Headphone lovers, what do you love, what do you have, Head-Fi fans 2015 edition.

Just getting into headphones. I've had HD600's for a couple months, and my Audeze LCD-2's arrived yesterday (still getting used to the weight). Power them with a Schiit Lyr 2 I got last week.

Not surprising to hear you using the HD600's for what I'd assume to be mastering work - they might be about the most neutral audio product I've ever heard IMO.

 

I use Audeze LCD 3 headphones, with a Woo Audio WA-6se headphone amp driven by a Wavelength Cosecant DAC with headless Mac Mini. On the road, I use my iPhone or iPod with a Centrance HiFiM8.

Head-Fi is good fun - very personal listening experience. The Woo amp is great - the WA 5 must be a joy!

 

Shure SRH440, CAD 310 via headphone jack from receiver

 

Sennheiser HD-650, Cardas cable, HeadRoom Max headphone amp.

 

Shure SRH840's run through my Asus Xonar Essence STX Headphone amp (soundcard)

 

I don't use headphones very often and mine aren't exactly high end but they're cordless which is convenient
Sennheiser HDR-170

 

Sennheiser 650 and Schiit Valhalla amp

 

Bowers&Wilkins P7s. Looking into headphone amps.

 

Just tonight I did a bunch of the common mods to my $100 Grado SR80i's. These headphones are known to be rather bass-lite and bright in their stock configuration, and so are a popular modding platform.

First I did the 'quarter mod' to the 'comfy pads' - you press a quarter down onto the center of the pads and trace/cut with an Xacto. Next I removed the protective cloth mesh that covers the drivers. This opened up the treble, but totally sucked out what little bass the Grados had to begin with.

Next I used a hairdryer to separate the cans and poked holes in four of the ten membrane-covered openings around the driver, allowing them to vent. This improves the Grados' bass response. Lastly, I put a blob of BlueTak on the backs of the drivers to dampen them and stuck an adhesive-backed felt dot on the backs of the plastic buttons that indicates the model number, to prevent resonances. The whole procedure took maybe 15-20 minutes.

BIG improvement! Now these Grados have punchy, tight bass and very airy highs. I might shell out $20 and get the thicker donut-shaped L-Cush pads, which are said to be an upgrade.

Here's a detailed thread on the same mods that I did: http://www.head-fi.org/t/508459/sr60-mod

 

Laptop > WASAPI/Spotify> Geek Out 450 USB dongle/DAC > Sennheiser HD 558

Sounds amazing.

 

Grado RS1i or PS500 through Grado RA1. The RS1i is stunning with acoustic music, jazz and a lot of rock. Excellent with vocals, especially female.

The PS500 is a little more forgiving and is tilted towards the bass more so than most Grados I have heard.

I'm not sure how the RA1 performs with other headphones but it has a real synergy with the Grado's.

 

Bose headphones

 

LCD-2 for home. Grado GS1000 at work. Grado GR-10 for the road.

 

HD 600s. Have had them since around 2000. I don't use them much anymore since buying the AN J. I want AN to make headphones but it might look weird having little rectangle Russian Birch boxes attached to my head.

 

Steve, that’s interesting that you’ve been been using cans lately....

I’ve been using:
Sony MDR-7506
Grado RS2e
Grado SR80e

I had to start using headphones for work (editing) last year. Since going freelance, I’ve been in environments that require headphones.
Amp is a Leckerton UHA 6S MkII...

The Sonys are for when I need something with lots of isolation, but the 80e’s are my everyday work ‘phone - the 2e’s for checking mixes...
The portable amp is a must - I'm constantly adjusting volume due to different audio sources with various volume levels, so I need on-the-fly volume. Plus it sounds a lot better than the output from a computer...

 

Lately I've been using the Bowers & Wilkins P7's, but I've also got a pair of Sennheiser 650s and a pair of AKG K1000 headphones. I'm also planning on getting my old Jecklin Float headphones re-foamed.

For headphone amps, I currently use the Meridian Explorer for my laptop, an April Stello preamp/headphone amp at work, and a HeadRoom Maxed Out Home amp at my apartment.

 

I almost exclusively use headphones now. I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 600, Hifiman HE 400, and the Mad Dog modded Fostex cans by Mr. Speakers. I use a Schiit Vali sometimes but I'm generally always using my recapped Kenwood KA-3500. Most 70's integrateds and receivers have excellent headphone outs I've noticed. I'll probably sell the other cans and keep my Senns, they are perfect.

 

Sony HDR-7509 but mostly for location video work. I've just never gotten used to the "music in the middle of my skull" feeling.

 

HD600s have killer bass, just listen to an original pressing of Tin Pan Alley on those things.

I liked my Shure SRH840s but the damn thing broke.

 

I'm using Grado SR325i's headphones with a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp
with my computer based system and AKG Q701's for my electronic drum kit.

 

Sennheiser HD-650 with stock cable and this cheap amp from eBay :

http://tinyurl.com/q2krlly

 

Audeze EL-8
https://www.audeze.com/about-audeze/blog/el-8-graphs

Into a DIY LME49990 / LME49600 based SS headamp.

 

Adore my Sennheiser 600s using Schitt Audio DACs and Amps. Currently in the market for a great pair of closed cans for passive isolation while working near my wife.