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lexs
117
Apr 28, 2018
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Its bizarre that your list starts in 1993 - pretty much the time that Sennheiser started going done hill ?! Now, before people freak out. What I mean is that the HD540 Reference 1 and the HD250 closed back, for example are 2 of the finest headphones ever made, with a natural true to life sound that they have now completely lost. Even earlier models such as HD430 & 414x at least sound more natural than some of their later headphones. IF they remade the 540 & 250 they would take the headphone world by storm . . .IF they could replicate their sound with the right pads! I have spent a long time with most all of Sennheisers headphones so what Im trying to express is from my experience just how good the company was..and yes to 'some' extent still is. :) other companies do the same. Make some some of the worlds finest cans and then promptly ignore them? (Beyer 80's DT880, AKG 240 Sextett) Modern Senns I found 'technically' to be wonderful but I found them often 'trying to hard' to sound good. Almost like a computer has designed them using the latest scientific data. I cant help but think that the engineers in the '80's had ears that created some of the worlds best ever tuned headphones. Im not saying the newer ones are 'bad' Given choice between a £1500 HD800S and a £150 mint condition HD540 I would take the 540 without a pause. Of course if people are enjoying their (whatever model of HDxx) that's fantastic :)
toes
9
Apr 29, 2018
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lexsI've never found another headphone that can match my Sennheiser HD 540's, the clarity, depth of sound, the spatial creation, and the TRUE bass reproduction are amazing! I recently purchased, from MassDrop, audio-technica ATH-A 2000Z headphones for significantly more money than my HD 540's cost - even accounting for inflation. The sound from my 2000Z's is very disappointing. Perhaps after a few hundred hours of use they'll improve. The qualities I mentioned in praise of the HD 540's are totally missing. They have no clarity, depth of sound, spatial creation, and the bass is over done, and muddy. I'm a life-long vocal musician who seeks perfect sound. Many young people today have ruined their hearing by playing MP-3 players too loud. They seek a bass sound that is unrealistic. Perhaps today's audiophile wanna-be's are who modern headphone manufactures are trying to please. I hope there is a headphone manufacturer who is trying to reproduce true sound. If anyone knows of a manufacturer and model of headphone that is producing a product that matches or hopefully exceeds my Senn. HD 540's please reply to my post/
sincerely in search of great sound, Peter Agnew
sincerely in search of great sound, Peter Agnew
lexs
117
Apr 30, 2018
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toesAccording to the following link they have made a new headphone based on [one of the best closed back headphones of all time - the brother of the 540, the HD 250] Reading the fine print though I am sceptical they will manage to pull this off sonically speaking. But we will see. As someone who works with sound professionally I dont think I have ever bought an item that boasts the words 'PRO' as this usually means they are cheap rubbish! :) However IF they have matched to a near degree the characteristics of the HD250 Linear then I will be very interested in them https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/new-300-pro-headphones-and-headsets-deliver-the-ultimate-in-comfort
lexs
117
Nov 2, 2018
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Ho1yI haven't personally tried the HD 280's, but I have read people reporting they are similar to the 300 Pro. If memory serves, they reported the 300's had a bit more warmer bass ? but not much difference at the end of the day. TBH IF the 280's were ANYTHING near the pedigree of the 250 we would have heard by now! It might be worth bearing in mind that the HD 250's are a closed back version of the HD 540...One of the finest headphones ever made. As such the 250 (with the right pads!) may well be up there as one of the best closed backs (I haven't heard enough closed backs to be able to say this with any confidence though but...) it wouldn't be too much of a leap of faith! They would without a doubt belong on a 'wall of fame' though. All these 280's 300's M50's are [from a purist POV] pretty bad. Well not bad...just nothing special. They are ok. I edit with M50's but I wouldn't listen to music with them for the simple reason that the music is NOT presented as the music would actually sound >as played and heard live< which you would think would be the point of any headphone !? to make the music sound like the music :D
lexs
117
Nov 2, 2018
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Ho1yAlso, I should add. If you or anyone, are currently enjoying their music with whatever headphone they have then that is great. Its far better to be content and happy with what you have than always to be chasing 'that' sound! Ive come about as far as I can with my limited funds and Im grateful to everyone who has helped me directly and indirectly to arrive at my own personal current, sweet set up. I know I could go higher quality wise but after a certain point it starts to get very expensive :/
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