Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Best HEADPHONES for my type of music?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best HEADPHONES for my type of music?

post #1 of 18
11/5/11 at 8:18pm
Thread Starter 

I would really appreciate some advice here, I'm still very much a noob in this field.

 

 

Today I bought a pair of Etymotic Research HF3 IEMs for $80, a steal considering the original price was $180.  However, they are very uncomfortable and not quite what I was expecting.  They don't sound much better than my $40 Sony earphones.

 

I had some time to try on a few different Over-the-ear headphones today, just to test the comfort.  They are way more comfortable for me, and I think I can get more of a punch out of a pair of $100 over-the-ear headphones than $100 IEMs.  I don't want to have to spend more than $100, but if you have some miracle deal for $120 then please don't hesitate to post it.

 

Also, I refuse to buy any used products.  It is out of the question.

 

Most of the music I listen to is J-rock/J-pop, this is an example of that sort of music (and a pretty good indicator of most of the music I listen to): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT9S_W90gSU

 

However I also listen to rock and rap.

 

I'd like a pair of neutral-sounding headphones, but I do appreciate some extra bass (but not a stupid amount).  I like the voice to sound highly detailed and realistic, "organic" if that makes sense.

 

As for headstage, I'd like the music to sound like it is INSIDE my head, not in front or behind.

 

 

Currently I'm looking at the SHURE SRH-440.  Are those headphones ideal for my needs?  They're around $70-100, is that a good deal?  Remember I do appreciate a little extra bass and punch.

Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 18
11/5/11 at 8:51pm
I do suggest the ZX700 from Sony at this price range and also the Creative Aurvana Live! over the Shure.

The CAL! have better punch and more bass, ZX700 have a better midrange and details. Both are excellent for the price.

I think you will like the CAL! more for being more fun and punchy, but the vocal is going to sound sweeter on the ZX700.

As for the soundstage issue, as the headphones gets better the soundstage will do. Sounding inside your head is just bad soundstaging, its hard to suggest good headphones with that kind of soundstaging as they will be a bad pair of headphones if they do. rolleyes.gif
Reply
post #3 of 18
11/5/11 at 11:26pm
Thread Starter 

How about Sony V6 or V7506, or Sennheiser's HD280?


Edited by Jackstick - 11/6/11 at 12:11am
Reply
post #4 of 18
11/6/11 at 12:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackstick View Post

How about Sony V6 or V7506, or Sennheiser's HD280?



I had the 280 pro. They actually sound fairly incredible for the price, but you won't get all that much bass out of them. Also, have you let your Etymotics break in? I know it's a controversial subject, but usually if you let your new cans play for at least 12 hours with some music, the driver will loosen up a little bit and things will become *better*  (or so the argument goes).

Reply
post #5 of 18
11/6/11 at 12:23am
Thread Starter 


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hifianddrumming View Post



I had the 280 pro. They actually sound fairly incredible for the price, but you won't get all that much bass out of them. Also, have you let your Etymotics break in? I know it's a controversial subject, but usually if you let your new cans play for at least 12 hours with some music, the driver will loosen up a little bit and things will become *better*  (or so the argument goes).



It's not just the sound, though.  They are very uncomfortable in my ears.  I tried all of the available tips (like 4 different kinds) and none of them wanted to play nice with my ears.

 

 

Do you happen to know if Shure SRH-440 has good bass?

Reply
post #6 of 18
11/6/11 at 12:45am
It really depends what is "good bass" for you, SRH440 are reasonably nice headphones. The SRH440 and ZX700 have a rather neutral bass, where the CAL! is more bassy. I still recommend a CAL! or ZX700 over them due to comfort and the build. Sound quailty is comparable enough to be a personal choice.

HD280Pro is a bad sounding torture device that will try to make your head compress, although it will sound inside your head as it lacks any decent soundstage at all.
Reply
post #7 of 18
11/6/11 at 12:52am
Thread Starter 

Doing a lot of research right now, I'm starting to really consider the Sony ZX700.

 

Could you elaborate on "neutral bass"?  I'd like a little bit of noticeable punch, but it's okay if it's not a HUGE punch.

Reply
post #8 of 18
11/6/11 at 1:00am

Just for fun, you could try the $30 Panasonic HTF-600. It sure doesn't sound like a $30 headphone (better than the PortaPros, IMHO).

Reply
post #9 of 18
11/6/11 at 1:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackstick View Post

Doing a lot of research right now, I'm starting to really consider the Sony ZX700.

Could you elaborate on "neutral bass"?  I'd like a little bit of noticeable punch, but it's okay if it's not a HUGE punch.

The punch and the bass quantity are two different things. Neutral bass being not "bass boosted" and having around the same bass level as the recordings. ZX700 have a good slam, but not bassy like the CAL!

A bassy phone may sound more fun on some music, like the faster kind of JRock. But if you also listen to a lot of vocal as well, the ZX700 is simply the better choice.
Reply
post #10 of 18
11/6/11 at 1:39am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ra97oR View Post

It really depends what is "good bass" for you, SRH440 are reasonably nice headphones. The SRH440 and ZX700 have a rather neutral bass, where the CAL! is more bassy. I still recommend a CAL! or ZX700 over them due to comfort and the build. Sound quailty is comparable enough to be a personal choice.
HD280Pro is a bad sounding torture device that will try to make your head compress, although it will sound inside your head as it lacks any decent soundstage at all.


 

 Really? I personally found the HD280 pros to be very good. That said, they were my first high-end headphones, so I spent a lot of time with them, and at the time they sound amazing because they were the first I heard. I must admit the clamp force was a little tight :S

Reply
post #11 of 18
11/6/11 at 3:04pm
Thread Starter 

Can't seem to find Sony MDR-ZX700's in any store. :(  They're on Amazon, in limited quantity, but I'd rather buy it from a store.

 

Do you guys know of any stores that carry ZX700's?  I've checked my local Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, with no luck.

 

Did Sony stop making ZX700's or something?

Reply
post #12 of 18
11/6/11 at 4:47pm


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackstick View Post

Can't seem to find Sony MDR-ZX700's in any store. :(  They're on Amazon, in limited quantity, but I'd rather buy it from a store.

 

Do you guys know of any stores that carry ZX700's?  I've checked my local Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, with no luck.

 

Did Sony stop making ZX700's or something?



You know, Walmart does not currently stock any headphone priced over $30.00. Target carries only Bose and Beats over $50.00. That leaves Best Buy — but Best Buy does not actually stock the MDR-ZX700 per se, but they have it's more expensive iPhone-remote sibling, the $149.99 DR-ZX701iP. Is it really worth $30 more just for the remote and mic?

 

By the way, the stock on many Sony headphones is limited at this time because that company is affected directly by the floods in Thailand (where most of that company's headphones are manufactured). The very same conditions that also caused the supply of computer hard drives and Nikon-branded DSLRs to become short and the hard drive prices to more than double within this past month.

 


Edited by Eagle_Driver - 11/6/11 at 5:02pm
Reply
post #13 of 18
11/6/11 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 

Ah, unfortunately even those aren't available in my city.  They are available in a city about 30 minutes away, though.

 

Tomorrow I'm going to return my Etymotic HF3's, and I definitely want to come home with something.  My local Best Buy has Sony XB500's in stock.  Have any of you used headphones from Sony's XB series?  From what I've read, they're basically Sony's answer to Beats by Dre, so that means a significant focus on bass.  I'm willing to give it a shot, but I hope they're at least a little bit versatile.  Could anyone comment on that?

 

Still haven't given up on ZX700's, I may buy from Amazon if I absolutely have to.

 

 

I'll be looking around for a pair of CAL!'s, too.

Reply
post #14 of 18
11/7/11 at 11:47am

Do yourself a favor and grab a pair of Panasonic HTF600.

 

For $35 SHIPPED they're a nice headphone. Plenty of bass , forward midrange and clear non-recessed treble.

 

It's my go-to headphone right now and I have several headphones in the $200 + price range.

 

And they KILL the CAL headphone.

Reply
post #15 of 18
11/7/11 at 11:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackstick View Post
  Have any of you used headphones from Sony's XB series?  From what I've read, they're basically Sony's answer to Beats by Dre, so that means a significant focus on bass.  I'm willing to give it a shot, but I hope they're at least a little bit versatile.  Could anyone comment on that?


According to reviews on this site the Panasonic HTF600 are better than the Sony XB500 or XB700 and this comes from guys that have owned all three headphones.....the sony XB series are not good if you listen to vocals since the mids are recessed and congested by the over exagerated bass.

 

The HTF600 have all the bass but a better midrange....and uh.....they actually have treble unlike the XB500 which are recessed into the depths of hell.

 

 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphones (full-size)

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphones (full-size) › Best HEADPHONES for my type of music?