Headphones recommendation for use with Xonar Essence STX

fozzybear

fozzybear

fozzybear

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Planning on getting an Asus Xonar Essence STX soon. The problem is that my current Panasonic RP-HTF600E headphones just won't cut the mustard with it.

I need some new headphones that will match well with the Essence. I'll be listening to mainly female vocalists (Garbage, Cardigans, Emiliana Torrini, Regina Spektor etc) so don't particularly want them too bassy. I'll be listening exclusively to FLAC files.

I want to spend as little as I can on these. They just need to make the most of the Essence. Maybe a maximum of £80. They need to be well built (ie Not Goldring) as I have a huge cranium! :)

Cheers.
 
Stick with the Pannys, theres nothing I know of at £80 that sounds better. Stick another £50 on top and you will have some contenders.
 
Like said above.

Save up for DT880s/990s

I would say 770s but you say bass is not your thing. Don't get me wrong the bass response on 880/990s is great but the DT770s are closed.
 
Mason- said:
Like said above.

Save up for DT880s/990s

I would say 770s but you say bass is not your thing. Don't get me wrong the bass response on 880/990s is great but the DT770s are closed.
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Wouldn't worry about bass or not when comparing 770s/880s/990s etc. I would just work out whether I need closed or not. If you don't NEED closed cup headphones then it just comes down to preference and this goes for any headphone. Closed cups are a little odd at first if you're not accustomed to them so it might be worth trying them first if you can.

My old 990s are bassier than my MMX 300 headset which is basically a DT 770
 
I've always used open headphones but wouldn't mind trying closed ones. With open ones I tend to be able to hear music from the flat above me. It spoils the enjoyment a bit. Would closed ones help a lot with that?

Forgot to add that I prefer circumaural headphones. I just find them more comfortable.

...theres nothing I know of at £80 that sounds better. Stick another £50 on top and you will have some contenders.
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Any recommendations? :)

I was looking at the Sennheiser HD 518 for £80. Would the Sennheiser HD 558's be a good alternative at £120?

As I've said, I don't mind paying a bit more if they'll make a big difference when used with the Essence.
 
The Essence STX won't sound any different to a £30 soundcard without better speakers.
I would suggest HD650 minimum but probably HD800 before the Essence is worth it. I'd rather have HD650 with onboard than Essence with cheap headphones.
 
PanMaster said:
The Essence STX won't sound any different to a £30 soundcard without better speakers.
I would suggest HD650 minimum but probably HD800 before the Essence is worth it. I'd rather have HD650 with onboard than Essence with cheap headphones.
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No way.

Onboard vs sound card is night and day with £100 headphones. Well at least it is for me!
 
For £80 you will struggle to find something that can handle female vocals adequately. I listen to a lot of female vocals (including some of the bands you listed) and find that a lush and upfront midrange is most important, which is exactly the frequency range where most low end headphones fail. Also in general, open headphones seem to do much better job when it comes to reproducing vocals as they sound far more 'realistic' to my ears. Cheap 'closed' headpones seem to introduce odd colourations to the sound that spoil the experience.

I'm currently using a HD650 with my Essence ST and it is absolutely brilliant when it comes to reproducing female vocals, just incredibly warm, lush and intimate sounding - I can't help smiling from ear to ear when a good female voice starts playing on my playlist. Honestly, I'd recommend you wait and save up so that you can get something like a Sennheiser HD600 or HD598, AKG 601, Beyerdynamic DT880, Grado SR-325 etc. There's quite a few open headphones in the £150 - £200 price range (possibly cheaper if you look around), but for £80 you'll be struggling.

There's nothing wrong with some sub £80 headphones, like for example the Panasonic you own or something like the Creative Aurvana Live! but they have their limits as you've already found out. If you want to do the Essence STX justice, you need to spend a fair bit more I'm afraid.
 
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I'd stick with the Panasonic RP-HTF600E until they break or wear out or whatever they are still very good for the money.

Panasonic RP-HTF600E right side has gone in mine not sure if cord or driver even so having now opened my sealed goldring dr150 backups of backups I've had for years have to say I am hearing things again the pannys weren't picking up I wouldn't say they are the best south of £80 they are kind of like the goldring ns1000 with less detail I'd say they are the best you can get up to the dr150 and ns1000 I wouldn't pay over £40 for the pannys.

All these years later the goldrings still outclassing the new blood in the budget headphone world.
 
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fozzybear said:
I've always used open headphones but wouldn't mind trying closed ones. With open ones I tend to be able to hear music from the flat above me. It spoils the enjoyment a bit. Would closed ones help a lot with that?
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Yeah you certainly won't hear much else with a pair of DT 770s on lol :) You can still hear stuff when there's no music playing but it's pretty quiet. With music on you'll find it hard to hear any background noise.

My T1s aren't bad either despite them being semi open like DT 880s. I don't tend to hear much going on with those either although that's usually because the volume is quite loud hehe
 
I've seen some Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO's (250 OHM) for just over £107. They're advertised as being 'used' but I get the feeling they just have a damaged box or are a return. They are from the 'rainforest' warehouse.

Is it worth a risk? I'm supposed to be ordering a new DSLR this weekend so I'll see what I can save from that to put towards the cans and sound card.
 
I'm not sure the DT770's are the headphones for you. As good as they are, they are very bassy, and have recessed midrange. Not really ideal for female vocals.
 
Marsman said:
I'm not sure the DT770's are the headphones for you. As good as they are, they are very bassy, and have recessed midrange. Not really ideal for female vocals.
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Right, I'm lost now. :p

I think I'll grab the Essence firstly and then save up for the headphones. I'll see how my current Panasonic's get along with the Essence.

I've been doing a bit of research and the AKG K 601's seem to pop up a few times. Any good?

As well as the artists I've mentioned (Garbage, Cardigans, Emiliana Torrini, Regina Spektor), I will be listened to stuff like Goldfrapp, Imelda May, Paramore and Portishead.

It's just a shame that there aren't many places where you can give headphones a test drive nowadays.

Also, could I save money on the AMP by getting something like the FiiO E10 rather than the Essence? I don't mind using USB.

Cheers.

edit//
Audio Technica A900X any good?
 
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Just put my MMX 300 on for the first time in a while and whilst they're bassier than my T1s it wasn't anything I wasn't able to tweak easily enough with the EQ settings.

DT 770s may not be everyone's idea of the perfect headphones for what you list there but I doubt you'd be disappointed.

There's also different variants of the DT 770s which apparently have different sound signatures but I've never really listened to any other than my 32Ohm MMX 300s so I can't really speak from experience.
 
I have the DT770 80OHMS (80 Ohms reported more bassy than 250ohms) With the STX their perfect IMO.
 
I've decided to get some headphones in the next few days. I won't be getting an Essence quite yet but I'll instead pair them up with a Xonar DG/DGX for the time being.

So, what are my options for an easy to drive headphones?

1 - Max of £150.
2 - Excellent build.
3 - Closed circumaural.
4 - Excellent for female vocals (Garbage, Cardigans, Emiliana Torrini, Regina Spektor, Gemma Hayes etc)
5 - Not too bass heavy.

Cheers.
 
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