What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[Herman]

I just bought some audio gear despite knowing that I need to buy a riding mower soon!

Wow, you're a landowner now?

[DavidW]

Wow, you're a landowner now?

Yup, finally bought a house last year.  No more renting for me.

[Holden]

I had asssumed they'd be similar as well--but noticeably better. Mysteriously, the opposite seemed to be true. They were very comfortable to wear, but had less clarity and body than either my Sundaras or my Senn 6xx's. What was really weird, is the bass was weaker, and that's supposed to be one of the strengths of the Aryas (they're as big as the side of my head!).
   

In a number of reviews the Ananda bass is rated much stronger than the Arya.

[krummholz]

It is. Get yourself Sennheiser HD599 and a headphone amp with cross-feed. Stop worrying about if there's something better out there. You'll see that's all you need to be happy (audio-wise) and your audiophilia nervosa goes away. Remember, it was audio marketing that gave you audiophilia nervosa in the first place.

What is the difference between the HD599 and the HD599 SE? And do either of them come with an RCA-type connector?

[71 dB]

What is the difference between the HD599 and the HD599 SE? And do either of them come with an RCA-type connector?

Different Colour. HD599 is beige/brown. HD599 SE is black. They come with long with 6.3 mm jack and short "portable us" cable with 3.5 mm jack.

[krummholz]

Different Colour. HD599 is beige/brown. HD599 SE is black. They come with long with 6.3 mm jack and short "portable us" cable with 3.5 mm jack.

Is that the only difference? SE costs $50 more on Amazon! 

Also, the connector sizes don't really tell me whether the form factor is compatible with my equipment. I have an old Sony STR-AV500 amp with a headphone jack from that era (1970s) - not RCA-type, I misspoke before, but I'm not sure what the term is for that type of jack.

My headphones are Sony MDR-V8s from the same era, the ear pads are showing their age, and I occasionally hear distortion on the bass end through them.

[Valentino]

TRS 6.3 mm, Headphone jack, etc. It is exotica if it's not 6.3 or 3.5 mm TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) plugs for headphones, and most modern phones come with both.

I'm very glad that my 30 years old HD 580 Precision are still in fine condition.

[71 dB]

Is that the only difference? SE costs $50 more on Amazon! 

I don't even see this model in stock at Amazon! The price varies a lot. $200 is "normal", $150 is a deal and $100 is a steal.

Also, the connector sizes don't really tell me whether the form factor is compatible with my equipment. I have an old Sony STR-AV500 amp with a headphone jack from that era (1970s) - not RCA-type, I misspoke before, but I'm not sure what the term is for that type of jack.

You have 6.3 mm (1/4") plug in your Sony STR-AV500. Anyway don't connect to that! It has too high output impedance. This model needs low output impedance (10 Ω or less). As I suggested, get a headphone amp with cross-feed.

My headphones are Sony MDR-V8s from the same era, the ear pads are showing their age, and I occasionally hear distortion on the bass end through them.

The nice thing with Sennheiser headphones is you can replace the ear pads.

Distortion might be dirt. Try blowing to the drivers. That might help.

[71 dB]

I'm very glad that my 30 years old HD 580 Precision are still in fine condition.

Same here, but I have had mine for about 25 years rather than 30 (it the model even that old??)

[Valentino]

Birthday present 1993 or maybe 1994 from my girlfriend. Later when we split up she moved to Australia.

[krummholz]

You have 6.3 mm (1/4") plug in your Sony STR-AV500. Anyway don't connect to that! It has too high output impedance. This model needs low output impedance (10 Ω or less).

I thought after posting to inquire whether the impedance would be compatible with my amp, but glad you mentioned it. I guess that won't work...

As I suggested, get a headphone amp with cross-feed.

Do you know of a good headphone amp, or a compatible full amp, with headphone jack and equalizer controls?

The nice thing with Sennheiser headphones is you can replace the ear pads.

Nice!

Distortion might be dirt. Try blowing to the drivers. That might help.

To expose the drivers would require removing the foam-lined pads that cover them which are glued on, and are in such poor shape that I'm afraid they would basically disintegrate if I did that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

To expose the drivers would require removing the foam-lined pads that cover them which are glued on, and are in such poor shape that I'm afraid they would basically disintegrate if I did that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Sad/funny and true story.  Some years ago, I put on my ancient set of headphones and ended up dozing off.  Woke up, took off the headphones and found this "stuff" plastered in a circle around my ears.  Whatever the rubberized coating was had come off of the headphones and was stuck to my head!  As they weren't terribly expensive, they were canned (pun intended).

PD

[Brian]

Sad/funny and true story.  Some years ago, I put on my ancient set of headphones and ended up dozing off.  Woke up, took off the headphones and found this "stuff" plastered in a circle around my ears.  Whatever the rubberized coating was had come off of the headphones and was stuck to my head!  As they weren't terribly expensive, they were canned (pun intended).

PD

Oh gosh! The only thing I've ever had with headphones was the black material on the ear padding flaking off so it looked like I had black dandruff. This sounds more alarming!

[aligreto]

Sad/funny and true story.  Some years ago, I put on my ancient set of headphones and ended up dozing off.  Woke up, took off the headphones and found this "stuff" plastered in a circle around my ears.  Whatever the rubberized coating was had come off of the headphones and was stuck to my head!  As they weren't terribly expensive, they were canned (pun intended).

PD

Sounds more like a nightmare after you had dozed off, PD.

[Mookalafalas]

Sad/funny and true story.  Some years ago, I put on my ancient set of headphones and ended up dozing off.  Woke up, took off the headphones and found this "stuff" plastered in a circle around my ears.  Whatever the rubberized coating was had come off of the headphones and was stuck to my head!  As they weren't terribly expensive, they were canned (pun intended).

PD

 I taught a language class where students used headsets in the school language lab to chat (in English, on line) with students in other countries. All the headphones were doing that! Students were rather upset, naturally, but the headphones weren't actually old enough or bad enough to replace, so they just had to bear with it. (me too!). Some students brought their own, some put tissue between the phones and their skin, and others just had black stuff stuck on their face for a while after class...

[71 dB]

I thought after posting to inquire whether the impedance would be compatible with my amp, but glad you mentioned it. I guess that won't work...

No, it wouldn't, but there is a hack for those who can use soldering iron: Make yourself an extension cable with L and R channels connected to ground with 10 Ω resistors. Another solution is to choose a headphone model with very flat impedance curve. Closed headphones are like that, for example Sennheiser HD 569, but the sound quality isn't as good as with HD 599.

Do you know of a good headphone amp, or a compatible full amp, with headphone jack and equalizer controls?

Unfortunately I don't know much about headphone amps, but you can check out Meier Corda Jazz. I believe it is Meier's cheapest model with crossfeed. I use DIY headphone adapter myself (cheaper, but requires electronic skills)

To expose the drivers would require removing the foam-lined pads that cover them which are glued on, and are in such poor shape that I'm afraid they would basically disintegrate if I did that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Blowing through may help.

[krummholz]

No, it wouldn't, but there is a hack for those who can use soldering iron: Make yourself an extension cable with L and R channels connected to ground with 10 Ω resistors. Another solution is to choose a headphone model with very flat impedance curve. Closed headphones are like that, for example Sennheiser HD 569, but the sound quality isn't as good as with HD 599.

That is doable - I don't own a soldering iron but have access at work. However, on second thought, trying to work a hack to use a good pair of headphones with my old Sony amp is probably not a good strategy as the amp is very likely on its last legs anyway - if the power is interrupted even briefly, output is badly distorted for about 5-10 minutes of play afterward. This problem occurred several years ago, and was traced to a bad capacitor by an audio shop. They replaced it, but the fact that it has gone bad again indicates this is probably a losing battle in the long run.

Unfortunately I don't know much about headphone amps, but you can check out Meier Corda Jazz. I believe it is Meier's cheapest model with crossfeed. I use DIY headphone adapter myself (cheaper, but requires electronic skills)

Audio Science Review gives the Corda Jazz a resounding thumbs down. And from the pictures, it apparently has no equalizer panel. I am not married to the idea of a headphone amp - a decent full amp with equalizer and headphone jack is something I'd be willing to invest a few $100 in. I just don't know the quality of the stuff that is out there today - obviously I have not made an amp purchase in... well, 50 years.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I taught a language class where students used headsets in the school language lab to chat (in English, on line) with students in other countries. All the headphones were doing that! Students were rather upset, naturally, but the headphones weren't actually old enough or bad enough to replace, so they just had to bear with it. (me too!). Some students brought their own, some put tissue between the phones and their skin, and others just had black stuff stuck on their face for a while after class...

Oh, no!

PD

[DavidW]

Back in the day I used to have the Headroom Total Airhead headphone amp which was inexpensive and had crossfeed.  I honestly didn't think crossfeed made that much of a difference.  Which is probably why you rarely find them on headphone amps anymore.  But if you want to try it out Krummholz, I'm sure there must be a software solution on Windows or Mac.

[krummholz]

Back in the day I used to have the Headroom Total Airhead headphone amp which was inexpensive and had crossfeed.  I honestly didn't think crossfeed made that much of a difference.  Which is probably why you rarely find them on headphone amps anymore.  But if you want to try it out Krummholz, I'm sure there must be a software solution on Windows or Mac.

Thanks, but I want something I can connect to my CD player - my SuperDrive can only be connected by unplugging from the network, and in any case, I hate every music app I've tried for the Mac (including and especially Apple's own Music - iTunes is defunct but was only marginally better anyway). I listen to streamed music on the computer to sample what I might buy on CD - if I download something, I will burn a CD to play on my amp and headphones.

I don't want to spend $1000s on a high-end audiophile amp, but $100s are in my budget.