Topic: headphone recommendations (Read 7277 times)

ielerol · « **on:** 24 Aug 2006, 23:21 »

Currently I have two pairs of headphones, those sony behind-the-head things they sell in Best Buys and Walmarts everywhere, and ipod earbuds. I'm looking to upgrade, but I don't have a lot of extra cash right now and I have no frame of reference or "educated ear" to keep me from cringing at relatively cheap stuff.

I already know I'm willing to trade sound quality for isolation to shut out the dubious musical choices of the boys living across from me and the giggling girls I am currently trying not to hate.

I have been recommended Sennheiser HD 280, but $70 is a lot of ramen and off-brand cereal. Looking at Headroom has led me to believe that the HD 201 and HD 205 would both be acceptable. I guess my question is, does anyone know if the extra money for the 205 is worth it?

Or are there any other recommendations for headphones less than $50? Aside from comfort and isolation, I'll be using these primarily with my laptop, so low impedance is important too.

Rilian · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Aug 2006, 23:29 »

might I suggest the Head-Fi forums for headphone recommendations.

Although I'm not sure what they have in your price range, I personally find In Ear Monitors far, far better at isolating, as well as having spectacular sound compared to full sized headphones, you can find quite a few at Headroom, so you really might want take look in that direction

thelightguy · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 00:31 »

If you're looking for true headphones, Sony makes a few good ones in the $50 range... Look for the ones that actually cup over the ear.

--Nick

Inlander · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 01:16 »

I just recently went from earphones (i.e.: buds in the ear) to headphones (big things covering the ear) and I'm loving every minute of it. Ditch the buds, go the whole hog. I can't make any brand recommendations; however, and keeping in mind that I have no idea how expensive you're willing to go, I would strongly advise against getting super-duper top-of-the-line incredibly expensive headphones: very little music is recorded to such a perfectionist degree that it can withstand such high levels of scrutiny. You'll start hearing all the little scrapes and bumps and background noises that were going on in the studio and all the imperfections in the notes, especially if you listen to older music.

Luke C · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 02:59 »

Sennheisers are a good bet because even their cheapest headphones are pretty good.

BeoPuppy · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 05:22 »

Quote from: Inlander

You'll start hearing all the little scrapes and bumps and background noises that were going on in the studio and all the imperfections in the notes, especially if you listen to older music.

... I sort of like that stuff ...

Inlander · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 05:34 »

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not talking about being able to hear finger squeaking on strings, or singers breathing. I'm talking about being able to hear people blowing their noses off-mic and annoying little buzzes in poorly made instruments and strings vibrating against each other in unpleasant ways. There are a million and one tiny, tiny little ambient sounds that aren't picked up by standard headphones, that will be picked up by incredibly expensive top-of-the-line headphones. Stuff that will only detract from the listening experience.

greenMonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Aug 2006, 14:01 »

I actually love that little stuff. I have a pair of Bose TriPort headphones, I love them, but they were fucking expensive, and you can definitely find good headphones at a much better value.

thelightguy · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Aug 2006, 02:03 »

Those triport headphones are awesome... I keep meaning to buy a pair, but then, with my iPod, it's useless as everything's already so compressed. Damn 128kbps AAC... I wish FLAC was supported (and had a better compression ratio)

--Nick

Mikendher · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Aug 2006, 08:14 »

BE WARY OF SENNHEISERS! They are very good at isolation, but not the best for accurate sound. If you want the closest to a flat and accurate response across the board, I suggest either the:

AKG K240 M (which are just under 100$)

or

SONY MDR-V150 (which are about 30$)

both have accurate sound, the AKGs are better but more pricy.

The Audio-technica ATH-M40fs are also decent at about $100, but not as good as the AKGs.

greenMonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Aug 2006, 08:17 »

Quote from: flag of fire

Those triport headphones are awesome... I keep meaning to buy a pair, but then, with my iPod, it's useless as everything's already so compressed. Damn 128kbps AAC... I wish FLAC was supported (and had a better compression ratio)

--Nick

Compression is an issue, yes. I rip my CD's to 320kbps VBR Mp3's, and that seems to help, but it also takes a lot more space.

Nuance · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Aug 2006, 11:40 »

I've got a pair of Grados 125s, which I'm absolutely in love with. Their clarity is absurd, but they're an open design, so its not going to isolate that well.

At the $50 dollar range I've found the Sony in-ear buds (the deep in ear ones, like ear plugs) to be absolutely solid, but you have to be careful because they've got a set for $45 bucks that sound like crap and a set for $50 bucks that sound about an order of magnitude better. Sadly, its hard as hell to tell them apart.

Hmmmm...apparently I'm not helpful at all.

greenMonkey · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 Aug 2006, 12:28 »

I have a deep hatred of earbuds. They hurt my ears and most of the pairs I've listened too (which, I admit, is really only basic iPod and sony earbuds, along with my friend's $30 pair) can't rival the sound quality of equivalent costing over the ear headphones.

Splunkle · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Aug 2006, 02:54 »

Quote from: Mikendher

BE WARY OF SENNHEISERS! They are very good at isolation, but not the best for accurate sound. If you want the closest to a flat and accurate response across the board, I suggest either the:

AKG K240 M (which are just under 100$)

or

SONY MDR-V150 (which are about 30$)

both have accurate sound, the AKGs are better but more pricy.

The Audio-technica ATH-M40fs are also decent at about $100, but not as good as the AKGs.

Allow me to qualify your post: Be wary of the Sennheiser DJ range, which is the HD2xx IIRC. They boost the bass, which DJ's NEED. But if you are an audiophile, you may not love. I have a pair of 202's, and I quite like them - even with the bass boost. Its not really that big a deal, and most people like a bit more bass in music. But the reality is that no headphone beneath $200 australian (about US$150) will give a highly accurate frequency response. You won't care unless you are an audiophile though.

Mr reccomendation is borrow some friends headphones and listen to variety of tracks you know really well from different genres. Then get the headphones you liked best.

Spartan Pho3nix · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Aug 2006, 15:13 »

??

It's generally agreed that the HD280s have terrible bass response. I generally have to boost it up a few decibels to level it out. HD280s are flat throughout mids, but drop for highs and lows.

penpen17 · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 Aug 2006, 15:21 »

Quote from: Nuance

I've got a pair of Grados 125s, which I'm absolutely in love with. Their clarity is absurd, but they're an open design, so its not going to isolate that well.

At the $50 dollar range I've found the Sony in-ear buds (the deep in ear ones, like ear plugs) to be absolutely solid, but you have to be careful because they've got a set for $45 bucks that sound like crap and a set for $50 bucks that sound about an order of magnitude better. Sadly, its hard as hell to tell them apart.

Hmmmm...apparently I'm not helpful at all.

The Sony in-ears sound really good, but they break at a ridiculous rate. I've had 3 pairs and each broke within a month. But they do have the best isolation and sound that I've been able to find within that price range

Splunkle · « **Reply #16 on:** 27 Aug 2006, 17:47 »

Quote from: Spartan Pho3nix

??

It's generally agreed that the HD280s have terrible bass response. I generally have to boost it up a few decibels to level it out. HD280s are flat throughout mids, but drop for highs and lows.

Interesting. The 280s are listed on Sennheiser website as being monitoring headphones, but also appear in the DJ section. Curious. Regardless, that would be why the bass is "poor". Monitoring systems generally have less bass then consumer audio stuff, and cheap monitoring systems, like the 280's, have even less.

will: wanton sex god · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Aug 2006, 05:36 »

ive heard many a review stating that sennheiser px100s are just about the absolute best in the sub 50 dollar price range.

the price varies wildly though, so shop around.

Spartan Pho3nix · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 Aug 2006, 15:20 »

I believe that's true

ielerol · « **Reply #19 on:** 30 Aug 2006, 17:32 »

Thanks everyone. After some consideration (strong bass makes my ears feel funny, etc), discovering I'm not quite as poor as I'd been feeling, and testing out a friend's Sennheiser 280s for myself, I ended up ordering a pair.

Take that, jackhammers next door!

Now I just have to remember to keep myself "uneducated" so I don't start developing really expensive taste in audio equipment.

Spartan Pho3nix · « **Reply #20 on:** 31 Aug 2006, 06:30 »

Once I got my pair I started reading up on all kinds of audoiphile things. When you can hear 192 kbps mp3 compression with ease (the HD280s let you), you'll never go back.

ayePod · « **Reply #21 on:** 31 Aug 2006, 07:24 »

I have really old Sony MDR-P1s which I love and I also have Sennheiser HD650 which are the most amazing quality headphones I have ever experienced and seeing as I stole them it makes it sweeter.

Spartan Pho3nix · « **Reply #22 on:** 31 Aug 2006, 09:20 »

You stole my headphones!??? BYOTCH

ayePod · « **Reply #23 on:** 31 Aug 2006, 13:21 »

If you are the not so good people of the Virgin Corporation then I apologise....

NOT!

Just like 1994.

Melodic · « **Reply #24 on:** 31 Aug 2006, 15:23 »

I want these, but I swear by my XD400s.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: headphone recommendations (Read 7277 times)

ielerol

Mikendher

Splunkle

Spartan Pho3nix

penpen17

Splunkle

Spartan Pho3nix

ielerol

Spartan Pho3nix

ayePod

Spartan Pho3nix

ayePod