Ticky

Probably for the same reason why there are hardly any guys on the home & garden forums.

That's absurd. Not allowing demos because the headphone sells well. What if a pair of speakers sell well, would that mean one shouldn't be allowed to hear what they sound like before coughing money for it? Especially so when you are talking about expensive phones.

Budget?

If on the cheap - check out the Koss KSC clip on phones.

If you can spare some cash - canalphones can help block out noise. Just be aware that they have microphonics. Apparently the Shure E2c are less microphonic prone. I have the Etymotics ER-4s, which suffers from severe microphonics due to its stiff cord. My friend just got the Etymotics ER-6, they seem to have less microphonic than the ER-4.

I'm not sure of the prices for these phones in S'pore though. The Shure E2c and Etys ER-6 cost around $100 - $120 in the US.

FYI on Microphonics- Just in case you have no idea what I mean by microphonics: because canalphones are inserted deeper into your ear canals (so as to block out external noise), the phones pick up minute vibrations and amplifies it everytime the cord hits or rubs against your shirt/other objects. The noise can get in the way of music enjoyment if the cord keeps hitting something when you move around. The E2c and ER-6 are suppose to have softer cords and are less prone to microphonic problems.

is that the new usb amp?

I think that is a "Total" version of the Headroom amp. Although the letterings are not clear, there are two words - seperated by a space - underneath the headroom logo. The regular version of the airhead/bithead will only have one word "airhead" or "bithead".

GOOD NEWS: Jamey just emailed me today. The New TBH are shipping! Not sure if the BH/TBH are available for 1st time purchaser yet... I bought mine just when they found out the channel swap mistake. So, Headroom might be currently replacing previous owners' amps.

Happy belated birthday!

What toy did you get?

100 Euro... is around $120 USD.

Hmmm. Have you tried browsing Head-Fi's Gears for Sales forum? With patience some nice amp might come along. I suspect that you might be able to get a used Pimeta for that price.

To be fair, the whole SIM LIM place is like that.

 

SIM LIM is great if you know what you are looking for, not so good if you are comparing products and not prices.

I suppose. While I don't expect VIP treatment, some of underarm sales tactics are downright unethical, not to mention borderline illegal. I remember this one merchant showing me his "invoice" from Sony - which he conveniently keeps on the sales counter - just to convince me that he is only making a tiny profit on the model I was checking out. Lo and behold, at another store I was also shown yet another alleged "invoice" from Sony. Funny how their costs for the same camera don't match.

But... what can you do eh? Caveat Emptor as the saying goes.

Cool!

Thanks!

It seems to be the case. I could almost pin-point the exact time when the Purreaux came into the "hot item" radar: after the Maryland/DC Head-fi meet. Apparently the members at the meet got a chance to check out the Purreaux and really liked its sound. Many say that it has an edge over the XP-7, which was the "hot item" at one point.

After that... well, the "fever" took hold.

I got introduced to acapella back in college where there are alot of student acapella groups. I like it quite a bit... when the group is good. Acapella is a very difficult thing to get right and could sound downright horrible if just one member is singing slightly too sharp or flat. Professional acapella groups are also quite hard to come by though.

Currently I only have 1 acapella CD. It from a Boston college group called the Amalgamates. They are really good.

This reminds me of my horrible experience trying to get my friend a digital camera from Sim Lim Square. Many vendors quote prices based on how gullible you look.

One of the first store I went to quote me a price that was - at it turns out - $100 lower than the other stores. But, of course I didn't know the price for that model in S'pore at the time and so I had to "shop" around to get a feel for the price.

When I returned to him, the bloody dude said that he cannot sell the camera to me for the earlier quoted price because I didn't trust him?!!! He accused me of "losing his face" by not trusting him and buying the camera from him when I first arrived. Then - showing his true colors - he proceeded to tell me that he would consider giving it to me at the lower price if I buy $200 worth of accessories from his store.

Man... if there weren't assault and battery laws, I would have trashed that punk. Never been so freaking angry in my life. Come to Thailand... I'll show you a "real good time." GRRHHHH!!

I remember the purchasing the HD580s back in 1996 with my Supreme amp. At that time I'm already very much an audionut but still quite unsophisticated in my taste. I had the Sony V-900 before the Senns.

Plugging the Senns in, giving them a listen for the first time, I felt abit disappointed. The issue of burning in aside, part of the problem might be my heightened expectations of the phones. The rave reviews played up my imagination of what the 580s could and should do. The sound was different from the bright Sony. More diffused and spacious. But I could not say it was better than the Sony at that time.

However, overtime the phones grow on me. After letting my friend borrow my Sony phones for some time, I gave them a listen. I could feel the difference even though my unsophisticated ears could not exactly pin-point the exact differences. Like fine wine, the Senns were smoother, had better texture and all round more satisfying.

But, at the end of the day, evaluations of phones, like speakers, are very subjective. Different people are drawn towards different types of sound. To each his/her own, I gues.

I feel her strength lies at tugging people's heart strings and she kind of specialises in sappy sad love songs, mostly about breakups and the sorts. *** I feel she is slighly more mainstream.

To the contrary, I find that there are deeper meanings in her songs as compared to regular pop "girl likes boy" or "boy dumps girl" songs. While I'm not that religious, I do find her songs to have strong religious (Christian) sub-meanings. kinda like U2 but with less explicit biblical references.

Flipped through one of my friend's highschool alumni newsletter. What do I see? A picture of a girl wearing a HD580 in a language lab!!! they use the freaking HD580 for language classes.

I guess the principle is an audiophile.

Did you ever think of moving somewhere less noisy?? That way you have a larger array of phones available for your picking.

Size does matter my friend.

Hey Welly,

(So this is where you lurk when it is nightime in the US)

You should get the canal phones. IMO speakers/headphones is the prime determinant of the sonic signature of a hi-fi rig. Also, they yield the most "bang for the buck." You would hear improvements to your system with the ModWright, but it doubt the difference would be as big as stepping up from a $300 canal phone (you have the Etys right?) to a $1000 one. You have the HR-2, so I think your amp should be able to keep up with the upgrade fine.

I also have the Etys, but I prefer my HD600 over them. Since, if I recall correctly, you live in a noisy area and need sealed canal phones, I think you owe it to yourself to get the "Best of the best."

After that you can proceed to get the ModWright.

Yeah... and I was bitten by the audio bug some 10 years ago. To date I still have plenty of difficulties trying to figure out what reviewers or other audiophiles mean when they use certain adjectives to describe sound.

Part of the problem is that my experience with equipments are limited. Hardly anyone around me is an audiophile. And when I have the rare opportunity to audition gears, its always with different components.

Not to mention that the terms "bright," "dark," "laid back," etc, probably has a slightly different meaning for everyone.

But, as they say, variety is the spice of life.

Well... maybe I'm biased (just a little). For people who love city live, NY is probably as good as it gets on this rock we call Earth.

I'm not a freaking tree-hugging, cow-chasing open country lover. But, I prefer to have some personal space. Its exciting enough in NY, but after a while I get fatigued by constantly having so many people around me. I prefer a slightly mellower lifestyle. (Yes my friends say I think like grandpa.)

Singapore is fine with me. Its a city, but its not as congested. Bangkok, my home, is well... polluted. But I live in a pretty low density area and so its manageable.

Which is why I can never understand why many of my friends want to live in NY city. Its nice for a visit, but you have to go to Central Park to see this natural phenonmena called a "tree." Two days there and I forgot what clean air smelled like.

Hey... I live the US. If anyone has a CD that can't be obtained locally but that is more readily available in the States, he/she can give me a holler. I'll see if I can get it for that person. No extra charge.

Don't wait long, I would be moving in 3 or 4 months.

I liked "Afterglow" and "Surfacing" quite a bit. But after hearing folks' comments, I have to check out the live sessions.

I finally broke down and ordered a steak last night. Hope I don't get "lucky" and get some cerebral damage.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!!

Life is short, extra fries please!!!

Sorry to revive a dead thread. But I just got the HR-2 today.

One word: Sonic Bliss.

I think I've finally found the ONE.

At least for now

Ok... back to listening.

Lots of good luck sighting headphones yesterday. Saw a Sennheiser HD497 on a college student, 2 koss ksc 50s, AND a Shure 2c (i think its the 2c model) on a guy at the gym. Wow!

Darn... this disease is spreading like wild fire.

Unfortunately all the wearers were guys. We need to figure out a way to get members of the opposite sex to enter the foray here. (this is really beneficial to us fellas in the long run... think about it, a wife/gf who prefers the Orpheus over some stupid sparkling rocks)

Just requested an audition of the HR-2.

I like the XP-7's "airier" sound but on some music the amp sounded a bit congested and shrill. Not satisfied with mediocrity - except for the occasional boring research assignment - I emailed Todd about this. Next thing I know, the HR-2 is on its way.

NO... I will not audition the Prehead!!! Ignorance is bliss. Hopefully this new amp will kick butt and the quest ends there.

Oh... my poor wallet!>

This is insane.... I've switched my decision back and forth so many times you'll think I have a split personality. I listen to the XP-7 and thought that's the one. Get up to go get my laundry. Take another listen. No, HA-2, that's the one for me. Get up, take a piss. Listen again. No, no XP-7. <repeat>