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Sennheiser HD485

Last post Aug 01, 2008, 9:30 PM by matengawhat. (15 replies)
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Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 7:51 PM

Sennheiser HD485

I'm after some advice - my gfriend is currently studying and keeps moaning about the thud of bass bouncing through the house and wants me to pick up a pair of headphones - anyone got a pair of the above been offered them for £40 quid or can offer any other suggestions - how good are headphones for a bit of listening? I've Got a pair of Goldring GX200 for my ipod but want something more comfortable for listening on sofa or in bed. With thanks

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 7:57 PM

107361

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matengawhat:
I'm after some advice - my gfriend is currently studying and keeps moaning about the thud of bass bouncing through the house and wants me to pick up a pair of headphones - anyone got a pair of the above been offered them for £40 quid or can offer any other suggestions - how good are headphones for a bit of listening? I've Got a pair of Goldring GX200 for my ipod but want something more comfortable for listening on sofa or in bed. With thanks


I have a pair (which I use for MP3 player duties nowadays)
I still rate them as a very decent set of headphones, and utterly perfect for portable player purposes. They are extremely comfortable, and easy to wear for long periods.
They also have a changeable cord (It is plugged into the body of the headphones(
£40 isn't too bad...

“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 8:49 PM

107363

Re: Sennheiser HD485

Are these good enough to be plugged in to my arcam or kandy amp - any chance of the amps been to powerful and destroying them?

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 8:54 PM

107386

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matengawhat:
Are these good enough to be plugged in to my arcam or kandy amp - any chance of the amps been to powerful and destroying them?


Personally I would spend a little more for that use, but they are good enough, and your ears will be destroyed before the headphones!

(The HD595s I use now use for my main set are very very good, not quite on a par with the HD650s, but not a long way behind IMO)

*edit, and a bargain at just over £90 on Amazon.

Oh, and how good? Well the quality of a set of headphones like these is (IMO) on a par with speakers costing many many times as much, but then it is obviously a different listening experience.
However, I probably spend 80-90% of my listening through headphones, and 10-20 on my main system (not by choice, but family considerations etc)

*edit2... Checkout the headfi forums for a far more indepth (obsessive even) view on headphones...
“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Posted on Jul 23, 2008, 9:00 PM

107388

Re: Sennheiser HD485

i intend to use them as little as possible - prob the odd hour here or there can't justify £130 quid as they won't be well used - might also end up using them with ipod as well - cheers for feedback

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 12:13 AM

107390

Re: Sennheiser HD485

I would go for Senn HD555 which are similar to the HD595. They're £50 on Amazon. Goldring DR150s or Grado SR60s are alternatives. If its comfort your after then the Senns or Goldrings will be good choices. I think the HD555s are worth the extra £10-£15 over the 485s.

I've got the HD595s and I wear them more than my SR60s. The HD555 is a good all round headphone for all music types and should be just as comfy as the 595s.  

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 11:15 AM

107494

Re: Sennheiser HD485

Sennheisers are great. I have HD477 and HD595 (opposite ends of the price spectrum) and both are excellent. I'm currently using Beyer Dynamic DT770PRO for most of my headphone listening because they are closed back and shut out the sound of the TV, which my better half is usually watching at these times. The Beyers are also superb.
Michell Tecnodec/Rega RB250/Sumiko BPS EVO III, Graham Slee 'The Bridge', Cambridge Audio Azur 740C, Cambridge Audio Azur 740A, Sony STS-DE700, Mordaunt-Short Avant 914i, QED Micro, Chord Co. Crimson,Beyer DT770PRO, Logitech Squeezebox

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 4:35 PM

107361

Re: Sennheiser HD485

I have two pairs of the Sennheiser HD485's and I love them. I also have Grado 125's, a pair of Beyer's and Sennheiser HD600's but I prefer to listen on the Sennheiser HD485's. The Grado's are terribly uncomfortable and the HD600's make your ear's really hot after a very short time. The Sennheiser HD485's are very comfortable and sound great for the money. If you don't intend on using them very often and if you travel at all why not consider some Sennheiser PXC 450's. They are a lot more expensive but sound good and handle the travel side too.

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 4:44 PM

107911

Re: Sennheiser HD485

I have the HD595's and they are excellent for the price under £100 - but if usage is very low then it isnt that cost effective and i would agree with the 555's as being the best value for occasional use.
Arcam FMJ CD36, Arcam FJM A32, Epos M5, Chord Silverscreen Cable, Van Den Hul 'Name' Interconnect, Sennheiser HD595 Headphones .................. Onkyo CR-515, Little Dot MK III Headphone Amplifier, Tangent Evo Speakers (in bedroom)

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 6:16 PM

107626

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matthewpiano:
Sennheisers are great. I have HD477 and HD595 (opposite ends of the price spectrum) and both are excellent. I'm currently using Beyer Dynamic DT770PRO for most of my headphone listening because they are closed back and shut out the sound of the TV, which my better half is usually watching at these times. The Beyers are also superb.


You see you have this the wrong way around. When I am headphone listening, and my missus is watching Oprah or some other US rubbish, I get her to use the HD485s, whilst I use my HD595s...perfect.

“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 6:57 PM

107973

Re: Sennheiser HD485

Never mind all that 'sound quality' nonsense (!), my HD595's (and all the hifi Sennheiser 'phones) have 3 metre long cables. This gives you freedom of movement. This is the reason my Grado SR-60's were in a box for over a year whilst I used the Sennheisers through a 'Fatman iTube' valve amp instead. Very nice!



(My eldest daughter now has the Grados and a friend has the Rega EAR headphone amp.)



6 feet (or however short the miserly Grado cable was) just was not enough to play air-guitar, conduct the orchestra or lie on the couch afterwards.



My youngest daughter did once have great fun wearing the SR-60s (plugged into the TV) whilst watching 633 Squadron (or was it Dambusters?) and joining in the whole flying/bombing 'thing' with the WW2 retro looking Grados and my camera monopod as pretend controls. (We have never owned any form of games console so the poor buggers had to use their imaginations!)



The HD-485's will be fine. Honest.

Rega P2
Rega Bias 2
Rega Fono-Mini
Arcam Solo-Mini
Rega R3 loudspeakers
Gotham GAC-1 and Chord cables
Isotek Premium & Tacima (mains cable and block)

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 7:38 PM

107361

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matengawhat:
....been offered them for £40 quid...


You can get them brand new for less than £40 so don't buy them used for this price.

Rega P2
Rega Bias 2
Rega Fono-Mini
Arcam Solo-Mini
Rega R3 loudspeakers
Gotham GAC-1 and Chord cables
Isotek Premium & Tacima (mains cable and block)

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 7:41 PM

108014

Re: Sennheiser HD485

i paid just less than £40 for a new set including shipping

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 8:03 PM

108015

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matengawhat:
i paid just less than £40 for a new set including shipping


Oh OK. Good. I thought originally you meant you had been 'offered' some (like by a mate or 'bloke in the pub' or whatever..)
Rega P2
Rega Bias 2
Rega Fono-Mini
Arcam Solo-Mini
Rega R3 loudspeakers
Gotham GAC-1 and Chord cables
Isotek Premium & Tacima (mains cable and block)

Posted on Jul 24, 2008, 8:40 PM

108015

Re: Sennheiser HD485

matengawhat:
i paid just less than £40 for a new set including shipping


I don't think you will be dissapointed. One thing they are is extremely comfortable (I cant recall how many times I have fallen asleep with them on, listening to some ambient stuff in bed late on)
“Social progress can be measured by the social position of the female sex” - Karl Marx
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” - Mahatma Ghandi
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