++ FULL-SIZE HEADPHONE RECOMMENDATIONS THREAD++ i.e. Don't start a new thread: ask for advice... - Page 1465

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustJustin 

Hello,

 

I'm looking for a pair of headphones to pick up for myself for Christmas. I currently just plan on using them in my room so I'm not worried about transporting them around or anything. I mostly want something that is good at instrumentals/classical music. But I do plan on using it for just about everything, games, movies, etc. So a good all-rounder with a focus on classical is what I want. I do wear glasses so that is something to note. My budget is around 100-120$ but I could go a little higher if necessary.

 

So far I've done a little research and I've ran into the AKG K240's mentioned a couple of times. I like the look of these and I can get the original version for 75~ on Amazon, so I was thinking I could get these and the Fiio E10 for 45$ from Adorama and stay in budget. As far as I understand, the difference between these and the more expensive MK2 version is just the velvet pads and an extra cord. So I wanted to make sure that is true and that it's not worth the extra 40~ bucks.

 

I wanted to make sure if you fellows think these headphones would do what I want them to. Or if you could give me any suggestions of better suited headphones.

 

These will be my first pair of headphones.

 

Thanks!

Also take a look/listen to the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and Senn HD 518.

Quote:

Originally Posted by modernguilt 

Made a post before I saw this thread (sorry!) Here's what I said:

Hi Head-fi!

This is my first post, so bear with my noobness.

I am looking to finally get a pair of worthwhile headphones, after using my sennheiser PC150s (or maybe 160s, I'm not even sure) for so long. And no I'm not joking.

My budget is generally under $200, or more accurately, my parent's budget is under 200 bucks, since there is a good chance that I will find a pair of cans sitting under the tree on the 25th.

Now, to what I am looking for, I listen to a massive amount of music, and watch the occasional movie on my laptop or ipad. Most of the stuff I listen to comes from, or sounds like it comes from, the 70s, but I am a massive nerd for production when it comes to bands like radiohead or sigur ros. So while I would say rock/acoustic is probably my most listened to genre, I'm pretty well rounded, and my girlfriend is finally getting me into Jazz/Classical, so clarity is certainly important. While I certainly enjoy bass, I also hate listening to bassy headphones for a long time, and i often feel like it destroys music that needs to feel crisp to be effective. Treble is something I don't have any sort of strong opinions on, other than a hate for "shrill" speakers. Mids, well honestly I don't really understand mids, but I do know they often affect vocals/lead and solo guitars, and I love all those things.

As far as build goes, I need something that is durable and comfortable. I will mostly be using these at coffeeshops/libraries, but the option to be able to walk around with them on the street would be nice as well. I tend to work for several hours at a time, so it's important that the phones have comfortable cups and pads (preferable circumaural). As far as look goes, well I keep going back and forth on this one, on one hand I'd like to say that the sound matters above all else, but I am about to graduate from college, and I plan to pursue business/marketing, so I really don't want to purchase a pair of headphones that doesn't look in some way professional. If these were going to be at-home phones only I wouldn't care, but if I'm going to be in public I want to make sure they don't cause people to discount me in anyway (the world sucks sometimes doesnt it?)

Now on to the three I have on my list of possible purchases:

The ATH-M50 - As a new, but thorough lurker on head-fi, I noticed that these seem to be the most recommended sub-$200 headphones. The sound is tantilizing, but i worry that they really aren't as portable as I'd like. I've also heard complaints of discomfort, and the look certainly isn't anything special.

The Philips Uptowns - I totally discounted these when I saw them at Best Buy, there was no way they made them sound good if they put that much time into looking that freaking amazing. Well, after reading a few reviews I guess I was wrong. I am attracted to these because of how beautiful they are, and how aparently comfortable they are. What I'm not sure about, is their portability, and sound. I read several posts championing them over the M50's, particularly for people who are simply using the phones recreationally, but I wasn't sure if that was just FTM fever. Can anyone weigh in on this stuff?

Finally, more of a wish than an actual possibility, but the PHILIPS L1's look like everything I've ever wanted. If you've tried them out, are they $200s worth of better sound and comfort than the uptowns? Are these phones as good as they seem, how do they sound (for those of you who use them regularly). The fact that the cups rotate makes them attractive for on the go listening. Also, again, freaking beautiful.

Now, my other question deals mostly with the L1's, though it applies to the others as well. I've never bought an expensive pair of headphones before. Where should I be looking for the best price? And as far as the L1's go, what's the cheapest you think I could get them for (any chance of a sub 250/200 price?)?

Finally, with all that in mind, have I missed anything? Should there be any other sets I should keep in mind?

KRK KNS 8400 (neutral, durable and very portable for circumaural cans), Shure SRH 840 (not quite as portable but give you a mid bass hump) or Senn HD 25-1-II (neutral, on-ear and true portable cans).

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustJustin 

I'm looking for a pair of headphones to pick up for myself for Christmas. I currently just plan on using them in my room so I'm not worried about transporting them around or anything. I mostly want something that is good at instrumentals/classical music. But I do plan on using it for just about everything, games, movies, etc. So a good all-rounder with a focus on classical is what I want. I do wear glasses so that is something to note. My budget is around 100-120$ but I could go a little higher if necessary.

So far I've done a little research and I've ran into the AKG K240's mentioned a couple of times. I like the look of these and I can get the original version for 75~ on Amazon, so I was thinking I could get these and the Fiio E10 for 45$ from Adorama and stay in budget. As far as I understand, the difference between these and the more expensive MK2 version is just the velvet pads and an extra cord. So I wanted to make sure that is true and that it's not worth the extra 40~ bucks.

I wanted to make sure if you fellows think these headphones would do what I want them to. Or if you could give me any suggestions of better suited headphones.

If all your using this with is a PC computer, you can save a few dollars and get the Asus Xonar DG sound card for $23.99.

The DX comes with a half-way decent headphone amplifier and Dolby Headphone 5.1 surround sound.

Looks like Amazon has the K240s for $69.99

Order the DG & K240 together and I would assume you get free shipping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt911 

Hello everyone,

I'm in the market for new headphones and would like your suggestions about what to look into.

A little bit about my preferences; My main concern is comfort followed by sound quality followed by durability, the price range anything around $130. I travel long distance flights (18-24 hour travel days) and when at home I like to have the headphones on just to dimm outside noise. I mostly listen to electronic/house and hip-hop music and of course watch movies and TV-series. I do wear glasses so comfortable headphones are a must, because no matter how good they sound if they are uncomfortable I'm not going to put them on. This was a problem with my previous Sony headphones (MDR-NC40) , after about 1.5 hours I would start having outer-ear pain. I need something with sleek design I don't like to look weird in basketball sized headphones.

I am also open to all brands, I know Bose has a pretty bad rep in the community but I have heard good things about their comfort level and they are currently on sale.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions

-Matt

 

My headphone history

1. Koss UR-40 (comfortable but leaked too much noise)

2. Sony MDR-NC40 (uncomfortable)

Anyone?

Don't know why I haven't been posting and asking questions here over the last year or so.

I am desperately trying to find something under $100 for someone to give to me for Christmas. So far, it has been $150+ computer parts for upgrading my rig, and maybe the $200 Logitech UE 6000 and something else I can't remember. Not a lot of cheap stuff I feel like I really want. Go big or go home. Ha. 

I've fallen in love with good V-shape signatures. I listen to Drum+Bass music mostly, but enjoy trying out other genres when bored. My purchase history has gone like this: JVC HA-FX34, Sennheiser CX500, Monoprice 8323, Meelectronics M6, and Hippo VB in that order. Right now, I am most enjoying the Monoprice cans because the detail in the songs from it puts a bigger smile on my face than the almost-equally-entertaining bass impact, quantity, and quality of the VB IEMs (set to two-dot plates... mostly). 

As I mentioned, I quite like the UE 6000 cans from an in-store listen, but really, I don't think I'll be throwing $200 at something I liked at the store when I still haven't gone over $90 in one purchase and still don't exactly know what I'm doing when it comes to headgear. Y'know, I'm that guy that A/B's Beats and Bose and can notice an obvious difference but can't really tell WHAT that difference is precisely.

So now I am wondering, what do you think I should get next in the sub-$100 price range? I do want something at least as warm as the Monoprice 8323, but it wouldn't hurt to try something with a little less treble, as many reviews say both of my preferred pairs are sibilant in reference to (supposedly) more balanced and high-end equipment. My real focus is on detail and soundstage right now as, hopefully, EQing will fix levels I don't particularly enjoy if they are not too far off.

Also, since I am equally considering IEMs, as well as adding DAC/amps to the list, should I just copy-paste-edit this into the other subforums? Thanks.

Sennheiser HD428 Closed are these too much for a iphone 5? What amp can go with the iphone 5?

What's a good cheap headset to use with the iphone?
 

So a page or 2 ago i asked for a recommendation for headphones with "dark" treble for my girlfriend with hyperacusis (sensitivity to high freq) and i got some suggestions, one of them being Mr Speakers Mad Dogs. I was wondering if anyone knows if Fostex T50RP headphones pre Mad Dog mod will be alright for now? Im thinking of getting those as they are a third of the price and modding them myself as much as i can. Is this a good idea? I know i will never make them as good as Mad Dogs but tbh i can not afford $300 atm. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavid 

So a page or 2 ago i asked for a recommendation for headphones with "dark" treble for my girlfriend with hyperacusis (sensitivity to high freq) and i got some suggestions, one of them being Mr Speakers Mad Dogs. I was wondering if anyone knows if Fostex T50RP headphones pre Mad Dog mod will be alright for now? Im thinking of getting those as they are a third of the price and modding them myself as much as i can. Is this a good idea? I know i will never make them as good as Mad Dogs but tbh i can not afford $300 atm. 

You can get some used mad dogs for $200 probably less if you barter

Hi again guys - ok, I'm loving my new m50's that I researched here... but... also looking for something more open sounding like my sr60's.  Price wise, $200 ish ok.  I was looking at the DT 770 pro (higher impedence models less prone to coloration by lesser amps??) or AD900's?  I like jazz, acid jazz, funk, downtempo etc... tight bass.  Hate veiled sounds, like wide open sound (no veiled highs).  Probably mostly for listening on my computer and I see the recommendation for the xonar card (so I'll probably pick one of those up too since the price is right).  KG recommended the sony SA3000DJ but I am concerned about longevity based on reviews on it. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt911 

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt911 

Hello everyone,

I'm in the market for new headphones and would like your suggestions about what to look into.

A little bit about my preferences; My main concern is comfort followed by sound quality followed by durability, the price range anything around $130. I travel long distance flights (18-24 hour travel days) and when at home I like to have the headphones on just to dimm outside noise. I mostly listen to electronic/house and hip-hop music and of course watch movies and TV-series. I do wear glasses so comfortable headphones are a must, because no matter how good they sound if they are uncomfortable I'm not going to put them on. This was a problem with my previous Sony headphones (MDR-NC40) , after about 1.5 hours I would start having outer-ear pain. I need something with sleek design I don't like to look weird in basketball sized headphones.

I am also open to all brands, I know Bose has a pretty bad rep in the community but I have heard good things about their comfort level and they are currently on sale.

Thanks for any tips or suggestions

-Matt

 

My headphone history

1. Koss UR-40 (comfortable but leaked too much noise)

2. Sony MDR-NC40 (uncomfortable)

Anyone?

Sorry but I'm not plugged into your genres.

Hello everybody! I'm currently looking for what pair of headphones I should get for Christmas. I currently own the AudioTechnica m-50s, which are usually so highly recommended around here, and I don't like them very much. The sound quality was great, but the comfort was awful. All the pressure for the headband was directed to the top of my head, and I'd have to adjust it after every song it seems. 

Because of this, I want my next headphone to be extremely comfortable and something I can listen to for hours on end. I also want something with a little bigger bass than the m-50's. In a previous entry in the thread, I was recommended the Beyerdynamic dt 770 pros, which were supposedly very comfortable and had a great base. These cans are the front-runner right now. However, one thing I don't understand about them are the different impedance options I can get. What is the difference between the 80 ohm and 250 ohm version of those headphones?

My last question is are there any more headphones that are noted for their comfort that are around my $200-$250 budget? Thanks.

Hey, I've been reading different articles and posts around the site and think I've gathered some good information, but would like some direct feedback based on what I do with my headphones and some of your experience.  I'm currently looking for a pair of headphones around the $150 price point.  I use my headphones for a number of different things and I wear them for long periods of time.  Let me preface this by saying I currently have a pair of HD555s that I bought a number of years ago.  They have been good headphones but are starting to show their age (plastic cracking a bit, wear on the pads, etc). I primarily listen to hip hop but i also listen to rock and a little bit of everything else as well to be honest.  The other main use for my headphones is gaming, so I would like a pair that will work well in that environment as well.  That brings me to one of other concerns, comfort.  Like I said I wear my headphones for pretty extended periods of time so comfort is quite important.  For a point of reference I find my HD555s to be quite comfortable, I don't find myself thinking about wearing them if that makes sense.  I also watch movies with headphones, but this is probably the least important in terms of how they perform doing a specific task.  

The headphones are mainly going to be used with my PC, no amp.  Occasionally I'll use them with a zune or my htc evo.  Currently I'm not interested in purchasing an amp, but at some point down the road it is a possibility.  

Now I have a few pairs in mind, but I don't want to say which because I want some more experienced peoples opinions based on what I use my phones for in case I'm kind of looking in the wrong direction.  

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by verticle 

Hey, I've been reading different articles and posts around the site and think I've gathered some good information, but would like some direct feedback based on what I do with my headphones and some of your experience.  I'm currently looking for a pair of headphones around the $150 price point.  I use my headphones for a number of different things and I wear them for long periods of time.  Let me preface this by saying I currently have a pair of HD555s that I bought a number of years ago.  They have been good headphones but are starting to show their age (plastic cracking a bit, wear on the pads, etc). I primarily listen to hip hop but i also listen to rock and a little bit of everything else as well to be honest.  The other main use for my headphones is gaming, so I would like a pair that will work well in that environment as well.  That brings me to one of other concerns, comfort.  Like I said I wear my headphones for pretty extended periods of time so comfort is quite important.  For a point of reference I find my HD555s to be quite comfortable, I don't find myself thinking about wearing them if that makes sense.  I also watch movies with headphones, but this is probably the least important in terms of how they perform doing a specific task.  

The headphones are mainly going to be used with my PC, no amp.  Occasionally I'll use them with a zune or my htc evo.  Currently I'm not interested in purchasing an amp, but at some point down the road it is a possibility.  

Now I have a few pairs in mind, but I don't want to say which because I want some more experienced peoples opinions based on what I use my phones for in case I'm kind of looking in the wrong direction.  

Sennheiser HD558, $180 (used $150)

Asus Xonar DG sound card ($25) should improve your audio quality over whatever your motherboard has built into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlaw 

Here's an assortment of music I listen to

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Shibayan Records -  オズネイ・ハマンはもういらない

---
Midnight Juggernauts - Lifeblood Flow
Planet Funk -Paraffin

---
Mezo - Connected (Joman Remix)
Xilent - Gravity
Danny Byrd - From Bath with love (Feat. T-Lace)
---
NieR Tribute Album - echo - エミール / 犠牲
Playground love - Air
The Delgados - The Light Before we Land

 

 

Thanks for posting those tunes. I am enjoying them all (testing out my new Uptowns), and I really love the Mezo track. I found it here also on soundcloud (320kbps?):

https://soundcloud.com/djjoman/mezo-connected-joman-remix

Quote:

Originally Posted by walross 

Hello everybody! I'm currently looking for what pair of headphones I should get for Christmas. I currently own the AudioTechnica m-50s, which are usually so highly recommended around here, and I don't like them very much. The sound quality was great, but the comfort was awful. All the pressure for the headband was directed to the top of my head, and I'd have to adjust it after every song it seems. 

 

Because of this, I want my next headphone to be extremely comfortable and something I can listen to for hours on end. I also want something with a little bigger bass than the m-50's. In a previous entry in the thread, I was recommended the Beyerdynamic dt 770 pros, which were supposedly very comfortable and had a great base. These cans are the front-runner right now. However, one thing I don't understand about them are the different impedance options I can get. What is the difference between the 80 ohm and 250 ohm version of those headphones?

 

My last question is are there any more headphones that are noted for their comfort that are around my $200-$250 budget? Thanks.

Within the same headphone model, the lower the Ohm rating--the easier they are to push.  Most, but not all, think that the higher the Ohm rating within a headphone model, the better the sound.  the biggest jump in quality would be from 80 Ohm to 250 Ohm.  So it largely depends on what will be pushing these cans--and sometimes your budget.  In general the 80 Ohm versions of Beyer tend to cost most than the 250 flavor within the same headphone model.