headphones that benefit from DAC?

hey guys I was just thinking about what kind of headphones that i can get that would go great with my fiiO e7. Any headphones that come to mind?

 

Any of them if your onboard was not high enough quality to deliver good sound.

Generally the more you spend the more you get.

You should focus on headphones that have features you like and fit your budget and just go from there.

 

What are you using these headphones for?
Music?
Gaming?
Movies?

And what is your budget?

To give you an idea, you're looking at around $100 for entry-level audiophile headphones, around $150-$200 for the "sweet spot" for value, and over $500+ before you start burning money chasing after increasingly diminishing returns.

 

I'm looking for headphones for music. Bass is a must and my budget is roughly around $100-200.

 

I think the first question should be "Why did you get the E7?"

Then people can probably figure out the motivation and needs.

 

Ultrasone HFI 580, paired with the Fiio E7 these are bass monsters, absolutely wonderful.

Also, headphones to stay away from if you like bass - Audio Technica M50. People say these have bass but they are wrong. There used be an older version of these that had bass but the newer ones that people are buying now lack bass. I know people say these are bass monsters but every basshead i know can vouch that the bass on the M50s sucks. It is tight but quantity isn't there to satisfy a basshead. I bought these based on the reviews online(that also mentioned that they have great bass) and was completely disappointed. Upon further research(should've done this before buying) i found out that if you want bass these are the kings in the 100-200$ range - UltraSone HFI 580(what i own, amazing Awesome bass and great highs, good mids) ATH Pro700MK2(the bassier brother to the M50, these are supposed to have thumping bass), Beyer DT770(based on reputation, haven't listened to them), Denon D1100(again based on rep). The D2000 are also siomply amazing, they retail for 300-400$ but available for 200$ here, sadly they are out stock right now, hopefully will be back in stock soon.

 

I have some Phillips/Oneil headphones, called "The Stretch," they go from $50 to $80 at Best Buy. They are great for the price, very clear, good bass. A friend of mine is a real audiophile he has a couple of very expensive headphones ~$500. He checked these out with me and said they were amazing for the price. I also just though they sounded the best for the money. I do not like Beats, they are too bass heavy. SkullCrushers are also to bass heavy and lack clarity. Sennheiser are considered really good, my brother picked up some Bose headhones for ~$150, I tought they were clear but had weak sound, after my brother heard my headphones he returned the Bose and The Stretch.

 

Also the Sony MDR V6 are a classic, my friend has a Fischer Audio FA-003 and 002.

Fischer Audio FA-003

 

101 reviews from head-fi

Shootout: 101 Portable Headphones Reviewed (Skullcandy Mix Master added 04/06/12)

 

LOL, that covers a wide gamut? Anyway look for a pair of headphones with a low impedance and you won't need you fifi. I got one and don't use it.

 

My M50's have tons of bass, and I was going to suggest to the OP to get the ATH-M50. Mine have so much bass that with some songs they physically shake on my head. I've also got some Ultrasone HFI-780's and I like the ATH-M50's more.

 

definitely Ultrasones if you're looking for that extra bass.

 

You must have the older Blue Box M50s, the newer version ie the white box version have disappointing bass. As i said it has 2 versions, an older and a newer one. Blue box is the older one with good bass. Cant find those anywhere nowadays. Even then the HFI 580s have better upper end bass than the blue box M50s. The 780s are actually a less bassier version of the 580s. If bass is important to OP, 580 is the headphone to get. The only thing bettter than than IMO is the Denon D2000 if you can find them for 200$. They're 200$ on electronics Expo but they're incredibly hard to find in stock there.

 

Excuse me "good" bass? Ok then, we won't argue taste.

Huh? You mean the box color? Because the headphones are readily available.

If that's so, its not doubt a correction towards a more neutral sound than before. Remember, boomy bass is artificial so if you like that sound, you can always create it via an amp boost. Or you can just purchase a pair of Beats by Dr Dre? From what I hear, boomy bass is their "first" name.

 

Here's an image of my ATH-M50's in box.

 

I use a fiio-e17 & ATH-Pro700mk2 headphones! The bass from these is mind blowing literally. Don't buy beats they are so not worth it you can get way better cans for the money or alot less.

 

Buy beats for fashion not for sound, and if I wanted to buy fashion I would be in the girls clothing forums not NBR.

 

That's exactly the setup I have, with the addition of M50 pads. It's an awesome setup especially if you love bass. Be aware that for some reason, the e17 went up by $20 for some reason this week and the Pro700mk2 is now floating around the $190 range after being available for around $160 for a while. The prices seem to go up and down so shop around if you're interested in this combo.

 

Not boomy but tight and controlled. Boomy Bass would lower end bass like the M50s have, and yeah i mean box version. Blue Box M50s were an older version of the M50s, the newer white box ones tend to have bad bass. I bought the M50s based on online reviews that said they have amazing bass but i was incredibly disappointed. THe Bass on the M50s is definitely not there at basshead levels, it is there to satisfy someone who is not a basshead. OP said he wants bass, I'd definitely tell him to stay away from the M50s..

Well those are definitely the whitebox versions, i guess we have different definitions of what we want from a can in terms of bass reproduction.


OP check out the Pro 700MK2s, HFI 580s, Denon D1100, BeyerDynamic DT770. These are headphones with good bass.

Here is a review on HeadFi comparing the M50s, HFI 580s and the Pro 700Mk2s - http://www.head-fi.org/t/556509/rev...e-hfi-580-vs-audio-technica-m50-vs-pro700-mk2

That is what helped me single in on the HFI580s after returning my M50s

 

Lol I use m50 pads too are you on the head-fi forum by any chance? There is a forum about these cans and also the fiio e17


Sent from my iPad3 using Tapatalk HD

 

Most probably he is, I was also gonna buy them with the M50 pads(based on GN3RAL KARLs review thread) but the total was coming to be too expensive along with the Fiio E11(same amp as the E17 i think, just lacks a DAC), so i just jumped the gun on 120$ HFI 580s and am incredibly satisfied.

 

I think i'm gonna go with the ATH-Pro700mk2's. any suggestions on where to get them for cheap?

 

B*H has them for 165$ - Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 Professional DJ ATH-PRO700MK2 B&H

Don't know if you can find them for cheaper but b*h is pretty good. If you can find it for cheaper from a reputed reseller go for it, but i doubt you'll be able to find a new pair for cheaper. B&H does not add tax(unless you're from NY state) or shipping so that is 165$ shipped.

EDIT: just noticed they're back ordered.

 

the M50's are more of a reference/studio-type of headphone. they're made for sound reproduction, hence why there isn't "boomy" bass. while it's not "boomy" or on "basshead" levels, it does provide a good amount of tight, clear bass. by no means is it "weak" or "bad".

 

Actually I believe, bassheads like tight and quick bass, but the M50s bass is boomy.

 

They're one of the most 'consumer' monitors on the market. Without going fully Dre. The nice thing about the M50 - if you like that signature, which I personally don't - is that they deliver that signature without major penalties in SQ, unlike e.g. the truly excremental Beats Solo HD. Having said that, give me a ZX700 any day of the week. A more actually revealing phone though it lacks the "liveliness" of the M50 (and quite EQable to boot), and for me more comfortable.

 

uhhh...i think it's the other way around. bassheads like boomy, loud bass and lots of it. M50's base is not boomy AT ALL... they're not even bass heavy. they have a more neutral soundstage.

@Vogel: i was just describing their soundstage compared to say the Beat's emphasis on low frequencies.

 

Still doesn't make any sense.

 

THis is coming from a basshead, I can tell you we like tight bass. Although i am the Audiophile basshead. I guess the standard basshead would like boomy bass like the beats or something.

And I did not mean to say M50s have boomy bass, i was trying to say that the M50s bass signature has more emphasis on sub bass rather than the upper end of bass, bass tightness and clarity is lacking in the M50s when compared to something like the HFI 780s/HFI 580s or Denon D2000s. As you said M50s bass reproduction is good for listening to most songs, it has just enough bass.

 

Audiophile + basshead doesn't really make sense, but i guess i can see what u're saying. i thought u were just referring to the normal "bassheads". i listen to all types of music; mainly rap and R&B so bass is very important in all of my audio equipment as well.

@vogel: how doesn't it make sense? the M50's have a neutral soundstage. they're not boomy on the low end and they're not overly bright on the highs. they try not to overemphasis one end of the frequency compared to the opposite end.

 

Oh please. These are boom-tsh phones - the M50's are reasonably accurate monitors for 'full-consumer' tastes. Just done quite nicely as I said.

You need perspective as in anything. This, for example, gives me a decent amount of perspective.

 

Which does not defeat the purpose they were designed for.

Umm, no...and no!

Maybe you got a bad pair? Mine are anything but boomy.

 

Really, what makes you say that bassheads like boomy bass? Am not talking about your standard carsubwoofer basshead, I am talking about audiohpiles who like bass? I dont like boomy bass at all, i like something that is quick and tight, and know plenty of other bassheads that are like that too.

And about the M50s, I've already explained that i was talking about how they project sub bass better than the upper end of bass.

 

lol.......this is a perfect example of: "audio is all about personal preference."

@Vogel: u throwing money and items around might work for some, but not i. i've been around and have money to throw around as well.

 

No, as I said it's about perspective. You don't need a lot of money for it.