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Recommend Headphones for rMBP

B

BeachChair

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 11, 2008
590
5
Copenhagen, Denmark
I'm using Sennheiser HD595, but have to run them at the very lowest volume.

I was thinking of getting some headphones with more impedance to match the apparently pretty powerful output of the rMBP15. Anyone found a good match for the rMBP?
 
On my HD590 everything is loud, but still ok with three, four or five blocks of volume. Things get loud above six blocks. Same with a couple of earbuds.


You can finetune with option-shift volumekey.



Edit:

HD590: 120 Ohm
HD595: 50 Ohm

Get an older HD590 ;-)
 
You can also try Boom:
http://www.globaldelight.com/boom/

It says it's for increasing your output but you can also decrease it. You simply have a system-wide EQ with a "preamp" control similar to iTunes' EQ.
 
I like the headphones that come with the iPhone 5 quite a lot.
... as for headsets, yeah Sennheiser is good ( have been using their stuff for years ).
 
BeachChair said:
I'm using Sennheiser HD595, but have to run them at the very lowest volume.

I was thinking of getting some headphones with more impedance to match the apparently pretty powerful output of the rMBP15. Anyone found a good match for the rMBP?
Click to expand...

Impedance mostly affects damping factor and frequency response (for high impedance source) and power required to increase volume, but not necessarily the baseline volume.

I think you are looking for a headphone with lower sensitivity here. Sensitivity would affect volume more than impedance. The HD 595 has a sensitivity rating of 112dB at 1mW, so it gets friggin' loud right off the bat without you pumping any extra voltage.

On that note, try the HD 650. It's rated 103dB at 1mW so it won't get too loud, and you can safely max out the volume of your Retina MacBook without setting off the 110dB safety limit of human hearing since the rMBP needs to somehow offset the 300 Ohm impedance of the HD 650 to get that extra 7dB (hint: that requires a hell of a lot of power). HD 650 is also quite a sizable upgrade for your HD 595.
 
Don't try Boom before you investigate all their sneaky send-info-back-to-the-corporation business.

Also, it really screwed up Retina sound. I was looking up info about it when I discovered the phoning-home business. Never again.

pgiguere1 said:
You can also try Boom:
http://www.globaldelight.com/boom/

It says it's for increasing your output but you can also decrease it. You simply have a system-wide EQ with a "preamp" control similar to iTunes' EQ.
Click to expand...
 
I use Shure SRH440 Headphones, they are pretty good and work well with the rMBP, they have a lot of depth and punch without being too overpowering.

They have a sensitivity of 105 dB SPL/mW

Impedance is 44 ohms, 40mm driver
 
I really like my Audio Technica ATH-M50's.
They have a really flat response, so you can colour them as you wish with an EQ. They're also pretty reasonably priced at around £140 in the UK.

Hugh
 
My HD 220's are going extremely strong since late 2010. Really good set, got it for like £20 and its a steal considering the quality.
 
The Samurai said:
My HD 220's are going extremely strong since late 2010. Really good set, got it for like £20 and its a steal considering the quality.
Click to expand...

Excuse me if i sound rude, but you clearly did not hear a good pair of headphones if you're recommending those senns.

ATH m50's are probably the best bang for your $ but they can get uncomfortable for a longer listening periods.

To be honest go to headfi.org, and you'll get all the answers you seek.

p.s stay away from s.h.i.t like beats by dre, those headphones are nothing but bloating bass which is 10 times more overpriced than apple products.
 
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