Closed back headphone recommendations

[Giubanix]

Agree on the Denons. Bought a pair a month or so ago since they were £100 off in HMV. I don't normally like closed back 'phones, but all the reviews said they were unusually "airy" for a closed design and I've certainly found them very nice to listen to with a Graham Slee Novo amp. Very detailed with just the right amount of bass for my liking, not too pronounced.

[colinB]

Was a bit tempted by these


AKG k550. The build looks great. Lots of metal and all black. Read mixed reviews though so im going for the Denons at HMV.

[Russell Turner]

I use Beyerdynamic's new(ish) portable headphone the DT1350 with my FiiO E17 driving a HiFiMan EF2A, they are just in your budget and are excellent both in build quality and sound quality and you get the added bonus of them looking "street kred" as well:-

[colinB]

Ive been looking at those to. The e17 isnt powerful enough to power the phones?

[technobear]

The DT1350 puts out 109dB for 1mW.

The Fiio puts out 30mW into 300ohms and 250mW into 16ohms.

The DT1350 is 80ohm.

The FiiO's power isn't linear with impedance but I'd guess we're looking at more than 60mW on tap. That's enough to get the DT1350's up to their maximum volume of about 129dB (and seriously damage your hearing in the process).

[colinB]

Thanks for the clarification Chris. Im not to hot on the maths with amps.
I still dont know why he uses the hifiman amp when he already owns a FiiO.

[Russell Turner]

The DT1350 puts out 109dB for 1mW.

The Fiio puts out 30mW into 300ohms and 250mW into 16ohms.

The DT1350 is 80ohm.

The FiiO's power isn't linear with impedance but I'd guess we're looking at more than 60mW on tap. That's enough to get the DT1350's up to their maximum volume of about 129dB (and seriously damage your hearing in the process).

Aye the FiiO on it's own is plenty...

The reason why I used the EF2A is that it is a Valve headphone amplifier and the combo is excellent.

[colinB]

How is the FiiO connected to the HiFiman?

[Russell Turner]

Using the FiiO L7 adapter to get a proper line out signal, then a 3.5mm to two phono lead into the Hifiman.

If there is one disadvantage to the setup is that the Hifiman EF2A has a shit load of gain on tap and I can rarely get past the 9 o'clock setting....

I would to be able to alter the gain on the unit.

Also you can do a bit (or a lot) of tube rolling with the Hifiman I have some 1952 valves in there at the moment.

[roob]

Was a bit tempted by these


AKG k550. The build looks great. Lots of metal and all black. Read mixed reviews though so im going for the Denons at HMV.

Colin I have just replaced a set of AKG701's with these and I find them excellent, better than the 701's in my system.
Got them from here
http://www.thomann.de/gb/akg_k_550.htm