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Commuting Headphones

post #1 of 10
11/11/11 at 7:47am
Thread Starter 

I realize there was a thread made just like this but I seem to have lost it in the pages... Anyways, I'm looking for a pair of closed headphones to use for morning commutes. My requirements for headphones are (in descending order of importance):

 

-Neutral sound, if has to lean one way I'd rather it lean towards highs than lows.

-Noise isolating (at least somewhat, enough to block most sounds)

-Must not require a portable amp (I don't want to carry a brick bound by plastic bands in public). I'll be using it directly out of an iPhone 4

-Comfortable to wear for long periods of time

-Closed (I assume that goes with the noise isolating)

-Simple but tasteful aesthetics

-Must not leak sound

 

Assuming the above, if price is of no object, what's my prime choice? If price must be below $350, what's my prime choice?

 

I've considered:

 

-Shure SRH 940 (leaned towards highs a bit too much and sounds thin and lifeless without proper amping)

-T50RP (I haven't heard them but being ortho, I'm not sure iPods can even power them)

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post #2 of 10
11/11/11 at 7:55am

All sub $350

 

Smaller size/easier traveling phones:

Beyerdynamic dt1350

Sennheiser 25-1 ii

Audio-Technical ATH-ESW9A

 

Fullsize:

Denon D2000 

Beyerdynamic DT770-80

Shure SRH 940

Audio-Technica ATH-A900

 

 

Price no object? 

 

Thunderpants

Beyer T70p

Ultrason Edition 8

Audio-Technical ATH-W5000

Denon D7000


Edited by liamstrain - 11/11/11 at 8:50am
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post #3 of 10
11/11/11 at 8:28am

sony Z1000?

 

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post #4 of 10
11/11/11 at 8:47am

I went though looking for a closed headphone for my DC Metro commute four or five years ago.    I gave up and went with IEMs.  It took a while to find an IEM/ear tip combination that didn't cause a lot of pain but I'm happy with the result.  No full sized or on ear headphone available at the time isolated well enough to use on the subway.  A few may have been good enough for a bus such as the Senn HD280 or HD25-1.  These were the 2 best isolating headphones at the time and they required turning the volume up on the subway.  Neither isolated as well as IEMs with below average isolation.

 

I can tell you from experience, the T50RP won't isolate well enough for mass transit.   I'd check joker's big portable review thread and check his isolation ratings.  I know a couple of newer headphones are supposed to have good isolation, such as the P5.

 

I wouldn't use any of the closed headphones I own even riding a bus.  This includes the CAL!, M50, T50Rp and vintage FostexT40.    The only closed headphone I've heard that I know would work is the Thunderpants, but they'd be tough out of an iPhone.  They're also over your budget.

 

If you live near an Apple Store, they used to have the P5 available for audition and, if it's busy, it's probably noisy enough to give you an idea of the isolation they provide.  The only time I tried them, the store wasn't busy so it was fairly quiet.

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post #5 of 10
11/11/11 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by liamstrain View Post
Thunderpants

Beyer T70p

Ultrason Edition 8

Audio-Technical ATH-W5000

Denon D7000

In my search for the ultimate portable closed can, I've limited my options, by on the above list, to the following:

 

Thunderpants - Concerned about it being "all mids" and not well extended on highs and lows, someone confirm or deny this? And also, I've read that it sounds thin and underpowered with just iPods, again someone confirm or deny?

 

Beyerdynamic T5p - Simple look I was going for, looks VERY comfortable, positive reviews

comparing it to the T1.

 

Ultrasone Edition 8 - Weird looking but I understand it to be very natural sounding (does natural necessarily mean neutral?).

 

I ruled out the Audio-Technical ATH-W5000 because the reviews said it was too light on bass, small soundstage given it's size, and + if you wear it in public people think you're trying to get back to the mothership.

 

I ruled out Denon D7000 because it was too heavy on bass (enough I think for me to rule it not neutral).

 

Any other suggestions?

 


Edited by NinjaSquirt - 11/11/11 at 1:10pm
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post #6 of 10
11/11/11 at 1:30pm

OP You have really opened up the budget from $350! Anyway, I wish I could give good input, but I've never tried any of those headphones. If I had unlimited money, I would probably opt for either the Beyers or the Denons. I like Audio Technica as well, but I can't imagine myself wearing anything with air wings in public.

 

I also think you're stretching the definition of "portable" a bit. I'd call these "transportable," but still quite cumbersome for daily commuting or travel. I'm pretty sure these types of cans were designed for indoor home/studio use. I personally would also feel a little anxious about bringing $700-$1500 headphones out in the open for all to see and damage.

 

That said, don't let me discourage you from using them this way. Hey, I'd love to see someone rocking one of these in public. I'd def run immediately to the "Headphone Sightings" thread.  

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post #7 of 10
11/11/11 at 2:53pm

I've not tried any of those except Thunderpants.  My only worry with any of them is do they isolate enough for your commute.

 

Thunderpants can have decent extension, but since they aren't a production headphone, and are made by multiple people, they vary from headphone to headphone.

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post #8 of 10
11/12/11 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 

Can an iPod get the Thunderpants to go loud enough for normal listening levels + maybe just a little bit more?

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post #9 of 10
11/12/11 at 6:52am

I haven't tried one from an iPhone.  I don't own one.  I've tried them at meets and I had a loaner for a couple of weeks.  I know the T50RP can be driven from an iPod, but I'm not sure about them once they're modded into an TP.

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post #10 of 10
11/12/11 at 7:13am

 I've heard great things about the ED8s as portables. Just grab the flagship right away ;)

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