Which headphones to use with my Clavinova?

[the romantic]

Hi all,

I have a Clavinova CLP-990 and I need to buy some new headphones.  I have been using the Yamaha RH5MA headphones that I got with the piano several years ago but they have now developed a buzz.

I would like to know which headphones are recommended for use with a digital piano.  I don't mind how much they cost, just that they are comfortable and reproduce the sound nicely.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!


Martin

[richard black]

Without spending really arms and legs money, just about the best headphone I know of (and I've tested _a lot_ of them) is the Sennheiser HD650. Very good sound, well made, widely available, UK price £250-ish. Sennheiser's cheaper models are invariably a safe bet too.

[the romantic]

Thanks Richard,

I looked into Sennheiser, they seem to have a good reputation.  However, after doing some more research, it seems that in order to get the best performance out of the HD 650, I would need to get a 'headphone amplifier'.  Apparently this is something to do with the impedence?  From what I can gather, because the HD 650 has a high impedence (300 Ohms) they will sound muffled or 'veiled' without using an amp to 'open them up'.  The headphones I am currently using have a very low impedence of just 32 Ohms.

I don't have a good understanding of the technical side, and got this info from reading Amazon reviews and a few audiophile sites.  Perhaps the amplifier in my Clavinova is already powerful enough?


Martin

[oxy60]

Then obviously you need headphones that will switch between the two. My Bose has that capability. I use one setting for the airplane seat audio and another for my CD player. (no bluetooth use in the plane) At my Yamaha keyboard I use the airplane setting as well as when I am plugged into a mixer.

[richard black]

No, don't believe all that stuff about headphone amplifiers being essential. Adding a headphone amp is the last little bit of extra polish to add to the sound one day when you're feeling flush. The HD650 will work perfectly well plugged into any headphone output. Don't believe the audiophiles - they mangle information they get from hi-fi reviewers, and most of that information is mangled already. You can trust me on this - I've been a hi-fi reviewer for years!

The _only_ technical issue between high-impedance (like Sennheiser) and low-impedance headphones is that the latter will play a bit louder, especially with portable music players. Well, big deal. Only matters if you want to blow your ears off playing MC Brain Damage at !!!! decibels.

[the romantic]

Thanks for the replies!

Well I'm definitely going to go with Sennheiser.  Either the HD 650 or perhaps the 600 or 595.

My only other concern with these high quality headphones is that they are of the 'open back' design.  I understand this produces a much more natural sound, but I wonder how much of it leaks out.  I do like to play the piano at some unsociable times and I don't wish to disturb the neighbours!

Thanks again for the advice!


Martin

[richard black]

Open-back headphones do leak out more sound, but:

1 It's possibly enough to annoy someone in the same room as you - if they're really fussy - but no way will it get through a wall, still less a door;

2 Closed-back ones still leak out some sound.

[the romantic]

ok, you win    And Sennheiser too!

[gyzzzmo]

I'm using the Sennheiser HD448, cheap and works great