MP3 Only - Wasting money?

[ramjaxed]

Hi guys

I've just spent the last few days looking around for a decent set of Head Phones from reading review after review and forum after forum the SENN 650's seem to be the
best I could buy for my budget and what I listen to.

Something that dawned on me pretty late in my search is I only ever listen to mp3's at 250-320 kbps so my stupid question of the day is am I wasting money buying something like 650's to listen to music that's compressed and all ready losing out on quality? Is there some sort of cap that I should put on the phones considering this?

Sorry if this has all ready been discussed I couldn't find a previous thread and thanks for any advice much appreciated

[andy1249]

I only ever listen to mp3's at 250-320 kbps

Through what ?

From an ipod with its standard headphones or from a decent amp ?

Almost any headphones are an improvement over stock headphones if were talking about an ipod so you will definitely benefit there.

From an amp , both the amp and the headphones will show up mp3's limitations so that would be different.

Personally I think a quality set of headphones is worth the money, you could always change the mp3's to flac if you have the original CD's. Flac is not lossy , and much better than mp3.

[ramjaxed]

Originally Posted by andy1249

Through what ?

From an ipod with its standard headphones or from a decent amp ?

Almost any headphones are an improvement over stock headphones if were talking about an ipod so you will definitely benefit there.

From an amp , both the amp and the headphones will show up mp3's limitations so that would be different.

Personally I think a quality set of headphones is worth the money, you could always change the mp3's to flac if you have the original CD's. Flac is not lossy , and much better than mp3.

This particular pair would be for home use which I mostly use my laptop Thinkpad T42 which uses an Intel chipset for sound 8280 IIRC.

I have a pair of PX 100's for my Ipod which are fine just a bit leaky...

[ShiftyWxm]

I wouldn't worry too much. You are not going to miss out on much quality, if any, listening to mp3s at 320kbps.

[Reano]

Originally Posted by ramjaxed

This particular pair would be for home use which I mostly use my laptop Thinkpad T42 which uses an Intel chipset for sound 8280 IIRC.

I have a pair of PX 100's for my Ipod which are fine just a bit leaky...

The hd650 will leak sound too. Are you wasting money? No. Remember if you buy quality and then want to sell on you won't lose money....

You will be able to upgrade as you go along without fear that your headphones is the weakness in the chain.

Once you've done the purchase and funds allow you may want to consider getting a usb soundcard/amp that will help improve the sound

[oldson]

Originally Posted by ramjaxed

Hi guys

I've just spent the last few days looking around for a decent set of Head Phones from reading review after review and forum after forum the SENN 650's seem to be the
best I could buy for my budget and what I listen to.

Something that dawned on me pretty late in my search is I only ever listen to mp3's at 250-320 kbps so my stupid question of the day is am I wasting money buying something like 650's to listen to music that's compressed and all ready losing out on quality? Is there some sort of cap that I should put on the phones considering this?

Sorry if this has all ready been discussed I couldn't find a previous thread and thanks for any advice much appreciated

the 650's are 300 ohm, most people say they really need an amp!
where are you looking to buy? play.com ave em @ £180 which is GREAT price!
but again you would really need an amp to get the best out of them, from what i have read.
have you considered others? ie akg-701

[ramjaxed]

Originally Posted by oldson

the 650's are 300 ohm, most people say they really need an amp!
where are you looking to buy? play.com ave em @ £180 which is GREAT price!
but again you would really need an amp to get the best out of them, from what i have read.
have you considered others? ie akg-701

That's pretty cheap I was looking on ebay and my local electronic store.

I was hoping the laptop soundcard would be powerful enough to push the 650's but if I need an amp I would be willing to purchase one but amp's is an area i really know very little about.

thanks for all the replies

[The-One]

you're not gonna waste money cos better equipment will play anything better. dont' worry.

[pbirkett]

Originally Posted by ShiftyWxm

I wouldn't worry too much. You are not going to miss out on much quality, if any, listening to mp3s at 320kbps.

Originally Posted by The-One

you're not gonna waste money cos better equipment will play anything better. dont' worry.

+1

[oldson]

Originally Posted by ramjaxed

That's pretty cheap I was looking on ebay and my local electronic store.

I was hoping the laptop soundcard would be powerful enough to push the 650's but if I need an amp I would be willing to purchase one but amp's is an area i really know very little about.

thanks for all the replies

has tour LT sound card got a "line out" connection?
or better than that has it got a digital output?
if it has the latter you would be better using that with an external dac/ amp!
as the external dac would be far superior to your LT soundcard dac! (unless you have one special laptop)
another option , of course, is a usb dac and amp. that way you cover all bases!
i have myself just ordered the new "v-dac" from Musical fidelity, at £160 it has optical & coax digital & usb. seems to be well thought of on forums, so far.
there is plenty of good cheap gear out there, mostly from China. the zero dac and little dot amp i have, have been faultless. but once you get on the ladder, you just gotta keep climbing! (if you know what i mean)
cheers

[extremelydodgy]

I'd avoid using decent headphones out of laptop outputs. While there are some exceptions most have interference issues which will be compounded by the use of decent phones. That, and many laptops will not have enough power from their phone out to drive something like the HD650.


I would personally opt for a separate playback device which doesn't have these issues, and look at another phone to use with it. Laptop audio for any involved level of listening is something I'd only do with an external soundcard.

[LFC_SL]

AVForums codec and bitrate discussion thread

Headphones: Sennhesier HD600, Audio-Technica ESW9, Westone UM2 (neglected)
Amp: RSA Tomahawk

Sources: HP nc8430 laptop > Edirol UA-25 external sound card > amp > [cans]
or Macbook/iPod straight headphone out

All with lame 3.97 encoded 320kbps **

Music sounds good to me and too much work means that I have nay a moment to do intense listening so I am happy and that's all that matters

[extremelydodgy]

Have you tried looping back the UA-25 (headphone or line) and taking some readings?

[pbirkett]

Basically, even on good equipment, a high enough bitrate MP3 will sound good enough on the majority of samples to be all but indistinguishable to the vast majority of listeners. Of course, it may bother you if you sit and listen for flaws in the music all of the time, but I suspect that if you are that type of person, you have deeper issues than whatever codec you used!

Of course, a lot of audiophiles like to think that they can "easily" spot any MP3 and the difference is night and day, but that is, quite frankly, total tosh. But then, a lot of them do seem to believe that because they own a good hifi, and have an interest in hifi, that they are somehow blessed with super human hearing.

Rant over, merry xmas btw

[extremelydodgy]

Originally Posted by pbirkett

But then, a lot of them do seem to believe that because they own a good hifi, and have an interest in hifi, that they are somehow blessed with super human hearing.

It's an ego thing. Many can't hear the frequencies they bitch about, for one.