Headphones for a Pono?

FauxHall

AK Subscriber
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I intend to get a Pono within the month and would like some decent headphones to go with them, $300 to $400 max..

I'm living in a hotel room but have a Tivoli Model Two FM table radio that would take the line-out from the Pono but expect to use the cans a lot too. Portability is therefore a consideration - can't be too bulky and a nice carrying case is a big plus.

I won't be running around with headphones on with the Pono in my pocket. I'd listen in bed or in a reading chair mostly, maybe at the office too.

Mid-range vocals, female especially, are my big thing. My ears stick out (blush!) so want big over-the-ear cups. A closed back would be nice but not necessary.

When I lived at home I had AKG 701s which I liked a lot but something warmer would work.

I've read that low impedance is preferred - 20 to 60 ohm.

Suggestions welcome as I won't have an opportunity to audition them before purchasing on-line.
 
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Personally, I'm a big fan of Koss. Great extension in the treble, really presents the highs clear and natural so they are really nice for the female voice. I would suggest looking at their website and consider the model you like.

Also, most come with a really fine warranty.

Good Luck with whatever you get.

Shelly_D
 
A little divergence here.

I love my Koss headphones and my AKG phones (AKG are my favorite by far) and a few others I have tried.

But for PORTABLE sound like the Pono (I have one), I use Blackberry's Ear Buds. These are very high quality buds that usually come with foam surrounds to fit comfortably in your ear. If they don't come with foam, I order the foam from Amazon and put them on myself.

The dynamic range, and the incredible fidelity I get from these buds is second to none. Buy far. I'm not touting Blackberry or Blackberry products, I'm just stating a fact. Under FIVE BUCKS DELIVERED? It's because BlackBerry has fallen out of the limelight and no one pays any attention, even though it is incredible product. 7 years ago you'd have paid $39 for these buds. That's expensive for earbuds. BlackBerry Ear Buds absolutely ROCK. Plus you can use them on your phone if you wish as they have a mic in the center yolk.

They are dirt cheap. Try a set. I have a feeling you'll be amazed:
http://www.amazon.com/Blackberry-St...1432669642&sr=8-1&keywords=blackberry+headset

Foam Surrounds - you definitely want the foam - they improve the fidelity and the comfort big time:
http://www.amazon.com/Generic-ipod-...F8&qid=1432669678&sr=8-2&keywords=earbud+foam
 
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The rules state that posting auction site links gets a thread moved to Dollars and Cents so I won't do that.

If you are willing to look at a used product, there is a pair of Koss ESP9's up on the auction site for well within your budget. These were at one time Koss' premier electrostatic headphones. Since I believe these need the power of an amp behind them, you can drive them with a small T amp similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Lepai-LP-2020...?ie=UTF8&qid=1432673539&sr=8-8&keywords=t-amp

Personal experience on that amp - low distortion, great frequency response, really fine transient response, very clear and accurate, just the features yo want with a good headphone.

Look for item 171782231227 on the auction site if interested. If I had that much cash right now I would snap them up.

Shelly_D
 
I will throw the Audeze EL-8 in the mix, its a bit over your budget, but it sounded quite fantastic with the Pono. I had a chance to hear this combo at the High End in Munich this year.

Otherwise i have nothing more to recommend, sadly. Im too far into the top end...
Maby i will come up with something cheaper, but at this time, i have not tested anything else with the Pono, and since i don't own one, testing it with my headphone would work.

Hm... Maybe a Beyerdynamic T51p, i have no clue how it would sound with the pono, but with a iPhone (also at the High End) it sounded slightly warm, and just nice in general. Only downside, its a on-ear headphone...

The above is just my 2 cents...
 
Thanks for responding but 1) I can't wear on-ear cans the way my ears stick out straight - it hurts! and 2) I'm well-endowed with ear wax so ear buds have ALWAYS caused problems.

No budget nor room for a separate amp either.

I'll definitely give Audeze and the Koss looks. The T51p caught my eye but then I noticed that they were on-ear so no go. Maybe the DT-880 if I could find a low impedance model.
 
Thanks for responding but 1) I can't wear on-ear cans the way my ears stick out straight - it hurts! and 2) I'm well-endowed with ear wax so ear buds have ALWAYS caused problems.

No budget nor room for a separate amp either.

I'll definitely give Audeze and the Koss looks. The T51p caught my eye but then I noticed that they were on-ear so no go. Maybe the DT-880 if I could find a low impedance model.

As far as budget is concerned, that little amp I linked to costs less the $30. So if the cost of the ESD9's are in budget, this amp won't blow that too far. the size is a different matter. The ESD9's do have that separate energizer box so that could be a killer in a tight situation. The amp itself is a tiny little thing though, 5 3/4" wide, 4 3/4" front to back and 1 5/8" high. Real small and light. Small enough to double side tape or Velcro the the energizer box, if you can find the room for that.

Just trying to help here. Electrostatic headphones are really sweet if you can get into them.

Whatever you decide, good luck to you. I would at least check out the link and search item 171782231227 on epay before you make the final decision.

Shelly_D
 
OK....is it just me or did the first time you saw the post it said " Headphones for PORNO"??
 
Thanks for responding but 1) I can't wear on-ear cans the way my ears stick out straight - it hurts! and 2) I'm well-endowed with ear wax so ear buds have ALWAYS caused problems.

No budget nor room for a separate amp either.

I'll definitely give Audeze and the Koss looks. The T51p caught my eye but then I noticed that they were on-ear so no go. Maybe the DT-880 if I could find a low impedance model.

Q-Tips and Rubbing Alcohol (Wintergreen is best) should get a handle on that. I could not live without ear buds for sleeping next to the S.O. at night listening to Jazz and for traveling and working out.
 
Hard to beat a set of Grado SR-80i- they're well below your max budget, and sound fantastic. Easy to drive too, not that you have to worry about that with the Pono- it has a very good amplifier on board.
 
If you're looking for comfortable and a slightly warmer signature, it's hard
to be the Sennheiser Hd600/650 line. The pono should be able to drive them fine
Hibuck....
 
I compromised with the Sony MDR-10RC in white. Found them here in Seoul at the Techno Mart for about the equivalent of $180 but no tax. That's a bit more than the list off Amazon but the delta is not so bad if one includes shipping. They are over-the-ear and closed back so the might work in the office.

The only better reputation cans I saw after wondering the 10 stories of the Techno Mart were some B&W P7s at about $650 equivalent, which is above my price range.

Haven't gotten the Pono yet (next month's check!) but the Sony's sound fine out of the box with my computer and my Blackberry.

A latter upgrade is always possible, including getting my AKG 701s sent from California.

Thanks for all the good advice!
 
I'd suggest auditioning B&W P7's as you can get a refurbished set from B&W direct with full warranty for a lot less than retail.
 
I will throw the Audeze EL-8 in the mix, its a bit over your budget, but it sounded quite fantastic with the Pono. I had a chance to hear this combo at the High End in Munich this year.

Otherwise i have nothing more to recommend, sadly. Im too far into the top end...
Maby i will come up with something cheaper, but at this time, i have not tested anything else with the Pono, and since i don't own one, testing it with my headphone would work.

Hm... Maybe a Beyerdynamic T51p, i have no clue how it would sound with the pono, but with a iPhone (also at the High End) it sounded slightly warm, and just nice in general. Only downside, its a on-ear headphone...

The above is just my 2 cents...

I did listen to the EL-8 (closed) headphones with my Pono at Axpona this April. A very good match, and I was listening to Norah Jones hi-res for my listening trial. As I understand it there will be a cable available one of these days to listen to the Pono in balanced mode with the EL-8 headphones.

I have not tried my Sennheiser HD650s, but do listen commonly with custom IEMs with the Pono.
 
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