Hey yall im new to this forum but i have started to become and audiophile through the years (ever since i started listening to music (im 17 now) and i already own a pair of etymotyc reaserch ER-6i's and i really enjoy them for on the go. but i would like something for home, ive been looking through headphone.com but idk what to get

im looking for a nice true bass, crisp mids, decent highs, can be noise cancelling but doesnt have to be. and all under 200$ (250$ okay but pushing it)

also i have looked at some desktop/portable amps for my computer and ipod you can give suggestions for this but keep it around 150$(as i do not have a stereo system)

any ideas??

I am not particularly experienced with a wide range of phones like many around here, and I can't offer many points of comparison...... but something like my old combo of Audio Technica ATH-AD900 and a Corda 3Move would be a pretty good start, and a good step up from your ER-6i straight from the iPod.

If you want to get adventurous, you could see what the going rate is on a y1 Lite/Mini3 combo. Should blow the 3Move out of the water......

Where do you live? /shifty eyebrows

alright thanks, i didnt see that on headphone.com do have suggestions for a good website too?

also i noticed in your signature you have a DAC, are those worth the money? im trying to get an extremely nice desktop setup as well as phones

Where do you live? /shifty eyebrows

cleveland, OH why? also go to school up in NH (boarding school)

cleveland, OH why? also go to school up in NH (boarding school)

You missed a recent area meet but keep an eye here for future meets to try out headphones and discover what you like by actually hearing things: Local / Regional Head-Fi Meets, Parties, Get-Togethers - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

The next big meet in your area is ChiUnifi in Chicago (if you can make it that far) in November.

i was actually just looking at these

Shure SRH440 Professional Monitoring Headphone

are they good, something better (also keep in mind they are on sale for 150$)

dang it, well i did just find this

Entry-Level Audiophile Package @ HeadRoom

looks nice

and is that your head-fi user name (as i register i will say you refered me)

That particular package from headroom isn't one I'd go with for that price range.

If you use computer as a main source, then I would 100% recommend FS: XP AMP + GAMMA DAC USB Combo - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

For the price, you definitely cant do any better

with any headphones you want

Edited July 24, 200916 yr by jinp6301

oh wow, thanks guys i was also taking a gander at these 2, good choices?

Grado SR 60i @ HeadRoom

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 w/ coil cable @ HeadRoom

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro @ HeadRoom

ooo how bout these, i am just now remembering that i would probably want noise cancelling

The Grado SR-60's are very good entry-level phones.

If you use computer as a main source, then I would 100% recommend FS: XP AMP + GAMMA DAC USB Combo - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

For the price, you definitely cant do any better

with any headphones you want

how does this thing work, do you fiddle with the settings in a program, like i just see one knob, and im guessing its volume?

You plug it in with usb to your computer, set whatever your audio program to output to the y1 dac (if it doesnt do it automatically), then you use the knob to control the volume

oh you cant change like med hi and low settings?

but this along with the Grado SR-60i's is a good entry level computer setup?

edit: oh i guess i use the EQ on winamp or something right?

Don't bother with that. Good EQ just costs more money.

Your enthusiasm is both delightful and abrasive. I feel old.

oh alright, thanks guys so much, i think i have i am goint to get the

XP amp/Gamma DAC -> grado SR-60i

does this sound good? if not i was looking at this, its an extra 40 bucks but its the portable one too

HeadRoom Total BitHead @ HeadRoom

im not sure if its better or worse, guidence?

edit: what is a squeezebox?

Your enthusiasm is both delightful and abrasive. I feel old.

im energetic usually, and i didnt take my meds this morning haha, but thanks for all the help guys, really finding alot about all this from this site

or i have been looking around and it looks like a good idea is to maybe get the cans and then figure out the amp by trying it out, but idk any good audiophile stores in the area, or at least ones that sell desktop amps... any ideas?

oh alright, thanks guys so much, i think i have i am goint to get the

XP amp/Gamma DAC -> grado SR-60i

does this sound good? if not i was looking at this, its an extra 40 bucks but its the portable one too

HeadRoom Total BitHead @ HeadRoom

im not sure if its better or worse, guidence?

edit: what is a squeezebox?

The HeadRoom Bithead is a relative sidegrade from the 3Move - don't waste your time/money. Stick with what you already have and maybe plan to upgrade later to the HeadAmp Pico DAC/amp ($500) when you have more money which will be a real upgrade.

As for headphones, you're going to have to buy blind unless you can find local people to audition stuff. Every headphone sounds different and only your ears will tell you what sounds good to you.

When it comes to closed headphones under <$200, I like the Audio-Technica ES7, it's a decent all-rounder. But you should hear it for yourself of course. HeadRoom doesn't sell the ES7 but you can order one from Amazon or AudioCubes. Also the ES7 isn't full-size, it's supra-aural (rests on the ears, not around them) if that matters. Not sure you would like the ES7 though if you really like your Etymotic IEMs, as the two will probably sound very different from each other (based on what I've read about Etys).

alright, that sounds good. do you know of any big name stores that have legit selections of headphones?

I don't know of anything in Ohio. The closest thing I can think of are the J&R, B&H, and AudioCubes stores in NYC. Well and maybe Guitar Center if there's one near you.

oh there is a guitar center, and ill look for ones near me of the others, they could be somewhere around here