Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
Aside from that, a lot of people want absolute "intended" sound.... not artificially heavy bass.
If you've ever printed a photo on your home or work printer and noticed the colors that printed don't accurately represent what you saw on the screen, then you essentially know the difference between what a pair of Beats headphones will do for you versus what a set of reference headphones will do. There is the sound as it was originally mastered and then there is the device attempting to deliver the sound as it was mastered.
Beats are not really designed to deliver the most accurate sound. There is a very good chance your television isn't delivering accurate color to you, but there is an equally good chance you don't notice (or care). Same with Beats. If you don't know you're missing it, you probably wont care. Beats deliver in the two areas most laymen will be familiar with: volume and bass. You response to both of those things is primal and can be enjoyable even when it isn't accurate.
A reference set of headphones are designed to be as accurate as possible. No more and no less than what you're supposed to hear. The best of the breed simulate aural environments so well your brain perceives the information as if you were there for the original recording. That won't come cheap though.
So what is decent? Let's just say that all headphones that exist cost between $1 to $1000 and (for the sake of argument) that price is an indicator of quality.
Those Beats you were talking about are a $299 headphone built for impact. This M220 Pro is a $50 headphone built for accuracy.
That's way over simplified but, unless you're planning on deeply diving into the world of sound, that is probably the best way for you to approach it.
I also have the M220 from one of the last drops, and I find them to be some of the most uncomfortable headphones I own. I've considered changing the earpads, but my biggest problem with them is the feeling that they are riding up the side of my head and hugging the bottom of my ears. I definitely do not prefer the way the M220's achieve their fit.
Sound wise, I find the M220's perfectly listenable unless I turn up the sound past a certain level when amped. I have an E18 Kunlun and the M220's don't seem to be able to handle where that amp can get them. They sound very nice on my LG V20 at all volumes, but comfort is the reason I don't wear them more often,