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Rock/Metal Headphones, around 100$?

post #1 of 28
12/1/09 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everybody.
I'm looking for rock/metal headphones, which will also do fine in other genres.
I won't see movies with them, and I am not a gamer.
My music is encoded at mp3 320kbps (L.A.M.E encoder),
and it's played directly from the computer(onboard soundcard).

After some reading, I've found out that Grado SR80i and Creative Aurvana Live(same as Denon D1000) are my best options.

Which headphones do you think I should choose, and why?

Thanks.

-Nadav.
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post #2 of 28
12/1/09 at 3:59pm
Grado sr80 FTW~!
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post #3 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:00pm
If you want excellent sound for guitars, definetly Grados. Their midrange is just awesome. The sound is also very in-your-face type adding to headbangability.

Their slight downfall is not a very good bass extension so it doesnt reach very deep. So crushing doom metal and funeral doom stuff need not to apply. But what bass it has is really tight and punchy, so it doesnt get blurry even on fastest doublebass mayhem you throw at them, each hit is clearly defined.
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post #4 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaZa View Post
If you want excellent sound for guitars, definetly Grados. Their midrange is just awesome. The sound is also very in-your-face type adding to headbangability.

Their slight downfall is not a very good bass extension so it doesnt reach very deep. So crushing doom metal and funeral doom stuff need not to apply. But what bass it has is really tight and punchy, so it doesnt get blurry even on fastest doublebass mayhem you throw at them, each hit is clearly defined.
Thanks for the comment.
I have two things to say here:
1. Your post shows the problem I have in my choice:
Since the bass isn't that deep, it won't be so good for other genres. (around 5% of my music is rap/r&b/pop; But, I didn't played it for a few months already)
Since my music taste changed such dramatically(rap -> metal), I prefer to have headphones which are more-or-less all-arounders.
2. I listen mainly to progressive metal/rock, alternative metal, or heavy metal.
Not much doom stuff.

Nadav
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post #5 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:31pm
Well, If Grado does not seem to be your cup of tea verstility-wise (which many would agree with), give the MS1 or MS1i's a shot. I think they are great all-rounders...
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post #6 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mritt400 View Post
Well, If Grado does not seem to be your cup of tea verstility-wise (which many would agree with), give the MS1 or MS1i's a shot. I think they are great all-rounders...

Yeah, but they suffer same problem with bass. Even more so as Alessandro MS1 has even less midbass hump than standard Grados. They are more versatile headphones for sure, but towards wrong genres.


Sorry OP, cant help you further. D1001 might indeed be fine headphone, but since I havent heard it I cannot say anything about it.
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post #7 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:52pm
D1001 is a nice headphone... especially after recable.. and they are definitely all-rounders.
Much more so than any other can that I have. Sound great with everything I've cared to throw at them.
Great choice for a first headphone, imo.

BTW, you're going to want to replace your onboard sound..
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post #8 of 28
12/1/09 at 4:58pm
The Grado SR-80 with bowls and the tape mod has nice impactful bass and, to me, will work with enough music to keep you happy.
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post #9 of 28
12/1/09 at 5:08pm
Oh yeah, I forgot the tape mod. Though new SR80i models come with suckier comfy pads. You can buy bowl pads to it though, but its extra cost. But if OP can hunt down older SR80 model with bowl pads on default, go head and do tape mod.
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post #10 of 28
12/1/09 at 5:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaZa View Post
Yeah, but they suffer same problem with bass. Even more so as Alessandro MS1 has even less midbass hump than standard Grados. They are more versatile headphones for sure, but towards wrong genres.


Sorry OP, cant help you further. D1001 might indeed be fine headphone, but since I havent heard it I cannot say anything about it.
I disagree. The MS1i's have much more of a range than my SR80i's do, even in bass. I haven't even picked up my SR80i's all that much anymore.

MS1i's can have great bass... I play electronica/dance music on them all the time, it sounds great. No, it's not farty HUGE bass, but it's still great none the less.

However if it's your main thing, D1001 would be better.
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post #11 of 28
12/1/09 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adreneline View Post
I disagree. The MS1i's have much more of a range than my SR80i's do, even in bass. I haven't even picked up my SR80i's all that much anymore.

MS1i's can have great bass... I play electronica/dance music on them all the time, it sounds great. No, it's not farty HUGE bass, but it's still great none the less.

However if it's your main thing, D1001 would be better.
It does extend better to both directions, but as I said it has less midbass hump so it doesnt sound as impactful down there. Though I cant say anything about MS1i as I have only owned old MS1...
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post #12 of 28
12/1/09 at 6:03pm
I find the bass on the Denon to be less defined and a bit bloated compared to the Grado. If you do decide on the 80i or MS1i, invest the few bucks on the bowls. It's worth it. Plus if you find the headphones for sale on Head-Fi, you'll be under a $100 and getting the bowls won't put you over budget. The tape mod really works at extending the bass impact while keeping it nice and tight and well defined.
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post #13 of 28
12/1/09 at 7:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by webfox View Post
Hi everybody.
I'm looking for rock/metal headphones, which will also do fine in other genres.
I won't see movies with them, and I am not a gamer.
My music is encoded at mp3 320kbps (L.A.M.E encoder),
and it's played directly from the computer(onboard soundcard).

After some reading, I've found out that Grado SR80i and Creative Aurvana Live(same as Denon D1000) are my best options.

Which headphones do you think I should choose, and why?

Thanks.

-Nadav.
Webfox, I suggest Grado SR80 cos Grado is good for rock music and any other type of music like vocals. I have an experience of it from a Grado, however, SR60 model. If you have a limited budget you can get SR60-this is an excellent Grado deal too. You will be happy listening to music especially that your audio files are encoded in high quality with a Grado headphone.

Welcome to audiophile world Webfox.
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post #14 of 28
12/1/09 at 8:35pm
^And there he is.
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post #15 of 28
12/2/09 at 2:44am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the comments.
So I have narrowed the options to two: SR60i or SR80i.
I have extra money for the pads, and I'll probably buy the HD414 pads, and mod it a little.

So what do you think?

Nadav
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