Headphones Recommendation
 

My OEM headphones are starting to go out and I need to replace them. Anyone have a good, non-expensive, replacement or alternative????

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

With the inline controls or just for music? I tried out some more expensive ones but ended up getting the Skullcandy Titan (local Target). I'm not a super audiophile but IMO the sound and bass "for my ears" were comparable, night and day from the OEM at a reasonable cost around 45$. (However, no mic ect.)

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

i got a pair of "skullcandy" nib from ebay for 15$ and i love them, here are some to look at but i beat the crap outa mine and no issues.

skullcandy | eBay

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

I sort of want either the ones that came with the phone that have a mic or equivalent.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Looking at these.

Any thoughts?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...3384066&back=1

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

I ended up buying these for around $15. Any thoughts? I'm just looking for OEM equivalent quality or better. Doesn't have to be amazing.....

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

How are the new Skullcandy 'phones working out?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Not bad, not bad at all. The sound is very clear but I haven't tried them out at the gym. Will do so soon.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

told ya. lol

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Did you get Voodoo sound?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Good to hear (no pun intended). Good sound, good value, no complaints.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

What is "voodoo" sound?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Its a custom driver to take advantage of the true potential of the sound DAC in the epic.


https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result

to take full advantage of it, it requires root and custom kernel. There is a none-custom kernal version (paid) which while doesn't have the full potential the custom kernal version does still makes things better:

https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Interesting!

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

actually nvm, reading it over again one requires a custom kernel and the other requires root :/

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Yep, I saw that as well when I went into the market to look at it closer. :(

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Well there is an obvious difference between the Skullcandy headphones and the OEM Samsung headphones, but not to my liking. It seems the skullcandy headphones are "too clear" and not enough bass transmits even when the equalizer and bass boost are on....

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Did the ones you purchased come with the multiple size inserts? I had the same concern out of box until I switched them with the bigger ones.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

And that is one of the things voodoo sound fixes :/

Any reason you don't want to join the custom kernel/root side?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

I'm getting too old to do all the customization I used to do. :)

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

its actually a lot easier then back in the winmo days. In this case all you need is a custom kernel.

Not to mention Epic is almost unbrickable.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

What good (other than Voodoo) does "rooting" a phone do for me? I'm curious because I heard I would void my warranty if I did it.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Well to explain, Root in Linux is equivalent to Administrator on Windows. When you boot up Android you are just a regular user. When you root your phone you become Root user. With root you have full access to the system and can do things like make full backups, tether, overclock, undervolt and etc. You have full control of the system.

To prevent apps from taking advantage of root privileges there is something called SU (Super User). This is similar to windows vista/7 UAC where whenever using Root privileges a box pops up asking for permission. You can also permanently let certain apps have root access.

To note though, Rooting != Custom Kernel. But a custom kernel can have root built into it.


As for voiding warranty, kind of But to note 3 things:

1) You can odin back to stock and no one will ever know you rooted

2) If your device breaks to the point where it does not turn on. They will not deny your warranty claim.

3) If you have asuran insurance, that is not voided by rooting.

To note though, only sprint has a problem with you rooting. As long as they don't physically see you rooted there is no problem. As far as Samsung is concerned, rooting does not void your warranty:

Samsung

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Thanks for the clarification. As you already know, I rooted my phone and loaded a custom ROM.

As for Voodoo sound, how does it work, what do I need to do to it. This morning, while at the gym, I was messing with some of the settings and it didn't sound much better than before.

What all do I need to do with Voodoo sound?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

From my personal experience I just used the stock OEM ones that came with the epic 4g. I listened to the skull candy ones and they just didn't have the drive the OEM ones do. They are not nearly as clear and to tell you the truth they are even better than the "beats" earphones. For the price you can't go wrong to try them out.

I have NO experience with other phones so I cannot comment on the performance on them. I found voodoo not very good experience. I found it to kill the sound, leave out entire parts. It just wasn't as clear as I thought it would be. I wouldn't root just for that because it isn't worth it.

Here is the link for them...get them and you will be impressed for 5 bucks.

Amazon.com: Samsung 3.5 mm Premium Stereo Headset Bulk Packaging - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

If your using voodoo sound, you need to have media that is high bitrate and top end headphones that have good bass. Simply because if the quality of the headphones or the media your playing is of lower quality, you will end up hearing those imperfections.

Think of it like when you have a 4k super HD TV, they showed an example of it and ironically the quality of the TV was so good it showed minor imperfections in an artists makeup very clearly lol

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Well I rip all my own music. I can tell you right now I use MP3 @ 320kbps on my phones and such, otherwise I use WMA Lossless to my PS3 and receivers and all that stuff. Trust me I am aware of how these things are supposed to sound from the studio. The stock headphones have plenty of bass. There really clear to. Highs and lows are shocking pretty accurate. I just didn't find voodoo that amazing to the sound. If you have a good quality recording you are going to hear the parts anyway its just how it works. Not trying to be rude to anyone here but its the truth.

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

I didn't take it as being rude don't worry, this is what forums are for, discussing different opinions/viewpoints and etc.

I personally use full size headsets as I don't like in-ears too much and to me the sound seems awesome with voodoo sound. As far as in ear headsets, I found the ones that came with the epic to be pretty good for a free pair.

But you an definitely notice a huge difference between say my friends Klipsch headsets and the stock ones.

We tried both with voodoo sound and it seems amazing to me that a cellphone can output like that. But I will admit that when I ran songs things that were of lower quality you can hear the little distortions.

And I can't exactly say we are alone on this as reading most audiophile forums most seem to recommend voodoo sound.

Hmm..I wonder what settings are you using in the voodoo sound app?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Okay so I just did a test. These are the songs and the bitrate. These are all in lossless WAV format.

Talking Heads-Once In a Lifetime @1411kbps
Talking Heads-And She Was @1411kbps

Pink Floyd: The Wall-Goodbye Blue Sky@1411
Pink Floyd: The Wall-The Show Must Go On@1411

For fun I threw in Kid Cudi Pursuit of Happiness and a few others. THESE ARE MP3's @ 320.

Okay so I did the test fair. I used the phone with voodoo and my computer with just windows media player 12. I DIDN'T USE HEADPHONES CAUSE THAT'S NOT A FAIR TEST. There was NO modification to the equalizer settings. I run everything at normal period.

Okay so the results are very simple. This voodoo program doesn't improve the sound at all. The computer was far far clearer. (I RAN THE SAME RCA CABLE FOR BOTH DEVICES TOO) I mean there were parts on the phone that were just...missing?? lol. The voodoo did make it louder but as far as improving the quality I found it did subtract but not improve.

My test receiver was a Denon and I use new Cerwin Vega speakers all with the equalizer at 0,0 for everything. That is the true test of stereo equipment, if you have to even touch a equalizer it isn't good. Anyway onto the settings of the voodoo...

Headphone Amp: 0db
Volume Limit: 3db
Bass Boost: OFF!!!!!!
Anti-jitter:Checked
Hi-Fi play: Checked
DAC: Checked

If you feel I might be mistaken let me know but with this I found the sound quality not that great. It seems to be a amplifier at best and a killer of sound at worst.

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

Why do you keep bast boost off? (any reason?) also as forthe settings you gotta play around with them to get the optimal setting depending on what exactly your connecting it to.

Also are you connecting it to a stereo output or surround sound system?

Re: Headphones Recommendation
 

I am just not so much into huge amounts of bass. I prefer a nice even sound and when I have it on the stereo it just doesn't need extra bass because of the sub and when I am using the earphones it was way to much bass for my liking. I had to turn it off.

I used RCA to the back of the receiver. From there I tried Stereo, and Pro Logic 2 Music, Also 5 Channel Stereo.

The best test is stereo for both so that is what I used the most because it is a stereo output from both devices.

I just found certain parts to be drowned out and just not as lively and pronounced. I am not saying it doesn't make it louder and maybe because your using full size headphones it is able to push more power to them that the phone normally couldn't and therefore sound better. In all reality it doesn't matter to much, its a phone and as a phone it sounds amazing and I am shocked it could play my WAV files. I didn't think it could.