[Sonnie]

Wayne Myers (AudiocRaver) is working on a review round-up series of 10-12 headphones that will begin to be released in a few weeks. We will be offering a full detailed review of each set, including performance and value scores. These will be some of the most complete reviews you will find on headphones. We will also be adding to these over the coming months, but this first round-up series will get things started.

Here is a list of the headphones that will be reviewed, however we will likely add more:

• Audio-Technica ATH-M50
• Audio-Technica ATH-ES55BK
• Koss Porta Pro
• Sennheiser HD 600
• Sony MDR-V6
• Pioneer SE-A1000
• Beyerdynamics DT 880
• AKG K 701 (combined with the discontinued AKG K 601)
• Denon AH-D600 (combined with the discontinued Denon AH-D2000)
• Grado SR80i (combined with the discontinued Grado SR80)

We are considering adding a couple more to the round-up and curious as to what you would like to see. We don't believe any of these will exceed a street price of around $400 and that is the max price range we want to review... so please keep this in mind.

We may even giveaway a pair of these when we are done. :bigsmile:

 

[Tonto]

Hey Sonnie,
Thanks for the info, I don't know much about headphones. Is it possible to get a sticky/primer about them. Maybe something like what is important & what to expect for certian price ranges so the reviews might mean more to us uneducated guy's. Thanks.

 

[Sonnie]

I think we can do that. I also don't much about them either, but Wayne owns fifty-eleven sets, so he should be able to help us out with that.

I also know he is planning on preparing a "master" type thread on the review round-up that will elaborate on his review methodology, the performance scoring and value scoring, which may get into what you are asking about. I will have him chime in and let you know.

 

[tonyvdb]

I think we can do that. I also don't much about them either, but Wayne owns fifty-eleven sets, so he should be able to help us out with that.

:unbelievable: 57!!! how many sets of ears does he have LOL

 

[Sonnie]

No... not 57... "fifty-eleven", which is my way of saying a LOT.

 

[tonyvdb]

LOL got ya
Ive got 2 pairs of AKG headphones, one K171 and one K240 and Sony MDRv3 thats enough

 

[DanTheMan]

German Maestro GMP400
Shure SRH1440

Dan

 

[JoeESP9]

:unbelievable: 57!!! how many sets of ears does he have LOL

Don't you know fifty eleven is 61!
I grew up hearing people use that term to describe an excessive amount of something. As in "That boy got about fity leven pair o'sneaks".

 

[hjones4841]

Bose Quiet Comfort - one of the good things that Bose makes.

 

[Savjac]

I truly look forward to this and will watch closely to see how it all shakes out. I have a couple headphones on the list and also use the Wadia 179i with a Headroom Desktop amp/Dac and it makes for some nice listening. I am a fan of both Grado and Beyer cans, so bring on the results.

Thanks for doing this.

 

[arclight]

I would take a close look at the Audio Technica ATH-M30 as a poor mans alternative to the M50's. Some consider them one the best headphones under 50.00. They have a pretty neutral balanced sound.

 

[AudiocRaver]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking forward to sharing headphone experiences and evaluations with the HTS community. Headphones tend to take a back seat to speakers among Home Theater types, but sure have a place - travel listening, cranking up a movie or music late at night or in an apartment, studio applications, and some just like the headphone experience for what it is. Anyway, I'm kind of a headphone nut, and have ended up with a bit of a headphone preserve, and they just seem to show up looking for a home, and now I have a bunch of them.

So, we'll have some fun talking about headphones! Thanks for your excellent comments and suggestions. The review thread will be opened soon, and, as requested, will begin with a headphone primer. Then we'll have an overview of how the reviews and scoring will be approached, then we'll get into the reviews themselves. Beware, headphones tend to bring out the opinions in us hi-fi types. Wait - audio in general does that already, doesn't it? How about we mix in some religion and politics and REALLY have some fun? Nah, a good healthy headphone discussion will do just fine. I definitely have my opinions and preferences, as do we all, but I'm sure we can educate and enlighten each other and maybe help elevate a few listening experiences along the way.

To answer your questions:

• Fifty-eleven is more than the number of fingers on two healthy hands, minus the thumbs, assuming the subspace activation constant exceeds by no more than pie (correct spelling) the width of a standard split hair, BUT is always less than fifty-twelve. Clear? I read that on the Internet somewhere so it's gotta be true.
• I have two ears. One of them still works pretty good. Is that a problem?:huh:

Keep the review requests coming. It is already clear that you are going to make it difficult to pick a couple of models to add to our initial roundup list. We will keep a running list to draw from beyond the initial roundup, as we hope to grow our review thread into a headphone info center of sorts. Think global resource. Why not?

Thanks for your interest. Stay tuned.

AudiocRaver

 

[Wardsweb]

I look forward to this review. I have the Beyerdynamics DT 990 for real listening and use a pair of Goldring DR50 at my workbench when working on gear.

 

[Peter Loeser]

Looking forward to this series as well. I would say your collection certainly qualifies you to provide the rest of us with some good insight. I typically use Shure in-ears, but have been interested in a good set of over-the-ears. I tried the new UE6000s from Logitech/Ultimate Ears and will be returning them, as they do not sound well balanced to my ears. I may try the Shure SH840 next.

 

[AudiocRaver]

Just finishing up the review of Pioneer's SE-A1000's. Interesting cans, plus a fun tale to tell about burn in. That's all I will say, I'm going to leave you hanging.

Getting ready for some travel, thinking about my travel phones, the little Audio-Technica ATH-ES55BK's, perhaps I will review them next. Or maybe the Sony MDR-V6's, also not bad as travel phones. Any preferences?

I will be visiting a family member who owns the luscious, scrumptious, recently discontinued :crying: Denon AH-D2000's. He thinks I am coming to visit him.

Will keep you posted.

AudiocRaver

 

[DanTheMan]

For travel, Beyerdynamic DT1350 is an excellent choice if noise pollution and an excellent travel sack is your concern. Other that that, the Shure in ear monitors esp. the 535 or Apple's me ear Pods. They have an excellent set of features as well.

Dan

 

[CoupeDeBoulder]

If you're going for travel, might look at the Phiaton PS210 BTNC, Bluetooth 3 wireless with active noise cancellation. 14 hour LiOn battery and they come with an optional wire. The only issue is the "box" which everyone hates but overlooks it. I hate ear-buds but these are amazingly comfortable. The NC is as good as the Boise 2'nd gen.

-mike

 

[jackfish]

Grado Prestige SR325i

 

[dougc]

I have the Ultrasone DJ1-Pro that I think is a great set for the money

 

[smurphy522]

Looking forward to the other reviews - especially the Sony MDR-v6's as I now own a pair. A nice Christmat present from the wife.