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Best portable headphones, very specific use-case, please help :)

post #1 of 10
9/9/11 at 9:13am
Thread Starter 

Hi,

 

I'm looking for a new pair of headphones but have quite a specific use-case.  I currently use QC15s because I used to work in a very noisy office but that isn't the case anymore and I'd much rather have cans that sound better than have the noise cancelling.

 

So my criteria is:

1. Must not leak sound too much, I was really interested in the Grado SR80i's but if they leak that badly I'll just annoy everyone in the office and on the train to/from work.

 

2. Comfy - must be over-ear rather than on-ear. I found the HD25's painful after two hours use, and I need to wear headphones almost all day long.

 

3. Must work well without an amp, 99% of the time they will be plugged directly into my iPhone 4 and I refuse to carry a portable amp around with me.

 

4. I want the best sound quality I can possibly get, money is no object!

 

 

Thanks!


Edited by negev - 9/9/11 at 9:16am
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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Pioneer HDJ-2000 Reference Professional Dj Headphones
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Sennheiser HD 25 Studio Monitor Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
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post #2 of 10
9/9/11 at 9:19am

Ultrasone Edition 8's or 9's.

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post #3 of 10
9/9/11 at 9:22am
Thread Starter 

They look really nice, but probably a bit of a waste when I'm just listening to MP3 or FLAC on a low-power dac ;)

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post #4 of 10
9/9/11 at 9:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by negev View Post

They look really nice, but probably a bit of a waste when I'm just listening to MP3 or FLAC on a low-power dac ;)



maybe you can clarify your criteria then, it seems like money is an object.

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post #5 of 10
9/9/11 at 10:56am
Thread Starter 

Well to be honest it's not, i could afford the Ultrasones.  The issue is whether they would be worth it when I'm only using an iphone, as there's only so much you can do to make up for a relatively low-fi input source.  I don't mind spending £1040 if it's worth it, but not if I'm only going to get the same sound quality improvement that I'd get with say a £200 pair of Sennheisers.

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post #6 of 10
9/9/11 at 11:16am

Pioneer HDJ-2000?

(someone just mentioned these in another thread; I have never listened to them but people seem to like them)

36 ohm impedance, apparently.

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post #7 of 10
10/28/11 at 6:23am

Audio Technica ATH-M50

 

Great isolation, very comfy and can be driven straight out of your iPod (38ohm).  Oh yeah, they sound great too ;)

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post #8 of 10
10/28/11 at 6:38am

I;m using the Edition 8s right outta the iphone 4 about 70% of the time!!

 

and truth be told..  i CANNOT afford them. I have no idea why they're in my possession. Perhaps in a stupor, I bought them. Brand new to boot.

 

But I'm loving them. And I'm listening to them right now. Its been 3 hours straight. No discomfort. Perhaps slight fatigue due to BASS-POWA. But otherwise. Amazing.

 

Still have the Bowers & Wilkins P5 and they might fit your criteria as well. But the Edition 8s are (keeping in mind the diminishing returns) the best portables you can get without going into custom in ears. And even then, you can still argue the Edition 8s case. P5 pale in comparison. comfort, isolation, treble, bass, mids, staging all fall behind. The P5s are able to match the build quality of the Edition 8s however, in respect to the price premium you pay for exotic materials. They both look stunning

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post #9 of 10
10/28/11 at 7:19am
Quote:

Originally Posted by wilzc View Post

 

truth be told..  i CANNOT afford them. I have no idea why they're in my possession. Perhaps in a stupor, I bought them. Brand new to boot.


Lol, YMMD! :D

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post #10 of 10
3/3/12 at 5:12am

Beyerdyanmic T5p or the Ed.8 might suit you, depends on the sound signature you looking for.

 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Pioneer HDJ-2000 Reference Professional Dj Headphones
Powered by NexTag
Sennheiser HD 25 Studio Monitor Headphones
Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
Powered by NexTag
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