[Trunks159]

Yeah grados are nice for that. I've been searching for a closed grado too!

 

[Trunks159]

I only heard one of them, the rock ballad. They both make it sound nice, but I might slightly prefer the ws99 for the slightly deeper soundstage and warm signature. I would imagine that heavy metal might sound the best on the MDR 1r because of its agressive nature. It's kind of a toss up between the two. Get the 1r for comfort, ws99 for sound. Grado would be perfect (sr325i) but they're open so that's a no go.

 

[ryan2196]

Quote:

I only heard one of them, the rock ballad. They both make it sound nice, but I might slightly prefer the ws99 for the slightly deeper soundstage and warm signature. I would imagine that heavy metal might sound the best on the MDR 1r because of its agressive nature. It's kind of a toss up between the two. Get the 1r for comfort, ws99 for sound. Grado would be perfect (sr325i) but they're open so that's a no go.

Well let me know when you get to listen to the Metallica song. Also, I heared the MDR 1R has a loose cable problem that creates a sound in the headphones. Have you had this problem?

 

[cel4145]

The ATH-M50s are on sale on Amazon right now for $100. They will do way better than the Beats. Good portability. Built pretty hardy. Good isolation. Easy to drive with a portable media player. You were considering the M50s to begin with. They may well be unbeatable at that price for your needs. They are a solid, general purpose headphone choice.

Then the SR80i are only another $100

 

[cel4145]

Yeah grados are nice for that. I've been searching for a closed grado too!

Yeah. Me, too. Been trying all kinds of headphones. Can't find anything closed that sounds as good

 

[Trunks159]

Yea it has the jack rattle problem in mine too, but it's not that annoying to me at least. ATH m50 is nowhere near as good as the ws99 IMO. If you got the m50, you'd end up upgrading anyway, spending even more money. Best to skip that $100-$180 stage.

 

[Trunks159]

Only problem is that grados aren't good for popular music. They have little sub bass, until you get a little higher in the line.

 

[ryan2196]

Quote:

Only problem is that grados aren't good for popular music. They have little sub bass, until you get a little higher in the line.

What exactly is the headphone jack problem? Does it always make a noise, or only when it is bumped?

 

[Trunks159]

Hard to explain. Usually when you turn your head, and not really when your walking. I didn't even notice it for about a week. Not a deal breaker IMO.

 

[ryan2196]

Hard to explain. Usually when you turn your head, and not really when your walking. I didn't even notice it for about a week. Not a deal breaker IMO.

Well is there anywhere that you know of where I could test them out? I know audio technica ws99 are hard to find in stores but what about the sonys?

 

[Trunks159]

Perhaps best buy. They sell them. Just call your local best buy.

 

[ryan2196]

Perhaps best buy. They sell them. Just call your local best buy.

Unfortunately my best buy has all the fad headphones like beats bose etc and not as much quality like sennheiser. That's where I bought my beats.

 

[cel4145]

Only problem is that grados aren't good for popular music. They have little sub bass, until you get a little higher in the line.

Yeah, that's what "they" say, but it's not a very good generalization:

1) If you view the frequency response, Grado SR225is are only down maybe about -5db at 40hz, maybe -2db at 50hz. Just takes a little bass boost EQ to bring that up: http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoSR225i.pdf. Add the L-Cush pads to the SR60i or SR80i, and you get the same bass response. Cost you an extra $20.

2) Sure. There is EDM and rap that has very low bass content, although more of it depends on 40hz and above for the bass effect. 99% of rock if you are good to 50hz, you are good to go. And below 40hz, most of the benefit from that comes from what you feel more than what you hear, and headphones can never emulate that. Now in a good home audio system or good car audio setup with a sub, then those lower hz make the music much more fun.

3) Most of the people that say such things buy bass heavy headphones and/or overly boost the bass and don't actually listen to the music the way that it was mixed by the audio engineers.

4) What is "popular music" now? Most college students I know use Pandora and Spotify and listen to many different genres and/or very niche genres of music. It's not like it was 20 years ago when it was easy to point to specific music as popular.

 

[Trunks159]

There's a section for home theater and that's where they hide the headphones . If not, if there's a B&H center around you, they'll have em.

 

[ryan2196]

Yeah, that's what "they" say, but it's not a very good generalization:

1) If you view the frequency response, Grado SR225is are only down maybe about -5db at 40hz, maybe -2db at 50hz. Just takes a little bass boost EQ to bring that up: http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/GradoSR225i.pdf. Add the L-Cush pads to the SR60i or SR80i, and you get the same bass response. Cost you an extra $20.

2) Sure. There is EDM and rap that has very low bass content, although more of it depends on 40hz and above for the bass effect. 99% of rock if you are good to 50hz, you are good to go. And below 40hz, most of the benefit from that comes from what you feel more than what you hear, and headphones can never emulate that. Now in a good home audio system or good car audio setup with a sub, then those lower hz make the music much more fun.

3) Most of the people that say such things buy bass heavy headphones and/or overly boost the bass and don't actually listen to the music the way that it was mixed by the audio engineers.

4) What is "popular music" now? Most college students I know use Pandora and Spotify and listen to many different genres and/or very niche genres of music. It's not like it was 20 years ago when it was easy to point to specific music as popular.

Nice rant hahahaha very true thiugh