I need some headphone advice part II.)

Just thought I drop and add a few comments as I reckon I have similar requirements.
I currently have
  1. Super.fi 5EB (in ear)
  2. AKG 271S (circumaural)
  3. Senn 25HD mk2 (supraural)

I am selling everything but the HD25 as I've gone off the wearing of in-ears and the AKGs aren't powerful sounding enough. I'm not saying I think the HD25s are the best though, I expected more bass and maybe volume than the AKGs. Also they are incredibly harsh to my ears, so much so that my iTouch is permanently on a Treble reduce EQ with them attached. Anyone else find this? I was very surprised. The bass isn't noticeably better than the AKGs either.

My goals are to have a nice comfortable supraural pair for outdoors and a more luxurious pair for home/desk/beanbag sessions. Ideally the levels of bass that I got from the inear ExtendedBass Super.fi 5s in both pairs. Out of these three the in ears have maybe been the most enjoyable sound - nice and solid. The AKG271s have been as per most reviews - great, comfy, isolating but maybe a bit too lacking in bass.

I was disappointed by the HD25 as I expected more, and expected them to be better than the AKG pair. I bought the HD25 second hand for £85 and upgraded all padding to velour. I'm willing to believe that they may have been abused, but would that attenuate the bass frequencies and boost the treble?

Once I've done my selling I'm going for a weighty pair of cans that are renowned for dollops of quality bass, or just another level up. So DT770 / HD650...

Will also add that I listen either via a Rotel RCD06 CD + Rotel RA04 amp, or via iTouch + PA2V2 amp.

Anyway. As you were. :)
 
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Well the HD25's are really DJ headphones, I'm guessing they rolled off the treble so that when they are pumping out nightclub levels they don't shred the DJ's ears. They are also smaller than a lot of closedbacks like the 280's which is why I think the bass doesn't reach as low down. It means they are almost always safe with music choices though. The akg k702's I have are totally revealing and less safe than say HD600's or HD650's which is good for some music but very bad for others. Listening to most of the top 100 from spotify is actually borderline torture, try the same with the HD25's and it's fine. That's why I like the two sets for different reasons. 25's on the go and something revealing for home.

If you thinking of picking up some reference headphones then try going to tottenham court road, about half way up on the east side of the street there's a shop which had loads in with a headphone amp as well. The assistent let me try them all out. Think they have HD600, HD650, K701, SR60, SR325 and a bunch more. The K701 (and 702) are less safe with harsh trebles than the 600/650's, kinda hard to explain but all 3 of them have deep bass when it's there in the music.
 
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DanF said:
Well the HD25's are really DJ headphones, I'm guessing they rolled off the treble so that when they are pumping out nightclub levels they don't shred the DJ's ears.
Click to expand...

I actually was saying the opposite. :D I really can't listen to anything at on-the-go volume as too many tracks are just uncomfortable in terms of treble. Hence reducing the treble via the EQ.

Saying that, if I turn the EQ off it will feel more detailed and crisp than the AKG when I expected the opposite. As long as I'm listening to something that benefits from that, I'm happy. But I listen to more minimal whumping electronica than I do folk/acoustic so most of the time I'm wanting a different kind of sound than that that the HD25 is giving me.
 
I find my hd25's bass is better when using the pleather pads rather than the velour ones.

It could be my imagination though.
 
Yes, I'd imagine so. Unfortunately I bought a pair second hand with battered pads and didn't use them til I fitted the velour ones. Very nice to have in the current weather!
 
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