What Kind of Headphones Do you Use for DMB and Other Favorite Artisits?

[earyck73]

I use the earbuds that came with my phone. And when I mow I use a cheap 3$ pair of ear protection. I can just barely enjoy the music.

[willndmb]

I have AirPods, Shure se215 and some random junk
AirPods are nice for fast easy connection
Shure are great for planes and other situations where you want to block out noise

[HonestDenver1]

I only use apple pods for DMB and for everything else I use sonies.

[sean52692]

Originally Posted by Xcacel

What do you think?

They arrived today, should get some listening time tomorrow.

[fast_gti]

Focal Elex primarily. Best headphones ever set upon this head of mine.
Beyerdynamic DT770 when I need closed back or traveling. Had these for 12 years, just replaced the ear pads on them.

[OK_Ant]

Koss Porta Pros

[sean52692]

Originally Posted by Xcacel

What do you think?

Really love them. Definitely more treble than my Senny600s, which makes for a nice crisp, warm experience. Everything is clear and balanced the way I like it. They are very comfortable too. Great purchase.

[ToySoldier#34]

Bose SoundSport

[TurboPGT]

Originally Posted by samiota

Sony WH-1000XM4 with noise-cancellation. Listening to some FLACs right now.

Not over bluetooth, you're not.

[blumathu]

Originally Posted by TurboPGT

Not over bluetooth, you're not.

[Dannyyankou]

Originally Posted by TurboPGT

Not over bluetooth, you're not.

Yeah it would be like plugging an HD cable box into a CRT TV

[ozboaz41]

CIEM. JH Audio 11's. Dual bass drivers, 1 mid, and 1 high. *coughs*

[resumesomething]

AirPod Pros. Curious about AirPod Max. DMB's studio albums now say Lossless in iTunes, and newer ones says Apple iTunes Digital Master or something like that. I'm curious what the difference is.

[Dannyyankou]

Originally Posted by resumesomething

AirPod Pros. Curious about AirPod Max. DMB's studio albums now say Lossless in iTunes, and newer ones says Apple iTunes Digital Master or something like that. I'm curious what the difference is.

You can’t get lossless on AirPods anyway because the Bluetooth connection compresses it, so it won’t be true lossless. Now AirPods Pro have Bluetooth 5, so they should theoretically be capable of higher bitrates up to 500kbps, but that’s it.

[Xcacel]

Originally Posted by sean52692

Really love them. Definitely more treble than my Senny600s, which makes for a nice crisp, warm experience. Everything is clear and balanced the way I like it. They are very comfortable too. Great purchase.

Happy about that Sean

[DMBlunts]

Alright so I bought the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32 ohm, should be here Tuesday so I'll let you know!

[blumathu]

Originally Posted by DMBlunts

Alright so I bought the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32 ohm, should be here Tuesday so I'll let you know!

I have the 250 ohm version of those and love them. I use them for mixing. I also have the Sennheiser HD 558 for more casual stuff and love them as well.

[Vacubsfan]

Originally Posted by blumathu

I have the 250 ohm version of those and love them. I use them for mixing. I also have the Sennheiser HD 558 for more casual stuff and love them as well.

I bought the 80ohm version just recently and love them as well.

[Xcacel]

Originally Posted by DMBlunts

Alright so I bought the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32 ohm, should be here Tuesday so I'll let you know!

Hole you’ll liken them

[DMBlunts]

Wow. Got them a day early, and they are fantastic. My phone can support them pretty well, but when I plug them into my macbook pro or my turntable receiver is when they really shine. Very impressed.

[Xcacel]

Originally Posted by DMBlunts

Wow. Got them a day early, and they are fantastic. My phone can support them pretty well, but when I plug them into my macbook pro or my turntable receiver is when they really shine. Very impressed.

Cool. In fact they are my favorite too, at the moment.
Now I am curious: how would you compare the Beyerdynamic to the AirPod Max, in terms of sound?

[DMBlunts]

Originally Posted by Xcacel

Cool. In fact they are my favorite too, at the moment.
Now I am curious: how would you compare the Beyerdynamic to the AirPod Max, in terms of sound?

When being played from a phone, I would say the AirPod Pro Max is better. For one, just for the audio level. Then again I was listening to music through my iPad and not my Samsung S10, so maybe apples and oranges there.

However, these beyerdynamic's plugged into the computer...I could hear the orchestra turn their pages and someone inhale before a horn part...that blew me away.

If anyone else is looking at the 32 ohm version, there is a pair on ebay brand new for like $105 right now.

[Xcacel]

Originally Posted by DMBlunts

When being played from a phone, I would say the AirPod Pro Max is better. For one, just for the audio level. Then again I was listening to music through my iPad and not my Samsung S10, so maybe apples and oranges.

That’s where you might find useful a DAC attached to the smartphone (Dragonfly Red).

However, these beyerdynamic's plugged into the computer...I could hear the orchestra turn their pages and someone inhale before a horn part...that blew me away.

Wonderful. Which track with orchestra where you listening to?

[DMBlunts]

Originally Posted by Xcacel

That’s where you might find useful a DAC attached to the smartphone (Dragonfly Red).

I will have to look into that, not sure I want to drop another $200 on audio equipment at the moment but don't you tempt me!


Wonderful. Which track with orchestra where you listening to?

I listened to my favorite Beethoven track:

https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ob9S...883f92919b4c25

[DMBlunts]

Anyone use a DAP like a Fiio to listen to lossless FLAC files?

Any suggestions for one to buy?

[Xcacel]

Originally Posted by DMBlunts

Anyone use a DAP like a Fiio to listen to lossless FLAC files?

Any suggestions for one to buy?

You should trust me a bit by now.
Waste of money.
I had a medium range DAP (FiIO M9) that had good reviews. Cannot complain about the audio (but the Dragonfly attached to my iPhone is about the same), and I never used the balanced out.

The real problem is the UI. Going from an IPhone to that is like traveling back in time for 10 years. I just couldn’t stand it. Also putting the music from iTunes and sync my playlist was a pain in the a** (I solved most of the problems with an app for Mac called Dapper, but I had to contact the developer few times because of the many errors I was getting in sync and device recognition).

Wi-Fi connection on that particular DAP never really worked well, Apple Music wasn’t supported and Tidal.. tried also that but just because of the free month, but I prefer 1000 times Apple Music (and even more now).

END OF THE STORY: Amazon refund after about 2 weeks of experiments and geeks.

The only category of users that I can possibly understand spending their money on a DAP (but a more expensive one, say one around 1500$) and really enjoy it, are the rich audiophiles who can spend even more for an Harman Kardon amplifier, and maybe listen to classical music. But this is jut my opinion.

If I was you and I had 200 dollars to buy me a gift, Dragonfly Red would be it.

[JimiBillies]

Originally Posted by Xcacel

You should trust me a bit by now.
Waste of money.
I had a medium range DAP (FiIO M9) that had good reviews. Cannot complain about the audio (but the Dragonfly attached to my iPhone is about the same), and I never used the balanced out.

The real problem is the UI. Going from an IPhone to that is like traveling back in time for 10 years. I just couldn’t stand it. Also putting the music from iTunes and sync my playlist was a pain in the a** (I solved most of the problems with an app for Mac called Dapper, but I had to contact the developer few times because of the many errors I was getting in sync and device recognition).

Wi-Fi connection on that particular DAP never really worked well, Apple Music wasn’t supported and Tidal.. tried also that but just because of the free month, but I prefer 1000 times Apple Music (and even more now).

END OF THE STORY: Amazon refund after about 2 weeks of experiments and geeks.

The only category of users that I can possibly understand spending their money on a DAP (but a more expensive one, say one around 1500$) and really enjoy it, are the rich audiophiles who can spend even more for an Harman Kardon amplifier, and maybe listen to classical music. But this is jut my opinion.

If I was you and I had 200 dollars to buy me a gift, Dragonfly Red would be it.

I was reading in article in the wall street journal about Hi Def Streaming making a huge arrival on the platforms this year. They gave a ton of suggestions for DAC add ons to your phone. I am a musician and consider myself an audiophile, but I still don't see the need to lug around this box on my phone for an upgrade of 320kbps to FLAC.. I don't listen in lossless but last time I checked 320 was CD quality until they changed CD quality to lossless.. I'm waiting for Spotify to get their lossless music out later this year before I make any moves, but it's going to have to be a very noticeable difference. I listen to vinyl at home and don't neccessarily need the best HQ when I'm plugging in my pods or bluetooth speaker outside.

Any thoughts? The one I was interested in checking out was this one

https://www.schiit.com/products/magn...hoCN9oQAvD_BwE


It's only $100 but seems too good to be true..

[blumathu]

Originally Posted by JimiBillies

last time I checked 320 was CD quality until they changed CD quality to lossless..

I really don't understand what you mean here. The digital audio on a CD is not "compressed". MP3s (including 320 kbps MP3s) are compressed in a way that some audio information is literally lost. FLACs are compressed in a different way that retains every bit of audio information, the file is just smaller (similar concept to a ZIP file). The audio on CDs is not compressed at all, so by definition it has always been lossless.

[JimiBillies]

Originally Posted by blumathu

I really don't understand what you mean here. The digital audio on a CD is not "compressed". MP3s (including 320 kbps MP3s) are compressed in a way that some audio information is literally lost. FLACs are compressed in a different way that retains every bit of audio information, the file is just smaller (similar concept to a ZIP file). The audio on CDs is not compressed at all, so by definition it has always been lossless.

I get that the CD sound is not compressed, but what I am saying is that an HQ mp3 at 320 kbps is like CD quality to the ear. I cannot tell a difference when I burn a CD at 320 KBPS from itunes vs the same CD I bought physically. There are studies on this that show it's such minute difference at that rate that we cannot pick it up.

Now, I can tell a huge difference between the next level down in kbps vs CD and of course digital vs listening on vinyl.. But a really good master, mix these days is going to sound good on anything if it's done well.

I only say that to try and let you know I'm not a total nuub or ignorant to sound. I have no data to pick up my experience, but this is how I experience it.

I'm a musician who has made plenty of my own recordings and there is a noticeable difference in what the pre compressed sound is vs what the file is. Before you mix and master there's an openness to everything that to my ears sounds more real.. But it has lot of variations in volume, which is where compression comes in.. If you compress too much, you squash the sound, and then if you listen to that compressed file and compress it again to mp3, you can really tell the difference from the master file. But again, I notice no difference in the HQ mp3s of my own material and the CDs I made from the original master files.

[blumathu]

Originally Posted by JimiBillies

I get that the CD sound is not compressed, but what I am saying is that an HQ mp3 at 320 kbps is like CD quality to the ear. I cannot tell a difference when I burn a CD at 320 KBPS from itunes vs the same CD I bought physically. There are studies on this that show it's such minute difference at that rate that we cannot pick it up.

Now, I can tell a huge difference between the next level down in kbps vs CD and of course digital vs listening on vinyl.. But a really good master, mix these days is going to sound good on anything if it's done well.

I only say that to try and let you know I'm not a total nuub or ignorant to sound. I have no data to pick up my experience, but this is how I experience it.

I'm a musician who has made plenty of my own recordings and there is a noticeable difference in what the pre compressed sound is vs what the file is. Before you mix and master there's an openness to everything that to my ears sounds more real.. But it has lot of variations in volume, which is where compression comes in.. If you compress too much, you squash the sound, and then if you listen to that compressed file and compress it again to mp3, you can really tell the difference from the master file. But again, I notice no difference in the HQ mp3s of my own material and the CDs I made from the original master files.

Gotcha, I understand what you meant now. I am also a musician and try to avoid too much audio compression in my mastering process for that very reason.