Comments for warungkoe.com

Comment on Sennheiser HD25-1 II Closed-Back Headphones by muddy glass

muddy glass — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:07:30 +0000

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

wonderful complement to the hd600, but requires a little patience, November 25, 2010

the hd25-1-ii is a classy looking pair of closed headphones that combines great sound with functionality. i use them on my commute and they serve as a nice complement to the hd600 for home use.

the hd25-1-ii sounded awesome to my ears right out of the box. if you already like the balanced, non-fatiguing, relaxing, slightly warm sennheiser house sound, then you will be pleased by the sound quality of the hd25-1-ii. the sennheiser hd600 is my reference pair of headphones and delivers what i consider neutral sound. as such, my ears were already acclimated and no adjustment period was needed for the similar sounding hd25-1-ii. compared to the hd600, the hd25-1-ii has a noticeably stronger but muddier bass, and a more intimate smaller soundstage. the fine treble details are quite nice on the hd25-1-ii, but obviously not as clear as on the hd600. however, the differences here won't be noticed on your commute anyway if you were considering the hd25-1-ii for public use. some would even consider the stronger bass on the hd25-1-ii a plus for commutes since the bass is one of the first things to get drowned out by ambient noise. note that the hd600 is in another tier entirely, so these comparisons are not meant as negatives against the hd25-1-ii at all. i merely wish to give the reader some standard reference point for my comments in this review.

one of the strengths of the sennheiser sound in general is that it works well with all genres of music, in my opinion. the hd600 has never disappointed me with anything i've thrown at it. now, the hd25-1-ii definitely shows more love for some genres than others because of the differences outlined in the previous paragraph, but nevertheless the hd25-1-ii never sounds downright terrible either. the relatively small soundstage and increased bass quantity makes the hd25-1-ii shine in particular when it comes to aggressive music. heavy metal and harsh industrial music comes alive on the hd25-1-ii. in the case of say thrash and death metal, the loss of some of the high frequency details is more than made up for by the greater sense of energy compared to listening to metal on the hd600. on the other hand, the hd25-1-ii gives its weakest performance when it comes to classical music. the same characteristics that made the hd25-1-ii amazing for metal has the opposite effect with classical. symphonies require a larger soundstage to sound just right, for example. fortunately, loud aggressive music is more suitable for public transportation in new york city so i don't really mind the slight weakness when it comes to classical.

the sound isolation will disappoint you if you are used to iems. headphones in general will never be able to compete with iems in that department. having said that, the hd25-1-ii does a pretty good job at sound isolation. most of the time the ambient noise becomes tolerably drowned out by the music without having to raise the volume to dangerous levels. keep in mind that i mostly listen to harsh music on my commute and your mileage might vary depending on your musical preferences.

the stock pleather ear pads will give you the strongest bass performance and sound isolation, but they will also make your ears sweat. yuck. it's almost inconceivable to me to use the pleather pads during the summer. switching to the velour ear pads leads to a huge boost in comfort, but also an initial drop in bass that might be a deal breaker for some. however, the velour pads flatten a bit with use and the lost bass does return somewhat during the ear pads' break-in process. a little patience will pay off here. i switched to the velour pads after a couple of days with the stock pleather pads and haven't looked back since. also, the bass sounds more neutral with the broken-in velour pads, in my opinion.

comfort was just awful at the beginning. my ears were red and sore from the first hour of usage! however, things get better after a few weeks as the headband loosens up. these days, i can wear the hd25-1-ii on my hour long commutes without the terrible pain experienced on day one. on the other hand, i doubt any amount of break-in will make these headphones suitable for marathon listening sessions. the strong clamping force is a necessary evil to ensure decent sound isolation.

a unique feature of the hd25-1-ii is the splittable headband, which splits in two to allow for greater control. the more you split apart the headband, the tighter and more secure the headphones will become on your head. as a superficial benefit, so-called "headphone hair" is less noticeable with the hd25-1-ii since two thin headphone bands make less of a groove in your hair than one thicker headphone band.

the one-sided stock steel cable is stiff and runs down the right side, which is annoying since i'm right-handed. wearing the headphone the other way around will fix that, but will also reverse the left and right channels in... Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (2)

Comment on Sennheiser HD25-1 II Closed-Back Headphones by antaylor

antaylor — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:49:57 +0000

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

Great also for portable use, August 18, 2008

antaylor (London UK) -

This is the page for the HD25-1 MkII although I'm not quite sure how they differ from the original HD25-1's.

These are very good headphones, with powerful bass and crisp trebles and they are reasonably portable. I think these were mainly designed to be DJ-ing monitor like headphones but they are an excellent choice for portable use too. For example, I use them with my MP3 player for my daily commute and the sound is wonderful - you'll need a decent player though with a good internal amp like the Cowon's Iaudio range as it takes a bit to drive the HD25's.

They also do a good job of blocking out external noise, you'll still be able to hear the underground rumbling but it will be way in the background if you are listening to louder music.

They're not perfect though. Quite uncomfortable initially - they have a vice like grip and my ears started to get a little painful after less than an hour but I've been told they do stretch slightly and become a lot more comfortable. I also find the bass a little boomy and lacking slightly in detail at times and can sometimes feel the `cans' vibrating slightly. The bass has also at times caused a slight sensation of my ears `popping' like when a plane takes off but it's nothing major. Also, sound quality although generally excellent across all types of music, is not the very best in this price range. I have noticed a few instances where some more subtle details, although quite clearly present, are not as clear and separated as they could be. In that respect, these are not the best headphones for classical / orchestral music where you want to hear clear separation of the different instruments and feel like you are on or near the stage; the HD25's don't really provide that type of soundstage effect. I suppose this is the trade-off for being a lot more portable than full sized over the ear phones.

Still, extremely pleased and impressed with them.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment (1)

Comment on Sennheiser HD25-1 II Closed-Back Headphones by C. Jung

C. Jung — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:35:05 +0000

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

There's a reason why you see these everywhere..., July 11, 2011

C. Jung (Phoenix, AZ) -

This review is from: Sennheiser HD25-1 II Closed-Back Headphones (Electronics)

First off, I've been researching on getting a high quality set of headphones for a long time, looking at reviews all over forums and sites, and testing them out at stores that carried the ones I was interested in, mostly for DJ use. (Sony MDR V700, Pioneer HDJ-1000&2000, Allen&Heath XD53, Ultrasone DJ-1, Technics RP-DH1200, etc etc, and even the Monster Dre. Beats Pro, even though after the Beats Studios I've grown to sway away from those overpriced-bandwagon-moneymaking headphones) If you're looking for a set of 'cool' headphones that look flashy and deliver mad bass for casual listening (with hopes that you will be noticed by people around you wearing your super cool headphones) and are thinking of getting these, look elsewhere. However, if you want studio-level quality headphones that deliver excellent noise isolation while maintaining super sounds with crisp highs and tight, punchy bass, (and aren't buying them for sex appeal) you cannot go wrong with these. I might also mention that I bought these for mainly DJ use as well as listening on-the-go for I am a hobbyist, and I have to say it serve my purpose extremely well.

One reason why these are far superior than other headphones in the price range is its isolation. Although it is technically not a 'closed' system, it blocks out sound better than any closed headphones I've tried. Next time you're watching ESPN and look at what headphones the commentators are using, you'll quickly realize that these are EVERYWHERE. This is because of the superior isolation it provides, since commentators need to be able to block out the loud noise of the crowds & whatnot in the environment they are in. If you go to a club/music festivals where DJ's are present (for Electronic Dance Music), you will quickly notice that many of your favorite DJ's are sporting these. I recently went to the Electric Daisy Carnival in Vegas this year, and found myself being amazed at how many DJ's there were using these headphones during their sets, and although it might be the wrong reason for getting these headphones, just the fact that so many of the DJ's I looked up to had these, I wanted the same headphones as them. As a DJ playing in front of a massive crowd and monitors and speakers at ear-piercing levels, you need to be able to block out those extra noises and hear the track you're cueing up. Don't take my word for how well these do just that, just take a look at how many professional DJs choose these when they play their live sets.

Next feature to mention is its durability and comfort. Yes, they are made of plastic. But don't be fooled; because of the simplicity of the design, these will seriously last forever. They've been bent, tossed around, sat on, pulled, anything you can name it by plenty of traveling DJ's and if you check the forums they all say these have withheld stress the best. Also, every part of the headphone is replaceable, making it easy to buy parts that wear out or break unlike other headphones which become utterly useless if you mess with the wrong cord.
As far as comfort goes, although at first they may seem a little tight on your head, after you give them some time to 'break in' and mold to your head, you will find yourself forgetting they are even on your head at times. They're super light, with minimal baggage that other headphones slap on to make their brand look more appealing than others. You're getting 100% efficiency with these and 0% of the tacky features of other headphones. Like I said, if you're looking to stand out and be that guy with the super-cool-headphones-that-aren't-Dre.Beats-since-everyone-has-those-and-you-want-to-be-different, these will not suit your intentions for they aren't the most appealing of headphones. However it has a minimalist design that has the simple aesthetics that grows on you. To add, I've actually taken them apart completely (and they do come apart) and decided to customize the pieces by spray painting certain parts to transform them into white and black. And yes this is possible and there are actually many customized HD-25's on the web if you google it.

Last and most importantly, the sound. Crystal clear highs, projectile mids, and excellent bass. Since most people seem to care a lot about the BASS, considering the prominence of Dre. Beats and their infamous bass, these aren't as deep or 'booming' sounding as the Beats which completely overpowers/drowns out every other spectrum of sound in my honest opinion. These sound much tighter, and punchier. It's like comparing that too-loud, vibrating (almost fart sounding), overdriven subwoofer you've had the misfortune of experiencing in your friend's car to a well-tuned and balanced clear, punchy bass thump coming from a kick drum mic'ed through a nice PA system at a concert you've been to. Okay, maybe that was a little over exaggerated but you get my drift. But some people just seem to enjoy that loud, floor rattling bass so if you... Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment (1)

Comment on Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones by L. Topper

L. Topper — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:17:21 +0000

89 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

Remarkable product for the money, January 19, 2008

L. Topper -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones (Electronics)

These are very comfortable. The headphones are big. They fit completely over the ears rather than on the ears. They earpads are made of a soft fabric that feels like velour. The frame of the headphone is a magnesium alloy and the outside of the earcup is aluminum. The wires to the individual earcup appear to be hidden inside the frame of the headphones. I think it makes it less likely that they will somehow be pulled, stretched to cause a short. I mention this because I have read in a number of customer reviews that after a short period of time, one side of the headphones shorts out. Perhaps this will be less likely. These headphones like most of the Audio-Technica headphones currently being marketed have these "wings" that A-T designed to give you the feeling that the headphones float on your head. The phones fit very lightly and are very comfortable. What I cannot say is whether the "wings" will be fragile if dropped. They look as though they might be fragile. Only time will tell.

The sound of the headphones is excellent and probably closer to nuetral than many of the other headphones that I have. These phones provide for excellent separation and clarity of sound. It is not clinical sounding,but really very precise. I have the current top end models of headphones for practically all the major headphone manufacturors so that I can make some valid comparisons. The midrange is beautiful, the highs are very good, and the bass is clear and tight, but not really punchy. They are neutral sounding. For some, the bass might not be enough. Occasionally, I have thought the phones could use a little more bass which will be assisted by a headphone amplifier. The battery or AC driven Airhead amplifier is reasonably priced and small enough to fit in a large shirt pocket is perfect for adding a little bass to these headphones. It really steps up the bass in a clean, clear manner. (I have found that using a headphone amplifier--particularly at home where it is convenient is the best choice to ensure full, rich sound on all of the headphones that I have).

The headphones can be easily powered by an Ipod and they sound very good. These phones are on the efficient side when comparing impedence. You can get a lot of volume with a free-standing mp3 device. The headphones come with a 1/8" headphone jack with a 1/4" adaptor. While they sound even better with a headphone amplifier, it is not necessary like with the Sennheiser 600 or 650 which sounds anemic without the power provided by a separate headphone amplifier.

I think that the open-backed headphones sounds better than the closed-back headphones. If you want a headphone that is more punchy for rock and roll, consider the Grado SR-80 which is within approximately $10.00. The price for these headphones on Amazon Marketplace is approximately $100.00. The Grado's come in at approximately $95.00 at fair trade price (meaning no discount pricing). For many people the Audio-Technica will be more comfortable than the Grado. If you get the Grados which are really great, they are more comfortable with an insert called "comfort rings."

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (2)

Comment on Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones by J. Shi

J. Shi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:45:53 +0000

86 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

Audiophile Quality, November 14, 2007

J. Shi (Chesterfield, MO) -

This review is from: Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones (Electronics)

I recently just recieved these pairs of headphones after a couple weeks of research. After truly starting to get into music and trying to get the most out of my cd's (without putting up a loan) I started looking within the 100-200 price range. I stumbled upon 3 major choices: ATH AD-700, Sennheiser HD-555 and Sennheiser HD-595.
First, price was a big issue for me....
I didnt want to spend too high on the headphones, and the HD-595's were quite expensive, but I went to my local audio store and really felt that the 595's put up an overall better sound than the 555's. The soundstage was also amazing for both, but again, the 595's were superior.

The Audio Technicas however, was compared first to the 555's and I already amazed by the difference. They achieved far better tone in each note, and was able to go much "higher" and "lower" than the 555's making the Sennheisers almost seem flat. When compared to the 595's, it was definitely more difficult to distinguish a difference, but the tones were still clearer in the ATH's, but the 595's seemed to have a slightly better soundstage, and a rich, ringy sound vs the clearness of the ATH's. Because I listen to classical, jazz, rock, and a moderate dash of techno once in a while, I thought that the 595's would probably sound better with the rich, full sounds of classical and jazz, but fare far worse against the 700's in rock.

After again looking at the price, I decided on the ATH's

The 595's howerver, did look slightly better and may have felt more comfortable. The ATH's didnt feel quite as secure, but it seems to be doing alright up till this point.

A highly reccomended buy.

-Kevin-

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (3)

Comment on Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones by Karlton D. Lynch ""RTiKiCE""

Karlton D. Lynch ""RTiKiCE"" — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:25:39 +0000

101 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

Don't laugh at the color son..., September 20, 2009

Karlton D. Lynch ""RTiKiCE"" (Colorado Springs) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Open-air Dynamic Audiophile Headphones (Electronics)

Yup, it's purple, and beige. It also has wings! Well those are for comfort; and homie, they are comfortable. However, if you do have a "smaller" head, your ears may touch the inner part where the driver is located. This can cause pain similar to a papercut after some time (maybe an hour). If you check my Head-Fi profile, there is a way that you can mod the phones so that the ears don't touch the driver offering the ultimate in comfort. It essentially takes a half-piece of earpad material and is applied to the upper sphere of the stock AD700 pads. This is a matter of simple physics in that it reduces the angle of the phones when worn. This also alleviates the lower-jaw pressure build that some may experience as well.

Nonetheless, when I received the Audio Technica AD700's, I chuckled a bit when I plugged it into my receiver for a movies/games test. I was thinking...these couldn't sound better than my Beyerdynamic DT770 pros, could they? LOL, yeah right.

The colorful alien from Japan just took a dump on my Beyers. Sold the Beyers.

Don't get me wrong, the Beyers are great phones, but the sound signature of the AD700's was EXACTLY what I was looking for. I'll explain how...

Highs - The high notes have a perfect tone along with a high-definition accuracy that is only rivaled by my other favorites: the Audio Technica M50. They both are pristine and never harsh or grating to the delicate eardrum. The open-air design of the AD700's seem to extend the high notes a little more than the M50s. They have just a small extra dose of sparkle that is attached to the sublime high notes. FANTASTIC.

Mids - In many other headphones, the mids sit in the back of the class. Chillin'. Right behind the highs and lows. WHY'S IT BACK THERE?! Not in the AD700's. It's in the front, side-by-side with the other ranges, and being just as vocal. Man, do vocals shine on this phone. Human voices sound every bit as real as they did in the Beyers, but it excels the Beyers though because the other notes in the mid-range have that same sweet tone as the highs do. Liquid, buttery, and satisfyingly delicious the forward-presenting mids are on these cans. EXCELLENT.

Lows - It is in the same realm as the M50's. Textured, solid, and tightly controlled like a high security prison. It isn't as bumpin' though as the M50's, lacking the quantity but not skimping on quality. No big deal. Let the EQ be touched for extra bass, and the low notes all of sudden have been magnified. To deliver punishment. To your skull. NICE.

Soundstage - I thought the DT770 pros had the finest soundstage. Once again, the AD700 soundscape is slightly bigger. To not lose credibility though, the DT770 pros have a closed design as opposed to these having a open design. However, the AD700's are still more expansive and engaging. The sound, whether it be movies/games or music, will feel like you have a 7.1 setup of the finest quality speakers. The soundstage has layers like the earth's crust, and is about as deep as the Grand Canyon. Notes have positions as if they're in the military. Needless to say, movies and games are an absolute blast through these cans (Modern Warfare 3 can bring it). SICK.

Detail Retrieval - The AD700's can retrieve notes better than your dog can fetch tennis balls. Nearly every last drop of sound from the greatest to the most minuscule is delivered to your inner ear in first class. Hi-Def audio has never sounded so exquisite. UNBELIEVABLE.

Value - They're as comfortable as the DT770 pros, but sound better. Plus they are far less when it comes time to pullin' out the wallet. Snatch some up and you won't be let down. These are without a doubt, one of the best open air headphones out there.

Audio Technica AD700's = Bizarre looks, extraordinary sound.

Max Sound Level before distorting - 109db

*After much research and personal experience with Audio Technica headphone products, all need at least 40hrs of burn-in time to reach full potential. This allows the drivers to vibrate more freely and broadens every range of the sound that comes through it. This is no lie, the headphones WILL sound more pristine the more you jam to them. Don't mean to sound corny, but I guarantee it.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (20)

Comment on Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones by A. Stann

A. Stann — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:40:36 +0000

158 of 169 people found the following review helpful:

Best Cans for the $$, February 26, 2005

A. Stann (Earth) -

This review is from: Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones (Electronics)

I recently bought these cans for my daughter to use with her iPod mini...I had read good things about these headphones even with the criticism(?) of antiquated styling, uncomfortable headband and open headphone style...Wow! I am so impressed with these headphones that I offered to swap my Bose Quiet Comfort 2 for these. She said NO! The response is so smooth with a dynamic range that allows you to hear every nuance recorded onto the track. Bass is true...not artificially enhanced or boosted...highs are razor crisp and midrange is full and "round." Don't look any further for your headphones...these are worth 4X the price...I know!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment

Comment on Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones by Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL"

Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL" — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:12:26 +0000

94 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

Rigorous comparison by musician and music lover!, July 12, 2007

Patrick D. Goonan "see profile for URL" (Livermore, CA) -

I've been a musician all of my life and played piano and other instruments professionally for an 11 year period. I listen to many genres of music and have a discerning ear. However, I am not an expert audio technology and because of this my review is based entirely on my listening experience.

Physically, these headphones have a heavy guard that is apparently well-shielded judging by the sound. The signal to noise ration will low compared to SENNHEISER HD212 Pro, which is a closed ear type headphone that I purchased after listening to many models being made at the time. While the SENNHEISER HD212 were not the best at the time, they were a good value for the price point. The SR60s are a spectacular model at their price point, here is why.....

The first thing I listened were recording of Chopin Waltzes by Ashkenazy. The clarity of the sound and the subtle nuances, harmonics and other details stood out. Similarly, I listened to a 1989 digital recording of Bill Evans Consecration. Bill Evans is known for his tone and these recording were made with Marc Johnson a phenomenal bass player who uses the whole range of the bass. In this recording, the results were that the piano tones were truer, the bass was light years better on the SR60 and even the brushes being used on the high hat cymbals were crystal clear. Overall, the sound was warm, balanced and low, mid and high frequencies all rendered very well.

The last test that I did was to listen to the human voice with an orchestra, this is usually a very good test of what any sound system can do and these headphones didn't disappoint. I picked Viaggio Italiano / Andrea Bocelli as the test album, so there were lots of sections with more or less orchestra, soft and loud sounds, etc. Bocelli's voice was incredible and the orchestra sounded great. This particular model of SENNHEISER headphones couldn't even approximate the sound of the GS60 on voice, true to life violin and overall sound. In fact, it was apparent that lots of frequencies were lost or distorted.

While the test I did may not be apples to apples, it is always useful to listen to multiple recordings and have something to compare the device being tested. I also listened to recordings multiple times focusing on different elements and aspects of the sound. My conclusion is that the SR60s are incredible for the price and better than many more expensive headphones. For me, they are perfectly adequate.

In the past, I have used very high end headphones and usually visit this section of any electronics or audio stores I go to. I love to hear what one can get for their money at different points in time and I often bring my own music to do the listening when I'm serious about buying. While SENNHEISER and others may make some superior headphones, you will pay dearly for incremental differences in quality.

I give these headphones my highest rating for their combination of value and sound. Also, they are comfortable if you where them for an hour or two. I can even see wearing them longer, but there are more comfortable headphones out there for use for longer periods of time. If you are sensitive to having something on your head, you may want to check them out, but they were about as comfortable as the SENNHEISER's for me.

In general, I think you would have to pay at least TWICE the price to get something just as good. I don't have any reservations about these at all and they can be used with both 1/4" and smaller inputs. I also want to be clear that I used a high quality disc player for my listening and NOT an iPod or MP3 type device.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment

Comment on Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones by InverseIQ

InverseIQ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:48:42 +0000

145 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

Grado SR60 vs Sennheiser HD497, June 5, 2005

InverseIQ (USA) -

This review is from: Grado Prestige Series SR-60i Padded Headphones (Electronics)

I don’t want to brag about how good the can is, coz' the whole world has hailed its performance over and over again. The very fact that this can is repeatedly compared to ones costing over $300 itself speaks of its astounding performance (... and unbelievable for its price). So I will give you the cons of the product that I have experienced.

CONS:

1. The headphone can be uncomfortable for extended wear. Many people have mentioned if you bend the headband backward or if you stretch the headband etc.... it gets more comfortable, but I haven't quite succeeded in achieving absolute comfort that Sennheiser HD497 provided.

2. Too much sound leakage. Since it is an open design, it leaks so much sound to the outside world, so I am forced to listen at low volumes at work. But then physics places a limitation that sealed headphones cannot achieve the quality of open headphone (resonance issue ... you can easily find info. as to why on the net...)

Conclusion:

1. When you listen to the can, its pure sound quality, imersive music melts all the cons away and makes you promise yourself that you will never give away this can.

2. If Bass is not much important to you, the Sennheiser HD497 provide a more crisp clear high. I have owned both the models, so I can vow on that. But overall, I would any day take the SR60 over the HD497.

Currently I have graduated to SR80 driven by a Headroom Total Bithead. But if you do not plan on getting an AMP, then I suggest you stick to SR60.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (4)

Comment on Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones by Mahlers2nd "Mom of Many Interests"

Mahlers2nd "Mom of Many Interests" — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:57:29 +0000

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

Just about perfect, January 8, 2008

Mahlers2nd "Mom of Many Interests" -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones (Electronics)

I ordered these because I was getting tired of wearing my Shure in-ear buds. I ordered them to listen to primarily classical music in an office environment. I already have a set of Grado RS-1s but since those have an open design, they tend to leak more noise ... in AND out.

For the cost of the headphones, the packaging is a little weak. A protective bag for these puppies would be nice. Putting them on -- I would say they are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn -- light years above the Grados. They are designed for a big head, I think because they feel a little loose on my head at the smallest setting (there are 7 variable settings on each side) but since I'm not going to be working out with these on, they are fine and probably add to the comfort level.

The first thing I played was the Bruch Violin Concerto. It sounds phenomenal. I close my eyes and imagine myself listening in a concert hall. The clarity of the sound is amazing -- you can things on the recording that you would miss in a room with other background noise. The bass is warm and solid -- an advantage of the closed head design. The upper ranges are also very well balanced, crisp and clear. In short -- there is no sacrifice anywhere along the spectrum without one range being emphasized over another.

So far, I have only listened to them through my PC and they are outstanding. I can only imagine how great they would be on a real system.

The cord is plenty long so that you can easily move around (stand and pace a bit) while listening. The phones come with an adapter so you can use them in the smaller computer jacks as well as the larger jacks that you find on real stereos.

My ear buds are outstanding for portability (they cost as much as these denons) and the ability to go into your "alone cone". However, prolonged use of the buds can lead to inner ear irritation (yeast infections etc) and get uncomfortable. These are an excellent alternative if you are going to be sitting at your desk for hours on end and want to shut out the rest of the world. The construction appears to be very solid and give the impression that they will last for ever (though you'll probably have to replace the ear pieces when they get skanky).

One note: if you are primarily listening to MP3s, don't bother with this level of headphones. The sampling rate and sound quality of MP3s and other lossy formats just won't have the level of detail to where the difference between an $500 set of cans can offer over a $100.00 set. And in fact, the detail picked up by the more expensive headphones can be quite annoying when it detracts from the music. If you are wanting the true high-end listening experience, rip your music using a lossless format. Sure, it takes more disk space but you'll enjoy your music as it was intended in all its full-bodied glory.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (9)