Best heaphone for Vocal!

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by TheFighter, Nov 13, 2015.

  1. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    I thought the HD800 was horrible for voices, too dry, no emotion and often sounded like I couldn't get involved with the music. I thought the modded HD800 sounded great though! I personally would pick the HD650 for pure vocal performance over any HD800.
     
  2. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    The best way I can describe it, is the vocals are more up front & forward in relation to the rest of the music. Maybe because it is so perfectly clear, has such good microdynamics for vocal ranges & can pick up all subtle sounds.
    Every genre & song I tested, the singing sounded better on the HD800 across the board. Even hip-hop songs with people rapping sounded better on the HD800.
     
  3. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

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    All preference really, I like voices to sound smooth, emotional and didn't get that from the 800. The HD800 is a fantastic driver though! in stock form I see it as a tool rather than something to enjoy music with.
     
  4. Complin

    Complin New

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    Without doubt the Stax SR007 MK1/II (with the port mod) or the Sony MDR-R10 if you can find one ;)
     
  5. TheFighter

    TheFighter New

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    Hello again,

    This might be a little long post but I want to share my experience with those who interested. First, I'm a noob so I can't go in to deeper detail like other reviewer, I just listen to music and let my feeling tell me what headphone is right.
    After my first time that I post on page 2, I decided to go for more listening and to compare more headphone in hope to find the "right" one for me.

    So after my first time, I go to the store for 2 more days, each day I'm spend around 2hr.

    I use hd650 as a reference(as I think its the best one that I've heard from the first day) and I'm doing shootout by going back and forth between whatever the other headphone is and I will use the winner as the reference for next shootout and so on.

    So, first one is AKG anniversary, this didn't take long and I prefer 650 by a long shot. Compare to 650, first thing I notice is soundstage of akg is huge but its leave me feeling unengage. Furthermore, vocal is more dry and lacking body compare to the 650.

    Next, the hifiman HE-400i, this is surprisingly good, for me I think its very close to 650 for the music I listen. 400i is more dynamic in sound and have more prominant treble, which make it sound really alive. I have to spend a lot of time decided between the two, but in the end I prefer a smoother sounding of 650.

    After that HE400S, this also didn't take long. As for me, I even prefer 400i to it, so 650 is better than this one. He400s is not bad, its warm and airy but I just love the 650 more.

    Next one is audeze EL8 open, this is quite good, but vocal sound more dry but have more air. Treble is good but seems to have peak somewhere that leads to some shout. But I have read about its having a lot of QC issue regarding connector and also sound difference from unit to unit.

    Noted that I test a few more headphone after that but I'm to lazy to write all the impression of all headphone. At this point, I thought that I would buy 650 and go home and enjoy my music, as I believed I have enough comparison in my price budget and I'm in love with 650.

    But then, I see the audioquest nighthawk, and think that from all the review I have seen, its not gonna be good. But this is my day three (I'm doing most shootout on my day two) and I'm pretty fresh. I want to listen to it just to know how a bad headphone will sound. From review, I expect the bass to overpowered everything and my vocal that I love to come from another room.
    Nope, Its was good from the first listen. So good that I have to play track after track just to find its flaw that I have read about. Compare to 650, its vocal is just a bit more recessed, like the lead vocal take 2 step back on the stage. Nothing more. But that also make vocal more inline with other instrument and sound really natural. Vocal coming from this things is so rich and liquid smooth, more so than 650 imo. Its just lovely lovely. And it sounds clearer too. Bass also better. Soundstage is about the same imo which is not too large. I was so shock that it is this good that I have to ask my girlfriend what she think. She said nighthawk sound clearer that's for sure and a bit richer too, but overall very close. (Noted that we will discuss difference after every comparison we won't told each other until we both have good idea of how each headphone sound. She was with me from my first time until now and listen to every headphone I have, she also a noob and know nothing about headphone, but she can always tell difference between each headphone and take less time than me but conclusion of how headphone sound always in agreement with me)

    I spend 2hour comparing nighthawk with 650, I listened to like 2-3 track for each and then change headphone. In the end, I think nighthawk is more impressive. And this is the last headphone I ever think will be at the top of my comparison. However, I went home with it.

    So what I learn is everyone should hear the same sound from the same headphone but its up to our preference to choose which one fit us best. Like me and my gf, we always hear the same thing and agree on how each sound but in the end she like audeze EL-8 open back the most, due to its sound more open and airy compare to both 650 and nighthawk, while for me its the nighthawk that I love most.
     

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