foverosiv :
right... so why are the grado sr60i bad? also, I'm not a serious music listener so unless the good headphones actually make normal music sound bad, I think I'd go with the good headphones.
bad music files make good headphones prove themselves as being good.
the low quality audio files cannot make good headphones sound bad.
the good headphones reveal the truth of the low quality audio file.
mp3's can still sound okay.
it depends on the compression used to shrink the file.
and besides.. there is a lot of music at CD quality, without much of anything in DVD quality or better.
all of that stuff will be hitting the stores soon though.
concerts on blu-ray are pretty stupid when most of us want the studio recording on blu-ray.
hopefully we will get some studio recordings in the 'extra features' portion of a concert blu-ray.
what some of us try to say.. and what many people dont realize..
the audio quality is going to go up, thanks to blu-ray audio.
many of the headphones out there wont show much of a difference at all except some extra treble.
headphones can get really good, and they can make a good mp3 sound better than it did before.
you can sometimes hear some space in the speakers.. it sounds like 'air'
and you can tell the mp3 audio isnt fill up all of the air.
but the audio still sounds better than it did before.
if you want to hear what i have to say about the grado sr60i headphones.. read here:
http
/www.tomshardware.com/forum/57928-6-dollar-headphone#t384750
foverosiv :
also, I will not be plugging my headphones directly to the motherboard, I'll connect my crappy speaker to the motherboard, then plug the headphones to the speaker. I'm not sure what you meant by a receiver, so I'm guessing its the crappy speakers I have. if not, please correct me
a receiver is simply an audio amplifier with a dolby digital and dts decoder inside.
there is also an am/fm tuner for the radio.
you can connect all sorts of things to it..
cd players, dvd players, blu-ray players, cassette decks, ipods, cell phone audio.. whatever has an audio output.
but speakers dont come with a receiver unless you buy an 'all in one' unit.
the onboard soundcard could probably power some headphones.. but you might find the volume gets louder if you connect them to the headphone output of your amplified speaker set.
MEgamer :
one problem with the sony XBASS headphones, there soundstage is tiny.
bass isnt very much louder then i thuoght it would be according to reviewers on amazon. i guess they just havent heard good bass...
at stock without any effects at all.. the scoring goes out towards the edges of the speaker enclosure and an inch or two beyond.
the pads themselves are actually 1 and a half inches (plus an 8th of an inch approx)
the vocals are up close an in your head, rather that outside of your head.
but
there are a dozen audio plugins out there that aim to fix that.. basically simple stereo wideners.
i can turn on the cmss-3d on my x-fi soundcard and the vocals willingly go out.
it doesnt sound very good for music because the effect is ment for movies and video games.
if you want your stereo wide.. use a stereo widener (or expander).
i have listened to rap.. pop.. rock.. and dance/techno without any need to turn down the bass.
but
then i throw in some classic rock from the 1970's and there are songs that need the bass turned down.
i think it should be expected though.. because the speakers back then where not the same capable speakers of today.
nobody listened to bass much back then.. but some songs over-emphasize the bass and you can really hear it when they do.
i really think if you are complaining about an 'inside' soundstage.. these probably wont go outwards enough to please the person.
i've heard headphones with a far out soundstage and i basically ended up complaining about it because the sound was too far away and i couldnt make out what i was trying to listen to.
the more i would zoom in and try.. the louder things were when i took the headphones off.
could lead to a headache and illness if the combination of noises are correct.
i havent done a whole lot of playing with the soundstage.
but
i know i heard it go out wider some.
i dont think i am going to download the same music programs as i used to.. and that means no audio plugins.
(but knowing me.. that could change at a moments whim)
the bass can get loud.
loud enough that the headphones flap back and forth on your head.
nothing really to brag about with that kind of bass.. since i have heard headphones do that since the early 1990's.
but
these headphones go the extra mile and then some compared to those old 'studio' headphones.
i wouldnt call the 'scoring' tiny.
because as i said..
the effects stem out 4-5 inches max.
**edit**
there has been some times when i look around and some of the audio appears to be as if i am not wearing the headphones.
but
that could be my own personal depression and adrenaline rush altering the way i hear the audio.
4-5 inches max should be easily obtainable on a regular occurance.. as long as the source audio contains the effect.