New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What should I get?

post #1 of 32
1/15/10 at 5:21am
Thread Starter 
Please ignore this post and carry on over to the next page.


Hi there, I'm on the lookout for a new pair of headphones again, as my second pair of Shure SRH240s went faulty yesterday. Same problem as I had with the first, the sound completely went on one side (this time, it was the left side).

I bought them off Headphones SALE | ipod Headphones, Sennheiser Headphones, Wireless headphones, I've already sent an RMA request to them, and they've already accepted it, so I've got the green light to go for something hopefully better.

EDIT: If you do suggest anything else, it has to be on that site, as they don't do refunds for faulty items, so I have to do an exchange.


I paid £45 for them, so that's how high I can go for free. I might be able to go a bit over, but not too much (probably £20 at the absolute most)


I've delved through the site, and I've come up with a shortlist of 15 different headphones (not counting all the different colours of some headphones):

Sennheiser CX400 II - £43.99


Audio Technica ATH-AD300 - £47.99


Audio Technica ATH-PRO5 - £49.99


Klipsch Image S2 - £37.99


Sony MDR-XB500 Extra Bass - £45.99


Denon AH-D501 - £39.99


Denon AH-P372 - £39.99


Sennheiser EH250 - £39.99


Sennheiser PMX200 - £42.99


Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket iPhone - £49.99

Now despite my previous experiences with Skullcandy, I'm really interested in this one, due it using a metal cable, and that it comes with COMPLY foam tips, but I'm not sure if the sound quality will be really good.

Urbabears Plattan - £49.99

I've never heard of this maker, but I'm not gonna dismiss something just because of that. They look nice and clean, and according to the specs, it also has a microphone and a remote, and there's even a "zound plug" for someone to plug in their headphones and listen to the same thing, which is definitely a plus. Has anyone used these before? If so, what's the quality like? The cable is also wrapped in fabric to help prevent tangles, so that's another plus.

Beyerdynamic DT231 Pro - £31.99


Zumreed Sfit - £39.99



Oh yeah, there's one more to add to that shortlist:

Klipsch Image S4 - £64.99

One of my friends is encouraging me to pool in £20 and buy these (he has a pair of them, and he's owned them for about four months). They look fairly good from the reviews I've seen, but most of them doubt the durability of the cable, as it's quite thin. Also, I'd prefer to get full-size headphones, as I don't usually find canalphones too comfortable, but that might just be because the ones I've used were cheap. I saw on Engadget they said that the oval shape of the tips gave a perfect fit every time, and even stood up to constant vigorous exercise without even wriggling free. I'm questioning it a bit though, as on CNET's review, they said almost the opposite.


Thanks in advance for your help, guys!
Reply
post #2 of 32
1/15/10 at 12:26pm
Hello, I've got a pair of ATH-AD300 and I do think they sound good for the money. Very wide soundstage, warm and non-fatiguing sound signature with a fair amount of bass. (Btw, I'm not a basshead, so YMMV)

One important thing to consider is that the AD300 employs Audio Technica's "3D Wing System". See those 2 flaps underneath the dual bands that link the cans to each other? They're the things that rest on, and adjust to, your head.
On the plus side, there's no fiddling around with any mechanisms to find the right size.
On the down side, if your head is of the smaller persuasion, you won't get away with any head banging. (the cushions have a soft, velour feel to them and thus slide down rather easily)

Oh and while we're on the topic of the "AD" series--this is Audio Technica's line of open headphones. Their closed ones (ATH-A500/700/900) have remarkably good soundstaging and seem to use leather/pleather for their cushions, which means they are likely to sit more snugly on your head. The price point does start higher than the AD300, though.
Reply
post #3 of 32
1/15/10 at 12:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_C View Post
Hello, I've got a pair of ATH-AD300 and I do think they sound good for the money. Very wide soundstage, warm and non-fatiguing sound signature with a fair amount of bass. (Btw, I'm not a basshead, so YMMV)
Don't worry, I'm not a basshead either. I liked the bass in my Shures. You can feel it, but it doesn't feel like the headphones are trying to cave in your skull, and it doesn't overpower the rest of the song.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_C View Post
One important thing to consider is that the AD300 employs Audio Technica's "3D Wing System". See those 2 flaps underneath the dual bands that link the cans to each other? They're the things that rest on, and adjust to, your head.
On the plus side, there's no fiddling around with any mechanisms to find the right size.
On the down side, if your head is of the smaller persuasion, you won't get away with any head banging. (the cushions have a soft, velour feel to them and thus slide down rather easily)
I've got quite a big head, so no problems there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_C View Post
Oh and while we're on the topic of the "AD" series--this is Audio Technica's line of open headphones. Their closed ones (ATH-A500/700/900) have remarkably good soundstaging and seem to use leather/pleather for their cushions, which means they are likely to sit more snugly on your head. The price point does start higher than the AD300, though.
A lot more, unfortunately. The A500 starts at £99.99 on there. I prefer closed-back headphones, but I wanted to see what people's opinions are on this pair.
Reply
post #4 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:20pm
Re0. I wonder where you got all these mediocre headphones from..
Reply
post #5 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:28pm
I vote for the P372 if you must buy from there. Nice little phones for the money and very convenient to carry around.
Reply
post #6 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gbjerke View Post
Re0. I wonder where you got all these mediocre headphones from..
What's wrong with all of those then?

And the ones you said are not on the site; or hardly anywhere in the UK for that matter. I typed them into Google Shopping, and only one shop appeared.
Reply
post #7 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyJordan View Post
What's wrong with all of those then?

And the ones you said are not on the site; or hardly anywhere in the UK for that matter. I typed them into Google Shopping, and only one shop appeared.
The RE0 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer (head-direct.com) with worldwide shipping adding $10.
Reply
post #8 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
I vote for the P372 if you must buy from there.
Unfortunately, I have to buy from there, as they don't give refunds on faulty items.

I just searched around for more info on the P372 and I came across a first impressions thread on here. Forcryingoutloud says that the sound quality is pretty good, but it's flimsy, due to the hinges, and the cable is too short. I'm afraid that might put me off there.
Reply
post #9 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyJordan View Post
Unfortunately, I have to buy from there, as they don't give refunds on faulty items.

I just searched around for more info on the P372 and I came across a first impressions thread on here. Forcryingoutloud says that the sound quality is pretty good, but it's flimsy, due to the hinges, and the cable is too short. I'm afraid that might put me off there.
Build is okay. Not really worse than anything else in the price range. They do feel a little rattly but I don't anticipate any problems unless you toss em around. Extension cable is included and makes them pretty standard in length.
Reply
post #10 of 32
1/15/10 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ljokerl View Post
Build is okay. Not really worse than anything else in the price range. They do feel a little rattly but I don't anticipate any problems unless you toss em around. Extension cable is included and makes them pretty standard in length.
Oops, I forgot to take the bit about the cable length out! I did check around, and it's still longer than most of the headphones I listed (the Skullcandy FMJ is 1.1m, the Zumreed Sfit is just 1m, the Urbanears Plattan is 1.2m.)

It'd be a bit of a release to not have such a long cable, as the Shure's cable is 2m. Before that, I owned the Sennheiser HD 215s, and the cable on that was 3m, but it was coiled, so I had no trouble with it.
Reply
post #11 of 32
1/15/10 at 10:34pm
MightyJordan, from your profile it looks like you've got the PortaPro which is great for use on the go, so are you looking for a pair to use at home? Also, one of your other interests is gaming--same here, which is one of the reasons why I looked at the AD300 in the first place. Its decent soundstaging can help FPS's feel a bit more immersive.

The entire A/AD series of large cans from Audio Technica have 3m long cables, btw...
Reply
post #12 of 32
1/16/10 at 3:10am
That's your "shortlist"?

I would get the DT231.
Reply
post #13 of 32
1/16/10 at 7:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric_C View Post
MightyJordan, from your profile it looks like you've got the PortaPro which is great for use on the go, so are you looking for a pair to use at home?
Not really, I'm planning to use it mostly on the go, like the PortaPros. I bought the PortaPros the last time the Shures went faulty, as I didn't have any other half-decent headphones around, and I was really curious about them, as I nearly bought them instead of the Shures.

I do like the PortaPros, but I'm not really wowed by them when I'm outside. If they could actually block out background noise, I'd probably end up using my RMA getting headphones for home; but for now, the PortaPros are being used by me until I get a new pair, and then they'll go to my dad when he wants to listen to something on the laptop, and my brother when he wants to use my iPod.
Reply
post #14 of 32
1/16/10 at 8:07am
My votes for the RE0s.
After that you might try the S4s, but really the clarity of the RE0s is amazing.
Only $79usd + $10 shipping worldwide.
Reply
post #15 of 32
1/16/10 at 8:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulypaul View Post
My votes for the RE0s.
After that you might try the S4s, but really the clarity of the RE0s is amazing.
Only $79usd + $10 shipping worldwide.
Please read the thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyJordan View Post
If you do suggest anything else, it has to be on that site, as they don't do refunds for faulty items, so I have to do an exchange.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home