[bixby]

Quote:

Hello, long time reader, first time poster from denmark.
 
I am looking for the perfect pair of headphones to match my budget and so far i haven't found much...
 
So i am hoping the pros from this fine forum will be able to help.
 

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What i am looking for in a pair of headphones is as follows:
 

1. High sound quality with good detail.
2. Decent bass ( doesn't have to be "make my ears bleed" bass, just a good fast kick bass )
3. Quality design, solid, must not feel like it was break if i drop it.
4. They must work on the go aswell as at home.
5. I would greatly prefere a design that allows me to change the cabel without having to use screwdrivers and soldering tools. (planning on a recabel with one for home and one for "on the go")

 
And most important of all
 
The headphones must not touch my ears AT ALL, they HAVE to go around and rest on my head without touching my ears.
 
My ears are stupid and starts hurting after 30 min or so wearing normal headphones.

 
I dont care if its a new model or an older you recommend, i have no problem buying used, but my current max is prolly the $500 range.
 

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My current head gear is as follows:
 
B&W P5 Headphones, with pure gold plated solid copper braid recabel, a bit stiff but great sound.
Iphone 4s + Fiio 7 portabel headphone amplifier with LOD for portabel.
Vincent KHV-111 MK II tube headphone amplifier and B&W Aura CD player for home use.
 

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Hope you guys will be able to help, i spend about 4 hours in busses and trains a day going to and from work so i really need a pair of headphones thats comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Really tough requirements and hard to meet them all.  The big one is the one you underlined.  It is actually hard to find a closed headphone that does not touch the ears at some pint.  Some nice ones to try would be the AT- ATH-900 which have BIG cups or perhaps the Denon D2000.  Both decent cans.  I used to wear over the ear cans too  (AKG K241S) and could not stand anything in my ear like IEMS.  But I got used to iems over time and settled on some Westone UM-3x which are perfect for traveling.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

I'm looking for a good pair of closed headphones for the office.  This will be my first pair of higher quality headphones.
 
Current headphone: Sennheiser MD-202
 
Budget: Under $200
 
Music: All over the place -- lots of indie rock but a good amount of electronic, classical, jazz, and hip-hop
 
Setup: Listening to Rdio on my Macbook without an amp
 
Looking for:
 
* Comfort - could be wearing for up to 8 hours
* Isolation - Lots of people close by so it can't leak sound
* Versatile - I listen to lots of genres so I'm not looking for something tuned to a certain genre

Within your budget, you should check out the Beyer DT 770 Pro.  Just above your budget, the Denon AH-D2000 has been available as a phone in Head-Fi deal from J & R.
 
If leakage is your main concern, best look to a studio can--maybe like the AT M50 or Shure SRH840.
 

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

what's yours guys thoughts on the akg k701's?

I have the Q 701 (all of the AKG 700 series can be had at about the same price in the U.S.).  They retain the clarity of their older siblings; are less cold/clinical and add a touch of bass.  I suspect that most folks who enjoy listening to their favorite music will prefer the Q's.  Also all the Q's are still made in Austria--not so sure about the K's.
 

 

[opinicus]

 
I've decided to take the plunge and get a decent set of headphones.  I wouldn't say I'm a bass head, but I do like my bass.  I like it loud, but accurate.  I also love clean mid-bass  (typically test with Natalie Merchant's Tigerlilly).  Finally, I hate harsh highs.  I primarily listen to rock, hip hop, heavy metal, and top 40.  I'm also thinking that these will get some home theater use.  I currently have Ultimate Ears Metro Fi 220's as my portable earphones, but want a nice full sized set for around the house.  I plan on running these through a headphone amp...   probably a FiiO E6 or E7.
 
Here's what I'm considering (prices include shipping / tax):
 
Denon AH-D1100 for $112
Monoprice 8323 for $28
Audio Technica ATH-M50s for $129
Klipsch Image One for $129
V-Moda Crossfade $101
Numark Red Wave $75
 
So, any opinions from you head-fiers?  Looking to keep as much $$$ in my pocket as possible. 

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

 
I've decided to take the plunge and get a decent set of headphones.  I wouldn't say I'm a bass head, but I do like my bass.  I like it loud, but accurate.  I also love clean mid-bass  (typically test with Natalie Merchant's Tigerlilly).  Finally, I hate harsh highs.  I primarily listen to rock, hip hop, heavy metal, and top 40.  I'm also thinking that these will get some home theater use.  I currently have Ultimate Ears Metro Fi 220's as my portable earphones, but want a nice full sized set for around the house.  I plan on running these through a headphone amp...   probably a FiiO E6 or E7.
 
Here's what I'm considering (prices include shipping / tax):
 
Denon AH-D1100 for $112
Monoprice 8323 for $28
Audio Technica ATH-M50s for $129
Klipsch Image One for $129
V-Moda Crossfade $101
Numark Red Wave $75
 
So, any opinions from you head-fiers?  Looking to keep as much $$$ in my pocket as possible. 

Seems to me that the logical thing is to start by buying the well regarded and incredibly cheap Monoprice.  If you like it, you're done (at least for now).  If not, you have a great set of portable cans that give you minimum concern should they be lost or broken.
 
Going to set two (if necessary), I have heard the M50 and Crossfade.  Both are quite good and have strong bass.  The Crossfade is very cool and comes with great extras.  I think its highs (or lack thereof) are its weakness.  The M50--for the price of a Monoprice more--sounds better, if a bit more clinical, to my ears.  It is a studio and not a lifestyle can.  For pure sound--I'd go with the M50.
 

 

[sipsik]

 
I've just returned Beyerdynamic dt880 600Ohm headphones. It turned out that  I can't have open headphones. They leaked more than I expected, so now I need a closed pair of cans.
I have a Minimax amp, source is my comp via GrubDAC. Current headphones are HD668B. They are OK, but very natural and I feel like something is missing, probably bass. 
 
I've narrowed my choices down to two:
 
1. Beyerdynamic dt770 250Ohm or 600Ohm
2. German Maestro GMP 8.300 300Ohm
 
Maybe there is something better for my needs?
 
I mostly listen electronic music(techno, house, dubstep, ambient) and old rock.
 
Budged: up to $350
Thanks.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

 
I've just returned Beyerdynamic dt880 600Ohm headphones. It turned out that  I can't have open headphones. They leaked more than I expected, so now I need a closed pair of cans.
I have a Minimax amp, source is my comp via GrubDAC. Current headphones are HD668B. They are OK, but very natural and I feel like something is missing, probably bass. 
 
I've narrowed my choices down to two:
 
1. Beyerdynamic dt770 250Ohm or 600Ohm
2. German Maestro GMP 8.300 300Ohm
 
Maybe there is something better for my needs?
 
I mostly listen electronic music(techno, house, dubstep, ambient) and old rock.
 
Budged: up to $350
Thanks.

The 770 (mine are Pro--250 ohm) have stronger, but not necessarily better bass than the 880 Pros.  I like the 880's better down the line, but the 770's are good too.  I consider them to be a toned down alternative Grados, but with better bass (until you get to the Grado 325--which normally costs about $100 more on the street).

 

[ajsaxin]

 
 
Hello All,
 
Well I am coming back after nearly 3 years .I had a AKG k701 and a head amp pico. When I started out. Well it was fine but then the pico was inadequate and for some reason I did not feel the need to buy a new amp and I was more involved with other things.
 
However now I decided to start my hobby anew.
 
I listen mostly to classical and jazz .A little bit of rock sometimes.
 
I am looking to spend no more than $600 for both the amp and the headphones .I was hoping you could suggest the best possible combination which would give me the best sound within my budget.
 
Senn hd600(I am buying  a used model) +schiit-asgard
Senn hd598 and the head amp pico(is this sufficient for the 598) or the fiio E17
Focal spirit one + fiio E17
Philips+Fidelio+L1 and the fiio E17
Or Westone 4 + fiio E17
 
Any else besides this please include it in the ranking.
 
Now I do understand most of them are more on the portable side. But then Let’s say if the hd600 is going to be vastly superior to the rest then the mobility factor could we compromised.
 
If any one of the members could rank these for me solely on the basis on the sound quality especially with regards to the type of music I listen to I would appreciate it. Btw I would be using my Ipod 4 as the source .And I intended to stick with the rig for at least 2 years.
 
Thanks a lot.

 

[ajsaxin]

 
 
Hello All,
 
Well I am coming back after nearly 3 years .I had a AKG k701 and a head amp pico. When I started out. Well it was fine but then the pico was inadequate and for some reason I did not feel the need to buy a new amp and I was more involved with other things.
 
However now I decided to start my hobby anew.
 
I listen mostly to classical and jazz .A little bit of rock sometimes.
 
I am looking to spend no more than $600 for both the amp and the headphones .I was hoping you could suggest the best possible combination which would give me the best sound within my budget.
 
Senn hd600(I am buying  a used model) +schiit-asgard
Senn hd598 and the head amp pico(is this sufficient for the 598) or the fiio E17
Focal spirit one + fiio E17
Philips+Fidelio+L1 and the fiio E17
Or Westone 4 + fiio E17
 
Any else besides this please include it in the ranking.
 
Now I do understand most of them are more on the portable side. But then Let’s say if the hd600 is going to be vastly superior to the rest then the mobility factor could we compromised.
 
If any one of the members could rank these for me solely on the basis on the sound quality especially with regards to the type of music I listen to I would appreciate it. Btw I would be using my Ipod 4 as the source .And I intended to stick with the rig for at least 2 years.
 
Thanks a lot.

 

[bixby]

Quote:

 
 
Hello All,
 
Well I am coming back after nearly 3 years .I had a AKG k701 and a head amp pico. When I started out. Well it was fine but then the pico was inadequate and for some reason I did not feel the need to buy a new amp and I was more involved with other things.
 
However now I decided to start my hobby anew.
 
I listen mostly to classical and jazz .A little bit of rock sometimes.
 
I am looking to spend no more than $600 for both the amp and the headphones .I was hoping you could suggest the best possible combination which would give me the best sound within my budget.
 
Senn hd600(I am buying  a used model) +schiit-asgard
Senn hd598 and the head amp pico(is this sufficient for the 598) or the fiio E17
Focal spirit one + fiio E17
Philips+Fidelio+L1 and the fiio E17
Or Westone 4 + fiio E17
 
Any else besides this please include it in the ranking.
 
Now I do understand most of them are more on the portable side. But then Let’s say if the hd600 is going to be vastly superior to the rest then the mobility factor could we compromised.
 
If any one of the members could rank these for me solely on the basis on the sound quality especially with regards to the type of music I listen to I would appreciate it. Btw I would be using my Ipod 4 as the source .And I intended to stick with the rig for at least 2 years.
 
Thanks a lot.

Welcome back.  You don't tell us what your source will be but with portable I would suggest the JDS labs c421 with Westone UM-3X.  Yes I have heard the Westone 4 and did not feel it was a step up from the UM-3X.  I am in the camp that does not believe a full size can can be fully exploited by a portable amp period.
 

 

[Edrian]

SR 850 comparison with V Moda Crossfade LP?
 
I know these 2 headphones are totally different, but how are they compared to each other? Which one is more recommended in terms of sounding better?

 

[MiniWumbo]

I need some headphones for studying in the library and for the long car/bus rides going from school to my home.  I'm thinking I will look into a pair of noise-cancelling headphones despite the usually lower quality headphones.  Does anyone know a good noise-cancelling pair for around $150 used?  I hear the Bose QuietComfort 15 is the best in terms of active noise-cancelling, but that it's absolutely garbage in sound quality.  I already have headphones for when I'm at home, so for these I just need survivable audio quality and good noise cancellation (At most, rides will be only 3-4 hours). Thanks for any input!

 

[tricksya555HD]

Hi i have seen the akg k430 headphones.
 
are they any good for bus journeys with music up loud!
 
plus do they have bad noise leakage?

 

[mrcuccuou]

heya, does the pro700 mk2 sounds different than its "le" edition? and how much of an upgrade is it coming from ws-55?
 
ps. i like bass, but im slowing liking a flatter, true to the track sound of my music, though i want that thump for that occational dub-step mood,

 

[LazBro123]

Quote:

heya, does the pro700 mk2 sounds different than its "le" edition? and how much of an upgrade is it coming from ws-55?
 
ps. i like bass, but im slowing liking a flatter, true to the track sound of my music, though i want that thump for that occational dub-step mood,

the pro700mk2 is EXACTLY like the le edition . It's a big upgrade over the ws-55, and has even more bass.