[falang]

Originally Posted by spaceman

i really wish i could read chinese so i could use mingo!

does anybody know where I can get a little dot II+ or little dot 3 in Hong Kong? I heard they sell them in Shenzhen. Does anybody have experience with using/buying this amp?

It looks like Mingo carries the Little Dot II. Take a look here:

http://www.mingo-hmw.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=23147

[neither3nor4]

I've managed to keep away from the audio stores recently but must part with money soon. Incidently, has anyone seen a NAD C320BEE about in HK?

Originally Posted by falang

Has anyone ever come across the Original Master headphone amp here in the Konger?

http://www.original-cd.com/index-products-ma.htm

Yes. I saw one at Coem Audio a few months ago
1401 Pakpolee Centre. 1A Sai Yeung Choi St. South.
旺角西洋菜南街1 A 百?利商業大廈1401 室

I didn't have my phones with me, so I didn't bother trying it.

[falang]

Cheers...do you recall the price?

Thats in Mong Kok right?

[neither3nor4]

Yes, it's in Mongkok (close to Dundas Street) I can't remember the price, but I'm pretty sure it was under $2000. Have you taken a stroll down Apliu Street yet? There is plenty to see there.

[falang]

Originally Posted by neither3nor4

Yes, it's in Mongkok (close to Dundas Street) I can't remember the price, but I'm pretty sure it was under $2000. Have you taken a stroll down Apliu Street yet? There is plenty to see there.

Thanks man. No I haven't been down Apilu Street...however, it scares me and my wallet. 8)

Where is it in a nutshell? Thanks man...I'm new to this mad city.

[jgl]

FWIW, there's a small store on the 2nd floor at the corner of queens Rd Central and Jubilee St that sells very pretty looking valve-based gear.

[TwistedFates]

I am a Senn man. I own the HD280 and the HD595. And I used the HD600 for a fair bit.

HD280 is the only noteworthy closed ear headphone out there. The problem with it is the cheap plastic. It cracks are periodic use. It is a common problem. And the grip on it are like vices, if you wear glasses or have a wider head, it pinches even though it is circumaural.

HD595 is the best entry level audiophone headphone in my opinion. It is open ear, and very very rich. Music sounds like you're standing in the middle of the production. Things are crisp and upfront. I really enjoy it. And what's even better is it has very low ohms, so you don't need a headphone amp for it. It is also circumaural and very comfortable.

HD600 is shockingly amazing. The soundstage is uber wide. There is a lot of depth to the music but it sounds like you're sitting in the audience and listening. Not as up front as the HD595. But it makes up for it in the richness. Unfortunately you will need a headphone amp, without it, it sounds like crap and the bass is weak.

If you run it off the laptop you will never either a creative Soundblaster audigy 2 ZS (which is what I have) or this Maudio thing that one of my co-worker uses. I much prefer the SB because it is PCMCIA and it has more "stuff". There's also Echo indigo, which is another PCMCIA card if you can find it. It costs a lot but is supposed to be amazing. Another co-worker uses that.

[falang]

Originally Posted by TwistedFates

HD280 is the only noteworthy closed ear headphone out there. The problem with it is the cheap plastic. It cracks are periodic use. It is a common problem. And the grip on it are like vices, if you wear glasses or have a wider head, it pinches even though it is circumaural.

Hello there. Thanks for the comments. However, stating that the Senn 280s are the only noteworthy closed headphones is rather bold.

They are good at isolation but there are much better sound quality closed headphones out there:

Akg k81dj (under $100 US)

ATH A900 (around $200 US)

Beyerdynamic DT770 (around $200 US; depending on the year of the model)

Sennheiser HD-25


From what I've heard, all of these headphones trump the Senn 280s by a wide margin.

[TwistedFates]

Heh, you're probably right. To be honest, I don't venture far from the Sennheisers. I have only heard one AKG in the store which was open ear and the most expensive gold thing I have ever seen, and the other was Grado's which were ugly as sin. So apologies, I am sure the cans you mentioned are also great.

I was a bit too bold saying it is the only closed ear of note. I should revise to say it is the only Closed Ear sennheiser of note. And you're right about the HD25, for the price it is decent. But I listen to lots of Classical, Latin Jazz and Blues as well. I need crisp notes on low and high. The HD25's cannot stand up to the HD 280, plus it is supraaural. If we are talking high end, I would stand behind the HD 280 for a Senn closed.

But why go closed when you can go open

[CrouchingDonkey]

Wow, cool thread! I think I've just found home!

A bit of history: For many years I've used the Sony MDR-EX 71s. At the time and for the budget, they were pretty much my best option. The sound quality was great for the price, though the build quality is rather shoddy. I've been through 4 pairs throughout the years! The reason I'm mentioning them is, they're probably the reason I got hooked on this 'hobby'.

I mostly use ‘in-ear’ or canal-phones as I find them much more practical to stow away, they (to varying degrees) block out external noise, and reduce sound leakage - which I find extremely annoying when sat next to someone with their cans at full blast.

Here are the earphones I have, and the order I rate them, and how much I paid:
1) Now, don't hate me! The Shure E500 PTHs. I've only had them just over a week, and I'm loving them! The soundstage is wider than anything I've heard from a set of headphones, and it does take some getting used to. The highs are sharp but not sibilant. The mid-range is very rich, and yet retains it's clarity, and sound separation. The bass is strong but not 'artificially' so, and doesn't distort even when the volume is hitched up to '11'. As you can imagine, I'm extremely happy with them. My only fear is that one day, having gotten used to them, they'll sound ordinary, and I'll end up buying something newer and even more expensive! High street price is HK$4,270. I paid HK$3,500 from Mongkok*.

2) The Sennheiser CX300s. I'm not sure if you'd class these as high-end, but for the sound quality and price, they're amazing! I tried them soon after I left the shop. And 'Wow'. I was pretty much blown away by what I heard. Even with the E500s I didn't get the 'wow' factor. The highs are incredibly sharp (a little too sharp in some songs). The mid-range is very punchy. Everything has that 'live' performance feel. The bass is strong - more so than the E500s, and it can 'muddy' certain songs if the volume is too loud. All in all, I like these 'phones a lot. I now use them for the gym. I paid HK$560 when they first came out. The price has since gone down.

3) The Etymotic ER•6is. Although these ‘phones are sonically pure, and has good instrument separation, I’m a little underwhelmed by the lack of bass. Yes, I know about creating a tight seal in the ear canal to achieve more bass. In fact, I’ve scoured practically every online resource to try and improve the sound, but alas, everything I have tried has failed to help it deliver. I’ve even modified the three-flange tips, by cutting the smallest flange off, and this only helps a little with the sound, but it does improve on the comfort. I wouldn’t not recommend these, but I think there are better earphones out there for the price. Also, each person has their own ‘taste’ when it comes to speakers/headphones/earphones, and some people may be just fine with not too much bass. I paid £99 (approx HK$1,451) for them from UK.

*Shop recommendation: I bought the E500s at International Audio & Visual Co, 7/F, Yau Shing Commercial Centre, 51 Sai Yeung Choi St, Mongkok. Tel: 2191 5801.

I’d shopped around for prices at the different shops/floors of Yau Shing. International AV, was the only shop to give me a low fixed price. I like this honesty or transparency. All the others started with a higher ‘haggling’ price, and none could match International AV. The staff are friendly, and we even chatted about other earphones I have, and ones they’re tried. So if you’re looking for audio stuff, try them out for yourself.

Incidentally, one shop offered me grey imports at a lower price. When I asked what the difference was to HK stock, he said that you don’t get a warranty with grey imports, and that the earphones were exactly the same. He showed me the Shure (individually) numbered warranty stickers, which validates their receipts. At that point, alarm bells started ringing at the back of my mind, and I said I’d think about it and left. It’s probably kosher, but I just felt it wasn’t right somehow.

Well, I hope some of you will find this useful!