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
Then again I don't have a headphone amp, and that would definitely help in all regards but especially bass.
However, if your metric for that is how much bass you can hear, you'll probably be disappointed, because you have to listen to it as a part of a song instead of listening to bass.
With regards to these and other headphones in general, a headphone amp is something of a necessity. It isn't a matter of needing a massive amount of power, but only relying on the source for sound, and a separate amp for increasing the volume to any meaningful degree. That is to say, you would have no problem plugging this into a smartphone or PC, but you are only going to hear what it really sounds like with a proper amp.
the 4xx takes a bit more power to drive, where I can 2 o clock my Black Label on Eco/low with the PM-3, I have to set it to normal 2 o clock to achieve similar levels of volume. So if you want mobile options, the PM-3 is still more lax. Although, the PM-3 I do need to crank it a bit to enjoy it while the 4xx on modest volumes still can perform.
If you're specifically looking at bass, the PM-3 benefits with the closed back to let you feel it. The 4xx to me has more bass, but the open back will only let you hear it as opposed to "feel" it, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (I prefer PM-3 for electronic vs the 4xx) but it's worth it for anything string. You'll also notice a bit more of a hiss with vocals pronouncing "s" on the 4xx, which can be irritating. Overall the 4xx is a pretty dirt cheap entry point for an Open Planar (and they are pretty open - sound leaks mercilessly) and I'd say go for them if you're into strumming.
And it's "portable" so that's an added benefit.
For a noob who still doesn't quite understand how to decipher amp language, would you expect the Schiit Magni 1 to handle these without worry, or am I looking at missing out on some quality because of the need for additional current? I am also using a ZuperDac, which I believe does some amplification on its own. What's my outlook with this setup?
To the rest with the general comments about the bass, open back planars won't knock your socks off with the bass power, but the clarity is incredible. I have both Monoprice M1060s and EL-8 Titanium closed backs and I can say, I don't get enough fun out of either of them without applying some amount of EQ to the bass.
That being said, the clarity is great where most headphones at this bass frequency would be incredibly muddy providing limited instrument isolation. I love the feeling of hearing precise drum hits in the music, it gives TH-X00s a run for their money (in clarity) and really only falls to some of the CIEMs I have. But for the price if you can drive them there's a way to enjoy them, even if you really like your bass with more power.
There are headphones and there are "headphones". Some are (with respect to Walmart :-)) Walmart quality- but at at Macy's price point - how you are being asked to pay is NOT a good indicator, especially the higher up the price scale you go. Trying to re-play a tight punchy bass guitar and kick drum at 80Hz as well as a synth droning on at 28Hz is not an easy thing to accomplish! Few headphones can do that well. And if only listen for the 80Hz bass, you're missing out. Much of today's music has deep deep bass seldom heard and very much a part of the overall musical experience.
The best "quality" headphones first-timers can buy are the Sennheiser HD 6XX - there is no other way to say it. They have faults and I've stopped using mine. But for sheer pleasure and immediate audio comfort there is no better value. They are warm and comfortable, very forgiving of poor recordings. And keep in mind recording qualities vary - most are fine but some recordings in themselves are lacking in bass, or excessive in treble - or dull! The 6XXs are very forgiving in this regards.
But IMHO I find the 6XXs have a bass hangover, and are slightly dull. I sometimes listen to close-miked solo piano, and it is a very apparent failing.
I spent 2 hours in a headphone shop listening to the HiFiMAN HE400Ss when they were first released. At that time I had a pair of HD-650s and was looking for a improvement. The HE400Ss did not warrant enough of an improvement to pass the test. And they were nearly AUD $450 at that time. I did not buy them.
But I have placed my order for this current HE4XX massdrop! Whether they use 400, 400i or 400S or even more improved drivers, at this current price point of AUD $250, I'm sure they are a bargain.
The HE4XXs will have a relatively brighter treble than the HD 6XXs, and relatively 'thinner' bass, I'm sure. I am only hoping "burn in" will help quieten its treble and loosen the bass.
No transducer set is going to be perfect. What you cannot fix is hangover or ringing. The lightweight material of the HE4XX drivers would be a huge benefit to accurate transient response. Everything else can be EQed for. Just a touch (plus or minus 2dB) can do wonders!
(For EQ I use https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/equ-the-quality-equalizer/id403704212 on my iPhone and https://sourceforge.net/projects/equalizerapo/ on my laptop).
By the way, my main system are Magnaplaner MG12s paired with dual, non-mirrored 8" subwoofers (with DSP delay - to allow the relativity slow subs to catch up to the super-fast lightweight mylars of the planar MG12s), crossed over at 60Hz.
I hope when my HE4XXs arrive I don't have a missing solder (as some have reported) on one (or both) of the transducers!
This is my first open-back headphone. I'm trying to get use to the sounds though. Been on closed-back since I was kid.