I run mine off my ipod classic and Fiio E11. This is my portable rig and it sounds exactly how I like it. I sometimes run my AKGs off this when I want to be lazy and they perform fantastic. The DT770 does best with a warmer amp I think with good separation.
Ryan's Headphone Review Thread
- Thread starter Ryanr1987
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Kingston HyperX Cloud is due within the hour. I'm going to make a change, I'm not sure if it will be permanent! it will depend on what the readers want but Instead of breaking the frequencies down in music I was going to lump sound into one and explain how they transition and fuse together to explain the sound as a whole which may be easier to understand how they actually sound.
HyperX Cloud will be the first to be reviews like this, if you don't like this new idea please say.
HyperX Cloud will be the first to be reviews like this, if you don't like this new idea please say.
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I really like them. As long as people don't compare them to their main expensive rigs and just give them a shot on their own and time for the treble to settle then I think a lot of people will enjoy these.
It's funny I had K712s on earlier and went back to the KC and I still enjoyed them! They sound good at low volumes too. These have been so handy for phone calls too they are pretty much a daily use thing for me now as my two closest friends are in the forces and are away a lot so phone calls can be long and the KC have made it easier.
Gaming wise they are just so handy to have around, the K712 are my top dogs but sometimes I just wanna game with KC and not loose out on too much and I feel that the KC have been pretty good.
I will recommend these quite often as a good, low cost all rounder.
It's funny I had K712s on earlier and went back to the KC and I still enjoyed them! They sound good at low volumes too. These have been so handy for phone calls too they are pretty much a daily use thing for me now as my two closest friends are in the forces and are away a lot so phone calls can be long and the KC have made it easier.
Gaming wise they are just so handy to have around, the K712 are my top dogs but sometimes I just wanna game with KC and not loose out on too much and I feel that the KC have been pretty good.
I will recommend these quite often as a good, low cost all rounder.
I never really deal with wireless just because they simply are lacking. There's some good ones around but you are looking at over £200 and to the point of them being not very good value. Some other guys on here may be able to help you better than me regarding wireless.
Thank you. At £50 it's an odd price point because an extra £10-20 can get you onto seething pretty good. I recommend looking at the HyperX Cloud. The accessories combined with good build and sound make them impossible to beat at its price range and even above. Check out my review and see what you think.
I've tried the leather pads for quite a bit. They sounded a bit darker to my ears but still retaining the signature. Give me another day or so and I'll add changes with the leather pads into review.
I never really see the point in wireless unless people are sitting 15ft from their rig or commuting for ages. Going wireless really limits your choices and you miss out on some excellent bargains.
Like I said above the HyperX is really hard to beat £100 and under as an all round deal and at only £60-70 I can still enjoy them after my higher end stuff. I'd go for them ASAP because they can easily go up in price and still be a bargain.
At £130 don't even consider handing your money over! For that price you can get the AKG K612.
The HXC at £70 max is what you want. They are for sale on here so snag them up. You get so much accessories like a mic that is detachable and extension cables with good sound and good build and comfort.
I prefer the DT770 sound wise but you don't get nearly the amount of extras as the HXC plus the HXC is close enough in SQ to make them a deal.
The HXC at £70 max is what you want. They are for sale on here so snag them up. You get so much accessories like a mic that is detachable and extension cables with good sound and good build and comfort.
I prefer the DT770 sound wise but you don't get nearly the amount of extras as the HXC plus the HXC is close enough in SQ to make them a deal.
HXC. I just always find a daily use for them even with my K712 and HD650s around. The value is great. Honestly just try them there's nothing in that price range with the same value. I like the HM5 but they have some build issues so not sure if that's sorted.
The HM5 are a little more neutral sounding but sound a bit less detailed in the treble area.
The HM5 are a little more neutral sounding but sound a bit less detailed in the treble area.
Thanks for your reviews, interesting read.
Though I'm curious how to come to such precise scoring system with a decimal point?
It's just how I like to score things. There's headphones that could both be an 8.5 but may do something a hair better for an 8.6 I think really hard about my scoring and I like to score differently rather than just a plain 8 or 9 for everything in that category. Short answer a never of different reasons lol
They are both really great the K712 is a good choice if you prefer a more spacious warm headphone. If you want a more liquid warm intimate sound then HD650. I'd probably pick the 650 just because of how it engages people.
Yeah it's decent the Dac does the job fine. The amp side is pretty average for a Fiio product but it's still good for the price. Is say it's worth it for £45-£50.
HD650 they have their own unique signature similar to the LCD2 but a bit more slushy sounding.
The HP200 is warm with decent mids but not HD650 good. I have the HP200 planned for review soon but I have a lot in front. The HP200 when compared sounds more dry and grainy compared to the 650 with a harder sound. I'll add a bigger comparison under the under the HD650 review in the VS part.
The HP200 is warm with decent mids but not HD650 good. I have the HP200 planned for review soon but I have a lot in front. The HP200 when compared sounds more dry and grainy compared to the 650 with a harder sound. I'll add a bigger comparison under the under the HD650 review in the VS part.
I prefer the HD650 based on musical enjoyment but the K712 is no slouch. From a technical view the K712 is better but not by much. Both make great end game phones without going overboard on prices. The PM-1 is a headphone I'd like to try. I've tried all the Audezes and Hifimans. I think the K712s are a good headphone to aim for, I prefer listening to that than the HD 800.So out of K712s and 650s you'd pick the 650s?
Hrm, I used to own the 880s (600), replaced them with 650s, then tried out the X1s after getting rid of the 650s (loved the X1s btw) and I was wondering if I should jump on to the 712s, but maybe not.
Perhaps I just need 800s now. If only someone would let me try theirs out
Edit: Read up on the Oppo PM-1 and 2s. Think you could get some of those? They're being touted as up there with the very best.
Been sitting here, listening to my brand new, squeaky clean Sennheiser HD 650's while reading Ryan's review of them. I have to say that initially, I thought there was quite a bit of exaggeration in Ryan's opinion of just how good these things are - I was wrong, they really are that good and then some.
I've been playing my favourite tracks for a couple of hours and I'm still hearing things that I've never noticed before, not even with the AKG K702's, it's like a whole new world of micro-detail has opened up. I was a bit concerned before I got them about the sound stage and the "veil" due to rolled off high frequencies. Both of those concerns went out the window within seconds of hitting play. I don't find the sound stage to be that much smaller than the modded K702's I've been using up until now and the high frequencies seem perfect to me, detailed without excess sizzle. As for the other end, nice powerful bass without it sounding "boomy" and the legendary mid range is just right off the scale. The only negative was the initial clamping pressure but even that doesn't seem to be a problem now, whether it's eased off or I've become used to it, who knows or cares.
I think this may be the end of the line because I may well have found my perfect headphone
The Aune T1 DAC/Amp is doing a pretty decent job with these, it doesn't sound lacking in any area, bass is crisp and highs are clear plus there is plenty of volume. I may well save my pennies for a better amp in the future and feed it with the DAC part of the T1.
So thank you Ryan for the effort you put into writing your reviews, specially useful in my case as two of them were headphones I was looking at. I think what finally did it was that you sold your HD 650's in favour of the AKG's and ended up buying a new pair just a few weeks later because you missed them. As for me, I'll be selling a kidney before I'd part with these babies.
ps. It's taken me ages to write this because I keep stopping, shutting my eyes and listening to the music - currently playing Life's been good by Joe Walsh (OMG those drums!).
No worries glad you like them! When I sold them I just couldn't get their sound out of my head. My Annie's did what they could do but with a faster more open sound but they didn't have that magic that the HD650 had and I realised this after buying them again. I also find the stage to be excellent with tubes. My SS amps give me that more intimate and closed in sound but paired with a good tube amp you get that good separation and space.
I switch between my K712 and HD650 often and can't picture me selling any of them and for the first time in ages I have not bothered looking for anything else.
Enjoy them they are a musical masterpiece!
I use an external amp and Dac and the HXC really benefits from it.
Just an update with the HXC I've been using the pleather pads and the sound is much more lush and full with more weight behind the bass with a more rolled off treble which I actually prefer. Sadly they heat my ears up quickly which is an issue I have with all leather pads. The sound though, is better suited for music with the pleathers and also seals much better. They don't leak too bad with the pleathers at all. With the Velours it was almost leaking like a semi open headphone.
The sound with the velours is thinner with a more sharper needle like treble but with good micro detail. With the Pleather the sound is still detailed but not as obvious as the velours. The soundstage is much more congested due to the thicker sound of the pleather pads.
I think the velours are better for gaming while the pleathers are more musical.
Just an update with the HXC I've been using the pleather pads and the sound is much more lush and full with more weight behind the bass with a more rolled off treble which I actually prefer. Sadly they heat my ears up quickly which is an issue I have with all leather pads. The sound though, is better suited for music with the pleathers and also seals much better. They don't leak too bad with the pleathers at all. With the Velours it was almost leaking like a semi open headphone.
The sound with the velours is thinner with a more sharper needle like treble but with good micro detail. With the Pleather the sound is still detailed but not as obvious as the velours. The soundstage is much more congested due to the thicker sound of the pleather pads.
I think the velours are better for gaming while the pleathers are more musical.
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Ryan, how do you get access to all of these? Just really deep pockets?
I'm actually earning quite a low wage. I have always been a trader. I'd purchase something at a high value then trade for multiple items and then I'd sale them off or trade for something else. It is way to experience as many headphones as possible without wasting all my money. Nowadays I will borrow a headphone that I want to review for a good amount of time and send it back. I've probably owned close to 70 headphones and reviewed much more but I've lost a lot of money in this hobby! On the plus side I've learner a lot that can save a lot of people some money.
TH900s are awesome but are a rip off! I would rather get the TH600 or Alpha Dogs for less than half the price. I do love the cups though but man, Fostex are really overpricing their products IMO. The TH900 do bass so well though, it's so textured and tight.