What would you tell to someone trying to get into this hobby?

What would you tell to someone trying to get into this hobby?

Don't think of it as a hobby. It's a way to listen to music. In the first place, we use head phones because we can't disturb the family, or even because we prefer the experience.

I doubt that any of us that ever bought any hifi equipment stuck with it for the rest of our lives, but the priority should be to buy something we like to listen to, and then... just do that. These kinds of $$, if not $$$ purchases should be for years, at the very least. Otherwise, every time we buy something, we are already thinking about what we are going to replace it with. Certain websites whip us up into a frenzy of doing so.

If a person has money to spend, I'd be the last to talk them out of it. Heck, I'm a shopoholic, for goodness sake! But what's with buying speakers, headphones, etc, thinking that it is ladder that must be climbed, and the next rung is coming up.

Some of this I have only realised rather late in life. Hey, I'm still here, right?

(sorry about screwing up the type size: I'm not trying to shout. It came from copy/pasting the title)

 

"Don't.
You really want to get fucked then I'll show you where those pretty Korean V-for-hires hang out and you'll spend your cash there. If you still want to get into the hobby after the f**k, well then there's this thing called HD600, let me tell you its story..."

 

What would you tell to someone trying to get into this hobby?

Have an open mind and try everything you run across.
Be polite to people who have opposite opinions.
Try to be curious in knowing why people like the gear that they own.
Go to meets!

 

Gotta remember that people most people enter new hobbies the same way: A friend turns them on to it, they get curious, they ask for advice on the first purchase, and they immediately start shopping for upgrades and accessories. Thats why you see people shopping for DACs and Amps and earpad "mods" for their M50x. Ive had similar experiences with cycling. Friends want to get into it, I give them advice on a bike, and advise them to just ride - get the miles in. The bike isn't as important as the training. Speed will come, work on your form. etc, etc. But inevitably they're looking at higher end equipment right away.

In most hobbies, there is a "good enough for general recommendation" entry level (road cycling - Cannondale CAAD10). Noobs need not shop for higher end because they can't yet appreciate the subtle differences (i.e. margianal gains) that higher end stuff offers. The noob doesn't know what they like yet, and they're not yet ready to figure it out. Down the road, after some experience is gained, you can decide whether you like a stiffer bike or a bassier headphone.

My advice would be basically the same - start with a safe entry level, and focus on the music at first.
Rediscover all your favorite music, get to really know the sound.
Then try something better, bassier, brighter, whatever. Figure out what you like, but put in the base miles first.

and BTW, you shouldn't shit on new people for acting this way. new hobbies are exciting, you think about them a lot, you google them, and you end up thinking about buying. it's natural, god knows i'm guilty of it.

 

Get an HD580, HD600 or HD650 and get out.

 

And, whatever you buy, enjoy it for a year or two before considering anything else. If that is not possible, then it has to be written off to experience, but, at least for that first period, listen to what you have got, not what you might want instead.

Personally I am very happy with my HD600, and I was even before my hearing took a big dip this year. Some people call it mid-fi, but today's mid-fi was yesterday's top of the range.

And, with respected "midfi", what can be really really wrong? If anybody thinks those Sensheiser models sound bad then they are probably looking for something way outside of hifi anyway. Headphones with built-in chest puncher, arse shaker and hair-raising shrieker as a nod to balance? And if that is what they really want, they are probably better off forgetting headphones and buying a PA stack for their living room.

 

First of all, don't take anyone's advice. They have their preferences and you'll have yours. It's very unlikely that the two shall be the same. Listen for yourself. Worse case scenario, buy from Amazon and return it if you don't like it. If you read reviews and forums for advice, take it all with a grain of salt...use it as just a guideline but nothing more.

Buy an hd6x0 in the beginning and NEVER sell it for "better" headphones. Use it as a guideline/benchmark to measure other things. Watch it scale like mad with the new gear that you buy. Then at the end of the day, evaluate which hp gets the most headtime and what you enjoy the most. Sell the rest, even if it's the hd6x0.

Lastly, learn yourself. What you enjoy and prefer. For me personally, comfort trumps even sound quality. If a hp is uncomfortable after 30 minutes or an hour, there's no point in keeping it, no matter how amazing it sounds. I've told myself MANY times, "oh, I'll get used to the weight/clamp." Bullshit. It's like trying on a pair of shoes. If they are only modestly comfortable after two minutes in the store, it's likely that they will hurt like hell after a few hours. Same with headphones.

Finally, don't forget it's ultimately about being moved by music and not by the collection of gear. I have certainly made this mistake. I have a three headphone and two amp rule to keep myself in check. But I'd like to even knock it down to two headphones at some point.

Truly last point, unplug from the damned computer and rock your tunes!! Don't keep reading some guys 2c about how you should like this and that. If you are blown away by an m50 listening to rap, then you've succeeded.

 

Avoid midfi purgatory, and save up for what you really want.

 

How long before one gets to hear any music?

Damn good is damn good and always will be. Better than that is a luxury.

How does our hypothetical newcomer know what they really want?

 

They really just want a HD6X0, somewhere deep down inside.

 

And the HD600 is blue. What more is there to think about?

 

B-but I already have two saxophones and a piano.

 

My advice will be:

Try to keep mind as calm as possible and to try ones best on avoiding temptations of online hentai.

 

I'll add another.

Don't buy new, at least not at first.
Amazon Warehouse Deals will often sell perfectly functional stuff for much lower prices, and you get a return policy.

 

Great advice. For some reason a lot of newer hobbyists have a stigma against buying used though. Doesn't make much sense to be honest.

 

The excitement of the new, and not having the experience to be able to sniff out a good deal or judge whether something looks messed up (FS:HD800, $200 shipped)

All it takes is one taste to have people realize that used is fine. I took a chance with Amazon Warehouse deals once with the ATH-MSR7 - got them for like $150, and they are perfect. Same with the JBL LSR305.

 

I got my LSR305s open box from Sweetwater for $90USD each, one of them had a bit of rattle at ~150Hz and they sent me a new one (To New Zealand, IIRC I paid $70 shipping for the pair before) at no additional charge. The other one was basically new.

Don't be afraid of used, especially from big companies who can provide refunds or replacements if something goes wrong.

If you're concerned about pads smelling or being too worn with used headphones, I'd imagine the savings would easily allow for a new set of pads.

 

Upgraditis is real.
Your first upgrade will make you want to spend more. Even a modest investment relative to your means can make a dramatic difference in your listening. And you will want more. Instead, take a breath and enjoy your music. Learning how the equipment has changed the music will help infom your next buying decision.

Chase the music and the equipment not the deal.
We are drawn to sales and bargains. Don't buy equipment because you are getting a deal. Be patient and the equipment you want will show up at a good price. Be prepared to see it go even cheaper after you have purchased it. That's just the way it is. The goal is to listen to music, not hunt endlessly for the bargain for the sake of the bargain.

SBAF is your friend.
Your friend knows a lot but not everything. There's a ton of equipment that hasn't been listened to and evaluated. Maybe one day, you can turn your friend on to something new. But as of this writing, going with Sennheiser/ Schiit combos is a safe bet sonically and financially and that's because...

It's difficult for most of us to hear the difference.
Developing the ability to critically listen to equipment takes time and effort. Some people can hear the difference between USB and SPDIF, FLAC and 320KBS, even HD650(M) and HD600. Statistically speaking, chances are most of us are not one of those who can. If you are one of those who has developed the skills - with great power comes great responsibility. You are called upon to defend against the money sucking, soul draining hype machine.

Most important.
Protect your hearing and have fun!

 

Maybe I posted in the wrong thread? Perhaps it should read "Advice for those who have purchaed thier first good piece of equipment."

These are good suggestions for life in general. Speaking personally, volunteering absolutley changed my life and getting involved in local issues is where one can make a difference and goes a long way from defeating media-propageted feelings of powerlessness.