david watt

YGPM

Have a set of the Panasonic RP-HJE50. Gotten it just 1-2 mths ago from Jade. Still have the complete set, including the box, extension cord, carry bag n the 3 stock "adaptors". Extension cord, carry bag and the small/large adaptors unused. Willing to let go at $45. PM me if interested. Dave

Unfortunately, i have no other headphones with me at the moment. However, i did have a chance to audition the SR60/80 few weeks ago. Based on my brief encounter with the Grados, i would say that soundstage on the A500 is much wider than that of the Grados. Grados seem rather flimsy when i try them out then, in contrast against the relatively robust built of the A500. Detail-wise, they seem on par though i realise at that level of listening, the Grados do leak a lot.

May i recommend the ATH-A500, a Made-in-Japan pair of headphones. It sounds pretty good without a head-amp. BTW, am just a fellow forumer recommending a value-for money pair of headphones.

My humble contribution to the local headphone community: Audio-Technica ATH-A500 Art Headphone Features # High quality Audio-Technica new generation headphones # D.A.D.S. (Double Air Damping System) for bass reproduction (D.A.D.S was developed for the legendary Audio-Technica ATH-W2002 Limited Edition Wooden Headphones) # Large aperture phi 53 drivers private design in wide range playback # New 3D Wing Support Housing vibration-proof mechanism (PAT) gives comfortable support for a better listening experience # Wrapping 3.0m OFC input cord # Total ear fitting ear pad design Specifications # Type: Closed Dynamic # Driver Unit: 53mm, CCAW voice coil # Magnet: Neodymium # Frequency response: 5-30,000 Hz # Impedance: 64Ω # Max. Input Power: 500mW # Sensitivity: 100dB # Plug: Gold-plating stereo mini plug (1/4 plus 1/8 plugs) # Cord length: 3.0m (Wrapping / OFC) # Net weight (without cord): 290g All these technical stuff can be accessed via Audiocubes.com This is a Made-in-Japan pair of headphones, as is written at the back of the package that comes with it. The specifications and instructions at the back of the package were all in Japanese. I have gotten this pair of headphones for about a week now. Straight out from the box, they actually sound rather good with plenty of details, except that I feel it is a little bright. The piano pieces sound like those from a harpsichord. So, I let it run in for about 50 hours and the piano pieces now sound quite natural to my ears. The A500 is a large pair of headphones. It definitely is not as discreet as the PX100/200 and thus not as portable in that one would not ordinarily want to be seen walking along the streets with the A500 on… However, the A500 is rather closed and does seal off outside noise to the extent that a conversation a few metres away can sound rather muffled. People around will not be disturbed by the sound emitted from the headphones and also this is good for the listener’s ears since the volume does not have to be as loud as that in an open pair of headphones. Comfort is definitely one of the design criteria of the A500. The 290g on the specification list may initially seem daunting. Fortunately, the soft but firm foam at the ear-cups, together with the "3D Wing Support Housing vibration-proof mechanism (PAT)" (refer to specification above), make the A500 feel very light when worn. However, the foam does feel rather warm, to my ears, on extended listening. Air-conditioning or a nearby fan definitely helps to delay this discomfort. The A500 is not the big and ugly type. Actually, it looks rather "chio" and it does not have, IMO, the "cheap plastic" feeling of the Grados SR60/80, though they are comparable in prices. A500 definitely looks and feels more robust than the Grados SR60/80. Moreover, A500 works very well out of a portable cd player (pcdp). When i use the pcdp with the provided ear-buds, i normally listen at 3-bars of the volume but with the A500, roughly 6-bars will suffice. As mentioned above, the isolation of the ear-cups and its inherent efficiency play a crucial role in this. OK. The pertinent question is: How does the A500 sound??? Plugging the A500 into the controller-stick's headphone jack of the SONY D-EJ955: ****** "Oldies on a rainy day" by Premium Records Track 1:What a wonderful world by Louis Armstrong. The first thing that struck me was the clarity of the music out of the A500. I can actually hear the "dragging" and "ringing" of the last word in every line of the song. The percussions are distinctly in the right ear and other instruments in the left ear with the vocal right at the centre. The piano is also quite discernible in the right ear if one listens carefully. ****** Teresa Teng's 5th Anniversay 2CD by Polydor/ Universal. CD1: Track 2:yue liang dai biao wo de xin Again, lyrics are very clear. Finally, i can make out the words without the need to refer to their written form. Intake and expulsion of air by the singer whether at mid-way, beginning or end of the line of the song can be heard. Instruments accompanying her voice are quite clearly distinguished. The xylophone's "ding" in the left ear is crisp. Resonance of such percussion instruments, when intended by the audio-engineer, is accurate. There is a low-frequency bass instrument accompanying her singing. This does not distort, on the contrary, the notes played by this instrument can be made out quite clearly. ****** Yanni Live at the Acropolis by BMG Track11: Aria First thing i noted: there are definitely 2 sopranos. The one at the right sings first followed by the one at the left. The difference between the A500 and the supplied ear-buds is that i can clearly tell when one vocalist stops and the other begins. I still cannot make out the language they are singing in. Bass boost is definitely not required by the A500. The drumbeats sound punchy without it but murky and overwhelming with the bass boost activated. ****** Norah Jones come Away With Me by BlueNote Track1: Come Away with me Vocal is clear and airy. The double bass in the opening is clean, without the impression of running out of air especially when the instrument gets really low. The plucking and vibration of the strings on the double bass can be heard at times. The cymbals sound accurate with their reverb and crispness in the right amount. ****** A500 sound good when watching movies on the tv. The isolation the cup provides mean that people around will not be disturbed by the boom and crash from the Hollywood-styled pyrotechnics. However, it gets rather annoying when watching shows like channel U's Guess. When the show's contestants and hosts speak into the mike, their voices boom into your head. This actually attest to the accuracy of the A500 in reproducing badly audio-engineered materials. ****** In conclusion the A500 sound very good indeed, for the money involved. Subtleties in the music that I did not know to exist were reproduced clearly. Needless to say, enjoyment of the music is greatly enhanced. A500 sound very good directly out of the headphone jack of the player, TV or even the laptop. I have not tried the A500 with a head-amp but from fellow forumers at Head-Fi, that seems unnecessary. A500, I feel, is value-for-money for the budding audiophile, considering the price involved. There is also no need to spend and extra few hundred on a headphone amp to complement it. It already sounds so good without. That is a great plus. It is also very comfortable, quite detailed, has good soundstage and also good isolation which reduced the need to switch to high volumes when listening to it. On the negative side, one's ears may get a little warm due to the ear-cup's foam around the ear together with the humid weather here. This should not be much of a problem if it is to be used in an air-conditioned place or even next to a fan. The isolation will block out most of the noise from the fan. Bought this last pair at Retrospective for $160. IMO, the sales service is really excellent compared to another shop at the same level in Adelphi… The A500 is still available at Audio-Technica HQ in Singapore the last time I called, retailing for $170. Hung Bros does not carry this the last time I went though the sales person there offered to check out the stocks for me and also gave me a name-card to call him back.

do you sell the RA1 alone?

Actually the Audio Technica ATH A-500 is quite a good buy. Is easily powered by my pcdp and should have no problem being powered by a soundcard. It looks chio too and sounds good! But it will set u back by about $160. (10 bucks above your budget)

Audio-Technica ART ATH A-500 Retrospective S$160

Rameish, Thanks for clarifying the matter with MBD. It is very good that i can get to test a headphone before deciding whether to buy it. Will be down one of these days to audition the 60/80. Great thanks to everyone else who have read and responded for your suggestions and opinions! Actually as a consumer, was rather surprised then when the salesman told me that there is no auditioning of the low-end Grados, especially with their limited stocks of 60/80 and the headphones' popularity. Prior to deciding on my hi-fi set, had actually gone around Adelphi and the shops at Sim-Lim. All had allowed me to audition the entire set-up, from the amp to the speakers, not the cables though! Anyway, while it is true that once out of their boxes, the headphones will not be able to be sold at the retail price, but auditioning should be allowed since it is the minimum of decent customer service, isn't it? Am glad that MBD take the concept of customer service seriously. Is indeed very good news for me and other budding audiophiles!

Actually, am going mainly for the sound quality. That's precisely the reason i am going for these "audiophile" range of headphones. Portability is not necessary. Most likely i will be using the 'phones at home. Don't like the idea of crossing a road and being oblivious to the surroundings! Comfort, i feel, is rather subjective. That what's AUDITIONING is for, but...... In short, sound quality is on the top of my list of criteria.

OK. In this case, since it seems that it is VERY unlikely that i can get to test any headphone at all here, then i will have to base SOLELY on the opinions and reviews here and out there on the net. Seems like for the moment, i will consider these: 1)HP890 (if is still available?) 2)Grados 60/80 (the "american-sound" seems intriguing, so far have only experienced the British-sound: AE speakers) 3)Senn PX200 ( which is good in that i can bring it outside-seems slim enough) Anyone out there: How do these compare? or should i just get anyone of them? Musical tastes are those of instrumental and vocal jazz, classical, oldies and the stuff on the radio.

Where is Retrospective? How does PX200 compare with the Grados?

woah! Juz to clarify wif all...my purpose is simply to state that i could not get to audition the Grados and juz wanted some opinions from Grado users here...since Grado is that reknown. Anyway any other recommendations other than the Grado brand? Would be using it as an multi-purpose 'phone. Definitely would also like it to sound good wif music from my pcdp and headphone out of int amp and cd player, that is why am paying the price premium. Listen to oldies, evergreens, music on the radio, jazz, classical etc... Budget<$200. Lower the better 'cos can buy more music!

went down to MBD today hoping to test out the SR60 n SR80 to hear whether the difference is worth the extra 50 and also to get a feel of the "grado" sound to see whether is to my liking. However the owner said that Grados "sell by themselves" n no testing of these entry types. But he is rather nice n proceeded to describe the difference to me. Did not buy any as i wanted to know the opinions of fellow forumers here first: I intend to use them for watching tv, out of pcdp, computer etc...um-amped. 1) what is the Grado sound like? Currently i have a Panasonic portable-type of headphone and they are really too bright especially after getting used to the sound of Acoustic-Energy speakers. Grados also as bright? Instrument separation? transient in the bass area? (Are the above too much to ask for in a sub-200 headphones?) 2) Difference in 60s and 80s worth the extra 50 which will allow me to buy more music? Thanks in advance! IMPORTANT NOTICE: Mod Edit (6 May 2004): David, I have just spoken to the owner of Music By Design - and he is as surprised as I was to find out about this rumour. He said he will check with his new salesman if anyone was indeed told that there is no testing allowed by the new salesman. For the record - auditioning of all Grado headphones models have always been and will continue to be allowed so long as there's a demo model available (currently they do not have stocks of the SR-80). Our PowerBuy kinda depleted their stocks. Please note if you do not make an appointment and go down and there happens to be another customer auditioning then of course the customer who came first will be given priority. I have known the owner and various salesmen at MDB for several years and in all that time I have seen for myself the level of service at MBD - it has always been immaculate. Call them at 63343981 to check for demo model availability Update at 3:25pm The owner of MBD has called me back and yes it's true that the new salesman was unsure oabout company policy and did indeed turn down 2 to 3 requests for demos on Grados as he didn't see any demo units of grado SR-60 or SR-80 lying around (they were sold). The new salesman did not want to open a new SR-60 set as the owner wasn't around at that time and there was not SR-80 in stock - even the demo unit was sold. The salesman has already been briefied about MBD's policy on demos. The owner has also asked me (since he is not a member of this forum) to extend his apologies for the mix-up as it was his responsibility to inform new staff on such matters. In short - you can demo all you want and there will be no sales talk while you audition as well LOL. I kid you not, they practically leave you alone to listen - too much in fact as sometimes you need to ask a question ;-) It's good to know that my impression of MBD need not change. Happy Auditioning Guys!

Maybe go check out the prices n sound before deciding? I need a pair that can sound good un-amped. For me, is a case of Grados being more 'established' brand- many have recommended them at their respective price ranges. Whereas the AT-A500/900 are just starting to have a following at Head-fi forum and those who have them claim that they work quite well un-amped. They are also very comfy. On the other hand, since i am a newbie to headphones n have only listened to the handful of sub-$100 'phones, i guess either of the two should be better than the ones i have heard. Though would still like to hear each one of them to determine whether i like the sound before buying...

me also actually interested to get a new pair of headphones. initially thought of getting the grado but now that a500 also available locally,... Any opinions? fuild: BTW, just curious why u pick the A500 ?

Managed to find this online. Maybe can try contacting them: Audio-Technica (S.E.A) Pte Ltd 623 Aljunied Road #04-10, Aljunied Industrial Complex, Singapore 389835 Tel. 65-6749 5686 | Fax. 65-6749 5689 | email. sales@audio-technica.com.sg