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Headphone/IEM Shootout for the Budget-Minded (College Students and such)

post #1 of 39
1/11/12 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 

Hi all,

 

Recently I've started to write reviews on headphones with relatively high bang-for-the-buck ratios. As a college student myself I am always on a tight budget and I can't really afford the top of the line headphones that I would love to buy so I always look for headphones that have a high performance/price ratio. I've noticed that more college students nowadays are starting to pick up on Hi-Fi, I see it on campus a good amount actually (sadly others will still be wearing Beats). This list serves its purpose for college students, high school students, and any other people who are on a tight budget and just cannot afford to actually throw $300 or so at a pair of headphones at the moment.

 

I would like to start a thread here that lists headphones that are great values and can be found at <$150 at street price! From a quick glance here, people can go research more thoroughly the headphone that matches their interest and price point. Please recommend headphones that you have personally owned and have experience with.

 

List the headphone you recommend, its street price, and its strengths & weaknesses (i.e. bass, soundstage, isolation)! 

 

 

Headphones:

JVC HAS160 ($12): Very neutral, closed, supraaural.

Monoprice 8320 ($8): Famous on Head-Fi for huge drivers at price point and amazing bang-for-the-buck. Can't go wrong at this price.

XePort 3010 ($10): Clear sound, good bass. Very good value.

Xeport 7010 ($20): Warm sound, very bassy. Slightly muddy.

JVC HAS650 ($35): Warmer balance with more detail than HAS160 and better bass. Closed supraaural.

Koss KSC75 ($15): Open earclips with no headband. Slightly bright balance. Can be improved with mod.

Superlux HD681 ($40): Boomy bass, highs can be fatiguing

Sennheiser PX100II ($42): Open folding headphone with warm sound and decent bass.

Sennheiser HD428 ($45): Very accurate, clean, and crisp sound. Bass slightly lacking.

Sony MDR-V6 ($75): Classic studio monitor with neutral sound, very durable.

Audio-Technica M50 ($120 when low): Good balanced sound quality with a good amount of bass. Very well known on Head Fi and discussed at length in many threads. Some complain about clamping force.

 

 

IEMs:

JVC HA-FX1X ($25): Good bright sound with lots of bass.

JVC HA-FXC51($25): Great treble and well-regarded microdriver IEM on Head-Fi. Somewhat length burn in.

Brainwavz M1 ($40): Great all around, could use more treble extension.

Dunu Trident ($45): Great all around.

Etymotic EtyKids ($50 MSRP): Amazing clarity, transparency and dissection of the mids and highs. Good bass that can use a slightly larger body.

NUForce NE700 ($50): Bass and mids.

MEE A151 ($55): Good bass and decent clarity, treble roll off is a con.

Brainwavz M4 ($55): Great bass and treble extension.  Good clarity, but can use some better detailing.

MEE CC51 ($50-$60): Beautiful bass although not the most transparent.

Ultimate Ears 500 ($55-$65): Amazing texture. Good clarity and detailing but can use more of both. The treble does sound rolled off due to the bass emphasis.


Edited by rushofmusic - 2/21/12 at 11:01pm
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post #2 of 39
1/11/12 at 7:32pm

Here's my list (IEMs only, I'm an IEM guy :p) of dirt cheap (below 60 dollars) IEMs:

  • Dunu Trident - 40 Street (Great all around)
  • MEE A151 - 55 Street (Good bass and decent clarity, treble roll off is a con)
  • MEE CC51 - 50-60 street (Beautiful bass although not the most transparent)
  • Etymotic EtyKids - 50 MSRP (street price unknown since it hasn't been out for long enough) ~ Dubbed by myself as a poor analytics dream IEM :p  I prefer this over the HF series (although the HFs are technically better)...  That said => Amazing clarity, transparency and dissection of the mids and highs.  Good bass that can use a slightly larger body.
  • NUForce NE700 - 50 Street - Bass and mids
  • Brainwavz M1 - 40 Street - Great all around...  Can use more treble extension, but that's about it really.  It does everything right, just not overbearingly amazing like other IEMs can.
  • Brainwavz M4 - 55 Street - Great bass and treble extension.  Good clarity, but can use some better detailing.
  • Ultimate Ears 500 - 55-65 Street - Amazing texture, euphoric in a sense.  Good clarity and detailing but can use more of both.  The treble does sound rolled off due to the bass emphasis.

 

That's my small list.  All decently solid and well known around here (except the EtyKids that everyone is assuming sounds like the MC series...  When in fact it really isn't)


Edited by tinyman392 - 1/11/12 at 7:34pm
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post #3 of 39
1/11/12 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the post! I really should have thrown on all the MEelectronics and Brainwavz :P

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post #4 of 39
1/11/12 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rushofmusic View Post

Thanks for the post! I really should have thrown on all the MEelectronics and Brainwavz :P



LOL, yeah.  I'd list some SoundMagics, but I haven't heard any.  I really find it hard to find any good headphones below the 50 dollar mark.  That's really where any good quality starts with a full choice of signature (although there will be exceptions).

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post #5 of 39
1/11/12 at 7:58pm

JVC HAS160 around $12 or so. This headphone is very neutral sounding, closed, supraaural. It is my favorite headphone under $30

 

JVC HAS650 around $35. warmer balanced with more detail than the HAS160 and better bass. Closed supraaural.

 

Sennheiser PX100II around $42. An open folding headphone with warm sound and decent bass.

 

Koss KSC75. around $15. Open with earclips no headband. slightly bright balance.

 

Sennheiser MX580. around $25. Great Neutral sounding earbuds.

 

JVC HAFXC51($25) and HAFXC80($34). micro driver IEMs. Very nice highs. The C80 has better detail, but is a bit harder to insert due to its shape.

 

Sony V6($95) A classic.Neutral studio monitor. Extremely durable. Mine is 23 years old!

 

JVC Air Cushion($16), Panasonic HJE350($19) Very comfortable IEM. Decent sound for the price

 

 

 

 

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post #6 of 39
1/11/12 at 8:15pm

There are plenty of threads that's already done covering this and then some.  This would include this particular thread that includes about 214 IEMs of all budgets and flavors.  

 

That said, I'm really digging the hell out of Monster Turbines ($50 refurb).  Too bad the tips included aren't worth jack.

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post #7 of 39
1/12/12 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damage View Post

There are plenty of threads that's already done covering this and then some.  This would include this particular thread that includes about 214 IEMs of all budgets and flavors.  

 

That said, I'm really digging the hell out of Monster Turbines ($50 refurb).  Too bad the tips included aren't worth jack.

 

Jokers review is famous and I know of that one but although that one breaks it into price categories and then evaluates them, I wanted to have a thread with only headphones/IEMs that are of great value :]
 

 

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post #8 of 39
1/12/12 at 1:57pm

The Sony V6 has gone up in price. It was $65 for a long time. Now $94.95 is the cheapest I see it for(B&H). Do you see it for under $94.95 anywhere?

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post #9 of 39
1/12/12 at 2:51pm

You guys seem to know a lot about IEMs on a budget.

 

If you wanted to spend <$100 on a pair of IEMs strictly for studying in coffee shops (e.g. drowning out annoying conversations), which ones would you buy? Thanks!

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post #10 of 39
1/12/12 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edzhang89 View Post

You guys seem to know a lot about IEMs on a budget.

 

If you wanted to spend <$100 on a pair of IEMs strictly for studying in coffee shops (e.g. drowning out annoying conversations), which ones would you buy? Thanks!

 

Over-ear deep insertion types. Or you could just buy some decent earplugs.


Edited by mbamg - 1/12/12 at 3:04pm
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post #11 of 39
1/12/12 at 3:11pm

I'd like for you to add that the A151s have decent separation which works well when there aren't too much electronic instruments or synthesizers.

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post #12 of 39
1/12/12 at 4:47pm

Tell them to buy a Sandisk Clip+ or Clip Zip instead of an ipod.

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post #13 of 39
1/12/12 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JK1 View Post

Tell them to buy a Sandisk Clip+ or Clip Zip instead of an ipod.


Reason: Clip series are very accurate and have a very flat frequency response. They can also be Rockboxed.

 


Edited by mbamg - 1/12/12 at 4:56pm
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post #14 of 39
1/12/12 at 5:39pm

The thread and the reviews are well broken down in pricing and what not.  So it seems somewhat repetitive having another thread like this. 

 

Again having said that, there are great deals and FOTMs that won't get covered.  But if the gear is worth it's weight then it'll get traction. 

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post #15 of 39
1/12/12 at 8:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbamg View Post


Reason: Clip series are very accurate and have a very flat frequency response. They can also be Rockboxed.

 



One can buy a $35 Clip+ and put a $35 32GB microSDHC card in it, and have a great cheap 40GB player. Or else they could add a 16GB card, and for around $50 total have a great sounding 20GB player.

 

It is also tiny and has a built in clip. For $50 one can have a 2GB Shuffle, or a Clip+ with 20GB of storage. The Clip+ also has a display and FM radio. Great for poor students, and for those who are frugal.


Edited by JK1 - 1/12/12 at 8:11pm
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