This thread serves as a Q&A section for all new/existing audiophiles seeking advice on their new headphone purchase. The rules are simple, no flaming/bashing and try to not to spam (posting irrelevant post).

You may ask us any headphones/earphones related questions, and all of us in headphilers in this forum will gladly assist you. Don't be shy!

When asking, please remember to STATE YOUR BUDGET. Give EXACT NUMBERS... "not so expensive la" is not a considered a budget

Other infos like the following will also be helpful to get faster and more accurate responses.
- what you currently have (mp3 players, amps, soundcard etc)
- what type of usage (movies/ gaming/ music etc)
- source (i.e. flac, mp3 etc)
- type of music listen to (classical, jazz, metal, etc)
- personal requirements like type (closed, open, cirumaural, IEM etc).




Best of luck on your headphones/earphones purchase.





Previous threads for reference....
Recommendation Thread V1

Recommendation Thread V2

This post has been edited by mADmAN: Dec 23 2008, 08:35 PM

if the type of music u listen to is the type that requires a soundstage i.e. classical etc, dont bother with grados... almost non-existent sound stage.

plus theyre supra-aural which means they sit ON the ear. not around it....


mebbe u should take a look at the audio technicas from akabane or walabies.

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Added on December 24, 2008, 6:41 pmX3i no more meh??? and i thought there was a Bijou version of the X3i?

for ur budget the crossroads are pretty hard to beat. so i guess talking to yuheng about ur requirements would be the best bet....

This post has been edited by mADmAN: Dec 24 2008, 06:41 PM

soundstage has been explained in earlier posts....

as for ur avril lavigne, then yeah the Grados will suit you.....grados are known to be good for rock/ metal...

in terms of the comfort... alot of people assume its uncomfortable due to the supra aural design. and alot of people do find it uncomfortable. but there are also quite a number of people who find it comfortable for hours of usage... so at the end, this comes down to the user itself.

for ur budget and music, perhaps the Alessandro MS-1 would be better compared to the Grado SR60 and SR80. most people who has the money for the SR80 would end up going for the MS-1.


but if ur worried about the supra-aural thingy, try to make ur way to 1 Utama in Bandar Utama. go to the old wing. theres an audiophile shop there near Jusco, 2nd floor if i remember correctly. go there and check out and audition the Goldring DR150. from all the descriptions ive read in head-fi, the descriptions make them sound as if the DR150 are circumaural versions of Grados. ive heard them briefly at that store and i have to say the description is pretty much accurate. the DR150 is selling about RM450 if im not mistaken.

This post has been edited by mADmAN: Dec 24 2008, 11:43 PM

isnt there a HUGE price difference between the HD555 and the HP8900???? dont really think its a fair comparison....

but for me... for rock. id go with the phillips. sennheiser's laid back sound signature makes them unsuitable for rock/metal. takes the energy out of the music.

but wat would be better would be the Grado SR60 for less than 300 or the much better Alessandro MS-1 for about 4xx

like i sid id go for the phillips....

but im a sennheiser hater... coz also like i said...their laid back sound signature really isnt suited for rock/metal.... and i listen to metal...ALOT.



it would of course be best if u could audition them first.

wah no budget ah??? is it ok if we recommend u an earphone that costs over RM1k?


next time state ur budget

and yes mylar is good.

for around that budget, i dont bother recommending anything else for gaming.

so i wouldnt know....mebbe one of the sennheiser perhaps?? HD555 mebbe?

that highly depends on u....

i truly doubt that any other closed headphone in that price range can beat it...but thats just me and ive havent heard any other headphones in that price range.

plus the comments on head-fi seem to agree with me too

ALL IT should have a few Shures and Senn earphones...

around ur budget too i think

a seprate headphone and mic would ne much better imho...

just like motherboards...integrated is usually a no no

Sennheiser and Alessandro basically has 2 opposite sound signatures....senn is warm and laid back... alessandro/ grado are more in your face..

anyway...if ur in KL/PJ head over to 1 Utama and check out the Goldring DR150. its in the audiophile shop near jusco in the old wing.

priced about RM4xx which is about the same as the MS1

you get circumaural with sounds similar to Grado/ Alessandro. but dont simply buy...make sure you audition it first. they should allow u to audition it....coz they allowed me to audition it...



it exists....just that nobody gives a shit about 5.1 headphones....they are abominations....freaks of nature.... an embarassment to word "headphone"

headphones always has and always will be better in stereo.

like others said...sounds like shit....

and its just a useless gimmick....

speaker placement is too close to be able to give u proper surround.

if u want proper surround then get 5.1 SPEAKERS.

otherwise, stereo headphones that can emulate surround sound is MUCH better.

another vote for the Audio Technica A/AD500

no such thing as circumaural or supraaural IEMs... IEMs (In Ear Monitors) are the ones u put inside ur ear... aka ear dildos.


so which one u want??? IEM or HEADphone?

HD650 requires an amp to properly shine man... and ur ursage only with PSP??? like not worth it imho

i think something like the Audio Technica A/AD 900 would suit better... runs perfect unamped and has a HUGE soundstage. price should be around 1k.

Audio Technica you should look for walabies or akabane in the bulk orders section....

RM300.....

FiiO E5 + Crossroads MylarOne Bijou


both available at bulk order section....


balance if possible... get an ipod line-out cable...try and search in garage sales for DIY cable makers who can make them...

a DAC only converts digital signals to analog....it doesnt amplify...


in order to hear them it needs to be amplified. getting a DAC without an amp is useless as itll only provide lineout level signals.


if u go back to the bare basics....a soundcard is typically a DAC+Amp combo. including ur onboard soundcard.

when ur gf tested the earphones in MV... was the source the same as the one u brought back? i.e. ipod nano vs ipod nano?

difference in source could play a major role in different sounds...same goes to audio files as well....




portable? no idea. never heard any of the ibasso's before. suggest u consult walabies and yuheng about portable DAC+amp

but some possible options include the ibasso, govibe petite and the new govibe vulcan mini...dunno the price of any of them though

AD700....definitely the AD700