Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: drewhaynes on September 03, 2017, 05:43:02 PM

Title: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 03, 2017, 05:43:02 PM
Thanks to Paul, who is an incredibly patient guy and helped me resurrect my Crack after many years (yes, it sounds incredible, using it now), I am back to hooked on Crack. I own a Denon D2000, a Hifiman 400, and an O2 amp. I am using HD650's with the Crack. It sounds so perfect that I'm tempted to sell my D2000 and HE400, maybe even my O2 amp.

Here's the question... what else runs well with a Crack?! I've looked at Beyer DT880 and 990 in  600ohm, I guess the 770 is no longer offered in 600ohm.

What else is awesome with the crack?! I'm itching!

EDIT: Thoughts on speedball? I may do that soon!
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 04, 2017, 05:00:54 AM
The HD800/HD800S may be the next logical choice.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 05, 2017, 05:41:06 AM
The HD800/HD800S may be the next logical choice.

That sure sounds nice, but $900 and $1600 may be a litttttle stretch for me at the moment. I am debating selling my O2 amp, Denon D2000, and Hifiman HE400 now that my crack is working. I'm curious how something like a DT880 600ohm or Senn HD700 would compare/contrast to the HD650, or if they'd be too similar to the 650s to be worth owning also.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 05, 2017, 11:38:43 AM
$650-750 would buy a pair of used HD-800 headphones.  The other two you mentioned are unlikely to offer better performance than what you already have.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 05, 2017, 12:16:35 PM
$650-750 would buy a pair of used HD-800 headphones.  The other two you mentioned are unlikely to offer better performance than what you already have.

Hmmm, wish there was somewhere I could test them. My other concern with the 800 is musical tastes. I like the HD650 over the 600 due to a little more bass. I rarely listen to classical or jazz and I like some "feel" or color in my music, more than I appreciate headphones that sound more sterile just for the sake of accuracy. From what I remember, I thought the 800 fell more into that category. I've heard that I'd like the LCD2, but then I'd be looking at a s.e.x. instead of the Crack!
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: elnrik on September 05, 2017, 08:17:05 PM
The only thing I've found that beats my Crack + HD650 combo is my Crack + ZMF Eikon.  The synergy with the 650 is amazing, but the Eikon is on another level. 
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 06, 2017, 07:35:07 AM
Hmmm, wish there was somewhere I could test them.
Where are you located?  Often there are local headfi meets that you can attend where many different headphones are available for audition.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: Deluk on September 07, 2017, 01:18:15 AM
$650-750 would buy a pair of used HD-800 headphones.  The other two you mentioned are unlikely to offer better performance than what you already have.

The original HD-800 did have some frequency quirks that didn't suit many of the upgraders from 600 and 650. Senn have fixed that I believe with the S model but it is more dollars. Some claim to have fixed the problem themselves with a range of mods but it's an expensive risk.
Have a browse here. Yes it's one man's opinion but he really likes the Crack, and has built one, so that's a good start!
https://www.youtube.com/user/InnerFidelity/videos
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 07, 2017, 03:35:40 PM
Sorry for the slow replies. I am in Tulsa, OK. I'd love to HEAR some HD800 or HD800S.

Also, where is the HD700 supposed to fit in the mix... I'd been "out of the game" for a while... I'm not sure how those are supposed to compare to the 600/650 or the 800/800S
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 08, 2017, 05:13:32 AM
The HD-700's have been generally poorly received and don't go for more than $250-350 used. (not too far off from the HD650)
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: adydula on September 15, 2017, 04:14:45 AM
I use Beyer T90's 250 ohms and Beyer T1's V2 600 ohms and both IMO are stellar with the Crack w/speedball..
Alex
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: John EH on September 28, 2017, 04:11:06 AM
I have HD-650's and to be honest I don't like them as much as Sony MDR-V6, MDR-7506 or ATH-M50x.  I really love the Crack and M50x's.  I also have Senn HD-598's which are okay.

Tomorrow Mr. UPS man will bring me some HiFiMan HE-400i's.  Always wanted a pair and didn't check for a while and HFM had them for $229 refurbished on their website.

I just never thought the HD-650 was top notch.  Don't get me wrong.  They sound good but I'm saying it is a personal preference thing with me.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 28, 2017, 04:15:42 AM
I use Beyer T90's 250 ohms and Beyer T1's V2 600 ohms and both IMO are stellar with the Crack w/speedball..
Alex

Man, after you posted this.. I found a used pair of T90's on ebay for *$230*. I almost bought them then was like... nahhh.. I should sell my Denon D2k or Hifiman's first. Now I'm regretting it :|
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 28, 2017, 04:16:35 AM
I have HD-650's and to be honest I don't like them as much as Sony MDR-V6, MDR-7506 or ATH-M50x.  I really love the Crack and M50x's.  I also have Senn HD-598's which are okay.

Tomorrow Mr. UPS man will bring me some HiFiMan HE-400i's.  Always wanted a pair and didn't check for a while and HFM had them for $229 refurbished on their website.

I just never thought the HD-650 was top notch.  Don't get me wrong.  They sound good but I'm saying it is a personal preference thing with me.

Aren't all of those pretty low impedance? I have HiFiMan HE-400's (non-i) - haven't ever tried them on the Crack, just my Objective2
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: John EH on September 28, 2017, 04:20:13 AM
Aren't all of those pretty low impedance? I have HiFiMan HE-400's (non-i) - haven't ever tried them on the Crack, just my Objective2

They are lower impedance but to me they sound great.  The Audio Technica ATH-M50x is currently my fav with the Sony MDR-7506 running a close second.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: drewhaynes on September 28, 2017, 04:23:26 AM
They are lower impedance but to me they sound great.  The Audio Technica ATH-M50x is currently my fav with the Sony MDR-7506 running a close second.

Can't argue with that :) I owned a pair of M50 (non-x I wanna say) a handful of years ago. Pretty good closed cans.

I wish Beyer was still making the 600ohm DT770, instead of just going up to 250ohm. My wife would love it if I got a pair of closed headphones for when I'm up and she's going to bed in the next room!
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: mcandmar on September 28, 2017, 07:44:40 AM
The original HD-800 did have some frequency quirks that didn't suit many of the upgraders from 600 and 650. Senn have fixed that I believe with the S model but it is more dollars. Some claim to have fixed the problem themselves with a range of mods but it's an expensive risk.
Have a browse here. Yes it's one man's opinion but he really likes the Crack, and has built one, so that's a good start!
https://www.youtube.com/user/InnerFidelity/videos

Yes/No/Sort of.  There is a long thread on Headi-Fi discussing the frequency response plots from various serial numbers (you can request the test results from Sennheiser).  Generally speaking some of the early serial numbers had a spike ~ 6khz which made them a little harsh which was dialed out on later models.  You can also see a trend towards slightly higher low end response with the most recent models.  Its a bit hit and miss with some better than others, i got lucky with mine as they have a very flat EQ with no 6khz spike, and they are very early with a serial number in the 1300 range.

As for the above, buy a pair 2nd hand, you will never need another pair of headphones ever again.
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: adydula on October 01, 2017, 01:50:48 PM
The Beyer 250 and higher impedance headphones work very, very well with the Crack....either the T90 or several of their other HP's would fit the bill nicely.

The T90's are brutal in exposing bad recordings with the Crack...

The T1's are very musical and exacting as well....

$400 vs $800+...found on sale etc..

Alex
Title: Re: HEADPHONES!!!!
Post by: attmci on October 01, 2017, 04:21:00 PM
Yes/No/Sort of.  There is a long thread on Headi-Fi discussing the frequency response plots from various serial numbers (you can request the test results from Sennheiser).  Generally speaking some of the early serial numbers had a spike ~ 6khz which made them a little harsh which was dialed out on later models.  You can also see a trend towards slightly higher low end response with the most recent models.  Its a bit hit and miss with some better than others, i got lucky with mine as they have a very flat EQ with no 6khz spike, and they are very early with a serial number in the 1300 range.

As for the above, buy a pair 2nd hand, you will never need another pair of headphones ever again.

Do the mod and use a black dragon cable will smooth the 6khz spike. It works great with Crack.