Recent comments in /f/headphones

Low_Attitude_5293 t1_j94un77 wrote

Reply to Am I using my headsets wrong or is my head just too big? by TheIrishLaw

I was on the same boat as you. Had steelseries for few years (Siberia, 5h, 7h, hyperx could 1 and 2), all steelseries headsets broke after warranty, hyper x started flaking and the pads (ear and headband) were yuck beyond repair.

After that I invested into dt770 and that's the best choice I have done. I have them for 6 years now, only changed the pads few times, and they were opened numerous times since I was modding then, everything works as day 1.

They are built like tanks, and sound better then previous headsets. Now I have internal damping inside of them, mass loading mod, modded headband with leather strap, and 3d printed adapters for 110 mm pads (stock are 100 mm), and I absolutely love then, from sound to comfort.

2

S0_B00sted t1_j94s9s2 wrote

Reply to What would happen if I covered the grills of an open back headphone? by gingerisdeadinside

It would sound bad. Closed headphones have material in the cups to dampen the sound bouncing around inside the cup. The 560S are meant for home listening, they're not made for outdoor use or travelling. If you want to listen on the go, get some portable closed-back headphones or IEMs. ANC would be a nice feature for that use case as well.

20

TagalogON t1_j94rmf9 wrote

Reply to What would happen if I covered the grills of an open back headphone? by gingerisdeadinside

Sound shouldn't leak that much with open back headphones, you're probably listening too loudly, especially when outside as you're trying to compensate with the external noises with your music.

Try not to raise your volume before you leave your home as yes it's damaging your ears when you make it compete with outside noises.

I have the Sennheiser HD 560S too and I can power that (one-sided only, lol) with the FiiO UTWS3/5 TWS adapters just fine and it's yes easy to get high volume, so yup don't try to increase it so much when outside.

But yes the HD 560S can leak quite a bit with certain albums/songs/etc. even if the other ones in your playlist don't leak at all. It's just varied like that and so you have to know which ones are more likely to leak, like usually you'll know as the volume is louder (even if you didn't change the volume on the app/phone/anywhere) but sometimes those songs are after you're already listening for a long time and our ears get easily used to loud noises and so it's easy to forget.

So yes just be mindful if you don't want to bother the other people commuting on the train/bus. Though I must emphasize again to try not to raise the volume once you leave your home as even though you likely won't be able to hear anything against the bus engines, people's conversations, et cetera, it's the safe way for your years.

Try IEMs or TWS earbuds instead for the better passive noise reduction. Closed back headphones, especially those with ANC/Bluetooth will also work well with commute.

There's Bluetooth amp/DAC dongles like the Qudelix 5K btw, but make sure to search up on how to use them with Apple/Lightning devices as people need special OTG (allows data transfer) cables and so on. Or adapters/converters like the Apple camera kit or something like that, so that the dongles work properly with the Lightning device.

Those Bluetooth amp/DAC dongles usually have parametric/etc. EQ these days and so you can easily change the sound there. As yup, covering the grills of open back headphones are not gonna really change the sound to what you think. Like usually it doesn't do much even with the noise reduction/isolation.

Try using aftermarket earpads like Dekoni, Brainwavz, etc. instead. Look for the leather/etc. earpads, or other materials known for noise reduction as velour is usually there for the comfort/sound.

Actually parametric EQ will have easily noticeable changes too.

Don't forget to check the subreddit, /r/oratory1990, for preset parametric EQ list (mainly for headphones but there's some IEMs there): https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets

See here for more info about parametric EQ, squig.link comparison graphs, AutoEQ, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/109meb5/eq/j40cy1n/

Open back headphones noise reduction (scroll to the bottom half part of the comment), earwax clogging issue, parametric EQ, noise reduction for your PC/room, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/115c99b/coming_from_iems_and_looking_for_headphones_150_eu/j92mpe9/

10

TagalogON t1_j94o1j7 wrote

Reply to Just got my new 7hz Salnotes Zero and would like some help with the constant buzzing by Feolathanos

Okay, so a lot of people have never used IEMs with PCs before and so yes that background static situation is a normal thing to encounter. I had super loud/etc. sound whenever I'd plug it in the 3.5mm plug/port of the front panel of the computer case, same with the plugs directly on the motherboard at the back of he case.

This was before dongles became really a thing, but what I did was basically yes, just get my standalone desktop amp/etc. and use that with the IEMs. Not practical due to the near guaranteed channel imbalance that you'll get before 9 o'clock or so on the volume knob, but it works with removing/reducing the buzzing sound. I also set a negative preamp/etc. volume with (Peace) Equalizer APO to further lower the volume for better hearing health.

And yes apparently sometimes getting just a cheap $10 extension/etc. cable helps for some people too.

Anyway, long story short there's many ways for the static on the computer case to be happening (for example when gaming at high framerates/resolution, bad motherboard/etc. installation, improper I/O shield installation, PSU problems, power strip/surge protector issues, et cetera) but these days you can usually fix it with the $10 dongles (the adapters/converters that let you use 3.5mm IEMs/cables with the USB-A/USB-C ports on your computer device) and so on.

Basically try to change something with the audio chain or configuration. Like really any extra external audio device will work and dongles are usually the cheapest and these days they're everywhere too.

Try to get the dongles with physical volume control as those will further help reduce the buzzing/static/hissing/etc. Essentially you press the physical buttons to the lowest volumes possible and then adjust on your Windows volume slider and so on.

As like some dongles without physical volume control will actually make that buzzing/static/etc. noise way louder, lol, no matter what you do.

Here's a bit more info on dongles (with physical volume control) and static/hissing/buzzing/et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/100lh5a/dac_for_new_mb_asus_and_new_headphone/j2icwxm/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/zn88xs/help_on_iems_pc_usage/j0fns20/

For the passive noise reduction/isolation (btw if you want active noise cancellation or ANC, you'll have to get TWS earbuds as wired IEMs/earbuds/etc. do not really have that feature outside of a few old and obscure models that are not reviewed well for sound quality), you can change that by using different ear tips.

Sometimes you may want smaller ear tips so it doesn't seal at all. Sometimes you want bigger ear tips so that a quick wiggle will easily break the vacuum seal. Et cetera. Some ear tips with easy warping/wiggling are Moondrop Spring (and kinda the new TRN T ear tips), FiiO HS18, etc.

For me I always shove the ear tips and IEMs as deep as possible for better noise reduction/isolation and so I just get used to that underwater/occlusion/etc. effect. The one like where you hear your breathing more and can't really hear much when you're focused on something. Some people get something like motion sickness with that feeling and to overcome it you just have to keep trying to ignore it, lol, it's like car motion sickness. After a while you'll forget it existed.

Anyway, so when people try to talk to you, you can try lowering the volume or remove the side of the ear closest to the person so that you can hear them better. Again unfortunately wired IEMs do not really have extra features like ambient/transparency/etc. mode where you press a few times and then it uses the mics to hear your surroundings, those are really only with Bluetooth/wireless stuff.

Which reminds me, whenever there's external noises interfering with your sounds/music, do not raise the volume as it's just making it compete with those external noises and probably damaging your hearing. Basically just try to achieve the best fit so that the noise reduction is as good as it gets.

Try something like Spinfits for better noise reduction/isolation.

For Spinfits, usually some AliExpress storefronts or like say MTMTaudio/etc. will allow people to only get 2 pieces of 1 size for cheaper or half price of the usual price. Like some Spinfits models are often $10 with 4 pieces of 1 size and so they sell it for $5 for 2 pieces.

Here's more specific 7Hz Salnotes Zero ear tip size comparisons: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/yzryfw/7hz_salnotes_zero_ear_tips_sizes/ix211ef/

Cheap ear tips (basically FiiO HS18, Spinfit from some AliExpress storefronts, Chinese websites like MTMTaudio/et cetera, and so on) and possibly better soundstage: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/1157giz/upgrade_imaging_with_balanced_cable_iem_or/j90a003/

Here's a bit more info on ear tips (talks about narrow/wide bore ear tips, effects of sizes of ear tips, how to put ear tips on wide nozzles, et cetera): https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/10lly6d/how_to_make_sense_of_iem_tip_fit/j5xnyv2/

Also extra info on ear tips: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/10k210n/alternative_tips_for_aria/j5o2f8q/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/10x7ast/suggestions_on_getting_a_good_seal_with_the_7hz/j7qrrcg/

This is how you should use Etymotics or really any IEM or TWS earbud to make sure you have that good/perfect fit for that vacuum seal (necessary for the bass to be properly produced): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KwXEqe6Gq4

More info on headphones/IEMs and PC gaming: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/1151ezm/looking_for_1st_real_pair_of_headphones_mostly/j8zm0q8/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/10zxpfb/why_are_you_using_openback_headphones_for_gaming/j85vv18/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/10ks4tr/looking_for_iem_for_gaming_and_music_listening/j5sjhyh/

Earwax clogging issue, parametric EQ, noise reduction for your PC/room, et cetera: https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/115c99b/coming_from_iems_and_looking_for_headphones_150_eu/j92mpe9/

3

Perfect-Grade t1_j94jq7o wrote

Reply to Just got my new 7hz Salnotes Zero and would like some help with the constant buzzing by Feolathanos

If it’s not happening with your Switch, the buzzing could be interference coming from other electrical components in your PC.

I don’t have the Salnotes Zero but they might be extremely sensitive IEMs and are picking up on when your pc is and isn’t outputting sound.

A cheap USB audio dongle can fix it, like the apple USB-C to 3.5mm if your PC has a USB-C port. Lots of USB products if not.

1

Feolathanos OP t1_j94it18 wrote

Reply to comment by layer11 in Just got my new 7hz Salnotes Zero and would like some help with the constant buzzing by Feolathanos

Yeah, I think that's why my search results came up empty handed. I didn't remember hearing that they had any sort of noise cancelling, but even after a few weeks since last looking into them I didn't wanna rely on my memory. There's like NO static or buzzy sound AT ALL when using it on different devices though, so sadly it's just an error probably something with my PC case or motherboard. Oops. Oh well. I plugged them into a splitter I had lying around it and for some reason it mostly neutralized the static problem I had at least.

Anyways, thanks for trying to help me out and sorry for wasting everyones time. I feel like I should probably just delete this entire thing lol? There's no way to like, resolve or lock it on my end is there?

1

FiftyPaneristi t1_j93xe4h wrote

Reply to Am I using my headsets wrong or is my head just too big? by TheIrishLaw

Turtle beach and hyper x is known to be built like 💩.

The arctis line is also notorious for breaking prematurely. The arctis nova supposedly fix the issue.

Next time buy high quality, such as Epos, Sennheiser, and beyerdynamics. Stop touching those garbage headsets from hyper x, turtle beach, steelseries, Corsair, astro, Logitech, astro, etc.

11

unuselessness t1_j93wi0m wrote

Reply to comment by TheIrishLaw in Am I using my headsets wrong or is my head just too big? by TheIrishLaw

Depends on how you are doing it I suppose. If you take it off and put it on with both hands on the cups then while you pull it wider than your head and ears you are max stressing the joint/hinges where they connect to the cups. If you grab the headband above the cups and hangers then you won’t stress the joint/hinges at all, you’d be stressing the headband itself instead. That’s how I took my SteelSeries arctic pro wireless for years because of the know breaking issuez

1

Gobbelcoque t1_j93vy2x wrote

Reply to How much better does sound get than what I'm currently using? by pstrib

If you're happy with the sound, that's all that matters. You definitely aren't getting an "objectively bad" experience with that setup.

When I lost my btr5 I upgraded to the btr7 and.... I miss the BTR5. The audio difference was imperceptible and the form factor if the 5 is just way better.

I'd argue that a planar IEM like the 7hz diokos would be a noticeable improvement sound wise, but there's no need to really start chasing that unicorn. I could happily live forever out of CCA CRA's.

1