[turkletont]

Every day I work I spend 1.5 hours on a bus and at work I sometimes wear headphones as well.
 
I'm looking for something with a good combination of noise cancellation, comfort, and audio quality.  I listen to rock, everything from instrumental to metal to acoustic.. but rock nonetheless.  And I'm trying to keep it under $300.
 
Does anybody have any suggestions?
 
I know the obvious answer is the QC15's but I tried out my friends and I was left very underwhelmed with the audio quality.  Although they were extremely comfortable, I don't think I can justify spending $300 on those headphones.
 
Thanks so much.

 

[steelgtr]

Quote:

 
Quality, neutral-ish, open and comfortable at under $200.  All that points to the Senn HD558.
 
When it comes to individual comfort, there is not substitute for not only putting them on your own head, but also leaving them there for at least as long as your normal listening session.

A few 558 questions if you don't mind?
 
How are they for less than perfect MP3's, especially on the treble side, graininess and harshness?
 
How is the sound stage?
 
thx
 
bob

 

[Bsun1314]

Quote:

Every day I work I spend 1.5 hours on a bus and at work I sometimes wear headphones as well.
 
I'm looking for something with a good combination of noise cancellation, comfort, and audio quality.  I listen to rock, everything from instrumental to metal to acoustic.. but rock nonetheless.  And I'm trying to keep it under $300.
 
Does anybody have any suggestions?
 
I know the obvious answer is the QC15's but I tried out my friends and I was left very underwhelmed with the audio quality.  Although they were extremely comfortable, I don't think I can justify spending $300 on those headphones.
 
Thanks so much.

The QC15 really isn't that great of an headphone in it's price range IMO. If you are ok with IEMs, then you might wanna try the Westone UM2(300-$) or Shure SE 425(300-$), actually I don't any of those, but I do have both of their big bros(SE535(400ish) and UM3X(400-$)). The SE535 is amazing with instrumentals and acoustics and the UM3X is great with Some of the heavy duties,

 

[turkletont]

Quote:

The QC15 really isn't that great of an headphone in it's price range IMO. If you are ok with IEMs, then you might wanna try the Westone UM2(300-$) or Shure SE 425(300-$), actually I don't any of those, but I do have both of their big bros(SE535(400ish) and UM3X(400-$)). The SE535 is amazing with instrumentals and acoustics and the UM3X is great with Some of the heavy duties,

 
Hello, thanks for your suggestions.  I should have stated that I'm looking for some over-the-ear headphones.  I agree, I don't think the QC15's are very good but I did love how comfortable they were. Noise cancellation is a big priority for me.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

A few 558 questions if you don't mind?
 
How are they for less than perfect MP3's, especially on the treble side, graininess and harshness?
 
How is the sound stage?
 
thx
 
bob

 
The sound stage is very good.  These Senns tend to forgiving of mediocre or lousy recordings--although my experience is with badly recorded/mastered stuff from the late 50's and the 60's usually from CD's.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

Every day I work I spend 1.5 hours on a bus and at work I sometimes wear headphones as well.
 
I'm looking for something with a good combination of noise cancellation, comfort, and audio quality.  I listen to rock, everything from instrumental to metal to acoustic.. but rock nonetheless.  And I'm trying to keep it under $300.
 
Does anybody have any suggestions?
 
I know the obvious answer is the QC15's but I tried out my friends and I was left very underwhelmed with the audio quality.  Although they were extremely comfortable, I don't think I can justify spending $300 on those headphones.
 
Thanks so much.

What equipment will be powering these cans?  Will you be using an amp?
       
What is the format of your music and other sounds you will putting into these cans?

 

[turkletont]

Quote:

What equipment will be powering these cans?  Will you be using an amp?
       
What is the format of your music and other sounds you will putting into these cans?

 
I'll be using my Ipod Touch 90% of the time.  Most of the time I'll be using them will be on the bus, so no amp.  It will just be the standard 320kbp's mp3's that I listen to.

 

[Bsun1314]

Hello! Head-Fi
 
I am half year into personal audio and my wallet is now completely empty^_^!
Fortunately, my friends decided to buy me anything below 1500$ for a birthday present (because the 7 of us got him a new computer for his birthday last time)(don't ask, weird system)
Please give me some suggestions to what headphones I should get. (I am currently looking at Fitear 334 To Go! and Audez'e LCD2)
Please consider the following ^_^
Info:
Budget:1500$
Amps: Schiit Lyr, ALO Rx Mk3-b
DACs: Schiit Bifrost, CLAS
Current Headphones: SE535, UM3X, Amperior, ESW9, DT770
Music type:30%J-pop   30%heavy metal + J-rock    30% Fusion Jazz, David Garret, Game,Movie,Anime soundtracks)
 
Thank you very much for your time ^_^

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

 
I'll be using my Ipod Touch 90% of the time.  Most of the time I'll be using them will be on the bus, so no amp.  It will just be the standard 320kbp's mp3's that I listen to.

 
Unless you really need it, stay away from active noise cancellation.  You will pay a great deal of money and the quality of your sound will be reduced by noise cancellation.
 
Assuming you will be OK with good isolating cans without active noise cancellation, spending anywhere near $300 for listening to MP3's through an iPod (especially unamped) is overkill.  If you must spend that much find yourself some Sony MDR 7520 or MDR Z1000.
 
Good closed cans match what they will connected to include the Shure SRH 840, KRK KNS 8400, Sony MDR-V900HD, Sony MDR 7506 and Sony MDR 7510.
 
Because of their very good isolation, I would lean toward a Sony.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

Hello! Head-Fi
 
I am half year into personal audio and my wallet is now completely empty^_^!
Fortunately, my friends decided to buy me anything below 1500$ for a birthday present (because the 7 of us got him a new computer for his birthday last time)(don't ask, weird system)
Please give me some suggestions to what headphones I should get. (I am currently looking at Fitear 334 To Go! and Audez'e LCD2)
Please consider the following ^_^
Info:
Budget:1500$
Amps: Schiit Lyr, ALO Rx Mk3-b
DACs: Schiit Bifrost, CLAS
Current Headphones: SE535, UM3X, Amperior, ESW9, DT770
Music type:30%J-pop   30%heavy metal + J-rock    30% Fusion Jazz, David Garret, Game,Movie,Anime soundtracks)
 
Thank you very much for your time ^_^

 
This question belongs in the Summit-Fi section of the forum.

 

[Bsun1314]

Quote:

 
This question belongs in the Summit-Fi section of the forum.

Ahhh I see, sorry for the bother and thanks for the info^_^

 

[turkletont]

Quote:

 
Unless you really need it, stay away from active noise cancellation.  You will pay a great deal of money and the quality of your sound will be reduced by noise cancellation.
 
Assuming you will be OK with good isolating cans without active noise cancellation, spending anywhere near $300 for listening to MP3's through an iPod (especially unamped) is overkill.  If you must spend that much find yourself some Sony MDR 7520 or MDR Z1000.
 
Good closed cans match what they will connected to include the Shure SRH 840, KRK KNS 8400, Sony MDR-V900HD, Sony MDR 7506 and Sony MDR 7510.
 
Because of their very good isolation, I would lean toward a Sony.

 
I'd rather not spend $300 if I can acquire the same thing for 150$.  I know listening to mp3's on an ipod isn't really the ideal way to listen to music but that's why with these headphones I'm putting a strong focus on comfort and noise cancellation.  Something over the ear and super comfortable for long listening sessions with some good noise cancellation is mostly what i'm looking for.

 

[KG Jag]

Quote:

 
I'd rather not spend $300 if I can acquire the same thing for 150$.  I know listening to mp3's on an ipod isn't really the ideal way to listen to music but that's why with these headphones I'm putting a strong focus on comfort and noise cancellation.  Something over the ear and super comfortable for long listening sessions with some good noise cancellation is mostly what i'm looking for.

 
Then focus on the last three Sonys I listed.
 
If you want active noise cancellation, I can't help much.

 

[turkletont]

The more I think about it the more I want an active noise cancellation.  Do you guys have any suggestions?
 
How are the Sennheiser PXC 450's?

 

[Nappael]

Tight budget request here. I'm tossing between buying a pair of Superlux HD668b with AKG K240 velour pads (total cost: £42) and a pair of Studiospares M1000 (Seemingly a rebranded FA-003/HM5. Total cost: £59). Which of these would you recommend, or are there any other UK based Head-fiers out there who know of something even better?
 
I use my headphones for pretty much everything. The main requirements that I have are that they must be fairly easy to run, fairly neutral, and suit a large variety of music (Ranging from Piano to Metal and pretty much everything in-between) and even some light gaming (Although this is an added bonus, not a priority).