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The Voices In My Head

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Gidders View Drop Down
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    Posted: 13 Jun 2017 at 10:50pm
I usually listen to my system via the speakers, but whenever I have to use my headphones the music sounds as though its inside my head. I get instruments placed left, right & centre but on a very small stage.

Do I need better headphones? Or a better headphone amp? Or is it a function of headphone listening compared to speakers?

My headphones are old Sennheiser HD 565 Ovation and my headphone amp is a cheap QED MB45 which connects in the tape loop of my Naim pre amp.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jun 2017 at 11:54pm
Try a direct signal via a Solo Ultra Linear DE by contacting Fatmangolf on the loaner program.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2017 at 12:22am
The "inside the head" sensation is a characteristic of headphones unfortunately. In my experience, with standard recordings, Graham Slee electronics like a Bitzie or Solo paired with something like a HD250II or HD540II or even a HD800 will transform the inside of the head into an enormous vast expanse of sound with astounding clarity and resolution. However, the sound is still ultimately inside the head because the sound from headphone drivers originates so close to each ear and without physical interaural crosstalk (each ear only hears one channel), the full extent of the soundstaging is compromised. Increasing the ear-to-driver distance in a headphone earcup enclosure increases the enclosed space/air around the ears, permitting improved stereo imaging in my experience.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gidders Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2017 at 12:26am
Originally posted by Graham Slee Graham Slee wrote:

Try a direct signal via a Solo Ultra Linear DE by contacting Fatmangolf on the loaner program.

Thanks for the suggestion...

  1. by direct signal - do you mean connecting the source component straight to the headphone amp rather than via my 82 pre amp? If so that will mean re connecting my system each time I swap from speakers to headphones :(
  2. most of my listening is done via my speakers so I'd find it difficult to justify that level of expenditure - will I not get a bigger soundstage with one of the lesser amps?
Gidders
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jun 2017 at 9:37am
1. It depends on the capability of the preamp. You will find out by comparing direct connection with your existing preamp connection.

2. The loaner scheme was established to enable you and others try as many products as you like, so please do.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dillon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2018 at 7:54pm
Do not ask me to explain this!

Every headphone system I have ever used has the sounds whizzing around inside your head phenomenon. The "headstage" is inside mostly. But. I have this one headphone jack adaptor..just a normal one mind, nothing fancy or bespoke. I have several other connectors, but using this specific one somehow pushes the entire headstage outside my head! That means all the stage is placed in front of me. In a round circle. As if you are looking towards a concert stage, and not sat in the middle of it. Panned instruments don't even come directly out of the earpads but slightly in front of them. I cannot replicate this astonishing "outside of the head" presentation any other way. But somehow it works. And no its not crossfeed.

My 'phones are normal Audeze LCD2s.

You think you are puzzled??!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2018 at 7:59pm
I had an adapter lead which gave a similar effect. I found it had a small resistor in the 0V path.
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