BohiCA
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2009
- Posts
- 2
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- 0
Hello all, first post here and excited to hear what you all have to say.
Quick backstory: I used to log onto woot.com everyday to see what amazingly cheap deals they have for quality goods. One particular day they were featuring the Jabra's C820S. With no background knowledge about what quality headphones were actually all about (yes, shamefully I even whined about spending $20 on a pair you'd pickup at the clearance basket in Office Depot), I was extremely hesitant to pay the some $60 for the Jabra's. Fortunately I made the right choice, leading me eventually here, looking for a step up!
Currently I am still using the C820S, however its somewhat flimsy design caused the headband to start cracking, only held together by this point by superglue and duct tape
I figured by now that this would be a legitimate opportunity to buy a new pair of cans.
My main concerns over buying a new pair are:
1. Are they sturdy? - Is this pair suitable for heavy duty traveling (backpack, constant handling..etc), and won't end up like my Jabra's?
2. Isolation (Noise canceling is also an option but not necessary) - Will the pair, once coupled with music, block out a vast majority of ambient noise, if not virtually eliminate it?
3. Sound Leakage - The most important. I go to a library and other very quiet environments frequently, including occasional flying. I want to get a pair that won't be bothersome to the guy sitting in the seat next to me.
I was looking at the Grado SR80, Sennheiser HD-555, and Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7. I was settled on the last one, due to the NC and closed design, but before purchasing the pair, I read many reviews about its insane sound leakage. Realizing that each pair couldn't fit all 3 categories, and after many hours of searching for a pair that fits all categories without having to be an IEM, I was stumped, and figured this is the place to go!
My budget is $120
Still a complete newcomer to becoming an audiophile, I'm definitely looking forward to what you guys have to say about the models listed above, and any additional suggestions you guys might have.
Thanks in advance
EDIT: Rewrote OP for more clarification and detail