Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had the luxury of listening to lots of top level headphones. I have the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 and ATH-AD700, ATH-A900, ATH-AD900, ATH-AD 1000, ATH-AD2000, and ATH-5000; AKG 271, 240, K601, and K701; the Beyerdynamic 770, 880 and 990; Sennheiser 280, 600 and 650; Grado GS-80, GS325i, RS-2, GS-1000; Sony 7505, 7509 and 5000, Denon 2000 and 5000.With the exception of the AKG 240 and 271, all of those headphones are excellent.It becomes a matter of taste and whether you can use them with an Ipod without a separate amplifier.

I think that I most often use the Audio Technica ATH-AD900.They are open back phones. I don't often listen to rock.If that was my primary source for music, I might rely on the Grado's more often.They are fabulous for rock.

The ATH-AD900 have wonderful treble and midrange.The bass is certainly there, but it is not prominent.These have good bass, but it is not the primary feature.By way of comparison, the Bose tri-port and earbuds are very bassy sounding to the point where the bass sounds muddy to me.For the price of the Bose tri-port, you could have the Sennheiser 280 or the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 or ATH-A700.To me any of these choices would be far better than the Bose tri-port which also appears to be more cheaply made. The separation and detail on the instruments is wonderful.I mostly listen to instrumental music.

The sound stage is large.They sound like you are close to the source of the music, but there is a very small sense of space.The headphones ae comfortable.The headphones earpieces are covered with velour pads.My entire ear (big ears) fits in the enclosure, so they do not rest on my ear.

Since my music collection is just too large to have immediate access to a large selection of titles, I have put portions of my collection on the computer and use an Ipod.These phones can be driven very well with an Ipod and no additional amplification.The Sennheisers really must have independent ammplification to not sound muddy.On acoustic music, the AKG K701 headphones do well without amplification.The Denon headphones are fabulous, but really fare much better with amplification--especially on bass.The Sony does pretty well without amplification, but sound more colored to me than the ATH-AD900 which sound very nuetral to me.You need to be careful when ordering the ATH-AD900 because Audio Technica also has an ATH-A900.These are closed backed headphones rather than open backed.Audio Technica has a number of models where the numbers are the same that are either open backed or closed backed.You need to be careful to get what you want.To my ear, the open backed models generally sound more natural.

Lastly, the Audio Technica line is reasonably priced.You can almost always find a vendor on Amazon Market Place or one of Amazon's fulfillment partners that sell for a price vastly under the MSRP on this brand and many others.All of the headphones mentioned herein were purchased from Amazon or Amazon Marketplace with the exception of Grado.Grado is a fair trade price product.There are no "deals" on Amazon on Grado headphones, but I must say that I am satisfied with the Grados at the prices Grado charges.A store called Audio Cubes often has the lowest bid on the Audio Technica headphones on the Amazon Marketplace website (amazingly enough, your Audio-Technica headphones are actually shipped directly to you from Audio Cube's supplier in Japan).To date, I have received at least three pair of headphones from them in a timely manner and the merchandise to date has all worked just fine.I still have a few more items on the way from Audio Cubes.Hopefully, the rest of the shipments will arrive as quickly and uneventfully as the previous ones have.

If budget is really an issue, the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 and the Senheisser 280's are a very good buy.The AKG 240 and 271 are quite reasonably priced, but they just don't seem to hold up next to the competition sound wise.To me, they sound kind of clinical and boring. The AKG 701 is fabulous and worth every penny. Also, the Grado GS-80 is unbeatable for the price at about $90.00.The Grado is not my every day headphone, but when I listen to the Grado's, each and every time it is pure joy!!!If you get the Grado, spend $15.00 extra and get the "comfort rings."It makes the headphones so much more comfortable. It also gives you just a little more space between the transducers and your ears.If you can spring into the middle to upper $200.00's, the Denon 2000 (closed back) is a wonderful sounding pair of headphones with mostly metal fittings and gimble like design--quite a reasonable value.It looks and feels like high quality.

If you can spare the money, the Audio-Technica 5000, the Denon 5000, the Beyerdynamic 990, AKG 701, and the Grado GS-325i and RS-2 are all top of the line in the $350.00-$475.00 range.The Sennheiser 600 and 650 are good sounding phones, but you will need to figure at least $100-$200.00 for a headphone amplifier and they are not that comfortable if you have a large head.They grasp the head a little to firmly for my taste.

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Product Description:
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones: Give you stunning stereo; crisp resolution; and deep, balanced bass.

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ULTRASONE PROline 750 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I really like these headphones. Initially my Senheisers sounded better but as I listened to both headphones more over several weeks I came to like the Ultrasone headphones better. The sound did not seem as colored and the nuances more natural. I rarely listen to my Senheiser headphones and in fact have lent them to my brother and have not bothered asking for them back. I like these cans and think you will too over time.

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Product Description:
Ultrasone is a high-class innovative company for demanding customers. Ultrasone invented numerous developments, applied more than 60 patents and concentrates upon health care aspects within the requirements of the headphones.PRODUCT FEATURES:Foldable, closed-back professional headphones with S-Logic Natural Surround Sound;MU Metal shielding;Safer hearing;PROline Box incl. accessories;Free demo-CD enclosed.

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Klipsch Image X10 Noise-Isolating Earphone Review

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(More customer reviews)I primarily use earphones with my iPod, particularly when traveling by air, which I do a lot.The Klipsch Images replaced an older set of Shure E3c in-ear phones that I had been using for about three years.The Klipsch phones are very light, and I found that their earpieces fit me better and were more comfortable to wear than the Shures.They sealed out noise very well.Most importantly, however, the sound of the Klipsch phones is superb, and noticeably better than the Shure phones, any iPod earbuds and even my full-size Grado SR125s.Bass response is astonishingly good.These are expensive, but if you want something small, light and of very high quality, these phones are a great choice.

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Product Description:
Not only is it the world's smallest and lightest full-range in-ear headphone design, the Klipsch Image fuses lifestyle, technology, and fashion to offer a personalized fit and deliver a precision-tuned acoustic experience. IMAGE earphones utilize translucent patent-pending Contour Ear Gels that are anatomically designed to accurately fit inside the human ear canal. These soft, oval silicon tips reduce ear fatigue as well as provide an amazing seal for excellent noise isolation and increased bass response. Because ear canal measurements vary, each IMAGE model comes with five different ear gel sizes: small, medium, and large single flange designs as well as small and large double flange designs. Exclusive extended-frequency KG926 balanced micro-armatures deliver a superior acoustic experience with all the delicate accuracy you have come to expect from Klipsch. IMAGE earphones feature aluminum bodies finished in beautiful anodized copper and sleek, streamlined black "tails." Aside from aesthetic appeal, these flexible "tails" reduce cable stress and serve as an acoustic dampener to minimize cable noise.

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AKG K480NC Active Noise Reducing Mini Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)After trying out the Sennheiser PXC310s, I thought I'd try these too - the Sennheisers sound and feel great but they have a very intrusive red flashing X on the ear when the noise reduction is on, so I was not sold on them for use when traveling.

The AKG's are very attractively made and packaged, and the sound is very good - on par with the Sennheisers. They are more efficient than the Sennheisers - less volume is required to power them. But the noise cancellation is FAR less effective, and far hissier, than the Sennheiser phones. So I'm going to live with the stupid red flashing X.

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Product Description:
Cancelling noise. Enabling talk. Enjoying music.The AKG K 480 nc mini headphones will enable you to make and receive hands-free calls from your mobile phone with an optional communication kit. Additionally the K 480 nc features effective active noise reduction,

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Sennheiser MM 450 Bluetooth Multimedia Headset with Noise Cancellation (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am not sure where to start!

I own several Sennheiser products including the HD 580, HD 590, HD 600, HD 650, and PXC-450s.

Since I am using my smartphone (Nokia N900) more & more and it works well with bluetooth, I decided to try and replace my TWO year old Plantronics 590A.

The main reason for the purchase of the MM 450s was the "noise-canceling".

Well, after several days of use including in work areas with a lot of "voices" in the background, I have given up on the MM 450s. They sound great but the noise canceling doesn't work very well. I can hear other people's conversations quite clearly when I am in a phone conversation with noise-canceling on (I thought I had it off)!

The MM 450s have also disconnected from my Nokia N900 and Nokia N97 quite often (I have never had this problem with my Plantronics 590s which I currently use all day (+10 hours)).

IF the MM 450s were ~$250, I would keep them because of the great sound... but for $450, I want great sound + noise canceling.

So my set of MM 450s are going back to Amazon!

UPDATE 01/16/2010:

I replaced the MM 450's with my 2nd choice, the Nokia BH-905s! After several days of using them, I think they are almost as good as the MM 450's and the price was only $209.00 delivers (much better than the $450.00 for the MM 450s).

Comparison between both:

Sennheiser MM 450:
------------------
+ Fold up smaller for travel.
+ Sound is best I have heard for bluetooth.
- Price
+ Battery is user replaceable
- Case is CHEAP
- Battery life with noise canceling on was about 10 hours.

Nokia BH-905:
-------------
+ Price is around $200 if you shop around.
+ Case while not small is very good quality (headphones won't get crushed in a travel bag)
+ Battery with Bluetooth + Noise Canceling lasts around 18 hours in my couple of days use.
+ Controls are better laid out (easier to use) than the MM 450s.
- Battery is NOT user replaceable.

Both models:
------------
+ Both have top notch build quality
+ Both are very comfortable for long term use.
+ Noise canceling on both work when playing music.
- Noise canceling only so-so when in phone conversations (when there are periods of quietness). This is probably to be expected since both headsets are NOT over the ear.

In summary, my choice came down to price for what I got.

I am extremely happy with the Nokia BH-905s

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Product Description:
Best of breed Bluetooth multimedia headset with Noiseguard 2.0 active noise cancelling system.

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Beyer Dynamic DT 880 Premium 32 OHM Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)No it doesn't take gas, but it does use far less electricity compared to the 250 ohm version (previously owned) of this Beyerdynamic DT880.The looks are downright swank.Ignore the photo, this model comes with a slick blue outline around the "ring" of the grilles.It still has that same "nobody can touch this comfort" of the 250 ohm, plus it is so tough it can double as a "vest" if you're unfortunately caught in a shootout.However, the sound is...Well...(Sigh)...FLAT OUT AWESOME!

My neck needs aspirin.It is not supposed to move this fast and hard for this long.Uncontrollable headboppin' comes with this dope package.

Highs 4.5/5 - Slightly forward, and highly resolved. Be engaged to enter into another realm.The highs are borderline immaculate.Leave the grain for a box of Wheaties, there's none up here.Piano's sound ultra-realistic on this can with a resolution that I've never heard before.Great extension with virtually no roll-off insures that you will get the full High-Def effect of the crystalline highs, regardless of the music genre.

Mids 5/5 - They are more forward than the 250 ohm version.Even the specs on Headroom dot com shows this on the graph.Voices and notes in the midrange make haste to reach your inner ear drum.In fact, the mids are so live, you'd swear there's a party going on in there.So if you decide to crash it, you will find all the main and supporting singers/vocals/notes brought to your immediate attention.Once again, nobody does vocals like Beyerdynamic.Lush like the Amazon rainforest, and smoother than a bottle of Grey Goose, the mids carry the "life" of the music and they are certainly done with justice on this 32 ohm model.

Lows 5/5 - Once again, these 1-up the 250 ohm model.The bass still goes subterranean deep, and is still tighter than a wedgie,except now, these come with a coupon.A coupon for about 20% more bass!No doubt, those that felt the 250 ohm didn't have enough, well I hope you're feeling greedy.These should satisfy your appetite now.Great extension and slam make for one incredibly well-balanced headphone when combined with the other ranges.The bass notes still have that 3D-like texture that is readily apparent across all music genres and movies.Once again, the Headroom graph shows more emphasis in this area.

Soundstage 5/5 - It's as wide as Aunt Betty, and about as deep as Microsoft's pockets.Fantastic imaging will bring that holographic effect to your tunes.Notes and their relative positions are easy to locate like a good GPS system.Well, you might as well get lost in here, because the music just surrounds you with utter precision and crystal-clear timbre.There is also a great sense of "air" between the notes that is naturally pleasing.

Detail Retrieval 5/5 - These are the most revealing phones I've ever heard.There were just a few little details that even my long-term M50's missed that the DT880's found.Still today, I'm hearing new details.Even though they're small, it's still new.Across the entire frequency band, you are sure to catch everything in your music and digested quickly by your ears.No doubt, the higher the quality of your source, the more these cans will reward you, and we all like that.

Value 5/5 - These are quite pricey, but to my tastes and needs no other can beats the performance/price/comfort/durability of these ones period.This review was written currently at just 3 hrs. of burn in., connected to a Sony NWZ-A729 Walkman and a Total Airhead amp sandwiched in between.Hands down, if you favor the Beyer sound, and need a less power-thirsty phone compared to the other models, look no further.

Beyerdynamic DT880 32 ohm = V8 engine power with 4-cylinder efficiency.

*Also to note, these cans can get as excruciatingly loud as my M50's, and those already have a high SPL to begin with, in addition with zero distorting of the sound and the bass notes.My previous 250 ohm model passed out way before I was satisfied when it came to maximum volume.They would easily distort.So if you like it loud (like me), I assure you, this is the version to get.I can't comment though on the 32 ohm model of the DT770 or DT990.

UPDATE: March 30th, 2010 - Burn in on the DT880's significantly increases the clarity of the phones.In addition the bass is a touch more pronounced.Other than that, not much else happens :)

DT770 32 ohm mini-summary - Bought a custom set of these from Beyerdynamic MANUFAKTUR.They do an incredible job designing them the way you want it!Anyways, these cans are the best movie/gaming headphone ever!Even though they are closed, compared to other open-airs (including the DT880, K702, AD700), this headphone seems to have a greater immersion effect to the scenario.Plus it has far better isolation and bass to boot.They as well sound great with music, with a highly musical presence throughout the audio signal.Also to note, they get plenty loud, far more loud than my long-gone DT770 pro 80ohm.However, their maximum loudness is a few decibels lower than the max output of the DT880 32ohm.

UPDATE: April 7th, 2010 - I just received a custom DT990 32ohm (from "Pimp my Phone" Beyerdynamic MANUFAKTUR) and they sound fantastic on music (they as well get satisfyingly loud).They have much more bass and slightly more treble at the expense of a slightly recessed mid-range compared to the DT880.However, I take back what I said about the 770 being the best movie/gaming headphone.The DT990's are the BEST MOVIE headphone period.The amount of deep, yet tight, large quantity of bass puts my 2 8"(yes 2) subs in my speaker setup to absolute shame.The sheer amount of movie immersion was out of this world.Nothing that I've ever owned (and I've owned many cans) surpasses it.You WILL NOT be disappointed if you're looking for a headphone for movies exclusively.The 770's don't have the bass quantity like the 990's, making it actually better for gaming than the 990's because it won't "grate" your ears through long gaming sessions.Therefore I highly recommend the 880's for music, 990's for movies, and the 770's for gaming.This is all through my experience and I feel that they suit these perfectly.

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Product Description:
The 32 ohm version of the DT 880 Premium line. Excellant choice for MP3 and iPod/iPhone use as well as robust enough for home audio and PC applications. The legendary DT 880. The complete sound spectrum is reproduced in detail from the deepest sub bass to the highest highs. This semi-open, dynamic headphone is also manufactured in Germany. This top headphone combines the strengths of open and closed headphones.

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Grado GR8 In-Ear Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The sound of the Grado earphones is very good.It is balanced.It is not weak either in the upper end or in the bass.The sound production seems very accurate, but also really fun.These earphones have that Grado sound which is very lively.I have used them both for classical music and jazz.They are surprisingly good in classical music.They are very clean sounding.I listened to them on an Ipod with a Leckerton headphone amplifier which is under $200.00.It comes with three different sizes of ear gels, but none was quite big enough for me to achieve a good seal which is necessary for proper bass response.I used a T 400 Comfort Foam Tip which did the trick for me.I noticed that Westone, Shure and Etymotic all include foam earpieces to ensure that their earphones achieve a good seal.If a listener (particularly a newbie to high end earphones) first tries earphones and does not get a good fit, they feel cheated or at least very disappointed.Hopefully, Grado will see fit to include some alternative foam tips in their packaging for future models.

The best thing about these earphones is that they have a very good sound stage.I listen primarily to jazz and classical music.Both are essentially "acoustic" in nature.You can actually detect "sound stage" and placement of instruments with these earphones which I believe is not very common in earphones.

The individual earphones ae very compact which is very convenient.There are three negatives to these earphones.The packaging is very sparce.It comes with the standard three ear gels which are always too small for me to get a good seal.Secondly, the earphones do not come with a little carrying case.This is a mistake.They could have a small pouch like comes with the Etymotics if they wanted to save money.After all, they are portable for people on the move.The investment is too dear to not want to take care of them.The good news is that there are a few sources for inexpensive zippered cases.If Grado included a carrying case, it would complete the picture for me.Don't be discouraged though.You can buy a very cheap carrying case.It does improve the comfort and sound experience.Lastly, the wiring seems to get tangled rather easily.I am using an old Shure case with a spool in the middle to wrap the cables around to ensure that they do not tangle.Even though the wiring can easily tangle, the wires are not particularly "microphonic" in that they do not seem to actually magnify the sound of the wires rubbing against anything while you move.The Klipsch Image is a wonderful tiny earphone where the wires are extremely microphonic which can be irritating.

All in all, these earphones really sound fun.That Grado sound is like a terrific desert.

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Product Description:
A proprietary wide bandwidth moving armature design provides the listener with unsurpassed performance. Small size allows earphone to nestle well within the ear canal, maintaining an excellent air seal for improved bass and reduction of outside noise without causing discomfort.

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Sennheiser KLEER Wireless Open-Aire Headphones - Black/ Silver (RS180) Review

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(More customer reviews)Having previously owned the earlier RS 160, I knew the quality of these "cans."The RS 160 didn't have enough RANGE to cover my home, and wanted the increased range and AGC (automatic gain control) to tame loud passages.I am THRILLED with the new RS 180!It covers my whole home and out into the yard for a little distance.You'll never get the rated 100 metre range unless the transmitter and receiver are both outside and in the clear, but the range of this pair is very adequate!

Only complaint I had was that the control buttons are FLAT on the edge of the right earphone.THAT WAS EASILY SOLVED by mixing up a small batch of acrylic polymer resin, and applying ONE DROP to the volume + and volume - buttons.After it dried in about an hour, it left those buttons with a raised "bump" that my fingers can easily find.The on/off/standby button is between the volume buttons, so it is now easy to find with my fingers also.With this easy modification, I give this headset a solid 5 STARS.Too bad Sennheiser didn't do this at the factory, but it is very easy to do at home

The sound of this headset is outstanding.It fits comfortably on the ears for hours of use without discomfort.The AGC works VERY WELL indeed.The two AAA NiMh rechargable batteries will run the cans for 24 hours, and all I have to do to recharge them is to "hang" the headset on the transmitter.Nothing to plug in.When, in time, the batteries are exhausted, I can simply purchase replacements at the grocery store and change them out in less than a minute.

I was SO PLEASED with the RS 180, that I purchased a second pair to carry with me to field locations.

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Product Description:
The RS 180 makes movie and HDTV marathons an amazing experience thanks to the Automatic Level Control that compensates for variances in the volume of program material to enhance speech intelligibility...just set your comfortable volume level and let ALC do the rest. The RS 180 utilizes KLEER"s uncompressed digital wireless audio transmission (it sounds wired!), offering a range of up to 320 feet, audiophile-grade sound and reception to four optional pairs of Sennheiser KLEER headphones. Never fuss with tuning again thanks to automatic, interference-free pairing between the headphone and transmitter.The Open-Aire speaker system puts you in the action by delivering the most natural sounding private wireless audio experience possible. It even includes a balance control for the ultimate in listening experience customization. The headphones" luxurious velour earpads and headband cushions provide exceptional comfort for hours on end.

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Shure E2c Sound Isolating Earphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Like many people, I was tempted by the good reviews but reluctant to pay so much for a pair of tiny earphones.Finally, almost 2 years ago, I bought a pair.

Like all of the other reviews here state, the Shure E2c's sound GREAT.They are very balanced, and let you hear the subtle details of your music, making the music almost come alive in your head.They turn your MP3 player or Discman into an audiophile-quality stereo system.

The E2c blocks outside noise by forming a very tight seal in your ear.In contrast, "noise canceling" earphones, such as the popular ones by Bose, do not block outside noise from reaching your ear, rather they add their own electronically generated noise which is supposed to cancel out the outside noise.I've never had good results with the various noise canceling headphones I've tried; plus, they require batteries to generate the noise-canceling noise.The E2c's block noise without batteries, and without adding any artificial noise or discoloration to your music.It works very well.I especially appreciate it at gym, on the bus or subway, and on a plane.(Warning - PLEASE don't wear the E2c's while driving or bicycling or any other time that safety requires your full attention!)

The build quality of the E2c's is very good - the cord and plug are thicker and sturdier than competing earphones.For 2 years, I heavily used and abused my E2c's, especially at the gym.Literally hundreds and hundreds of times, I've plugged and unplugged them into my various MP3 players, hastily wound and unwound the cord, and tossed them into my gym bag, usually without using the protective case that comes with the E2c's.Despite the very good build quality, my heavy use led finally to a short:when the cord was wiggled in a certain way, the sound on the left side would briefly go out.

I went to Shure's website and saw that they have a 2-year warranty.I sent my E2c's to Shure for repair, hoping it would be covered by warranty, but prepared to pay if Shure felt the problem was due to wear and tear (because, in fact, it was).Two weeks later, I received from Shure a BRAND-NEW PAIR of E2c's - they decided the problem WAS covered by the warranty, and wanted me to have a new pair rather than repairing my old ones!!!

This is more than I expected, and will make me a repeat buyer of Shure products!I especially appreciate this level of service given the lackluster support I've received from so many other companies.

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Product Description:
Shure's E2c in-ear headphones are tiny, lightweight, and designed to sonically outperform most ear-bud-style headphones. The E2c's unique, relatively affordable design comes from Shure's years of collaborating with professional musicians. With high-energy drivers in distinctive enclosures, the E2c produces high-quality sound with excellent isolation from background noise.
The E2c's speakers are constructed with studio-grade components, producing exceptional audio clarity. Their in-ear design, using supplied flex sleeves, naturally blocks background noise. This permits lower listening volumes in loud environments--critical in safeguarding your hearing during performance or other activities. No batteries or extra equipment are needed for sound isolation.
Because every ear is different, E2c earphones come with 3 pairs (small, medium, large) of flex sleeves and 3 pairs (small, medium, large) ultra-soft flex sleeves to ensure a personalized fit. These disposable foam sleeves gently compress to fit in the ear canal. Once in the ear, the foam expands to form a tight seal. Once tightly sealed, the sleeves hold the earphones firmly in place.
The E2c's cables pass behind the ear--out of sight and out of the way for comfort and discretion. Weighing only 1 ounce, the E2c is lightweight and comfortable enough for any portable listening application. The set comes with a soft, stylish, compact, and zippered carrying case, which allows for an easy, tangle-free way to store your earphones.
What's in the Box
Earphones, 2 triple-flange sleeves, 3 pairs (small, medium, large) of flex sleeves, and 3 pairs (small, medium, large) ultra-soft flex sleeves (kit 90XC1371, with cleaning tool), a soft carry case (80B8232), a user's manual, and warranty information.

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AKG K 701 WHITE HEADPHONES Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)How much do you like music? Do you ever shut off your life entirely so that you can listen to your favorite music alone in a dark room for hours at a time and let your mind float away to a more perfect world?

If music is your joy, your balm, your solace, your raison d'etre, then I can't think of a better way to spend 270 bucks. In fact, after owning the 701s for a year, I'd say that I would gladly pay a grand for these and not mind at all.

I was a Sennheiser man for over 25 years, as AKG cans always sounded a little too processed for me. I preferred the open soundstage and realism of the Senns. But these 701s quite frankly blow away the Senn 650 and 600, the other top-end audiophile phones that, along with Beyer, comprise almost all of the headphone market for those who demand the very finest musical reproduction available. At that level, these are beyond a bargain. They are a gift.

I look forward every single day to putting these on. They are not for ipods unless you have a decent little pre-amp, like the HeadRoom series. But plug 'em into a good component system and they will change the way you think about recorded music. They have deep, tight bass...real bass, not a simulacrum. I can hear Jaco's callouses on the strings, no joke. Classical recordings come alive to the extreme, as the mids are so sweet and rich that a good string section becomes a sensual delight. The top end is likewise astonishingly present and forward but always relaxed and welcoming. In short, these present perfectly balanced musical sound. The better the recording, the more they shine. My best pieces of vinyl have never sounded better. They are also the quietest cans I've ever (not) heard; nary a hum or crackle to be found.

One major caveat: they MUST be broken in for at least 300 hours before their true glory becomes apparent. I put my 701s in a drawer, covered 'em with sweaters and left Oregon's Out Of The Woods on repeat, loud, for 10 days when I got them. The harsh, brittle sound that made me cringe when I first heard them out of the box was replaced by shimmering joy. I was in heaven (that sublime album had something to do with it as well). Little did I know that there is an upper deck in heaven, and it showed up at about 500 or maybe 600 hours of playing. My friends the 701s now have over 1,000 hours on them, and as I listen to them at this moment I can truthfully say that only seeing a band live or playing my guitars gives me the same visceral musical thrill. I love good speakers, and a sub will give you bass that headphones never could, but the intimacy and sparkling detail of the 701s is untouched by even the finest electrostatic speaker.

Speaking of e-s, in the 70s and 80s e-s 'phones were the ne plus ultra. I heard many models, and not even the best pair for thousands of dollars sounded as clear and clean and warm and above all enticing as the 701s. These headphones remind me why I love music so much, and why it makes me so happy. And they do it every day, for hours. They also make dvds sound absolutely incredible; 24-bit recordings sound even more indescribably luscious. They sound great with all music, but well-recorded acoustic music, jazz, classical, bluegrass, opera, doo-wop, etc, truly comes alive in a way I had not experienced until I heard the 701s.

And did I mention that they are easily the most comfortable cans I've ever worn? I often forget I'm wearing them, even after 4 or 6 hours at a stretch. They look ok too, but who cares what headphones look like? It's all about the sound, and the magnificent engineers at AKG dialled it in right this time around.

I think that not only are the 701s the finest headphones you can find, but that at 270 dollars they represent value that is almost non-existent these days.

My very highest recommendation.

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Product Description:
AKG is the first manufacturer in the world to use revolutionary flat-wire technology in headphones, namely, the K 701. The result is a truly dramatic sound that places every musician at their correct location with pinpoint accuracy. This kind of agi...

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AKG K702 Open Back Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The 702s are identical to the 701s except that the pads on the 02s are thicker which allows a more "around the head" speaker-like experience with regards to soundstage.....The 702s also have a detachable cable and do not come with the little stand that is supplied with the 701s...No biggie.....Now, Regarding the sound....I have as my point of reference Sennheiser 600s....so, in comparison, the 702s sound is much more defined and articulate which allows you to hear deeper into the music then the sort of sweet tho great sounding Senn 600s....I use my 702s with an Onkyo DX-7555 reference CD Player, and a Oppo DV 970HD player, along with a recent edtion of the now discontinued Headroom MAX headphone amp.....so, I am getting some serious Hi-end input into these cans and they dont disappoint.....I will tell u, should u decide to buy, that u must let these phones have at least 100 hours of burn in so that the drivers relax, and until this is accompished these cans will sound BRIGHT and without a lot of bass extention, but as the drivers begin to relax, then the glorius sound they provide just gets better and better.

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Product Description:
The K 702 are the new reference for open-back dynamic AKG headphones. They combine an extremely accurate response with yet unseen agility and spaciousness. This is achieved by using revolutionary flat-wire voice coils and a patented Varimotion? two-layer diaphragm. A totally open design and a high performance cable complete these reference headphones. Their comfortable, specially shaped ?3D-form? ear pads and a padded genuine-leather headband ensure a perfect fit. They are individually tested and numbered. K 702 ? experience pure perfection.

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Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My perspective is a bit different:

Let me preface this review with a few points that should add to the review's credibility:

1. I am a classical sound engineer primarily, but work exclusively in acoustic genres where audio fidelity and sonic accuracy are paramount.

2. I work in both balance engineering and mastering, where I am often required to perfect the spectral balance (in both dynamic and frequency) of the final mixdown.

3. For over 10 years I have used Bowers and Wilkins loudspeakers in various environments (anechoic and otherwise) in addition to custom EQ'd headphones for my work. B&W is widely believed to manufacture the finest loudspeakers in the world.

4. I regularly attend live classical music concerts, often in ideal seating locations, resulting in a great familiarity of how live music sounds.

I researched a number of headphone options before settling on the Denon AH-D5000. I was curious about the Ultrasone models from Germany, but was wary of a technology that supposedly "corrected" cross feed and phase issues often experienced with headphones. The Denon frequency response curve was generally smooth, and any corrections could be made with a high quality EQ within the DAW.

There are immediately two things that are apparent when you first hear the AH-D5000. They require extensive burn-in. I have been listening to these headphones for approximately 5 days now, attempting to leave as much signal in them overnight as possible. There has been a very apparent change in their sonic character as related to frequency response throughout this period. I can tell you that burn-in is a very real requirement for those of us in the music recording business. Loudspeakers often are very rigid when new, resulting in a limited frequency response and higher than normal distortion-giving you that characteristic "hard", new sound. Headphones present the same challenge, and these Denons require significant burn-in. What appears to be happening over time is a reduction of deviation from a flat frequency response, resulting in a smoother curve as time goes on. I would not be surprised if these phones need at least 300 to 400 hours before they are finally settled.

They are bass heavy, but the curve is very smooth and easily correctable, and again appears to be smoothing out with time.

I knew they were something extraordinary however when I listened to the dynamics. I have never heard dynamic range so clearly represented. More specifically, I have never heard so many poor compression jobs, recordings where the engineers applied too much compression, inconsistently, at both low and high levels. You will actually hear varying degrees of compression used in individual tracks within the mixdown-astounding. You will also be presented with a soundstage that reflects EXACTLY what was happening during the mixdown process. When every recording you audition has easily differentiated characters of depth, compression, spectral balance, and soundstage, you know you have something that exhibits an uncanny level of resolution. I have never heard music so ruthlessly resolved in my life. NO speaker has ever done this for me.

I have to comment on driving these headphones. While for average listening to pop music with little change in dynamic range, you might possibly get by with a mediocre soundcard upgrade, these headphones require real amplification if you want to experience aural nirvana. I have auditioned them with various lower end amplification, and the result is always the same-a hardening of sound during high level transients. This disappears completely with better amping. Additionally, and I have never experienced this before in a headphone, I plainly hear changes in the character of the sound, particularly in soundstage and dynamics, when switching some audio plugins in and out of the mixer that are designed to NOT change the character of the sound. Specifically I'm referring to final stage limiting plugins that are intended to be transparent. Again, to have this so plainly demonstrated is just astonishing, and Denon deserves tremendous credit for this design. I can only guess this is due to the unusually thin transducers used (micro-fiber construction).

These headphones are sending back to mixes I have already done. Suffice it to say that my golden ears have just received a tremendous boost.

Finally, the construction. The mahogany is beautiful, the magnesium finish is of the highest quality, yet the phones are unbelievably light and comfortable.

I HIGHLY recommend the Denon AH-D5000. The listener must be patient with these though, as with regular use it may take up to weeks to get them to settle into their true character.
Some further observations (Sun, 4 Jan 2009 20:55:54):

I have already mentioned the tremendous resolving power of these headphones. I would like to supplement on two points, amplification and general resolving ability.

It has become very apparent that these headphones demand the highest quality amplification. Wide spectrum music with tremendous dynamic range suffers terribly with anything but high quality power. You will immediately notice a "collapsing" soundstage and a reduction in the frequency response at the outer ends of the spectrum, with an earbleed quality pushing heavily around 3000hz. When auditioning, make sure you have clean, sufficient amplification.

I have researched a number a specifications for these headphones that clearly demonstrate their superiority. Particularly interesting are the impulse response graphs (available on the Headroom sight). These are some of the cleanest I have seen, and in comparison to other top end cans, are clearly superior. Headroom is overwhelmingly positive about these headphones, even alluding to the outstanding specs. No doubt these specs support my belief that these may be the most highly resolving headphones I have ever heard.

I'd like to add yet another observation. Tracking using a single mic vs. stereo mic during the mixing process is extremely obvious, particularly in multiple mic environments like those in symphonic recording. The monophonic tracks have a flat, airless, and overly focused quality to them in comparison to tracks that had the benefit of stereo microphones. Clearly this is something that Balance engineers will have to deal with as the mediums improve. Pop music engineers often use all their tracks in stereo, then adjust field and panning as necessary, resulting a very open, natural sound, granted sometimes to exaggeration. Classical engineers should really look into spot micing with pairs or stereo mics to really achieve a natural, open stereo sound. That said, all these characteristics are plainly obvious with these headphones.

For those of you interested, I have been researching and testing multiple EQ curves to get this headphone as spectrally accurate as possible. Please let me know if you would like these specs.

By the way, Denon has just released the ah-d7000, and by just about all accounts, it is substandard to the ah-d5000, yet almost twice the price. The preliminary specs show a more jagged frequency response with less extension on both ends, plus less accurate impulses. Get the ah-d5000 while you can.

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Product Description:
Headphones

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JBL Creature II 3-Piece Powered Speaker System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought these speakers for my 15-year-old son because he wanted some external speakers for his eMac. I have always loved JBL speakers, and these were too neat to pass up...especially at the bargain price. The design of the speakers is very futuristic and cool (or, as my son would say...SWEET!). The color and design compliment the eMac perfectly. Each of the satellite speakers has a green LED on the bottom of it that lights up when they're on...very cool in a darkened room. Best of all, the sound of these speakers is fabulous. They may not be the world's loudest speakers. But the sound is beautiful, whether you're listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Thelonious Monk (which my kid actually does). The subwoofer has easy access bass and treble controls right on the front of it, and the footprint isn't very big (which is great, because this is one subwoofer you won't want to hide on the floor...you'll want it right on your desktop). The right satellite has cool touch sensitive volume controls. And the construction is top-notch. I recently saw these speakers "on sale" in the Marshall Field's weekly flier for $99.99. I took great pleasure in knowing that I only paid $66.49 at Amazon and got them shipped to me for free. You can't beat that deal with a stick! Oh...one more cool thing. My son also has an iPod and these speakers can be hooked up to an iPod (or any external music playing device with a headphone jack) simply by plugging them into the headphone jack. So, not only are these cool computer speakers...but if you have an iPod or portable CD player and don't want to splurge on a stereo for a bedroom, you can just buy these, plug in your music source, and...Voila! Instant stereo system!! I highly recommend these speakers. I'm pretty fussy when it comes to sound equipment, and these pass my test with flying colors.

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Product Description:
Features:

The JBL Creature II speaker system includes a touch volume control.
The Creature II audio system utilizes a straightforward interconnect technology.
The powerful subwoofer provides clean, low bass.
The mini stereo jack connection allows you to enjoy high-quality audio from a variety of devices including digital music players, computers, stereos and portable listening devices.
Both speakers and the subwoofer are magnetically shielded to provide the greatest protection against image distortion on a computer monitor.
The JBL Creature comes with unique "capacitance touch" volume control buttons on the right satellite.
Both satellites also have down firing LEDs for a cool desktop look in minimum lighting environments
SPEAKER SYSTEM: Input Impedance: >5k Ohms
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >80dB
Frequency Response: 50Hz - 20kHz
Input Sensitivity: 400MV RMS for rated power
Voltage Input: 120 VAC
SATELLITE:
Drivers One Odyssey +' transducer
Power Rating 8 Watts per satellite at 10% (THD+N)
SUBWOOFER:
Drivers One 4" Magnum' transducer
Power Rating 24 Watts at 10% (THD+N)
Crossover Frequency 180Hz

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Wireless Lapel Microphone Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I teach a weekly non-denominational adult Bible study, and as the group grew larger it became difficult for some to hear me speak.I purchased an AmpliVox Buddy amplifier but found the hand held microphone to be quite cumbersome.My wife then ordered the AmpliVox S1600 wireless microphone system (with lapel mic)for me.It is an excellent product and picks up the sound easily.Even persons sitting at the opposite end of the large room (some of whom are "hard of hearing") report that they can hear and understand every word.I would highly recommend this product.
Dr. Don Shockey

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Product Description:
S1600 External Wireless Lapel & Headset Mic Kit for any Sound System! Also provides a 2nd wireless channel for all AmpliVox "SW" model lecterns and sound systems.Hands Free....Freedom to Roam!! Unlike many other VHF systems on the market the S1600 has two switch selectable radio channels to choose from. Ideal for LCD projectors computer presentations slide shows or presentations using visual aids.Allows you to freely roam the speaker's platform into the audience or anywhere up to 300 feet away. Includes lapel mic. headset mic, transmitter, receiver. 2 frequency groups available (171.105 / 171.845 or 169.505 / 170.305). Requires two 9-volt batteries (not included). Features: -Lapel mic and hedset mic plus receiver and transmitter. -2 frequency groups available (171.105 / 171.845 or 169.505 / 170.305). -6 Year Warranty.

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Clarion CMRC1-SB Watertight Marine Remote Control with LCD Display (Silver/Black Rubber Bezel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These Clarion remote controls are better than I thought. They work great and I would buy them again. I connected two remotes with a Y cable and everything works perfectly. Thanks.

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Product Description:
Watertight Silver Face with Black Rubber Bezel Marine Remote Control, LCD Display

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Trends UD-10.1 Lite USB Audio Converter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are using your computer to listen to your music collection through your stereo than this little box is a must.I recently purchased a Trends UD-10.1 DAC converter and was at first a bit skeptical as to the level of audio improvement I could expect from this little box. The end result is absolutely stunning and I am now listening to details in my music that I never knew were there.With the use of this DAC my MP3 collection has gone from somewhat dead sounding to vibrant and alive. I never knew my MP3s could sound this good and have no problem recommending that others purchase this unit.

I have a music collection on primarily 192kbps CBR MP3s until a few years back when I shifted to 192kbps VBR for the improvement in dynamic range and detail.My MP3 music collection always sounded a bit flat and the loss from the original CDs was very obvious when listening on my system.Now using the Trends UD-10.1 I am able to say that my music collection sounds so good that I no longer consider the difference between the original CD and the 192kbps VBR MP3s to be that great. My computer has finally become a true audiophile grade component. Hey it only took about 10 years!

I also listen to streaming audio, and am a fan of Radio Paradise. The 128kb AAC stream of RP now sounds fabulous with dynamic range and detail that were simply never there before.Soundtracks from movies that I stream via Hulu are also dramatically improved.

I am using the Trends UD-10.1 on a Windows 7 machine and there was no setup.I simply plugged the unit in and it worked.Windows has automatically recognized soundcards as does Mac.So setup is not a problem, though I have not tried this unit on my Mac just yet.

For me the UD-10.1 brought out details in the MP3s that I never knew were there. The slide of a hand on the guitar, the breath of a vocalist before or after singing.All of these subtle nuances were preserved in MP3 format but the low quality soundboards within my computer simply couldn't reproduce them.That was my biggest surprise.I had always thought that much of what I was losing when I converted to MP3 was due to loss in the encoding process, it turns out that about 80-90% of this loss was due to poor audio coming from my computer. So don't fret, more of your music is there than you originally thought! This was especially welcome for my earliest recorded MP3s where the quality was clearly not as good as today even at 192kbps.

I would give this product top marks for improvement of sound quality relative to price. I am delighted with my purchase and the improvement in sound quality is nothing short of a miracle. So there was a Big Surprise in this Little Box.

System:HP DM3 Laptop, Blaudio Monitor speakers, Trends TA 10.2 Integrated Amplifier.

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Product Description:
Bypass the sound card , Trends Audio UD-10.1 Lite USB Audio Converter provides a great value way for audiophiles or general consumers to play music from computer. It offers the user a combination of a transport, DAC and an out-board sound card in one tiny little case. With a high quality built in DAC that allows the user to hook up between a computer with a USB port and an external DAC(Digital to Analog Converter). Trends UD-10.1 Lite USB Audio Converter allows you to access music files from the computer, listen to internet radio, even watch movies from the computer with high end sound coming from your main system. If you don't have an external DAC, with the RCA outputs adaptor and the 3.5mm headphone jack, the Trends UD-10.1 Lite USB Audio Converter allows the user to hook up to any line level inputs such as integrated amp(TA-10.2 Class-T amp), preamp(PA-10 Tube preamp) and home theater receiver to play computer music through those systems.

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Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Pfe Headphones..Brand New Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Over the past 3-4 years, I have owned more a dozen in-ear phones. Why? because I want to get the best sound from my MP3 players and tracks. I have spent as little as $15 (Koss Ksc75s, excellent value, by the way) and as much as $260 (a heavily discounted Westone 3, which are $399 MSRP). Right now, I am down to 5 pair of high end in-ear phones, and the Phonaks are the best I have ever owned, including the Westone 3s (this is based on my ears, of course).

The Perfect Fit Earphones (PFEs) deliver excellent mids and highs, and plenty of tight, accurate bass. No real weakness in my view. Very comfy too. Sometimes, they do seem a bit underpowered, in that they need a headphone amp to generate enough volume with 1-2 of my players (the Sansa Clip and Zune80), but others who own them don't have the same issue. I use a cheap amp on the go, made in China (called a FiiO E5). Google it if interested.

Anyway, if you own an iPod Touch or iPhone, the PFEs with the mic are great as well. I own the Touch 2G. Plenty of volume.

Best of all, Phonak gives U.S. and Canadian buyers a 14-day MBG. You can't lose. If you want the max sound quality from your player, this is the ticket. They also have filters that can change the focus from mids/highs (gray) to bass (black). I favor the latter, but sometimes switch to the former. You can EQ the bass a bit for the gray sleeves.

Only warning: If your music is ripped at low bitrates (below 192k), you may have to do some re-ripping, cause the PFEs are not forgiving for lousy rips.

Enjoy.

Update. I recently added a pair of Sennheiser IE8s to my collection, and so far, they are pretty impressive. However, I still reach for the PFEs, but mainly when using a new amp I bought, the iBasso T4, which really brings out the best in the Phonaks.

As a result, I now almost always use the gray filters, amped, with Comply foamies for best SQ.

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Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Pfe Headphones..Brand New

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