Recommendations for Best headphones on the market (new and old)

[Mike Scarpitti]

Originally posted by krayzie
Yes I'm certain... there is a slight difference tho... the back of the MDR-V7 cans have a groove going across just above the "Digital" label while the MDR-CD900ST is just plain flat like the MDR-V6... The CD900ST also needs to be modified by the dealer in terms of the plug, while the V7 has a gold screw-on type... So okay my statement was a bit wrong... LOL! But the technical specifications between the V7 and CD900ST are the same... I checked out Audiocube for the CD900ST specs and the V7 from the service manual at Sony Parts...

By the way, there is also a MDR-CD900CBS... I didn't know that until I bought the replacement hanger for my V7 and it had this written on the package also...

And what, pray tell, is a "MDR-CD900CBS"?

[myself, aka me]

You know, I believe it's a Japanese MDR-V7506.

[2003today]

yes

[krayzie]

My theory is... the MDR-CD900CBS is the one model designated for CBS-Sony Music Japan recording studios use only... and they sell the MDR-CD900ST as a special order consumer model... I don't know, just a thought... (I say the Japan studio cuz of their page here: http://www.so-net.ne.jp/Shop/phone/ and I've seen one Celine Dion video where she uses the 7506 in the Sony Music USA studio... forgot which song tho, probably "Tell Him")...

edit: Another theory, Sony dropped the CBS name in favor of Sony Music with their recording studios and hence the model designation change to ST meaning Studio.

No it's not the Japanese MDR-7506, since in Japan you can buy the 7506 for around 2000yen cheaper than the CD900ST... the 7506 and V6 use 40mm PET diaphragms while the CD900 and V7 use 50mm SED diaphragms...

I paid 15 bucks CDN and ordered the 7506 / V6 hanger just to find out that it cannot be fitted onto my V7, and spent 15 bucks more just to get the V7 / CD900 hanger... sigh! So don't be fooled by their similar appearances...

But from old usenet threads I've read on Google, they all sound very very similar tho...

[evolushun]

pro: great sound, bass is great, no micophonic noise, memory form cabling, so cable retain shape, therefore easier insert into ear.

con: the price

[krayzie]

Sony MDR-CD900 Baby! (November 1988 catalog, found on Yahoo auctions)

[Jin]

Well... Im a noob with any hardwear that has to do with music. All I got are these old, ear pad faded, cord tangled pos Jensens that were like $5 and they turn my beautiful music into dog ****. Can someone recomend me some good cans even poor people can buy and tell me what stores I can find them at? Thank you.

[bkelly]

If you are on a limited budget I think the thing to do is buy them used at Head-Fi. That way you get in at the best price and whne you go so sell them you will not be taking a big hit. Good luck.





Best
Brian

[pod-lover]

well since my first visit to this forum
i've bought a couple og radio shack nova 77, which sound pretty good to me
found a sony mdr- v6 in my closet , sound great
bought a senn mx500, sound ok
oh also bought sony ex70's, sound alright
but the best money i've spent so far was the ety 4p's, sound, well let me put it like this the when i'm not using the 4p's the only other ones i use is the v6's & thats not too often

[fjhuerta]

Uhhhhh... this is a far too easy one.

The Koss KSC Sporta / PortaPro line.

I've seen them mentioned here, but really... they deserve a far bigger post.

I mean, these little headphones could almost compete with a set of Grado SR-60s. As a matter of fact, I can easily think many people would prefer them!

I had a set of Sportas. I modified them, using the exterior shell of some Sennheiser HD-490's I had around. I changed the drivers, and I ended up with Sportapros with removable cable and a cool exterior appearance. Many people who heard them, and who didn't know what I'd done to them, preferred their sound over that of my Alessandro MS-1s (which cost around 6 times more than the Koss!).

I foolishly gave away my headphones, but I still think that, out of my collection, those were the ones that had the highest bang for the buck level. By far.

I also own and enjoy the AKG501s and HD-580s. The only reservation I have about the AKG501s is that they need far too much power to sound allright. I'd say my X-CansV2 are insufficient for them (!!!), at 1 watt of RMS power.

The only headphones I own that I'd tell you to stay away from are the Bang & Olufsen A8s... what a terrible piece of hardware they are.

EDIT: I forgot... my best headphones are *still* the Etymotic ER-4S canalphones. I don't really expect to own anything better than them.