The T-20s are great studio cans, pero medyo mabigat. Aside from the slight weight, they are hard to wear if the weather is warm because they tend to heat up because they make a good seal around the ears - but that only improves the sound quality. If sound is what you're after, this and the AKG-240 (another classic reference set from years back) are great choices.
What I like about the T-20s (I've worn out three pairs in my life; I used to produce radio shows and commercials, and I brought my own to the studio) is that they have replaceable cables - which is what gives out first in quality sets, as opposed to the conventional wisdom that the speaker diaphragms go first. The wear and tear on the cable is worse. The T-20 cable that comes with a pair has a mini-stereo plug which goes into the left can (there is a lockable mini-jack there) and a full-sized stereo plug on the other end. Just find (or make) one with both baby jacks on each end and you're good to go with just about any DMP. Other good full sets have big plugs on the end and it's a bummer to use an adaptor (or even worse, to physically convert it to a mini-plug and compromise the sound quality).
The sound of the Fostex is largely flat (kasi studio reference set siya) but it gives you the purest possible reproduction; tweak the output's equalization from the source na lang. Personally, the T-20s are a hair bassy for me, but it's just my ears, I think.
For full-size headphones they're a bit expensive though, and hard to find (Hong Kong's the best source, or online), but they sure beat the pants off any earbuds.
I'd suggest the more affordable and easily available MPIO SE300s which go for about P1K and can be found in any decent store here. I use a pair myself. For a full-sized pair of cans, it's already got a baby plug on the end, and the cord is just the right length for a take-along pair (it comes with an extension cable for home use). They're also pretty comfortable to wear, and not heavy at all. I just find it a bit too bassy for me (then again my ears are pretty picky).
Sorry ha. Ang haba na pala ng sagot ko. Parang review na. You asked me about a topic that's near and dear to my heart kasi, Jer.
Re: wooohoooooagabotDecember 13 2006, 03:28:16 UTC
Ok si Bose, but personally, parang Havaianas din ang mga headsets - in the end, tsinelas lang naman silang lahat.
By the very nature of its function, I don't think people should be too nitpicky about headphones for outdoor and recreational use. You'll be bombarded with lots of distractions, but auditory and visual - like people talking around you, car engines and honking, pretty girls walking by, a fancy Porsche scooting past, some idiot trying to give you a Family First brochure at the mall - you can't concentrate on what you're listening to 100% anyway. So what's the use of all the audiophile snob technology in a situation like this? You're not in a sound-proof studio with power-filtered high-end equipment listening to crystal-clear recordings on studio-grade headphones.
If the included iPod earphones were a little better at isolating the sound and didn't fall out of my ears all the time, I'd use them more.
With the basic needs met and all other things being equal, I'd give more importance to comfortabilty, convenience and affordability than speaker technology and brand names, and look for things like noise-cancelling and stuff like that rather than rare-earth metals in the earphones. I own several headphones and earphones and use them depending on the situation and the need, and according to what I'm listening to.
Then again, different strokes for different folks.
Re: wooohooooovicicasasDecember 13 2006, 03:46:30 UTC
I wouldn't say I'm a headphone/earphone addict, but I've gone through quite a few pairs myself. I used to use a pair of Sennheiser 580s here at work and they were so darn comfy plus they sounded really good ... they got stolen, so I now use 590s. I've owned (and broken) a pair of Shure E2cs, replaced them with a pair of Ety ER-6is (which I find really clear and sharp but a tad wanting in the bass department - perhaps it's not a perfect fit with my ear canals) and even a set of Apple In-Ears which I retrofitted with the earpieces left over from my Shures. Yep, they fit.
At home I've got a pair of AKG K240s plugged into my PC and I also have a set of Bose Triports that I picked up on a whim after spending a little too much time at the iPod store display at the Regent St UK Apple store.
Over at the Wiredstate forum, there's what appears to be a good deal on brand new Sennheiser's CX300s. I've been convincing myself not to pick them up but deep inside I know I'm going to succumb sooner or later....
Re: wooohoooooagabotDecember 13 2006, 13:37:52 UTC
The lurker lives! Hi, Vic. I hope my guys didn't bum you out too much at the shoot yesterday.
I miss my AKGs. Left them at K-Lite when I left, never looked back. Sigh.
I'm trying to set up a small no-real-budget studio at the office, but I'm afraid I've been out of touch with the current trends and technology since I left radio. Was meaning to pick your brains over coffee or something sometime soon. Call you before the year's out. (If you'll be in town, that is. You have Gears of War yet?)
Re: wooohooooovicicasasDecember 13 2006, 14:08:16 UTC
Yep, Gears of War is mindnumbingly beautiful. Best graphics I've seen on any platform.
If you wanna talk tech, give me a call before the end of next week while my partner Dennis is still in town. He's the best person to sit down with us and help go over what you need for your studio-in-the-making!
What I like about the T-20s (I've worn out three pairs in my life; I used to produce radio shows and commercials, and I brought my own to the studio) is that they have replaceable cables - which is what gives out first in quality sets, as opposed to the conventional wisdom that the speaker diaphragms go first. The wear and tear on the cable is worse. The T-20 cable that comes with a pair has a mini-stereo plug which goes into the left can (there is a lockable mini-jack there) and a full-sized stereo plug on the other end. Just find (or make) one with both baby jacks on each end and you're good to go with just about any DMP. Other good full sets have big plugs on the end and it's a bummer to use an adaptor (or even worse, to physically convert it to a mini-plug and compromise the sound quality).
The sound of the Fostex is largely flat (kasi studio reference set siya) but it gives you the purest possible reproduction; tweak the output's equalization from the source na lang. Personally, the T-20s are a hair bassy for me, but it's just my ears, I think.
For full-size headphones they're a bit expensive though, and hard to find (Hong Kong's the best source, or online), but they sure beat the pants off any earbuds.
I'd suggest the more affordable and easily available MPIO SE300s which go for about P1K and can be found in any decent store here. I use a pair myself. For a full-sized pair of cans, it's already got a baby plug on the end, and the cord is just the right length for a take-along pair (it comes with an extension cable for home use). They're also pretty comfortable to wear, and not heavy at all. I just find it a bit too bassy for me (then again my ears are pretty picky).
Sorry ha. Ang haba na pala ng sagot ko. Parang review na. You asked me about a topic that's near and dear to my heart kasi, Jer.
Reply
Thanks for the kickass reply! Sige, I'll check out the MPIO SE300s.
I was looking at these Bose Triport headphones kasi, eh. Dunno if these are any good either..(http://www.amazon.com/Bose-TriPort-Headphones/dp/B000HWV8QG/sr=8-13/qid=1165979066/ref=sr_1_13/002-8128088-8782425?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)
Reply
By the very nature of its function, I don't think people should be too nitpicky about headphones for outdoor and recreational use. You'll be bombarded with lots of distractions, but auditory and visual - like people talking around you, car engines and honking, pretty girls walking by, a fancy Porsche scooting past, some idiot trying to give you a Family First brochure at the mall - you can't concentrate on what you're listening to 100% anyway. So what's the use of all the audiophile snob technology in a situation like this? You're not in a sound-proof studio with power-filtered high-end equipment listening to crystal-clear recordings on studio-grade headphones.
If the included iPod earphones were a little better at isolating the sound and didn't fall out of my ears all the time, I'd use them more.
With the basic needs met and all other things being equal, I'd give more importance to comfortabilty, convenience and affordability than speaker technology and brand names, and look for things like noise-cancelling and stuff like that rather than rare-earth metals in the earphones. I own several headphones and earphones and use them depending on the situation and the need, and according to what I'm listening to.
Then again, different strokes for different folks.
Reply
At home I've got a pair of AKG K240s plugged into my PC and I also have a set of Bose Triports that I picked up on a whim after spending a little too much time at the iPod store display at the Regent St UK Apple store.
Over at the Wiredstate forum, there's what appears to be a good deal on brand new Sennheiser's CX300s. I've been convincing myself not to pick them up but deep inside I know I'm going to succumb sooner or later....
back to lurk mode.
http://wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12602
Reply
I miss my AKGs. Left them at K-Lite when I left, never looked back. Sigh.
I'm trying to set up a small no-real-budget studio at the office, but I'm afraid I've been out of touch with the current trends and technology since I left radio. Was meaning to pick your brains over coffee or something sometime soon. Call you before the year's out. (If you'll be in town, that is. You have Gears of War yet?)
Reply
If you wanna talk tech, give me a call before the end of next week while my partner Dennis is still in town. He's the best person to sit down with us and help go over what you need for your studio-in-the-making!
See ya.
Reply
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