Headphones under $40? - Page 2

If you want a more neutral sounding headphone with better treble than the extra bass headphones, the $10 JVC HAS160 is very nice. It is my favorite headphone under $30. The Sony XB300 has had poor reviews. The reviews on the XB500 are so much better. I also like the JVC HAS650($34) which is a closed supraaural extra bass headphone. Ipx11t has 40mm drivers like the XB500. I haven't heard the XB500 so I can't directly compare the two. The JVC HAS4x ($25) also seems interesting. It is also has 40mm drivers and is an extra bass headphone. The HAS4x  is probably much better than the XB300(which has 30mm drivers) if he wants an extra bass headphone. The JVC HAS650($34) has slightly boosted bass, but not like the XB headphones. Its sound is more refinned and more detailed. It is my favorite headphone under $40. I like it better than the PX100 and much better than the Portapro.  I do like the $10 HAS160 better than the $30 HAS600. The HAS160 has decent bass, however it is not exaggerated, and in proper proportion to the other frequencies. It also has more detail than the HAS600. the sound on the HAs650 is similar in balance to the HAS600, however it has more detail and tighter bass.  Based on the reviews I read, all the lower priced extra bass headphones seem to have a recessed midrage and are lacking in detail. While having more bass is sometimes nice, quite often it doesn't seem worth it if it is at the expense of less treble and less midrange detail.  An extra bass headphone is nice for some music, however I wouldn't want it as my only headphone.

It does seem strange that he set a $40 limit, as the Sennheiser PX100-ii is $42. :)

Sorry to recommend it but its what I currently have on his list. Sorry if I'm one of those who enjoy it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Lust Envy 

The HTX7.... only for people that enjoy mud with terrible, terrible and artificial mids, and boomy as all hell bass.
I quite enjoyed the JVC HAS700 when I had them, and I absolutely loved the CAL which is worth the $60 and then some.

audio technica M30.

i bought mine last year on amazon for $43, but see them quite often just under $40.

great phones for that price.

Well, here's what I can say about the HTF600 -- it is a less bright, more warm headphone with much more bass quantity and a much looser bass and is overall a slower headphone. Compared to the Superlux, it also is a less detailed headphone, losing some of the more microdetails and making the music sound like it has fuzzy edges. Personally, I think the Superlux is the superior technical headphone, but there is some definite merit in the HTF600 for a basshead who wants a warm headphone. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeylw 

So I am going to make the purchase tomorrow night for him. Right now I'm leaning towards the Superlux, but the Panasonic HTF600 seems to have a lot of positive feedback on this forum. While looking around I also found out a lot of people liked the JVC HAS600 better than the HAS700. So my top 3 in order is:

 

Superlux HD681
Panasonic HTF600

JVC HAS600

 

 

The Superlux HD681 is a very bright headphone. I didn't hear it, but looking at the frequency response chart scared me away.

The JVC HAS600 is warm sounding and has extra bass, but is treble deficient. The HAS600 is good for around $30, although I do like the HAS160 better since it has better highs(even though it has less bass).

Even better than the JVC HAS600 is the HAS650, which is also under $40. If you want a Superlux headphone, then look at the Samson SR850 which is made by Superlux. It is 32 ohms, 98 db/mw, so it is easy to drive. It is $40 new on Ebay with free US shipping.