Sound systems!

I never understood how headphones are so expensive..

good headphones are expensive because of two things:

Tolerances, and because they can. I'd pay twice as much for identical looking headphones if they sound awesome. Expensive headphones (some of them) cater to audiophiles. Same reason I run a mini surround sound setup around my desk.

Some headphones are expensive just so they can say "hey, we are expensive, so we are the best"

Meh, I paid 20 bucks for Sony Studio Monitor headphones and I'm totally happy with them

Benjamin Hall said:

Meh, I paid 20 bucks for Sony Studio Monitor headphones and I'm totally happy with them

Click to expand...

Let me guess.....the MDR-V150? If so, believe me, you can do much better.....I had those for a while.

Prisoner said:

pparks1 said:

Here is the brochure on this exact model, it's 120 watts per channel or up to 150 watts per channel if PowerBoost is activated with a 8ohm load and this is only a 2 channel amplifier. So, it's nowhere near the 2000 watts that you estimated above.

Click to expand...

Doesn't explain too well why it's blown 4 of my Cerwin-Vega's at once with half volume... and the channels are showing 300 watts per channel, not 120 or 150.

Click to expand...

I don't know what to tell you...the model you posted a picture of was easily found online and I linked to the sheet showing power output and it is what it is.

Speakers don't often blow because the amount of power being fed to them...they often blow due to lack of quality power or what's known as clipping. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio). I used to own some Cerwin Vega speakers and they are highly efficient. Thus, they can easily pull a lot of power from a receiver.

noobvious said:

I run a line-out from my PC to my stereo, and it does sound decent....but my best sound comes from me plugging these into it....

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr60.htm

Click to expand...

Yep, gotta pair of Grado SR-125's on my desk at work. I love my headphones. Worth every penny that I paid.

pparks1 said:

Prisoner said:

pparks1 said:

Here is the brochure on this exact model, it's 120 watts per channel or up to 150 watts per channel if PowerBoost is activated with a 8ohm load and this is only a 2 channel amplifier. So, it's nowhere near the 2000 watts that you estimated above.

Click to expand...

Doesn't explain too well why it's blown 4 of my Cerwin-Vega's at once with half volume... and the channels are showing 300 watts per channel, not 120 or 150.

Click to expand...

I don't know what to tell you...the model you posted a picture of was easily found online and I linked to the sheet showing power output and it is what it is.

Speakers don't often blow because the amount of power being fed to them...they often blow due to lack of quality power or what's known as clipping.

noobvious said:

I run a line-out from my PC to my stereo, and it does sound decent....but my best sound comes from me plugging these into it....

http://www.gradolabs.com/product_pages/sr60.htm

Click to expand...

Yep, gotta pair of Grado SR-125's on my desk at work. I love my headphones. Worth every penny that I paid.

Click to expand...

When I bought the SR60i's, I had never spent more than $20 on headphones before, so spending $74 took a leap of faith....but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

If your listening to downloaded MP3's then less is more hell you already have a 10th of the audio information and for sure if all you do is gaming then maybe comfort and playing load is your thing. If on the other hand you like music and can discern all it's finer nuances then good is better and great is better still. Headphones can run into the thousands and would I pay that much for them, not likely but it's the same with everything especially computers. But if you can exploit the difference and appreciate them then spending a couple of hundred or more for outstanding cans makes all the difference in the world. Spend some quality time with some hi-res music or even standard cd's or lossless formatted music with real quality cans and you will notice all sorts of aural differences then the goal is to find the cans that match your tastes and fit your budget.

That took me forever to find a picture on the internet. Should have just taken one with a camera

My next audiophile investment:

O_O nice

Only 1,800,000 Yen plus freight. I definitely need to up my income before that's anywhere near feasible lol

LiquidSnak said:

Only 1,800,000 Yen plus freight. I definitely need to up my income before that's anywhere near feasible lol

Click to expand...

Heeey, you're in Japan? にほん?

I can't afford an expensive sound system, one with 7 towers and a separate 12" sub.. but you know what? I'm currently at 122db in my bedroom right now with my speakers, and I'm only at ~35% volume

Skulblaka said:

LiquidSnak said:

Only 1,800,000 Yen plus freight. I definitely need to up my income before that's anywhere near feasible lol

Click to expand...

Heeey, you're in Japan? にほん?

Click to expand...

Nah, but I have not seen a retailer carry them over here. Also, my Japanese is atrocious.

I am also happy with my current setup, but I aspire to greater things

LiquidSnak said:

Skulblaka said:

LiquidSnak said:

Only 1,800,000 Yen plus freight. I definitely need to up my income before that's anywhere near feasible lol

Click to expand...

Heeey, you're in Japan? にほん?

Click to expand...

Nah, but I have not seen a retailer carry them over here. Also, my Japanese is atrocious.

I am also happy with my current setup, but I aspire to greater things

Click to expand...

...? (d) Eh...? I don't understand your answer.

The only retailers that sell the system I want are located in Japan The second part was for Mr. Hall

I guess these can go here, my DAP, Headphones and Amp:

Cowon iAudio 7 16GB
JVC HA-FX66s w/Shure Foam Olive Tips
Joshatdot CMoy Amp of my own design

The key is to start with quality components, here in the states we have Craig's List and I highly suggest doing some research and build a great used system first. Go stereo at first. Get some great mains and then look for a powered sub to fill out the bottom end. I like Paradigm speakers but you can go all sorts of directions with styles and cost. A good receiver will get up up and playing music then later you can search for separate components. I like running my audio out from the computer via optical into a good DAC and then into the preamp/receiver I get the clearest and most accurate sound this way. Remember these stereo speakers will image and create a sound stage that will blow your mind when set up properly, so take you time and experiment with speaker placement and such. As this addiction for audio grows you can use this system as a great bedroom or other room system as your education and interest grows. Grab a Stereophile or Absolute Sound magazine and have fun don't be too intimidated by the components as your shopping for older units off CL and they will luck will be cents on the dollar ! Stay away from the system in a box stuff. Have a blast and listen deep !