So, my first proper pair of headphones that weren't generic bundled ones was... the legendary KSC75.
Since then I've been to places like head-fi and been amazed by the prices of top tier phones, but never heard any of them in action. And never really wanted to spend that amount anyhow.
But every so often I get the urge to buy another pair of phones, spend a little more money, to see if the next "giant killer" is better than what I've got
So I tried HD201s, and they were truly awful. Just tinny, awful sound. For the same price as the Koss I was amazed at the gulf in performance.
I tried some JVC somethings [edit: RX700s], and they were awful too. And they cost twice as much as the Koss. Again, no bass response to talk of. I hate tinny sound. Immediately discarded, now gathering dust.
Lastly after a recommendation here I picked up some HTF-600s, and they were good. Again over twice the price of the Koss, and a different sound, but OK. They isolate better so get used if someone has the TV on loud.
But ultimately I keep going back to the KSC75s :/ I have two pairs now each with several hundred hours, and they are just brilliant (compared to other cheap phones). Even bought replacement foam pads when they wore out, because I refuse to let them go to headphone heaven You can laugh, but the replacement pads cost almost as much as the headphones!!!!
I just love how everything really jumps out at you. The HTF 600 are nice, but the sound seems more recessed. Less vibrant. More distant. I will apologise right now for not speaking the 'lingo' of proper audiophiles They use terms like 'light' and 'dark' and honestly I have no idea what that means!
The other thing that I like with the KSCs is that they have an acceptable level of bass. The HD201s and the JVCs I bought were terrible. No bass at all. Now I wonder if they are just bad phones (the 201s were dirt cheap, the JVCs were £35). Or they need an amp or something. But I'm guessing they're just crap.
Now you see my problem is this. I love my KSCs. They sound great to my ears. But... they are so cheap! Surely there must be much better sounding phones without paying a fortune!
But... where do you guys go to demo more expensive phones? I don't want to just buy a £100/£200 pair of phones (or even £50!) just to find out I still like my Koss better Which could happen!
And what headphones would you describe as 'being like the KSC75, but better'? I listen to all sorts of music, from electronic to dance to cheesy 80s pop. Love bass guitars That's the area I think the discarded phones don't do well. I'm not a bass head (whatever that means?) but I wouldn't listen to phones where a bass guitar doesn't (feel like) my head is vibrating
Since then I've been to places like head-fi and been amazed by the prices of top tier phones, but never heard any of them in action. And never really wanted to spend that amount anyhow.
But every so often I get the urge to buy another pair of phones, spend a little more money, to see if the next "giant killer" is better than what I've got
So I tried HD201s, and they were truly awful. Just tinny, awful sound. For the same price as the Koss I was amazed at the gulf in performance.
I tried some JVC somethings [edit: RX700s], and they were awful too. And they cost twice as much as the Koss. Again, no bass response to talk of. I hate tinny sound. Immediately discarded, now gathering dust.
Lastly after a recommendation here I picked up some HTF-600s, and they were good. Again over twice the price of the Koss, and a different sound, but OK. They isolate better so get used if someone has the TV on loud.
But ultimately I keep going back to the KSC75s :/ I have two pairs now each with several hundred hours, and they are just brilliant (compared to other cheap phones). Even bought replacement foam pads when they wore out, because I refuse to let them go to headphone heaven
You can laugh, but the replacement pads cost almost as much as the headphones!!!!I just love how everything really jumps out at you. The HTF 600 are nice, but the sound seems more recessed. Less vibrant. More distant. I will apologise right now for not speaking the 'lingo' of proper audiophiles
They use terms like 'light' and 'dark' and honestly I have no idea what that means!The other thing that I like with the KSCs is that they have an acceptable level of bass. The HD201s and the JVCs I bought were terrible. No bass at all. Now I wonder if they are just bad phones (the 201s were dirt cheap, the JVCs were £35). Or they need an amp or something. But I'm guessing they're just crap.
Now you see my problem is this. I love my KSCs. They sound great to my ears. But... they are so cheap! Surely there must be much better sounding phones without paying a fortune!
But... where do you guys go to demo more expensive phones? I don't want to just buy a £100/£200 pair of phones (or even £50!) just to find out I still like my Koss better
Which could happen!And what headphones would you describe as 'being like the KSC75, but better'? I listen to all sorts of music, from electronic to dance to cheesy 80s pop. Love bass guitars
That's the area I think the discarded phones don't do well. I'm not a bass head (whatever that means?) but I wouldn't listen to phones where a bass guitar doesn't (feel like) my head is vibrating
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