[$100]After 6 years looking to upgrade my Sony XB500's to something not so bassy.
Aug 27, 2015 at 11:50 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 5
bcon123

bcon123

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I've had a pair of Sony XB500's for the past 6 years and they've been great seeing as they have really been my only pair of decent headphones. While I enjoyed the extra bass, I feel like I'm probably missing out on greater clarity, if thats the term, and I was looking for some suggestions as to something better around $100. Listening to music would be the main use but also a little gaming on the side although that's more of an afterthought. Ideally I'm looking for something that would be comfortable for long use, and great for music. I've been looking at the Sennheiser 518/558 but given what I'm used to I'm wondering if those will be to flat for my liking. Any suggestions are appreciated. 
 
Aug 28, 2015 at 5:22 AM Post #2 of 5
bcon123 said:
  I've had a pair of Sony XB500's for the past 6 years and they've been great seeing as they have really been my only pair of decent headphones. While I enjoyed the extra bass, I feel like I'm probably missing out on greater clarity, if thats the term, and I was looking for some suggestions as to something better around $100. Listening to music would be the main use but also a little gaming on the side although that's more of an afterthought. Ideally I'm looking for something that would be comfortable for long use, and great for music. I've been looking at the Sennheiser 518/558 but given what I'm used to I'm wondering if those will be to flat for my liking. Any suggestions are appreciated. 
Click to expand...

I would stray away from the 518 and 558. They are very sterile and bass-light IMO, especially compared to what you're used to. I would recommend you get something like a Takstar HI-2050 (well below your budget, but great bang for the buck), or AKG K550, K551, or K553. 
 
There's a K553 in the classifieds for $125 but they're open to offers. That would be the tippy top of your budget but you would be getting a whole lot of quality, both build and sound, for a low a** price. Make sure he has the stock pads though, that's what I'm basing my recommendation of sound on, them with stock pads.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/779145/akg-553-includes-box-and-brainwavz-velour-earcups
 
Aug 28, 2015 at 10:28 AM Post #3 of 5
peterek said:
  I would stray away from the 518 and 558. They are very sterile and bass-light IMO, especially compared to what you're used to. I would recommend you get something like a Takstar HI-2050 (well below your budget, but great bang for the buck), or AKG K550, K551, or K553. 
 
There's a K553 in the classifieds for $125 but they're open to offers. That would be the tippy top of your budget but you would be getting a whole lot of quality, both build and sound, for a low a** price. Make sure he has the stock pads though, that's what I'm basing my recommendation of sound on, them with stock pads.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/779145/akg-553-includes-box-and-brainwavz-velour-earcups
Click to expand...

 
Actually I was looking on Massdrop.com last night and they have the AKG553 new for 120, so Im really considering it. That being said I've also seen a lot of people suggest the Takstar so I wondering if the 553 is worth the extra money. Or I split them and go with AKG 240 for around $70.
 
Aug 28, 2015 at 6:25 PM Post #4 of 5
The AKG K553 is a slight update to the K550. Generally considered a good closed headphone in the $150 to $200 class, assuming the more neutralish sound signature is right for you. If so, then yeah. I'd go for the K553. :)
 
Aug 28, 2015 at 6:50 PM Post #5 of 5
Yeah they're all pretty close so I suggested them all. They aren't bass heavy, but they can produce bass accurately along with having a neutral tone throughout the rest of the sound too.
 
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