Philips vs Pioneer - which is the best Dolby Headphone system?

[NicolasB]

Subject says it all, really: Pioneer SE-DIR800C or Philips SBC-HD1500?

And are there any genuinely stand-alone Dolby Headphone setups available yet? By that I mean a system which doesn't force you to buy a set of in-built (typically cordless) headphones with the system that won't be as good as my existing 'phones.

[Suave]

Hi Nicholas!

Suave here! I have the Pioneer SE-DIR800C's and am very happy with them. if you search the web for user opinions you will find mostly very positive comments about them. I have not heard the Philips but have heard good things about them too. Both sets can be bought for around £220 - £230. If there is any way (I dont know how!) you can hear them both before hand that would be best. My Pioneers sounded better the more they were run in - after about 80 hours and I guess that would be the pretty much the same for any other set. I noticed from your equipment list that you have some pretty high end gear so if you want the very best (and yes, YOU can afford them!) I would reccommend the Audio Technica ATH-DCL3000 Dolby/DTS Digital Wireless Headphone System and the AKG Audiosphere II System - these two are the very pinnacle of the Surround Sound Headphones out there. I am not a big fan of mass produced Japanese headphones but their high end stuff is sublime and these two fall into that category. I previously heard the AKG K1000's with an amp (not surround sound) and they blew my socks off - incredible detail, transparency, soundstage and depth. Go to the AKG website for details on the Audiosphere II's and to www.audiocubes.com for details on the Audio Technica ATH-DCL3000. I dont know about the Philips, but with the base unit on the Pioneer, you can connect your choice of corded headphone and still get the benefit of Dolby/DTS surround sound. Hope that helps - good luck!

Suave!

[NicolasB]

I noticed from your equipment list that you have some pretty high end gear

Headphone-wise I currently use a pair of Sennheiser HD650 'phones with a Graham Slee "Solo" headphone amp: this is a pretty nice combination which I would prefer not to have to give up if possible. If I'm lucky then the forthcoming DSP upgrade for the Bryston SP1.7 will include Dolby Headphone processing. That'll be expensive, of course, but should sound fairly good.

(and yes, YOU can afford them!)

What makes you think I can even afford the system I've already got?

[honglong]

Hi,

I have both headphones. I have the Pioneer headphones which i use upstairs with my xbox and the Philips headphones which i use with my DVD player downstairs.

Heres a quick review for each one (both are run in):

Philips
Build/Features: The philips build quaility is very good for the dolby headphone amp/transmitter and for the headphones. There is only one Coax (digital) input and a Coax output. There is also analogue in. You charge the 2 AA batteries (2 sets are provided) by lifting up a flap on the transmitter. There are also 2 headphone sockets provided to connect normal wired headphones. They take the 1/4 inch connection, so high end headphones can be used.

Sound: Wow! these headphones sound awesome. Its like you are listening to a very expensive home cinema system. The sound does come from in front of you and sounds really do come from behind. Thats just with TV, when you use a DVD with DTS or DD, Fast and the furious - Superbit for example, the sounds just superb. They go loud, sound great, bass and treble are awesome, and the bass especially reminds me of my Rel sub, very tuneful and it goes low.

Also, there is no hiss or pops or crackles. I also forgot to mention they sound fantastic with stereo material.

Highly recommended. 10/10

Pioneer

Build/Features: The quality of the headphones and infrared transmitter are very good. You lift up a plastic flap in the transmitter and insert the batteries to charge. Only 1 set of batteries are included.

On the plus side, you get coax (digital) in and also optical in, along with analogue inputs. The headphones are also quite comfortable

Sound: The sound is very good and the infrared works great. No hiss or pops, and hiss only appears if the volume is on full (like most digital wireless headphones).

The treble is detailed and the bass is quite thumpy. Initial is sounds good, especially for films and games, but the philips are much better for music.

The dolby headphone system works great, but it just doesn't appear to sound as 'out of your head' as the philips headphones.

Way way better than any computer using dolby headphone, and if these were the first ones i tried, i would be like wow! But because i have the philips, i will always compare them, and compared to the philips they are great, but not excellent.

Great surround headphones 8/10

[honglong]

Has anyone else tried the philips dolby headphones yet?

[Nik1967]

Thanks for the comparison. I have read the huge thread on Pioneer SE-DIR800C which was very positive , but went for the Philips HD1500 mainly for price reasons and the fact that it is RF rather than IR. Just bought it today for EUR 270. The pricing amazes me. The pioneer costs EUR 320 in Germany but USD 259 in the US. The philips costs EUR 270 in Germany but USD 420 in the US!!

[lenny]

Hi Nik1967,

could you tell me where did you buy your SBC - HD1500 for 270€, I'm very interested into these headphones at that level of price. I have friends in Trier, Koln, Munich and Frankfurt so I can arrange the purchase from there. For your information, in France the lowerest price I can get is 320€.

In advance thank for your tip

Lenny

[Nik1967]

Any Philips HD1500 users can help. I got my headphones yesterday and set the new pair of batteries to charge. After nearly 22 hrs the red charge display is still on. It is supposed to turn green when fully loaded. I read that new batteries take approx 16 hrs...but 22!!
Any comments please....
Nik

[honglong]

Hi,

i have the philips headphones.

to charge up initially the batteries took about 2 days. After that they take about half a day.

Its just the initial charge. I just used some normal rechargable AA batteries while i got both sets of batteries charged.

[Nik1967]

Phew!! Thanks Honglong...
I hope it turns green today, it's nearly two days now!!
I even spoke to the dealer to replace this set.....will wait for a while now.
cheers mate

I bought the HD1500 via eBay and when i received it, the right earshelve was allready broken in the box. I tried to fix it with glue, but that didn't work. I'm affraid that my money is gone...but: the unit itself is still ok, so:

I saw that there are two outputs for other headphones. I don't know what to do with those...

does this mean that I can put any other headphone unit in those? Also wireless? Or do they have to be with wire?? Do they need to be expensive digital headphones???

I really don't know, can anyone please help me with this???

THANKS!

[sfxjames]

Thanks for the input guys I'm spreading the word.

There are a lot of 800c users on other forums, that are waisting there money on wired headphones to use with base station

[honglong]

no contest, the philips win hands down.

don't believe me? Have a listen

[uczmeg]

I haven't heard both, but based on opinions on here I imported a pair of Philips HD1500 from Germany.

They are most excellent and I haven't been dissapointed at all.

Cheers
Marc

[sfxjames]

Actually I'm keeping to myself, they have dissapearing off the shelf.