel on August 20, 2006, 12:08:46 PM
I lucked out and found a pair of Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it for under 1G on ebay. Those are some serious, serious phones. I got mine new...I see them fairly regularly unused.

they are supposed to be the cream of the crop.

http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Brian Skalinder on August 20, 2006, 12:15:46 PM
Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it

 :drool:
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: George on August 20, 2006, 01:49:09 PM
I lucked out and found a pair of Stax SR-404 electrostatics  and the amp to go with it for under 1G on ebay. Those are some serious, serious phones. I got mine new...I see them fairly regularly unused.

they are supposed to be the cream of the crop.

http://www.stax.co.jp/index-E.html

Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: RebelRebel on August 20, 2006, 03:41:22 PM
 I meant(and what I didnt clarify) that Stax were supposed to be the cream of the crop in General. Of course you could buy the least expensive of the Stax line and notice an immediate difference from most cans. They are just amazing. I jumped from HD600s(senn) to Stax for pleasure listening, and was blown away. I wouldnt use them for monitoring(Use etys for that) but for leisure... :o



Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: George on August 21, 2006, 08:39:34 AM
Oh yeah, i definitely agree with that.  The midrange is on a different scale even with my cheapie SR44's or SR84's.  Try running some vinyl thru them   :o

-George


I meant(and what I didnt clarify) that Stax were supposed to be the cream of the crop in General. Of course you could buy the least expensive of the Stax line and notice an immediate difference from most cans. They are just amazing. I jumped from HD600s(senn) to Stax for pleasure listening, and was blown away. I wouldnt use them for monitoring(Use etys for that) but for leisure... :o



Actually, the SR-007 's are the cream of the crop (aka Omega II) for the Stax line.
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: Gutbucket on August 21, 2006, 09:30:24 AM
Any of you guys ever try those AKG K1000's? They look to me like dynamic Stax wannabe's.  Curious.
http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,90,id,249,pid,249,_language,EN.html (http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,90,id,249,pid,249,_language,EN.html)
Title: Re: Open Back Sennheiser headphones question
Post by: George on August 22, 2006, 03:45:04 PM
Any of you guys ever try those AKG K1000's? They look to me like dynamic Stax wannabe's.  Curious.
http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,90,id,249,pid,249,_language,EN.html (http://www.akg.com/products/powerslave,mynodeid,90,id,249,pid,249,_language,EN.html)

Actually, their electrostatic just like the Stax.  Sennheiser also had some electrostatic headphones before discontinuing them (the HE60...which I own  :D and the big brother HE90).  I heard the K1000's twice.  The first time they sounded good, the second time...eh.  I think they really require an amp that has the synergy and fortitude todrive them correctly.

Hopefully one day I'll get the opportunity to try some more Stax out...i've always been curious about their line of earspeakers.