Recommendation on portable over-the-head heaphones - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK1 

I had the Grado SR60, and still have the Grado SR80. They leak plenty of sound.  they sound very unnatural. They have very thick long cords.I think the cord on the iGrado is shorter and thinner. The treble on the SR60 hurt my ears. I would not recommend the SR60 or SR80. While the SR60i and SR80i are claimed to be improved, I have no idea how much the improvement is. The iGrado is said to have the same drivers as the SR60i.

 

I like the sound on the JVC HAS650 better than the Sennheiser PX100. The PX100II is said to sound very similar to the PX100, but with a bit more bass, and a bit less detail. The JVC HAS650 has a similar warm sound signature as the PX100. The HAS650 is closed though. It has a medium level of isolation, much more than the HAS160. The HAS160 has a more neutral sound signature than the HAS650. The HAS160 is also a bit more compact than the HAS650. The HAS160 is my favorite headphone under $30.

 

While the JVC HAS160 is closed, it doesn't isolate well, so it is almost like an open headphone.

 

As far as IEMs having a closed in sound, it depends on which IEM you used. Some IEMs such as the JVC HAFX80 microdriver IEM($32) have extended treble and an open sound.

 

The greatest issue for closed vs open is whether you want isolation or not.

 

 

Thanks, JK1.  That's a lot of good information.  I read somewhere else that the iGrado's tend to be fatiguing, so I should probably stay away from those.

In terms of sound, I think I could live with something that is on the warm side of neutral but detailed and accurate.  My least favorite sounds are the extremes...too bright/treble-heavy or too dark/bass-heavy (or too boomy).

After I typed my last post in this thread, I did a bit more researching online and came across a number of folks also recommending AKG headphones for similar purposes as mine.  JVC's, Sennheiser's, Koss's, and AKG's seemed to be the most recommended.  Do you or any others have any experience with AKG's, and if so, what is your opinion?

I just purchased a pair of the JVC HA-S160's.  Found them for a good price.  I'll let you know what I think when they arrive.  Hopefully they'll be what I'm looking for.  If by some chance they are not, maybe I'll then try the Sennheiser's.  Btw, on the latter, it seems like folks prefer the original PX-100's to the PX-100II's from the bit of searching that I did.

Thanks again, JK1.  And the others that responded in this thread too.

So, I received the JVC HA-S160's.  While I like the sound, I'm going to have to return them.  They just do not fit my head correctly, no matter how many adjustments I make.  Never had a pair of headphones that fit so awkwardly before.  I think it stems mostly from the headband being too wide for my head...even when it's at the narrowest setting.  The ear pieces move around too much, forcing me to either put them on the back side of my ear or to push them all the way in front such that they are digging into my jawbone...and in both cases the hole in the earpiece is no longer pointing into my ear canal...degrading the sound.  It sucks because when I hold them in place over my ear canals, they sound pretty darn good...especially for a $10 headphone.

I think I might try the Sennheiser PX-100's next...unless folks have had similar "fit" problems with those too????  I guess I'll have to go with the version II's, as it doesn't seem like the version I's are available anymore (as new).

Bill-P: That sounds like part of the problem I had with the JVC's.  They fit weird.  Well, in my case...they were too wide for my head or something.  I have to say that the idea of the Audio Technica's having both fit issues and being boomy are kind of minuses in my book.  But perhaps I will check them out.  I love Audio Technica cartridges for vinyl playback, that's for sure!  Different animals I realize, but interesting nevertheless.

The more I look into the Sennheiser PX-100's, the more I am not sure.  Can anyone that's had these chime in: just how much does the sound escape from these when turned up?  Would they be potentially distracting to those around me if say I wore them on a plane or something?  Are they any better or worse in this regard than the old cheap open headphones (Sony, JVC, Philips, etc.) that folks used to use with cassette walkman decks back in the day?  I used those for years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JK1 

I find it unusual that you can't get the JVC HA-S160 to fit. Did you try bending the headband? Headphones with a metal headband can be bent to fit almost all adults. The ones with a plastic headband are much less flexible.

I know, I kind of felt that way too.  I've worn dozens of different headphones in my lifetime and never had such difficulty before. 

No matter what I tried, I couldn't get the phones to stay in place on my head when I moved it forward or backward.  I think part of it stems from the fact that the cups turn laterally, but only in one direction (since they are meant to be stored flat).  So, when I move my head forward, the cups slide from the middle of my ear to the front, digging into my jawbone and no longer forming a seal for the hole in the cups (in this position, the cups look--and feel--like they are actually sticking out of the side of my head...laying flat jutting out of the side of head/jaw).  On the other hand, when I try to push the cups further toward the back of my ear to prevent this from happening, it sounds like a thin transistor radio because the hole in the earpieces are no longer pointing into my ear canal.  And furthermore, when in this latter position, if I move my head backward slightly (like say when I'm laying down on the bench to do bench presses), the phones slide off the back of my head.

I spent some more time with the JVC's the past few days, and I just don't think I can get past this fit issue.  I've never had a problem with headphones sliding around on my head/ears before (no matter how much I bend the band or where I place it on my head), and since my main intent is to find something for use while active or traveling, they aren't cutting it.  I could try and add a bit of foam to the headband to try and correct the problem, as you say JK1.  Or I could just return them and try something else.

The thing that sucks is I really like the sound of these JVC's.  More than both the last few pair of IEMs I've had and any sub-$50 over-the-head headphones that I've ever had.  I really like that they are balanced/neutral, but not bass-shy in the least and also not mid-forward. Is there anything else that SOUNDS like these JVC's that fits my other criteria?  Any of the other models mentioned in this thread?