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Survey: Best in class headphones - in every price bracket - Page 3

post #31 of 66
4/3/02 at 9:53pm
Quote:
Please could you provide suggestions of headphones (of any type) that offer significantly better than average quality for the price in each of the following Price Bands:
Following this rule, it seems to me that Band G (which really only has a handful of headphones) and Band H (only one headphone really...) should be revised...
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post #32 of 66
4/3/02 at 10:13pm

Re: Survey: Best in class headphones - in every price bracket

I'll only list headphones that I've heard, and the only headphone-amp combos I'll insert are those that naturally go together... well... except maybe for the Holmes Powell.

Headphones preceeded and followed by stars are what I would consider super-duper exceptional value.

Band A: Less than US$ 20
Haven't heard any...

Band B: US$ 20 to US$ 49
Again, N/A

Band C: US$ 50 to US$ 99
Sony MDR-E888
Sony MDR-V6

Band D: US$ 100 to $US199
***Grado SR-100***

Band E: US$ 200 to $US 349
Sennheiser HD580/600
Grado RS-2 (can be obtained for a price within this range)
***Etymotic ER-4S***

Band F: US$ 350 to $US 599
Alessandro-Grado Music Series Pro
AKG K-1000

Band G: US$ 600 to $US 999
Grado HP-1

Band H: US $ 1,000 to US $1,999
N/A

Band I: US $ 2,000 and over
Headroom Blockhead / Sennheiser HD600
Stax OmegaII (have only heard 007t tube amplifier)
Sennheiser Orpheus
Holmes Powell DCT-1 / Alessandro MSP or Grado HP-1

That's all I can think of for now. Note I intended these as the best ones, intentionally not listing every single damn headphone that's been mentioned on these message boards that I've heard. I think it's more valuable this way.

Also, notice that there are only two "super-duper" values. I've seen the Grado SR-100 go as low as about $60 which is probably the single best deal in audio I've ever seen. The Etymotic ER-4S, while at a reasonable price, is not such an amazing value for absolute sound but rather for sound in such a small package and for its amazing isolation.
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post #33 of 66
4/3/02 at 10:38pm
Thread Starter 
1. I have edited the "The story so far ..." to include all headphones mentioned up to here.

2. Regarding
Quote:
Originally posted by chych

Following this rule, it seems to me that Band G (which really only has a handful of headphones) and Band H (only one headphone really...) should be revised...
Let's see how we go - perhaps some headphone-amp-cable combos will be added which will fall into those Bands.

3. We now have a list of about 40 recommended phones - when it seems complete, I plan to do a poll to identify the Best Buys from this list (aiming at perhaps half of the list).

Nix
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post #34 of 66
4/4/02 at 12:41am
The AKG K1000 with SAC K1000 belong in the Band H category.

The AKG K501 paired with the HeadRoom Max2001 belong in the band H category as well.
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post #35 of 66
4/4/02 at 12:59am
Here's mine:

Band A:
Koss KSC-50
Sennheiser MX 500

Band B:
Koss KSC-35
Koss Porta Pro

Band C:
Grado SR-60
Grado SR-80
Sony MDR-E888LP
Sony MDR-V6

Band D:
Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
Sennheiser HD 590

*Note that I haven't heard any headphones priced over $200, nor do I list any headphones that I no longer own.*
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post #36 of 66
4/4/02 at 1:02am
I think that adding amp/headphone combos in with just headphones alone will cause confusion. Personally, I think it might be better, and ultimately more simple, to have one category with price bands containing ONLY headphones, and another category with amp//headphone combos. Also, adding a headphone//amp combos in with just headphones alone distorts the prices of the actual headphones. For example, if a headphone amp costs $1000, and the headphone costs $99, then a headphone that would normally be classified as a Band C headphone is now in Band H.

This is idea is just a thought to add to the repretoire, probably a bad one at that, but I now realize while writing this that possibly it is more important to include 'total headphone systems' like as in headphone/amp combinations, but it is also important to note that some people may never plan to buy amps, and more commonly might not be able to use amps as in w/ portable rigs.

I still believe that it might help more people that want to start out without an amp (newbies) to buy just a high efficiency headphone rather than entire system to just 'get them into the headphone hobby,' and it would benefit them a lot if there were two separate categories (with the Band divisions, Band A, B, etc.); one for headphones and one for headphone and amp pasirs that work well together. Everyone seems to end up upgrading anyway. Well, just a thought . . .
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post #37 of 66
4/4/02 at 1:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by The Quality Guru
I think that adding amp/headphone combos in with just headphones alone will cause confusion. Personally, I think it might be better, and ultimately more simple, to have one category with price bands containing ONLY headphones, and another category with amp//headphone combos....
Thanks for those thoughts. At this stage, getting a basic short(ish)-list of recommended phones is great. From this list, we can develop:
1. A Best Buy list (selecting the top value for money standouts)
2. Comparative international pricing
3. Recommendations by type of use (eg home, commuting, etc)
4. Comparisons of with vs without amp setups - eg: a Senn 580 with TAH amp or a Sony CD3000 without amp (the cost being about the same)

Nix
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post #38 of 66
4/4/02 at 2:18am
Quote:
I think that adding amp/headphone combos in with just headphones alone will cause confusion. Personally, I think it might be better, and ultimately more simple, to have one category with price bands containing ONLY headphones, and another category with amp/headphone combos.
Agreed. Keep the headphone/amp combos out of the list. The number of combinations are endless! No! Avoid! Danger!
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post #39 of 66
4/4/02 at 2:33am
In that case I nominate the Ety-4S paired with the Porta Corda for band F.
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post #40 of 66
4/4/02 at 2:41am
Thread Starter 
On the one hand I agree with you - there are infinite (well almost) amp-headphone combinations.

Then, on the other hand, if someone has a budget of say $300, do they buy a $150 headphone plus a $150 amp - I know I would probably go for the $300 headphone (then spend the extra $150 on the amp later).

Interestingly, I spent a couple of hours doing A-B comparisons between the Ety ER6 and Sony CD3000 (two more different animals you could not hope to find) - and concluded that the amp made more difference than there was between the two.


Actually we only have 6 amp-headphone combos out of 50 entries in total, at the moment.
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post #41 of 66
4/4/02 at 4:15am
Band A: Less than US$ 20
-Sennheiser MX500
-Koss KSC-55
Band B: US$ 20 to US$ 49
-Koss PortaPro
-Koss SportaPro
-Koss KSC-35
-Grado SR-40
Band C: US$ 50 to US$ 99
-Alessandro MS1
-Grado SR-60
-Sony MDR-E888
-Sony MDR-V6
Band D: US$ 100 to $US199
-Sennheiser HD580
-AKG K501
-Etymotic ER-4S
-Grado SR-125/225
-Philips SBC890/910
-Beyerdynamic DT-250
Band E: US$ 200 to $US 349
-Sennheiser HD600
-Etymotic ER4
-Beyerdynamic DT831
-Alessandro MS2
-Grado SR325
Band F: US$ 350 to $US 599
-Alessandro MS Pro
-AKG K1000
-Grado RS-1
-ATH W100
-Discontinued Stax Lambda Nova System
Band G: US$ 600 to $US 999
-ATH W2002
Band H: US $ 1,000 to US $1,999
-HD600 With Cary
-Stax SR3030
Band I: US $ 2,000 and over
-Orpheus
-Stax SR4040/Omega
-HD600 With Zeus or E.A.R.
-Sony R10
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post #42 of 66
4/4/02 at 4:48am
Tim, there's no way you've tried all those headphones out. I got the impression that we're supposed to list the models in each price range that we'd heard that we'd recommend higher than others?
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post #43 of 66
4/4/02 at 5:49am
Thread Starter 

[B]Wanted: help with pricing[/B]

I would be most grateful if some kind persons could confirm the best generally obtainable pricing for each of the phones in the list.

Please state the retailer from which the pricing is obtained. Lets also include pricing in countries other than the US - just state the country and currency (or convert to US$).

Oh, and could people confirm the exact model number.

Many thanks in anticipation ...

Nix
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post #44 of 66
4/4/02 at 7:14am
Dont forget to add the HD-590 to Band E: US$ 200 to $US 349.

I think everyone else covered the rest.

I havent heard much...just the 580, 590, 600, 888s, older 868s and some cheap phones (cd2000 or something $10 and very warm sounding) I use for cs.

Sony dont make the 868s no more so its not in the list.
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post #45 of 66
4/4/02 at 10:26am
You can get an HD600 with Cary SEI for under $2k? Where?
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