Hi, I currently own a pair of Soundmagic PL-50 and I am really enjoying them, except after prolonged use they start to hurt my ears. I really like the SQ of my Soundmagics, but for longer listening periods, which would be the best; Bose Around-Ear or Grado SR60 or something else with similar sound quality to the Soundmagics under $100 dollars? (I also heard good things about the Sony MDR-V6) If it helps my collection is mostly alternative; Coldplay, Keane, Jack Johnson and the like. Thanks in advance.
As you hang around Head-Fi more, you'll find most members frown on Bose and will almost never recommend their products. I own both the PL-50 and the SR60. The Grado, while also mid-centric ,will have a more forward sound sig.
Also, welcome to Head-Fi, and sorry about your wallet. Happy listening!
The SR60 will sound awesome but can be uncomfortable for long listening sessions. The SR60 are also open headphones so they leak alot of noise into the room around them and let alot of noise in as well so take that into consideration when looking. Other alternatives if you don't have an amp are Audio Technica AD700 but they are also open and are not portable due to the massive size of the cans themselves, many other AT can's do not require amps though. Otherwise also look at the Shure SRH line 240, 440, or 840 (last one is supposed to need an amp to sound it's best and is the most expensive as well). There are also several JVC models that are portable, as well as Sennheiser HD228, HD238 or the old perenial standby PX100. Darn near all of these will kick Bose in the pants and save you some coin to boot.
the grados sound amazing but...(yes, there's a catch) as previously mentioned, they are pretty much useless in heavy traffic, airplanes, buses, libraries, cafes etc etc. they bleed sound like crazy and they have absolutely no sound isolation, you can hear your surrounding and they can hear you... the cord (yes, cord, they are that thick) are way too long and thick for purposes of portability (unless your a basketballstar) but this is easily rectified with some quick and painless soldering. sound wise, they are amazing but comfort...what is this "comfort"...IMO it's virtually nonexistant...because the head band is so sparsely padded you can't wear it around your neck, they REALLY chaff...believe me, also, they can be uncomfortable to some (me included) after hours or so of listening, my ears feel as if they've been boxed on the sides...YMMV
ES7 sound great but are uncomfortable based on my experience. Based on a quick review of the PL50, I would cross off the Senn's I listed as they are all bassy darker sounding portables, I would also knock of the JVC's for the same reason, I would see if you can expand your budget to accomodate the SRH 440 for closed or the SR60 for open back headphone and see if you find them comfortable or not.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I am leaning strongly towards the Grado SR60. I feel my wallet is going to be considerably smaller after I really get into this cool new hobby!
Hi, I currently own a pair of Soundmagic PL-50 and I am really enjoying them, except after prolonged use they start to hurt my ears. I really like the SQ of my Soundmagics, but for longer listening periods, which would be the best; Bose Around-Ear or Grado SR60 or something else with similar sound quality to the Soundmagics under $100 dollars? (I also heard good things about the Sony MDR-V6) If it helps my collection is mostly alternative; Coldplay, Keane, Jack Johnson and the like. Thanks in advance.
As you hang around Head-Fi more, you'll find most members frown on Bose and will almost never recommend their products. I own both the PL-50 and the SR60. The Grado, while also mid-centric ,will have a more forward sound sig.
Also, welcome to Head-Fi, and sorry about your wallet. Happy listening!
Yes they are mid-centric for sure, you can MODify them with different pads to find a sweetspot if you're so inclined.
Sorry for your wallet!! After listening and falling in love with the Grado sound signature, I moved up to the 325i's... If the Grado sound suits you, you'll quickly become addicted to them.. LOL
I agree with every statement.. especially with the "everyone should own a pair of Grado's at some point". Most hobbyists/audiophiles/reviewers have owned or at least heard Grado's at one point or another and it's a good reference point for future purchases.
The headbands can be uncomfortable, but they can be bent to relieve some pressure and for under $10 you can add better padded headbands to make them much more comfy.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I am leaning strongly towards the Grado SR60. I feel my wallet is going to be considerably smaller after I really get into this cool new hobby!
That my friend is an understatement, but by making educated (well researched) decisions early on, you'll be able to narrow down your selection in the future. Also, take full advantage of the for sale forum here at Head-Fi. You'll find great deals on the best equipment out there, and save on burn-in time Good luck and happy listening..
Thanks so much JoeyRusso, those Grados are looking more and more like the right cans for me. That's great I can buy a new headband for them if comfort becomes an issue. The Shure 440s have caught my eye but it seems the Grado, from what I've read and what you have written, is still is the king of the sub-100 dollar headphones. Thanks!
I have not heard the soundmagic but have heard the SRH440 and the Grado SR60, I would say the Grado has exceptional midrange and treble with OK bass (certainly good enough for most older rock music). The SRH440 on the otherhand is bassier do to it's closed design, with not quite as much midrange but similar treble. So I think you could say the SRH440 would be a U or V curved signature and the SR60 will be lower in the bass end, higher in the middle and high at the treble spectrum (no idea what you would call the shape).
BTW the Allesandro MS1/MS1i is also another great option. The MS1 has a bit better bass and is not quite as bright sounding as the SR60 (both HP's are made by Grado but Allesendro treat the drivers which tweaks the sound).
Most people will recommend that you don't buy Bose even though you've never heard them, never understood that. Some big audiophile once said (paraphrasing) "if you haven't heard it, you don't have an opinion." never a truer word said!
That said the Grado's are well detailed, the Bose heavy in the bass, but I enjoyed them both. However may I throw in the Denon AH-D1001's in for consideration. maybe not as pin sharp in some of the frequencies, but they are supremely comfortable as are the Bose and Grado's, but I feel that they (D1001's) and the Grado are two of the best sub $100 or £100 buys.
The D1001 are a good choice and if you live in the US you can get the Auravana Live from Creative Labs (a rebadged Denon D1001) at Costco for around $50 which is a steal of a price. Both of them would be good closed headphone options.
The more I think of it the more I recommend the OP look at the Alessandro MS1 over the SR60, it is a bit more money but has better all rounded sound with not nearly as harsh treble. It also uses the drivers from either the SR80 or the SR125 so is a better driver than the SR60 and is still only around $100.
captian73, I agree with about not talking trash about headphones especially if you haven't heard them. In my case I have auditioned all of the Bose headphones and actually own and still use the Bose in-ears (at bedtime with special music for sleeping as I find them comfortable and I can still hear people around me and I don't mind if they get broken as compared to some of my more expensive gear). I generally don't recommend them because of their bassy nature, lack of treble and detail combined with an exhorbitant pricetag. In the OP's case I really don't recommend them because his PL50's are much more midrange/treble/detail oriented.
For detail and clarity, I would recommend Sennheiser HD 555s, they are about 80$ and you can mod them to be the same as the HD595, also you can drive them using a ipod (though I would recommend an amp, they have 50Ω impedance). after listening to 555s I cannot stand grado sr80s, the difference in detail is very noticeable, though their bass is not as low, it gets better after the mod though
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Good luck and happy listening..
