Ipod and Sennheiser HD-25

[caprimulgus]

how are HD-25/HDJ-100s with an ipod? is the ipod powerful enough to drive them, or would i need a portable headphone amp?


im actually trying to decided between HD-25 and Pioneer HDJ-1000, for DJ use. but i'd probably end up using them more with my ipod, hence why im asking.

[enjoilax]

I would go with the Pioneers... I have never used em, but the reviews seem pretty good.

[thedodgyguy]

If you love 'bling', then by all means go for the HDJ-1000. It's grainy sounding, bloated and doesn't isolate that well and is heavy. It folds into a pretty large package. It has all of the bad points of the Sony MDR-V700DJ and few of what good points there are with the V700DJ. I didn't bang it around, but I thought it might end up being pretty fragile.


THe HD25-1 is well resolved, has tight and not overbloated bass, isolates well and is lightweight . It doesn't fold, but is svelte enough to slide into a bag. The HD25-1 has proven durability and it does have the 2-year warranty of course.


I've owned the Sony MDR-V700DJ, Pioneer HDJ-1000, Panasonic RP-DJ1210, Ultrasone HFI-650, Beyerdynamic DT250-80, Sennheiser HD280/HD25-1 (as well as many, many others). And the HD25-1 is IMO THE closed portable headphone to use with the iPod.

[caprimulgus]

thanks for the opinions. im not really a fan of the bling...but i do prefer the larger circumaural type cans...

and i had heard good things about the pioneers.


but i think i'm just going to go for the sens. maybe the HD280s...

[thedodgyguy]

The HDJ-1000 is nominally circumaural, but it's not actually an optimal around-ear fit at least in my experience. Like the MDR-V700DJ, it basically presses the whole ear down while the pads are there to create a seal.


The HD280 is truly circumaural with tall pads which create excellent isolation. But it's got a bass which is tight but noticeably recessed, and can sound a little rough at times... I also happen to think it looks pretty stupid on the head. Although it's a good monitor phone for the money, I have no idea whether it's suitable for DJing but it's not a suitable phone for the iPod for going portable IMO. My recommendation for the HD25-1 stands.


However, if you like the way the HD280's fit then a much better phone is the Ultrasone HFI-650. It's got the same headband design as the HD280 but with different cups. Hugely snappy lows, excellent detail and clear/bright. They do have a slightly weird soundstage though.


Fancy a stab in the dark? Audio-Technica released these cans http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/products/hp/ath-pro700.html which will be on sale from the 21st of October in Japan only. Places like www.bluetin.com and www.audiocubes.com will undoubtedly start selling them straight away. No price yet, and looks to be the same sort of fitting as the HDJ-1000 / MDR-V700DJ.

[caprimulgus]

yeah, i just went with the hd-25s.:)


in regards to the 280's looking stupid, i dont really care. in fact, i probably prefer to look more like a goose, aha...

people know me for wearing my old big headphones (which are busted), and now that i'm using a small crap pair, they ask where my big headphones are. would be funny to rock the even bigger 280s, aha.:)

[thedodgyguy]

Good choice. If it clamps at first, remember that it will loosen up a bit, and also setting the headband to the shortest length it can be will make it fit very securely and also decrease leverage on your ears.