I was interested in getting the Sennheiser HD 280 PRO headphones.
I only have the output on a Yamaha RX-V592 receiver. Some of the reviews I've read say these things only shine if they get enough power to drive them.
I chatted with a partsexpress tech and he said that Yamaha actually has good headphone outputs on them, but I kind of felt that he just wanted to sell me something, so I though I'd ask for a 2nd opinion.
I only have the output on a Yamaha RX-V592 receiver. Some of the reviews I've read say these things only shine if they get enough power to drive them.
I chatted with a partsexpress tech and he said that Yamaha actually has good headphone outputs on them, but I kind of felt that he just wanted to sell me something, so I though I'd ask for a 2nd opinion.
ask what op amp, ps V, and series impedance
the 280 @ 64 Ohms are lower impedance headphones that require more current than many monolithic op amps provide if you want to reach live venue SPL
the 280 @ 64 Ohms are lower impedance headphones that require more current than many monolithic op amps provide if you want to reach live venue SPL
I was looking up the specs on the output.
It's output level 8 ohms 0.04% THD 0.5v, Independence 390 ohms.
That actually doesn't tell me much. I don't know much about headphones.
I have no desire to reach really loud levels, but I'm starting to **** other people off with my music, so I wanted to get a nice pair of headphones.
It's output level 8 ohms 0.04% THD 0.5v, Independence 390 ohms.
That actually doesn't tell me much. I don't know much about headphones.
I have no desire to reach really loud levels, but I'm starting to **** other people off with my music, so I wanted to get a nice pair of headphones.
My budget is pretty much just the cost of the headphones.
Are their any great sounding headphones that don't require as much power to drive them?
Are their any great sounding headphones that don't require as much power to drive them?
The 280's are a great choice for isolation, but yeah, they like their power.
The headphone amps on a reciever are probably "OK", but if you want to use them portably, you'll want to knock up a Cmoy or Mini3.
The headphone amps on a reciever are probably "OK", but if you want to use them portably, you'll want to knock up a Cmoy or Mini3.
Oh, and the cheaper 212's aren't bad at all for the money, and whilst they need a fair bit of current to be driven really loud, they sound fine from a portable source, unlike the HD280's or HD25-1's, which really need a strong output to reach their potential.
Do you actually need sealed headphones? The open 555's can be had for similar money, and are generally a better sounding headphone than the 280's.
Do you actually need sealed headphones? The open 555's can be had for similar money, and are generally a better sounding headphone than the 280's.
I read some reviews on the 212s. It sounds like they might be better for not needing a dedicated amp, but they also sound like they might have too much bass. As long as it's tight bass and very clean sounding, I don't care.
I do listen to SACDs and vinyl, so they do need to sound good. I might actually use them for movies too. Who knows.
I really have no desire to get headphones for portable use. I guess if they worked really good for that, I might use them once in awhile, but I'm not much of a MP3 on the go guy.
I do listen to SACDs and vinyl, so they do need to sound good. I might actually use them for movies too. Who knows.
I really have no desire to get headphones for portable use. I guess if they worked really good for that, I might use them once in awhile, but I'm not much of a MP3 on the go guy.
Update:
Those 555's are on major sale right now. Also about 10 or 15ohms less then the 280s. A few reviews suggest that they can be driven by a portable player.
The 212s might be more of a sure thing on not needing a amp, but I don't think I would be happy with too much bass. Overall, I hate buying something and not being all the way happy with it. I always want to do it right the first time.
Hopefully the 555s will work really nice out of the box with my receiver and be usable, and later, if I really want to upgrade more, I can get a dedicated headphone amp.
Those 555's are on major sale right now. Also about 10 or 15ohms less then the 280s. A few reviews suggest that they can be driven by a portable player.
The 212s might be more of a sure thing on not needing a amp, but I don't think I would be happy with too much bass. Overall, I hate buying something and not being all the way happy with it. I always want to do it right the first time.
Hopefully the 555s will work really nice out of the box with my receiver and be usable, and later, if I really want to upgrade more, I can get a dedicated headphone amp.
I think they'll be fine - plug em in, put em on and listen to how great the music sounds rather than how much better it may sound with some other arrangement.
I know from my own experience that headphone out on a reasonably good receiver is better than it's made out to be.
Well, ya, I never buy something just to buy it. I hope the Yamaha alone works out well. It has a very nice sounding phono amp in it. If the headphone output is as nice, then I will be just fine.
Okay, its done. 555s are ordered. Amazon has them for $83.80. At that price,I didn't want to pass up the chance at owning some great headphones. Hopefully the lower ohms will work to my advantage. Not as low as the 212s, but not as high as the 280s.
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Be sure to let us know how it goes. You should have some cash left over to do a headphone amp if you need one now, too!
Well in my opinion one should go for Yamaha.
As it gives the best output. The amplifiers just
makes a good difference with the others.
As it gives the best output. The amplifiers just
makes a good difference with the others.
If you like DIY'ing I can thoroughly recommend the Jaycar headphone amp here and don't forget the additional PSU pn:KC5418. The kit comes with all the components needed, just add mains traffo, volco and a case. If you take it further, and modify it, as detailed here The amp stands it's ground compared to many £500+ commercial amps.
Don't let the cheap price put you off, it's a stonking good amp, especially when modified!
Don't let the cheap price put you off, it's a stonking good amp, especially when modified!
Seconded, although I'd also be checking out AMB Labs M3 and Tangent's Pimeta V2. Those 3 are the best lowish-cost-high-quality headphone amps I'm aware of.
The 555s came in. Without going in to a full blown audio review, I'll try and keep it short.
Overall, they worked out great. My receiver is able to drive them just fine, and then some. I was surprised how little I had to turn it up to get more then enough listening levels. I have plenty of room for hearing damage that I have no intention of actually doing.
The headphones themselves:
They are very nice, but I was not blown away. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting, but I was a little surprised that they didn't sound a bit better then my speakers. Overall, they have better dynamics, but they don't actually sound any better.
As far as the bass goes, they are not bass heavy, but then again, I wasn't after that, but if anyone else is, don't get these. I think they fill in the low range just fine.
In the end, I'm happy I got them because they will serve the purpose of giving me sound when I can't use speakers. At the close out price I got them at, I will never look back and wish I had gotten something else. If anyone else is in the market, check Amazon and see if they are still on stock, cause they are going cheap.
Over the next few weeks, I hope they smooth out a little, but they are a joy out of the box.
Overall, they worked out great. My receiver is able to drive them just fine, and then some. I was surprised how little I had to turn it up to get more then enough listening levels. I have plenty of room for hearing damage that I have no intention of actually doing.
The headphones themselves:
They are very nice, but I was not blown away. I wasn't really sure what I was expecting, but I was a little surprised that they didn't sound a bit better then my speakers. Overall, they have better dynamics, but they don't actually sound any better.
As far as the bass goes, they are not bass heavy, but then again, I wasn't after that, but if anyone else is, don't get these. I think they fill in the low range just fine.
In the end, I'm happy I got them because they will serve the purpose of giving me sound when I can't use speakers. At the close out price I got them at, I will never look back and wish I had gotten something else. If anyone else is in the market, check Amazon and see if they are still on stock, cause they are going cheap.
Over the next few weeks, I hope they smooth out a little, but they are a joy out of the box.
gvr4ever,
If you're interested, I have a headphone amp I could let you audition to see if it changes the performance of the cans any. It's a LME49720/LME49600 based amp (straight out of the LME49600 datasheet).
I would be willing to mail it to you sometime after the holidays and then you could just mail it back when your done.
If you're interested, I have a headphone amp I could let you audition to see if it changes the performance of the cans any. It's a LME49720/LME49600 based amp (straight out of the LME49600 datasheet).
I would be willing to mail it to you sometime after the holidays and then you could just mail it back when your done.
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