Discussion
Scratching my head a bit here.
I'm after a new pair of headphones, but going round in circles with dealers who only stock one brand and widely differing model numbers from each manufacturer with no indication of which are old models, which are new models, and which version begets which new version.
Plus, I have no idea where to go online for a good price (seeing as demoing is a waste of time as I can't find a dealer local to me with sennys and beyers
)
Can anybody help me out on a good online retailer with decent prices?
Headphone-wise I am looking at closed-back phones for use with a home hifi (all Arcam), around the 100-130 mark. I listen to a mix of rock and classical and prefer the sound to be fairly clear and transparent.
I have been looking at Beyers mostly, my dad had a pair of HD-831s which he rates but they are a bit old now and I would have trouble getting new ones. Have heard the treble can be a bit shrill too. Other ones I have seen are the 770 (pricey and bass heavy), 880 (semi-open, pricey), and 990 (HiFi Choice Best Buy but open backed). None seems ideal.
Grados are out as they are open backed.
Don't know much about Sennheisers.
Can anybody:
1. offer any advice on choice?
2. offer any advice on a good retailer?
I'm after a new pair of headphones, but going round in circles with dealers who only stock one brand and widely differing model numbers from each manufacturer with no indication of which are old models, which are new models, and which version begets which new version.
Plus, I have no idea where to go online for a good price (seeing as demoing is a waste of time as I can't find a dealer local to me with sennys and beyers
) Can anybody help me out on a good online retailer with decent prices?
Headphone-wise I am looking at closed-back phones for use with a home hifi (all Arcam), around the 100-130 mark. I listen to a mix of rock and classical and prefer the sound to be fairly clear and transparent.
I have been looking at Beyers mostly, my dad had a pair of HD-831s which he rates but they are a bit old now and I would have trouble getting new ones. Have heard the treble can be a bit shrill too. Other ones I have seen are the 770 (pricey and bass heavy), 880 (semi-open, pricey), and 990 (HiFi Choice Best Buy but open backed). None seems ideal.
Grados are out as they are open backed.
Don't know much about Sennheisers.
Can anybody:
1. offer any advice on choice?
2. offer any advice on a good retailer?
www.richersounds.co.uk ? good bargains to be had there.
and nip into a newsagent and scour the classifieds in the back of What Hi-Fi.
and nip into a newsagent and scour the classifieds in the back of What Hi-Fi.
Heaven forbid anything you ever buy from Richer Sounds goes wrong, their customer service leaves a LOT to be desired.
I buy from www.hifistore.co.uk
I buy from www.hifistore.co.uk
alextgreen said:
Heaven forbid anything you ever buy from Richer Sounds goes wrong, their customer service leaves a LOT to be desired.
I buy from www.hifistore.co.uk
Based on my experiences I would disagree
1. Brought CD player which had a few problems after 18 or so months. Used the supercare I had purchased, got a new CD player and the loan of one until they could get the player in stock.
2. Brought speaker - none in stock so got free delivery.
3. Brought Surround sound & there was a loud humming noise. Cust Service couldn't help so gave me contact number & name of person at manufacturers whotold me what problem was. Took it back to RS & got upgraded replacement + free cables to say sorry.
Best customer service I have had for a long time
Their "supercare" is supposed to be very good; however, they only really deal with the budget end of stuff, and do have some suspect business practices (ever noticed that some of their stuff seems permanently out of stock? that's because it is! Then they get you to buy something else instead that's slightly more expensive..)
NiceCupOfTea said:
Their "supercare" is supposed to be very good; however, they only really deal with the budget end of stuff, and do have some suspect business practices (ever noticed that some of their stuff seems permanently out of stock? that's because it is! Then they get you to buy something else instead that's slightly more expensive..)
Agree about Supercare. I've never had a problem with stock at the places I've brought from (Plymouth, Nottingham, London Bridge) will order it in and call me.
I am a bit dubious about the quality of the unboxed specials - a couple of people I know have got these & they have been end of product lines which were stopped for quality reasons.
If you really want to wind them up pay by Amex, they hate that but are committed to accepting the card
120 squid is quite big budget for 'phones.
I'd suggest contacting you nearest real hifi shop (whether they deal in Grados would be a good test.)
To bring round a few sets of 'phones to try must be the easiest home demo they'e ever done.
Risk is you may get sucked into the £250 area.
T
I'd suggest contacting you nearest real hifi shop (whether they deal in Grados would be a good test.)
To bring round a few sets of 'phones to try must be the easiest home demo they'e ever done.
Risk is you may get sucked into the £250 area.
T
Depends what style of music you want to listen to, but my Sennheiser HD25 headphones sound awesome and they're closed back.
www.djstore.co.uk/cgi-bin/group.pl?group=headphones&page=3
www.djstore.co.uk/cgi-bin/group.pl?group=headphones&page=3
If I may direct you to
www.hifichoice.co.uk/buyersguide_list.asp?category=HPH&subcategory=HDPHN
and
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/bgheadphones.html where they have short reviews and the older ones are on the Hi-Fi World site.
I use STAX Gamma Pro's Electrostatic's. They need an SRD-X energiser to work and connect via the outout(tape) sockets of the Amp. My amp has spare outputs.
www.hifichoice.co.uk/buyersguide_list.asp?category=HPH&subcategory=HDPHN
and
www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/bgheadphones.html where they have short reviews and the older ones are on the Hi-Fi World site.
I use STAX Gamma Pro's Electrostatic's. They need an SRD-X energiser to work and connect via the outout(tape) sockets of the Amp. My amp has spare outputs.
alextgreen said:
Heaven forbid anything you ever buy from Richer Sounds goes wrong, their customer service leaves a LOT to be desired.
I buy from www.hifistore.co.uk
Disagree - a RS store manager lived near me, so brought along a few cables and setup my AV set in return for a few tinnies
Demo'd some stuff today - some thoughts :
Sennheiser HD-25 - good sound, really involving, but uncomfortable (they sit on your ears). Plus they're studio headphones so not really designed for home use. People use them with walkmans and the like with good success rates.
Fostek something or other - very laid back, actually pretty detached and uninvolving.
Beyer 770 - really harsh treble, boomy bass, but comfortable.
Beyer 990 - better than 770s, but bass still too heavy and they're open backed and a lot of leakage.
Out of that lot the Sennys were definitely the best, but I'm not convinced they're good audiophile phones - they're in the studio/DJ section on Sennheiser's website. Fostek and 770s were right out. Beyers were sex on a stick to wear, but even the 990 didn't get the sound quite right. Was surprised at how offensive I found the 770s earlier, and was thinking of plumping for them without a demo earlier...
Do Sennheiser do any good audiophile phones with comfy pads that go over rather than on your ears? Closed backs?
Sennheiser HD-25 - good sound, really involving, but uncomfortable (they sit on your ears). Plus they're studio headphones so not really designed for home use. People use them with walkmans and the like with good success rates.
Fostek something or other - very laid back, actually pretty detached and uninvolving.
Beyer 770 - really harsh treble, boomy bass, but comfortable.
Beyer 990 - better than 770s, but bass still too heavy and they're open backed and a lot of leakage.
Out of that lot the Sennys were definitely the best, but I'm not convinced they're good audiophile phones - they're in the studio/DJ section on Sennheiser's website. Fostek and 770s were right out. Beyers were sex on a stick to wear, but even the 990 didn't get the sound quite right. Was surprised at how offensive I found the 770s earlier, and was thinking of plumping for them without a demo earlier...
Do Sennheiser do any good audiophile phones with comfy pads that go over rather than on your ears? Closed backs?
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