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Post your Latest Equipment

We have the new vinyl thread, here's one for you to brag about new equipment when you get it.

So, I'll start it off.

I just got a new pair of sennheiser HD280s, highly reccomended by more than a few TA's. here's a picture:



first impression, they are HUGE! way bigger than i thought they would be anyway. they are solid, well built, nice and durable feeling. Everything on them is replaceable it seems, the ear cups, the drivers, the cord, the headband.

They are a little on the heavy side, and not exceptionally comfortable though. especially when taking one cup of to monitor, they tended to slide off the back of my head. and wearing them around your neck requires some messing around adjusting the position of the cups.

One good thing about them is they block out a TON of sound. -32db, which makes you feel like you are in an isolation chamber, you can't hear people talking or keys tapping or anything else, even with no music on.

so, what you wanna here is how good they sound. the answer is, pretty good. Not as exceptional as i was expecting. In fact, on first listen, not quite as good as my old headphones, Optimus NOVA 403 (Radio Shack's house brand), which i got for $50.

*edit*
Here they are side by side:


The senns go plenty loud, with no distortion to speak of at any reasonable level that you would listen at. in other words before the volume I can make them distort, my ears are already hurting from the volume. The sound is clear, but the midrange seems exaggerated and harsh, the bass and treble a bit backed off. the bass is good, but doesn't seem TIGHT, it seems a little mushy. the treble seems a little tinny as well.

I'm testing them with 192kbps MP3s, played through a SB128 card, into a set of yamaha computer speakers with a headphone out. Possibly this is insufficient to drive them? I will let you know once i try it with my DJ mixer at home tonight.

*edit* Tried it with my DJ mixer and some records on my decks, they sounded no better, in fact they sounded worse. all EQs and the main level were at 12oclock, gains just high enough to peak over 0db. The HD280s sounded overly harsh in the midrange, and washed out in bass and treble. In particular the mid bass sounded slow to respond, not nearly as quick as my other headphones or even my speakers. I was able to do a direct A/B comparison between the too, since my mixer (vestaxPCV275 has two headphone outputs).

I also tried it with a Sony Home Theater Reciever (STR-DE635), in regular 2 channel stereo mode of course, using a yamaha CD player (CDC-902) as a source again the senns sounded empty and washed out compared to my others.

I tried them out on my other stereo a kenwood KRX-89, and an almost identical yamaha CD player (CDC-901). Similar results again. One thing i did notice that is interesting is that if i squished the headphones down on my ears, they sounded quite a bit better, because of the decrease in volume of air they had to move i guess. my other cans drivers are much closer to my ears

and finally, my last test was my MD player (Sony MZN505), and the senns did PATHETIC here, they sounded horrible, but i suspect this was just because my MD did not have the power to drive them. I've heard that they are not very efficient, but i don't know how i can measure that.

In short, i am underwhelmed by these cans which cost 4 times as much as the ones i already had. I'm convinced that my NOVA 403s are much better, they are more comfortable and light than anything i have ever tried, and they sound better than anything i have ever heard, including my friends sony MDR500s and 700s.

About the only good thing i can say about the sennheiser HD280s is that they block out a lot of sound and are solidly constructed, but then again, so does these!


anyway, i am not impressed, i think i am sending them back.

*edit* I just read on an audiophile forum that maybe they need a "burn-in". people say they made them sound markedly better after using them for between 40 and 200 hours. unfortunately, i have exactly 136 hours before i have to return them. I'm pounding some music through them right now, i will check in 24 and 48 hours and see if they are any better.

My latest piece of equipment would be my CMoy headphone amplifier.

I made it, and constructed a nice wooden box for it. I think it looks pretty decent

Re: Post your Latest Equipment

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith In short, i am underwhelmed by these cans which cost 4 times as much as the ones i already had. Maybe i just need to get used to them, but I'm starting to think my NOVA 403s are much better, they sound better than anything i have ever heard, including my friends sony MDR500s and 700s.

Well I wouldnt really compare anything to the 500 and 700s, because they have a very coloured sound. So its not a big suprise that your Nova's sounded better!

I have never used the senns but perhapse they are a fairly inefficient phone, which most sources would show noticeable sound degredation.

just picked up a new set of shure carts til i get the rest of my cash together for me techs only another �250 to go

ps a new record bag me mum bought me today

Picked up pair of shure white labels(I sold my previous pair to my friend when I was vising San Francisco, he was almost at a point of begging me to sell them to him, so I gave in and sold them). two days ago picked my new monitor speakers which I think are the best in the world, E & M CS203 400watt RMS/700 watt program, three weeks ago picked up my brand new mixer Tascam X-9. Waiting for my Denon DNS5000(a pair of them puppies) to arrive.

finally saved enough money to buy 2 technics , they are in the mail, & i got a ton of vinyl & trackmasters.

now i can get rid of these freaking numark 1520's god !

will have demo up as soon as i get my equip. it will have a crazy tracklist!

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Tranz Waiting for my Denon DNS5000(a pair of them puppies) to arrive.

now, that's SWEET. When you get those, i want a good review, i am seriously considering purchasing at least one if not 2. they are pretty damn expensive though.

Re: Post your Latest Equipment

Ohhhhh, come on John, they're not that bad...

I have a pair of those too. Have you listened to other audiophile-level (or near to that) headphones? I don't mean this as "insulting", but maybe you're not used to "normal" sound, being conditioned to listen to crappy MDR-XXXDJ bloatage?

See below...I have a suggestion for you:

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith and finally, my last test was my MD player (Sony MZN505), and the senns did PATHETIC here, they sounded horrible, but i suspect this was just because my MD did not have the power to drive them. I've heard that they are not very efficient, but i don't know how i can measure that.

That is definitely correct. I have that exact same MD model, and the amp on it is pretty horrible (as in, WEAK). And the Senns need *some decent power, not a lot, but something better than the N505 can offer. See end of this post for a nice suggestion.

quote:

In short, i am underwhelmed by these cans which cost 4 times as much as the ones i already had. I'm convinced that my NOVA 403s are much better, they are more comfortable and light than anything i have ever tried, and they sound better than anything i have ever heard, including my friends sony MDR500s and 700s.

*phew* for a second I misread that and thought you were saying that the MDR500s and 700's sounded better than the Sennheiser's, which is just plain wrong!!

I think that you were just a little underwhelmed with the "accurateness" of the Senns.... but I have to admit, they are a little weak on bass.

Here's my suggestion: try getting a Sony MDR-V6 / 7506. I, too, was a *tiny bit disappointed with the bass (or slight lack thereof) of the HD-280 Pro's, so I got the MDR-7506. And those made up for it by far! Excellent, awesome bass, AND accurate sound! (well, as accurate as you can get without going into super-audiophile-mode)

ANOTHER bonus - they work amazingly well with the Sony N505. They are powered very easily, sound *great*, even with the crappy amp - and are extremely durable and portable! Perfect portable solution!

Plus they're not as large and clunky. Though they still have an old-school look and feel to them... i.e. non-shiny-pretty-headphones.... but I kinda like that look. Makes you look more "professional". Plus "STUDIO MONITOR" on the top doesn't hurt.... but this is now getting into a self-indulging, digression of vanity...

Anyway, I hope you check those out, they would work well for you I believe.

P.S. Another very important detail - mixing with the V6/7506 is very easy and very satisfying! This is because they are clear as hell. You can hear every nuance of the sound.

Let me emphasize this with this example: when trying to mix psytrance, if I even try to use my MDR-V700DJ's, FORGET IT --- why? Because they are so muddy, that I CANNOT hear the beat on the tracks. I can only mix with hihats. But with psytrance, that's messed up, cuz the tracks themselves are messed up.



Anyway, with the V6/7506's, things are crystal clear, and mixing psytrance is a piece of cake.

(Blah...this post should've went into the Headphones thread... lol)

I got a gold headphone jack that I took from my dad.

Actually I am just to addicted to vinyl to save up a load of money and buy some new equipment, I'm just gonna wait till it falls apart and then I guess I'll have to go out and do something about it.

Yeah, i considered the V6 / 7506 as well. They were a lot of money though, and i had heard the sound quality of other sonys and not been impressed, so i decided to get the HD280s instead. Maybe i will reconsider.

as for listening to other headphones, i've honestly not listened to that many good ones. technics RPDJ1200s i think they are called, and the MDR V6 and V7 but all of those for not very long. What i am using to compare them too are these:



I'm beginning to think that these are truly AMAZING headphones, unfortunately, i can't find them anywhere else now.

I can understand what you mean about the boomy bass and psytrance, that would make it pretty much impossible to mix anything with that delay on the bass that is common in goa and psy.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith Yeah, i considered the V6 / 7506 as well. They were a lot of money though, and i had heard the sound quality of other sonys and not been impressed, so i decided to get the HD280s instead. Maybe i will reconsider.

Yeah, even though they say SONY on them, don't let that discourage you. I mean, think about it this way - even Sony had to get a reputation SOMEWHERE before they turned (mostly) crap.

quote:

I'm beginning to think that these are truly AMAZING headphones, unfortunately, i can't find them anywhere else now.

Maybe this is an unknown gem you have there. Though I'm naturally skeptical due to the Radio-Shack-ness of them. j/k - of course, I can't judge at all, as I haven't heard them.

quote:

I can understand what you mean about the boomy bass and psytrance, that would make it pretty much impossible to mix anything with that delay on the bass that is common in goa and psy.

Definitely a bitch to work with.

Oh, BTW, have you looked into "hacking" your N505? You can unlock the software so that it's at the MZ-N1 level (at least in the software level). The main benefit is a "line-out" switch. Though I don't know how good this is compared to a dedicated line out (probably not the best comparison), it at least provides a decent line-out quality that you can use to record mixes, then transfer them onto a computer for burning to CD's. It's how I do it - the sound quality is very good, at least I can't tell any real difference. At least there are no heavy shortcomings in any way. Biggest bonus is having an MD-quality recording tool for a relatively low price.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith now, that's SWEET. When you get those, i want a good review, i am seriously considering purchasing at least one if not 2. they are pretty damn expensive though.

I don't have to wait for them to get here to tell you that THEY ARE AWESOME, SIMPLY THE BEST CDJ UNITS I'VE EVER PLAYED WITH, so damn easy to use them, the plate rotates just like vinyl(they are motorized - first and only in the industry to have that). During one of the mixes, I was playing a track that ws just a bit too rhythmic and lacked melody, so while that track is being played out, I was able to go to another track on the same cd and make a sample then another track and create a continuouse loop sample take those two and queue it up to the original track that is still being played to the crowd, can't do that with anyother CDJ unit. Plus Denons have effects built in onboard and a hot tray that allows you to eject the playing CD with 35second left on the track, put in another cd cue it up and mix in, if not enough time, simply pressing aux loop button will loop and beatmatch the same last 35sec.

email me [email protected] and I'll get you discount pricing
I now work for djmart dot com and I'll get you the BEST Prices anywhere. Adios!

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith They were a lot of money though, and i had heard the sound quality of other sonys and not been impressed, so i decided to get the HD280s instead. Maybe i will reconsider.

Sony actually makes some good headphones. I guess you've never heard of the MDR-CD3000's

Yeah, i have heard of those, and some other sonys. Personally, i hate the design of the MDR-CD3000's, and don't find them comfortable at all.

but do you like the way they sound?

not really no. then again, i only listened to them for a few minutes in the local future shop. It matters not, i can't tolerate headphones with the double headband like that, especially for mixing with.

latest thing i got was an LP case

quote:

Originally posted by JohnSmith not really no. then again, i only listened to them for a few minutes in the local future shop. It matters not, i can't tolerate headphones with the double headband like that, especially for mixing with.

?!?? Are you sure you're talking about the cd-3000's? To my knowledge they are not sold in futureshop. They list at around $600.00 USD. I would be extremely surprised if futureshop had these, as they dont even carry the 700's.

Anyways, these are one of the best sounding headphones on the market, and if you dont like the way they sound then maybe something is wrong with your ears

Or maybe you're just used to lower end phones. trust me, I got my akg-401s and now it makes my ears bleed to listen to regular $50 phones. of course before I was exposed to my 401's I thought the $50 phones sounded great.

Oh, and they are definately not DJ headphones.. more for casual listening.

no, those must not have been them. I tried a bunch on, some big silver sonys that looked sorta like that, without the double headband though, and i think i had them confused with some other ones that had the double headband.

in anycase, i need DJ cans, not just for personal listening. and i'm not spending $600 US for headphones anyway

but thanks for the help. if my sennheisers sound good after the reccomended 40-100 hours of burn in, i might keep them, otherwise, i am sending them back.

Just got a pair of Sennheiser HD-25's

How do you like them? looking at them, it doesn't seem like they would block out much external sound.

got my sennheiser hd25 2weeks ago and picked up an Allen & Heath Xone:62 today

What's so special about Allen & Heath mixer? They're just well too expensive! I'm currently using Vestax PMC 170A and they're just as good as i could ask for. Hoping to get either a third deck or a cdj soon probably will go for CDJs and will get a Vestax PCV 150 to go with it. Anyone ever used it? 4 Channel mixer and is really cheap!
I'd appreciate any recommendations but money is an important factor as well.. can't be asked to spend too much on these... will either get a cdj first and another later on or perhaps a double cd player...

The last thing I just got is this beauty

I'm not very rich,but this sure is a wonderfull TT,it has the same motor as the stanton 8-80 and looks the same as technics (so djing @ clubs wont be any problem),and it can play at 78RPM and reversed!

I'm very happy with it

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