I wasn't planning to write much about headphones, but
I received quite a few comments.
Regarding Teac and Ratoc, they're not complete OEMs—
I received a couple comments saying they supply some parts and such.
I can confidently say that Teac generally makes excellent amplifiers,
but in the USB-DAC built-in headphone amp category,
when it comes to budget models, Ratoc has better selection.
I personally really like that "metal-look rectangular design with just
a headphone jack and knobs"—it's so simple.
Fostex is releasing the HP-A4 soon, and Audio-Technica is coming out with the AT-HA90USB.
If the sound quality on those models is good, I might buy one.
Audio-Technica's current AT-HA70USB—
the silver finish on the surface seems weak to dirt, and you see
demo units and used ones with streaky cloudiness that won't come off even with wiping,
so the black AT-HA90USB looks better in that respect.
↑Though that's got nothing to do with sound quality
Still, the 70 and 90 are basically the same design in different colors with a 5,000 yen price difference,
so it's practically a model change.
Also got a comment saying AKG is good for open-back headphones too...
Whoa, careful—that word is dangerous. I'd end up wanting the K702
I remember endlessly comparing the Q701 in black with
when I bought the AD2000X.
For closed-back (or closed-back-ish), apparently Beyerdynamic's DT880 is recommended.
I prefer open-back, but with closed-back headphones, even models that aren't super expensive
tend to have decent bass output without it disappearing.
Can't say it's universal, but expensive open-back models have high resolution,
so you're really just hearing bass that's somewhat there because of that resolution.
My everyday Sennheiser HD700 is open-back but puts out pretty decent bass...
Someone with STAX recommended STAX to me.
Well, STAX aren't "headphones."
They're something different that STAX call "ear speakers," as they claim.
And ear speakers are divine.
But for PC audio, the wiring gets a bit...
Plus you'd need to get an entire separate set of electrostatic equipment...
（I'm not saying I won't buy them—I'm admitting honestly that they're too expensive!）
Unrelated to that, but I impulse-bought headphones again today.
Audio-Technica's ATH-BB500.
They're not extremely small headphones.
They're the type you hang from behind your neck.
The side pressure is pretty firm.
The housings aren't parallel from the side but angled inward (like a reverse V), which is why they don't slip.
I was looking for something that wouldn't slip even while bouncing on a three-roller trainer,
and after trying them on, I went with these.
If you lean forward, it's almost like they're being worn from above.
↑Even fully extended, this is the limit
↑The housings rotate 180°, probably with DJ-style use in mind.
Not that it matters to me.
For three-roller use, closed-back headphones are better.
You want the trainer noise masked more effectively.
One more thing: ear pads with plush velour or
foam are not suitable. They absorb sweat.
And one more: coiled cables aren't suitable for roller trainers (important).
I'm using mine straight-plugged into a DVD player I have in front of me,
but when I stretch the cable straight, it sags and interferes with the front wheel,
so I run it through the ceiling first.
I use an extension cable too, but either way a coiled cable just
stays extended.
That "coiled cable trying to coil back up" tension is bad for the trainer,
so I can't recommend it.
But when you search for "closed-back with large housing and strong side pressure,"
you often end up with DJ models,
and those headphones tend to have coiled cables.
This model has digital-pattern embossed synthetic leather ear pads
with a cool touch.
You see this pattern on bar tape (PRO, LOOK, OGK Kabuto, etc.) and
gloves (Intro, etc.) all the time.
Intro gloves are leather so no problem, but
bar tape peels and gets torn up behind the lever bracket.
The display model's ear pads were in exactly that condition.
I bought it knowing they'd eventually end up like that, thinking maybe
with careful use I could slow the deterioration,
but that's the one thing bothering me.
I didn't even listen to them—just tried them on over and over and chose based solely on
the hold when shaking my head, and those were the best,
so there's not much I can do about it anyway.
I actually went to look at Victor's HA-XM30X, but...
It's hard to tell from the image, but it's abnormally bulky.
But the side pressure wasn't as strong as it looked, so I passed.
Trying them on is important (←And listen to them too!).
Both this HA-XM30X and the ATH-BB500 I bought today
have surprisingly large sound leakage for closed-back models.
↑This is a model called Koss PRO4AAAT, with
unique ear cups that suction on.
They seem sweat-resistant and the sound is actually good, but unfortunately they have a coiled cable.
Just looked it up and the impedance is 250Ω.
Sensitivity is 98dB, but getting volume with direct connection seems tough.
By the time I finish writing all this, it's well past the witching hour,
but on my days off I'm dedicated to answering emails and comments.
I even closed the shop for three days recently to work on this, but it was impossible to reply to everything.
Sorry. I'm swamped right now.
I received quite a few comments.
Regarding Teac and Ratoc, they're not complete OEMs—
I received a couple comments saying they supply some parts and such.
I can confidently say that Teac generally makes excellent amplifiers,
but in the USB-DAC built-in headphone amp category,
when it comes to budget models, Ratoc has better selection.
I personally really like that "metal-look rectangular design with just
a headphone jack and knobs"—it's so simple.
Fostex is releasing the HP-A4 soon, and Audio-Technica is coming out with the AT-HA90USB.
If the sound quality on those models is good, I might buy one.
Audio-Technica's current AT-HA70USB—
the silver finish on the surface seems weak to dirt, and you see
demo units and used ones with streaky cloudiness that won't come off even with wiping,
so the black AT-HA90USB looks better in that respect.
↑Though that's got nothing to do with sound quality
Still, the 70 and 90 are basically the same design in different colors with a 5,000 yen price difference,
so it's practically a model change.
Also got a comment saying AKG is good for open-back headphones too...
Whoa, careful—that word is dangerous. I'd end up wanting the K702
I remember endlessly comparing the Q701 in black with
when I bought the AD2000X.
For closed-back (or closed-back-ish), apparently Beyerdynamic's DT880 is recommended.
I prefer open-back, but with closed-back headphones, even models that aren't super expensive
tend to have decent bass output without it disappearing.
Can't say it's universal, but expensive open-back models have high resolution,
so you're really just hearing bass that's somewhat there because of that resolution.
My everyday Sennheiser HD700 is open-back but puts out pretty decent bass...
Someone with STAX recommended STAX to me.
Well, STAX aren't "headphones."
They're something different that STAX call "ear speakers," as they claim.
And ear speakers are divine.
But for PC audio, the wiring gets a bit...
Plus you'd need to get an entire separate set of electrostatic equipment...
（I'm not saying I won't buy them—I'm admitting honestly that they're too expensive!）
Unrelated to that, but I impulse-bought headphones again today.
Audio-Technica's ATH-BB500.
They're not extremely small headphones.
They're the type you hang from behind your neck.
The side pressure is pretty firm.
The housings aren't parallel from the side but angled inward (like a reverse V), which is why they don't slip.
I was looking for something that wouldn't slip even while bouncing on a three-roller trainer,
and after trying them on, I went with these.
If you lean forward, it's almost like they're being worn from above.
↑Even fully extended, this is the limit
↑The housings rotate 180°, probably with DJ-style use in mind.
Not that it matters to me.
For three-roller use, closed-back headphones are better.
You want the trainer noise masked more effectively.
One more thing: ear pads with plush velour or
foam are not suitable. They absorb sweat.
And one more: coiled cables aren't suitable for roller trainers (important).
I'm using mine straight-plugged into a DVD player I have in front of me,
but when I stretch the cable straight, it sags and interferes with the front wheel,
so I run it through the ceiling first.
I use an extension cable too, but either way a coiled cable just
stays extended.
That "coiled cable trying to coil back up" tension is bad for the trainer,
so I can't recommend it.
But when you search for "closed-back with large housing and strong side pressure,"
you often end up with DJ models,
and those headphones tend to have coiled cables.
This model has digital-pattern embossed synthetic leather ear pads
with a cool touch.
You see this pattern on bar tape (PRO, LOOK, OGK Kabuto, etc.) and
gloves (Intro, etc.) all the time.
Intro gloves are leather so no problem, but
bar tape peels and gets torn up behind the lever bracket.
The display model's ear pads were in exactly that condition.
I bought it knowing they'd eventually end up like that, thinking maybe
with careful use I could slow the deterioration,
but that's the one thing bothering me.
I didn't even listen to them—just tried them on over and over and chose based solely on
the hold when shaking my head, and those were the best,
so there's not much I can do about it anyway.
I actually went to look at Victor's HA-XM30X, but...
It's hard to tell from the image, but it's abnormally bulky.
But the side pressure wasn't as strong as it looked, so I passed.
Trying them on is important (←And listen to them too!).
Both this HA-XM30X and the ATH-BB500 I bought today
have surprisingly large sound leakage for closed-back models.
↑This is a model called Koss PRO4AAAT, with
unique ear cups that suction on.
They seem sweat-resistant and the sound is actually good, but unfortunately they have a coiled cable.
Just looked it up and the impedance is 250Ω.
Sensitivity is 98dB, but getting volume with direct connection seems tough.
By the time I finish writing all this, it's well past the witching hour,
but on my days off I'm dedicated to answering emails and comments.
I even closed the shop for three days recently to work on this, but it was impossible to reply to everything.
Sorry. I'm swamped right now.