[scoop]

Ok I'm looking for a pair of headphones - $100-$180 or less preferebly.

I will mostly use them for dvd's and mp3's, I wont use an amp just for headphones, just the normal one that i use with my 2 channel stereo...

Important to me is price, sound quality and they need to be comfortable if I want to watch 3 hours of godfather


I'm considering the following, lemme know which ones you recommend that I check out... any of them especially good for movies for example or a typical sound?
as for music i listen to most stuff except for classic and jazz.. mostly 70i'es rock, 80's metal, some rap, some country, sing-songwriter stuff..

Philips 890 - heard a lot of great things about these, I can get them for about $80 usdollars here in Sweden.

Sennheiser 497 - I can get a good deal on themfor about $55 usdollars.

Grado sr60 - they're about $131 here.

Sennheiser hd570 - $121
Beyerdynamic DT931 $182 a bit steep..

Grado sr80 - $182!!

Beyerdynamic DT531 $121

 

[wallijonn]

Scoop,

I guess the first thing to ask is, "what is the headphone output impedance of the receiver?"

While the Grados will probably give you the most visceral experience with movies, as always you have to live with the Grado uncomfort factor. I had to modify my SR80s to make them comfortable.

I wouldn't even consider the HD570 for movie viewing. I tried it and it was unacceptable, to me.

I use the DT931 for gaming and movie watching. It is a little better for movie watching as it tends to change characteristics too quickly with games - it all depends on the game midi balance (I mostly use it for N64 (very variable) and PS1 games). I suspect that it is heavier than the DT531, and will still get hot after awhile. It's not really a problem if you get up every now and then to go to the frigerator or the bathroom. If you can watch "The Two Towers" without a break - you're a much better man than I am. I also find the DT931 a little restrained in the midrange for movie watching.

So as a BD team member I suggest the DT531 as a viable option.

 

[scoop]

1 Headphone: 1 5mV/8 Ohm
is the output i think.

 

[wallijonn]

that impedance doesn't look right. do you have the manual?

one way in which I can tell, somewhat, is to put an ohmmeter across the headphone output leads (no headphone drivers connected). if I see it rising/lowering, chances are that there is a capacitor in the circuit, so it probably is connected to the speaker outputs. if it doesn't change too much or rapidly, chances are that it is an IC circuit. I find IC circuits to be very syngeristic / dependent.

All you can do is try it and see if you can live with it. ICs may or may not have enough voltage swing and/or current to satisfactorily drive the headphone optimally.

 

[apropos]

Ultrasone HFI 650 DVD edition are, as the name connotes, specifically designed for movie buffs! You might also want to get beyer pads for additional comfort.

Apropos.

 

[scoop]

OK

now i've actually tried these headphones!!

phililips 890 - wasnt impressed by these and I found them too big and clumsy...

497 - too plastic, didnt fit my head very well...

grado 60 - very good headphones, a little cheap construction wise but i think they fit very well... but i have the feeling they're overpriced in sweden at $131 ?

beyerdynamic 531--- i really like them, very comfortable, big but not too big and not too heavy... chord is a little short. i think i can get them for a pretty good price - $121... suppose to cost twice as much normally...

I also tried the hd 600 from sennheiser and it's obvious theyre great.. but i dont think it's worth 3 times what the beyerdynamics 531 is... and thats how much they cost here.

also im not sure theyre the ultimate in comfort... felt a little hard.