[TUDJ]

Great work Simca!

I'll recommend the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 for the passive speakers section. They have been replaced by the 10.1 but can still be had new in some places for £99, they can be found used in good condition for anywhere between £50-75. When they retailed for £150 they were considered as one of the best speakers under £250, now that the value has dropped you can see why they are such great value.

 

[98uk]

I have 9.1's and loooooooooove them!

 

[systemlayers]

Receiver wise I don't know what to recommend. In my lifetime I've had an old yamaha 5.1 that still works great (from 2000 or so) but only has like one component input. My Onkyo 606s HDMI and component board died within a short time of one another (well known problem) - got a replacement it's sitting around her but don't trust it. So i got a marantz nr1601 a couple months ago but i've had a few 'pops' at random intervals so i'm wondering if something is starting to go on that too now. Receivers seem to be built to just utter crap standards these days. Any time spent in AVSforums receivers section is just filled with horror stories from the bottom units to the top.

Also i'm looking at getting a usb dac for my HD555s love this list!

 

[astrallite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varjo;13493563
Obviously, for the higher end, the 650s are amazing. With an amp driving them they can literally do it all, one of the most amazing and versatile headphones I have ever listened to, they rival my ascend 340SEs for clarity and sound-stage.

I'd go as far as saying the 650s sound as good as the Ascend Sierras. But they are by far the least comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I almost never use them for this reason. I probably ought to sell them hmm...

 

[PresNotSure]

Why is this thread not sticky?

 

[chalkbluffgrown]

In all sincerity, I wish this were an "entry thread" for everybody that enters this forum and becomes a member. It would truly save a lot of the "recommend me a headset" or "which headphones for $xxx"?

Great job Simca, pat yourself on the back for the time and thoughts you put into this.

 

[mbp]

Can we please sticky? This is a good list. I smell an upgrade soon

 

[TUDJ]

I've added this thread to the Essential Reading for Audio Fans sticky.

 

[Plex]

Amazingly awesome thread. Thank you for taking the time to put it together, sir. ++rep

 

[Denz]

Great job, asked for a sticky. +REP

 

[frizo]

Wow, quite the impressive list you have going here. This should provide a great starting point for those looking into various audio components.

Great job!

 

[RallyMaster]

Simca, seeing your mention of the HD600 on the "Ultimate Gamer" headphones list really makes me want one. Must...not...purchase...more...headphones...

But then again, I've found myself listening to classical a LOT lately. Grr.

 

[Simca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RallyMaster;13527165
Simca, seeing your mention of the HD600 on the "Ultimate Gamer" headphones list really makes me want one. Must...not...purchase...more...headphones...

But then again, I've found myself listening to classical a LOT lately. Grr.

IMO, the HD600s should be MORE for classical music and JAZZ in particular than gaming, but their sound stage is commendable. I would rate the HD600s sound stage as being wider than the DT880s.

 

[RallyMaster]

I think the dumb thing was that I was so close to buying the HD600 two years ago and I went for the HD595 instead. In hindsight, that was a very dumb decision because there was a difference of $50 (USD) between the two at time and I went for the HD595 instead...which I also no longer have and ended up selling for $100 (almost a $200 loss). Fail.

 

[voxox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RallyMaster;13527660
I think the dumb thing was that I was so close to buying the HD600 two years ago and I went for the HD595 instead. In hindsight, that was a very dumb decision because there was a difference of $50 (USD) between the two at time and I went for the HD595 instead...which I also no longer have and ended up selling for $100 (almost a $200 loss). Fail.

RallyMaster - Believe it or not, I'm now in the same boat as you were... I've sold my HD598s and will be looking for something else for right now. I feel that the middle entry level audiophile headphones are just not for me. Either I'll get something in the $300 range or something aroud $100, but nothing in the middle for me anymore.

In addition, I've sold my STX and went a head and purchased Xonar DS for $40 shipped. I've got my reasons as to why I decided to downsize. I didn't notice any substantial difference between the two audio cards though it seems the Wolfson encoder on the DS is pretty good actually.

I was bitten by an audiophile bug hence the increased excitement.

my

 

[Simca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by voxox;13529259
RallyMaster - Believe it or not, I'm now in the same boat as you were... I've sold my HD598s and will be looking for something else for right now. I feel that the middle entry level audiophile headphones are just not for me. Either I'll get something in the $300 range or something aroud $100, but nothing in the middle for me anymore.

In addition, I've sold my STX and went a head and purchased Xonar DS for $40 shipped. I've got my reasons as to why I decided to downsize. I didn't notice any substantial difference between the two audio cards though it seems the Wolfson encoder on the DS is pretty good actually.

I was bitten by an audiophile bug hence the increased excitement.

my

No rason to move to the STX if you don't have headphones that are being amplified by them or that can even make use of it's amplification.

You should have bought an external DAC perhaps if you wanted the largest jumpin quality. A good mid level(in your terms anyway) pair of headphones are the Grado SR225is. Very solid headphones.

 

[Mr. Stroker]

I think you need a portable headphone section. Such as ear buds and smaller phones.

I have a set of Koss Portapros. I bought them because they used to be highly rated and I wanted something to take with me. Well they have never left my pc lol. I do like them for music but they suck for gaming because you cant decipher what side noise is from.

 

[Simca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Stroker;13530156
I think you need a portable headphone section. Such as ear buds and smaller phones.

I have a set of Koss Portapros. I bought them because they used to be highly rated and I wanted something to take with me. Well they have never left my pc lol. I do like them for music but they suck for gaming because you cant decipher what side noise is from.

I was super tired after typing for 4 hours. Perhaps you can tell by how I rushed the ending a bit, but now that I've had some time to cool down from writing that massive manifesto, I'll be sure to add an IEMs and earbuds section as well as an amplifier section. I just wish I had a 3rd post. Didn't realize how long all this was gonna be.

 

[Mr. Stroker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simca;13530206
I was super tired after typing for 4 hours. Perhaps you can tell by how I rushed the ending a bit, but now that I've had some time to cool down from writing that massive manifesto, I'll be sure to add an IEMs and earbuds section as well as an amplifier section. I just wish I had a 3rd post. Didn't realize how long all this was gonna be.

Well its a great read and good work. I would ask a mod to see if they can add you 2 more post.

 

[Simca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Stroker;13530313
Well its a great read and good work. I would ask a mod to see if they can add you 2 more post.

I'll ask, but I think they can only delete posts until I will have posted and that would require the consent of all posters before my 3rd post to agree.