InnerFidelity

Tyll Hertsens

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What's the Most Important Headphone in the History of Headphone Enthusiasm?

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Mar 08, 2013 • Published: Dec 31, 1969 • 98 comments

I'm wondering, what's the most important headphone ever made for headphone enthusiasts?

Not necessarily the best sounding, or highest price, or most popular, but the headphone that was most influential in spurring on the hobby of headphone enthusiasm. In your mind, the most important audiophile headphone.

Here's the choices I came up with; if you feel I missed one you think more important, feel free to write in your choice in the comments.

What's the Most Important Headphone in the History of Headphone Enthusiasm?

Sennheiser HD 800 - In my mind, Sennheiser's most serious attempt at producing the world's best headphone.

AKG K1000 - If you have on of these, there's no doubt in my mind you are a hard-core headphone geek.

Grado SR60 - Probably the most common "first real headphone" for most headphone enthusiasts.

Denon AH-D5000 - One of the best sealed headphones ever made, and the subject of many DIY modification efforts by enthusiasts.

AKG K701 - First headphone to challenge the HD 600, and one of the first headphones to trigger the fanboi response on Head-Fi.

Fostex T50RP - Still surviving old school planar-magnetic headphone, heavily favored by DIYers for modification.

Stax SR-007 Omega II - First electrostatic headphone really good enough to spur aftermarket electrostatic headphone amplifiers.

Sony MDR-R10 - The Phoenix we all hoped would rise again...but never did. Headphone enthusiast unobtainium.

Etymotic ER4S - The balanced armature in-ear headphone that started it all. Still in production...and still very good.

Sennheiser Orpheus - The pinnacle of headphone opulence. Sennheiser still uses this flagship to show it's muscles.

Sennheiser HD 600 - Much maligned for its "veil," the HD 600 quietly remains one of the best buys in headphone audiophilia.

Headphone News: March 4, 2013

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Mar 04, 2013 • 16 comments

A new month already!? Damn. I think I'll put up a news post that's been brewing, and forego a Monthly Update as I haven't got a lot of cans measured this month. A lot coming next month though.

On with the news!

Today, Wednesday February 27, I'll be posting an "Ask Me Anything" thread at Reddit r/headphones

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 27, 2013 • 6 comments

Today, February 27, 1PM to 5PM EST, I will be posting an "Ask Me Anything" thread. Please feel free to join me in the fray!

You can find the thread here.

Headphone Cable Measurements Wrap-Up

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 25, 2013 • 64 comments

Alrighty then, I've listened for hours and hours, read dozens of threads, talked with experts on the phone, and I'm now ready to wrap this thing up.

Don't expect a miracle.

Headphone Amp Measurements ... Almost There!

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 19, 2013 • 36 comments

Wanting to spend a lot of time listening to headphone cables, I decided to return to the task of programming my amp measurement routine. Damn, can't listen and program at the same time.

Headphone News: February 11, 2013

Filed Under: News

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 11, 2013 • 4 comments

Oh my! Great news week. Gizmodo dishes the dirt on Dre and Monster. Dre sues Yamaha, Monster sues Dolby---sheesh! Onkyo releases new cans. Meridian puts their brains in a tiny aluminum tube. And 1964 Ears has a cool new video.

Headphone Cable Measurements Part One

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 08, 2013 • 47 comments

I've been avoiding this for quite a while now. I knew it wouldn't show a damn thing. Puts me in a pickle because I can hear differences between cables...I'm pretty sure. Ah well, you gotta throw the objectivists a bone every now and then.

Innerfidelity February 2013 Update

Filed Under: Tyll Hertsens Blog

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 06, 2013 • 27 comments

It's the middle of winter here in Montana. I can tell because the deer come out of the mountains and start living in the neighborhood. There's a whole herd that live in the neighbor's back yard under two large Fir trees. Fortunately they're quiet, so there's no problems measuring headphones.

Focal Spirit One

Filed Under: Full-Size Sealed Headphone Reviews

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Feb 02, 2013 • 18 comments

The bad news is that there's been a bit of a manufacturing glitch with Focal's introduction of their first headphone: The Spirit One. The good news is they've stepped up to the plate and fixed it, and the cans perform quite nicely.

Wanna hear the whole story?

Headphone News: January 28, 2013

Filed Under: News

By: Tyll Hertsens • Posted: Jan 28, 2013 • 11 comments

Editor's Note: I used to tweet interesting news items, but I don't think it did justice to some stories. So, I'm going to keep surfing the news for headphones stories and make comments as I see the need, and when I build up a little chunk of interesting news stories post them here. I expect you'll see something about every two weeks or so. Here's the first.