I listened to the HD650s about 3 years ago, and I still vividly remember that exact moment. The sound signature immediately reminded me of my Harbeth P3ESR speakers, which I found astonishing coming from a pair of headphones. It was definitely one of those eureka moments. Since that day, I've...

Whew, thank you for the assurances! This was a rather hefty impulse buy, and I was a bit worried that the competition might have usurped the HD650 in the years since I last listened to them. It's comforting to know that a product introduced over a decade ago can still hold its own in terms of...

I've never owned a pair of full-sized headphones, but I fell in love with the HD650 when I first listened to them a few years ago. Skip ahead and today Amazon had a 'lightning sale' on the HD650 for $415 CAD, which was 97% sold out. Sure enough, I made the impulse buy, and now I'm seeking...

  Perfect, this is exactly what I wanted to know. It looks like I should be fine as I believe the IE80s are slightly more sensitive than the IEMs I intend to use. Out of curiosity, what year is your Macbook Pro? I have a new-ish one, and the onboard DAC is considerably better than previous...

  I understand the earphones will require minimal amplification, but what I'm primarily concerned about is the noise floor. Did you experience any audible hiss, cracks, or static sounds instead of a completely black background? I'm particularly sensitive to this, and I was hoping I could...

Ortofon eQ-5.   For this application, you'll be hard pressed to find a better IEM for the money: - Amazing build quality - Accurate, balanced sound signature - Comfortable to wear - Easy to quickly insert/remove - Great isolation  - Low microphonics with supple yet strong cable - $198...

Has anyone had an opportunity to test the Fulla with high sensitivity IEMs (e.g., 117dB/40 ohms)? Under the FAQ portion of the Fulla product page, Schiit states that the Fulla is suitable for most IEMs, but I question how accurate that claim truly is. I have one on order that I was planning to...

1. This is primarily about comfort/fit/ease of use. BUT, if I'm spending good money on a replacement cable, then I also expect a noticeable improvement in SQ. I understand your point that bigger improvements in SQ can be had elsewhere, but again, this is primarily about comfort and fit. 2...

I'm sure there's several free programs that can convert FLAC to ALAC, but I want to know which one performs the best. As for alternative players, I have a strong preference for iTunes because it's simple and I'm already familiar with it. I rather work with two iTunes libraries instead of two...

Typically I would agree, but in this case, I don't have a choice...   1. For unknown reasons, iTunes does not automatically change the sampling rate, so it's best to set the audio output to the highest setting that you files will support. This way, you don't need to change the audio output...

I'm not an expert, but I've grappled with similar issues and I have a few insights...   On the whole, IEMs are the most appropriate/suitable for this application. If you're at work, you don't want to have to contend with cumbersome headphones. Think about your workflow -- answering the phone...

I’m slightly embarrassed, but I just learned that you can create multiple iTunes libraries on the same machine. This solves my problem of having to manage two separate collections of music files: the 320kbps MP3 files for on-the-go listening, and the 24/96 high-res files for serious at-home...

I've been out of the head-fi scene for quite some time, and so I'm wondering if there's any consensus on the best cable replacements for the Shure SE535? Any known brands/manufacturers that have good synergy? I really hated the memory wire on the stock cable (I removed it), so I'd strongly...

  Thanks for the helpful reply. After posting, I did a bit more research and figured much of this out.   Being high sensitivity, low impedance IEMs, the Ortofon e-Q5 likely won't benefit from amplification. If anything, amplification alone would likely increase the noise floor. Both the...

  Blasphemy!   But thank you for the other info. I wonder why Ortofon USA goes out of their way to identify these unauthorized dealers, especially if they have legit connections in other jurisdictions/regions? As a consumer, a red flag pops up when the manufacturer identifies unauthorized...

  So is MusicaAcoustics licensed through Ortofon Japan? How can they be selling the e-Q8 if Ortofon Japan isn't selling them yet?   I just want to make sure I'm not purchasing any gray market products that may be used, factory seconds, or not within spec.

Sorry to hijack this thread (not really), but I have a quick question regarding Ortofon authorized dealers. MusicaAcoustics seems to be a popular online retailer for Ortofon IEMs, but they are not an authorized dealer according to Ortofon USA. What gives? Are their products genuine/authentic and...

For years, I always told myself that SQ should be the determining factor when buying IEMs. Comfort and convenience are important, but SQ is always paramount. Now, I'm beginning to see the error of my ways...   I presently own 3 IEMs, all of which are somewhat antiquated by today's standards...

I'm looking to buy a pair of Ortofon e-Q5 earphones; I've owned these previously, and they're my favourite go-to IEMs for general use. Having never owned an amp or DAC before, I'm curious if either would improve the performance of these IEMs. Here are the specs for the Ortofon e-Q5: Audio...

Bump.   Has anything come to market that would blow the Ortofon e-Q5 out of the water (for under $300)? I'm looking for a similar sound signature, robust build quality, and NO over-the-ear design. Advice?

I used to own the Ortofon e-Q5's, and I really enjoyed them as a go-to portable IEM. The sound was crystal clear with the mids being slightly forward and a bit warm. The bass was a little light, but overall, I thought they were great. I especially liked the design and I found them quite...

I'm looking for recommendations on a replacement cable for my bronze Shure SE535, but my preferences are a bit specific.    Although the stock cable is decent, I find it too long and somewhat unwieldy -- it's stiff/thick, but rarely stays in place. For example, the stiff over-the-ear section...

Hmm, so I take it there are no comparable alternatives?   A local dealer just recommended the Ortofon e-Q5's. Does anyone have any direct experience? I'm going to audition all three this weekend or next. I had no idea Ortofon even made headphones; I use one of their cartridges on my...

I'm interested in upgrading to a better pair of IEMs from my current Westone UM1s. I like the UM1s, but I find they lack in bass and overall dynamics. My one major complaint is that I absolutely, unreservedly, unequivocally, H-A-T-E their over-the-ear design. I find that the cord never stays...

Don't be fooled by the price of the Monster Turbine's; they've been on "sale" for $100 for about 2 years now. While I still consider them a decent earphone for $100, I think you can find something a bit better. The Turbines sound really good in the low end, but at the expense of the mids/highs...