• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

janny88

Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2024
Messages
8
Likes
0
Location
United State
Hello everyone

I want to know about the entry-level headphones, and I am looking for the best sound production. I appreciate the suggestion from an experienced members.

Thank you in advance for your help!
 
All you need to start out, we have them on the downstairs computer and they sound great.

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter $8.48

If you need an adapter for USB A on the computer it's $5 on sale:

Koss KSC75 Portable On-Ear Clip Headphones $20 plus 15% coupon

For full size headphones:
Hifiman HE400se $109
 
Koss KPH30i


The 90s kid in my loves the clear versions of these.

Koss-Headphones-KPH30i-Clear-On-Ear.jpg
 
Hello everyone

I want to know about the entry-level headphones, and I am looking for the best sound production. I appreciate the suggestion from an experienced members.

Thank you in advance for your help!

For sound isolation you should probably look at closed back headphones.

Possibly the AKG K371:


If you don't mind IEMs, there are some really good low cost options:


 
Sennheiser HD560 sounds great, even better after EQ. They dont need an amp. About £130 so depends on your version of affordable.

Also look out for refurbished or open box via Amazon or from the supplier direct, both Sennheiser and Hifiman have refurbished and open box offers.
 
Hello everyone

I want to know about the entry-level headphones, and I am looking for the best sound production. I appreciate the suggestion from an experienced members.

Thank you in advance for your help!

On ear, over ear, ear buds, in-ear, wireless, closed, open, Noise cancelling, price point, wearing glasses, hair over the ears, looks, weight, comfort ?
 
Shure SRH 840A, $150 on Amazon. Gen2 preferable (Gen1 comes with a coiled cable).
 
Aren't JBL Tune 720BT and such DSP corrected to Harman target?
 
All you need to start out, we have them on the downstairs computer and they sound great.

Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter $8.48

If you need an adapter for USB A on the computer it's $5 on sale:

Koss KSC75 Portable On-Ear Clip Headphones $20 plus 15% coupon

For full size headphones:
Hifiman HE400se $109

Just to remember that if he is from Europe, the Apple Dongle won't suffice to listen to the HE400se at high enough volume, particularly if he apply some EQ with negative preAmp.
 
Just to remember that if he is from Europe, the Apple Dongle won't suffice to listen to the HE400se at high enough volume,
"High enough" is subject to interpretation.

The EU dongle can drive the HE400se to 98dB SPL Peak, which is more than 3x my preferred listening volume.

There'd be more than enough headroom for me to EQ to Harman, and still reach satisfying loudness.
 
"High enough" is subject to interpretation.

The EU dongle can drive the HE400se to 98dB SPL Peak, which is more than 3x my preferred listening volume.

There'd be more than enough headroom for me to EQ to Harman, and still reach satisfying loudness.

Not with the Android limitation, sadly.

I listen music at very low volumes, lower than anyone I know, and it is low even for me.

I know that you can bypass the limitation, but they require a player that I don't like as much as Foobar2000 or, at least in my case, the fix is constantly reversing.

My EQ profile has a -9,7dB over what is, according to a quick search over the internet, a -15dB to -25dB on Android devices.

So more like 73dB maximum volume at best. If I didn't made any mistakes. But I probably made some.
 
My EQ profile has a -9,7dB over what is, according to a quick search over the internet, a -15dB to -25dB on Android devices.

So more like 73dB maximum volume at best. If I didn't made any mistakes. But I probably made some.
The Apple dongle's default UAC2 hardware volume results in a 20dB reduction in volume.
Android then applies an additional ~1.5dB of attenuation regardless of hardware.

Two things to keep in mind are that an EQ preset with -9.7dB preamp does not mean 9.7dB lower volume.

After all, you're boosting some frequencies by that same 9.7dB

So in practice, yes you will lose some volume with an EQ preset, but never the full 9.7dB

Furthermore, while the EU Apple dongle is indeed problematic on Android due the extra low default volume, on macOS, iPadOS (potentially iOS as well), things are reversed with the EU dongle able to match the US dongle with full 1V output.
 
Two things to keep in mind are that an EQ preset with -9.7dB preamp does not mean 9.7dB lower volume.

After all, you're boosting some frequencies by that same 9.7dB

So in practice, yes you will lose some volume with an EQ preset, but never the full 9.7dB

True, it is obvious. I don't know how I thought so carelessly.
 
I would recommend the KPH40 over the KPH30 if you don't like clamp. Nice thing is these are light, don't get hot and are good value.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom