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So,,,,

Q1: Why is it that there are so many headphone threads? Yes, many like headphones, but there has to be more than this going on.

QB: Why don't keyboard makers talk about how great their headphone amps sound?

Q3: Why is imported beer so expensive?

Ideas?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

Once I get my acoustic upright, I will care no more about headphones.

When I purchased my Roland V-Grand, I just went with the headphones that were recommended for it. As I recall, they cost about $100 and are Samsung somethingorother. They sounded fine to me then, and they still do. It just wasn't an issue for me. I can certainly understand if other folks are more particular and need are looking for a certain sound.

Tony

Q1 because for some of us, headphones are all we got. Sensitive neighbors/crappily insulated walls and all that jazz.
Q2 I think Kawai did once with the funky Onkyo collaboration (CA 98?) but in general most DP makers rather speak about them speakers.
Q3 All of these poisonous ethanol tainted beverages are absurdly expensive compared to plain drinking water. No clue why people buy that crap anyway. *shrugs*

+1 for water!

I care about headphones because I usually practice piano between 2am and 4am because I'm very busy during the day. For example, it's past 1am right now and I have not even gotten to touch my piano yet today.

Under such circumstances, and living in a multi-occupancy building, I would be a bad neighbor indeed, if I tried to play an acoustic or even a DP with speaker turned low. You can imagine what one of my neighbors might think of my scales at 3am, even if I turned the speaker to a very low volume. I'd definitely be getting a visit from the police...

I try not to bother other people with my piano playing unless they are in the mood for it.
There are significant differences between headphones in terms open/closed, over ear or on ear, sound-wise, weight, size, aesthetics, price, value. all something you wear on your head, a rather important body-part. So unsurprisingly people care.

I agree that headphones make for good neighbors!

A few years ago, I had an upstairs neighbor, a young lawyer, who apparently would only listen to techno at home. He didn't turn it very loud, but the bass vibrations would make it through his floor into my apartment. The music was so rhythmic and repetitive it drove me batty and I ended up wearing a pair of noise-cancelling close-backed headphones even when not listening to music just to get rid of the low level rhythmic noisemusic. I would have been so happy if he had used headphones to listen to his noisemusic!

I’ve tried the Samsung Somethingorother, and they’re okay; but the Sony Thisorthat are superb headphones, and they make a special version for people with headphone allergies.

Why headphones? Perhaps it's because private listening is one of the reasons people buy digital pianos.

Why do many threads about headphones? It might be that people start threads here seeking advice ... because it's difficult to find phones in the shops that you can actually try out.
There are exceptions (such as the GC nearby that has over a dozen models on active display).

But there are too many core cases, like the GC I visited when I lived in Florida.
They had only a couple of no-name phones on display, while all the good merchandise was locked up behind the counter.

Q3 - A - Import duty ?
QB - They don't talk about headphone amps do they... I am of the opinion that if you spend more than £1000 on a piano, you should get a high-end amp included (enough to power a 300 ohm set of cans).
Q1 - There are many threads about headphones, what piano should I buy, what piano has the best action for $X, what beginner piano should I buy etc....I am of the opinion that not enough people use MacMacMac's thread search tool (probably because they don't know it exists).

Headphone threads are also one of those things people can't easily test in a music store, as not many stores stock the best headphones for digital pianos.

For me ... I don't care about headphones. I just happen to use them when I need to.

Everything has already been said. But not everyone has said it yet, so:

Q1: Because it really makes a difference. DPs (and VSTs) may sound pretty bad with "bad" headphones that might be perfectly adequate for general music listening. Even "bad" DPs may sound better with better -- or more suitable -- headphones. And of course one reason to have a DP is to play it via headphones.

QB: Probably there isn't much to talk about. They are "good enough" for most users, but probably nothing remarkable.

Q3: Why's American beer so bad? Or is it?

Careful, high end HP amps will cost you something north of that piano.

Before I'd splurge on an amp or DAC I'd get an awesomesauce headphone first THEN buy an amp that fits the cans if they even need further amping.

For example, I drive my Focal Clear Pro (55Ω) directly with my Titanium HD (audiophile oriented soundcard).
Everything beyond 25% output value is uncomfortably loud, so no need for further power. (Yes I know, the audiophile world would stone me to death for driving a 1500€ can with a friggin 150€ soundcard ^_^ )

Even my 250Ω DT-880 get plenty loud to damage my hearing.

Q1: Like most others here, without headphones I would likely not play too much. Do not want to inflict scales and piece practice repetitions on others, whatever time of day! In my own world with headphones until ready to play on speakers to hopefully get a happy, emotional, and supportive response from any listeners. ; )

Q2: Roland does give their headphone output some time. And it does sound really good (LX705), even better than speakers which I am still working on. Here is the Roland marketing quote:
"Headphones Acoustic Projection for immersive and realistic playing experience when practicing on headphones." Certainly immersive and wonderful stereo spacing.

Q3: Prices high only cos people pay the price. Stop buying/drinking the stuff. And that goes for any bottled water product beyond basic, cheap mineral waters.

Cool. I have something similar: the X7 Limited Edition. In the next several months, I'm intending to upgrade myself to a different DAC though after I take care of my piano upgrade and will probably sell this one.

Looks cute
What do you hope to gain from another DAC?
Personally the only reason why I am contemplating an upgrade is the fact that the card is 9 years old and out of support, so it's only a matter of time till driver shenanigans force me to change it out.

Piano manufacturers know that a terrific headphone amp costs $0.90. That's the price of a good opamp that most probably won't sound any different than a $5000 audiophile amp to a regular piano player. It would be very hard for manufacturers to convince regular piano buyers that a piano that costs $2000, should suddenly become $7000 because it contains an expensive headphone amp. I mean, the audiophile crowd and the piano buyer crowd are IMO not the same No offense.

It should be a simple matter for you Technies to rig up a response mechanism designed to shake his flat and everything in it whenever those low rumbles started up . . . The mind boggles as to what form this could take! It could be designed to make him think his stuff was responsible, which in a sense would be true. It'd drive him crazy trying to find out ha ha (Well, gotta be better than ending up before the beak on GBH . . . .)

So, use that as a freebie metronome -- just play something at the same tempo. I did that when I lived on the Venice Beach Boardwalk and the Hare Krishnas would park outside my window and jingle all day long.