[LawLaw]

Hi

I am a student. I listen to other different kind of music. But mainly R&B and pop.

hmmm.....I only have around $175, and I would like to get the best suitable headphone for myself.

I would like to have a closed headphone, mainly focus on the sound quality. But also focus on how comfortable the headphone is. I usually wear it for hours. And maybe I will wear it outside.

I am using ipod touch 2nd gen and macbook.

I will use the headphone for music and movies.

Now I am looking Audio-Technica ATH-M50, Shure SRH840, bose onear, sony MDR XD-500, Sennheiser HD238, or Beats by Dr. Dre. solo

Because I am a noob, I haven't really look into Grodo headphones.

Please help me and introduce me the best headphone.

 

[Acix]

You can try some Ultrasones, like the Pro-550/580, Or the DJ1-Pro.

 

[Stickyfoot]

Ditto the Ultrasone recommendation. You could pick up a gently used pair of HFI-780s for at or under $175, or get a brand-new pair for just a bit more. They are a very fun listen for movies and the genres of music you mention.

Some people do have issues with their fit--they clamp a touch more than most cans, I think. I had them for a while, and once I expanded the headband a little (there's a bendable wire inside) they were fine.

 

[Acix]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickyfoot /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ditto the Ultrasone recommendation. You could pick up a gently used pair of HFI-780s for at or under $175, or get a brand-new pair for just a bit more. They are a very fun listen for movies and the genres of music you mention. Some people do have issues with their fit--they clamp a touch more than most cans, I think. I had them for a while, and once I expanded the headband a little (there's a bendable wire inside) they were fine.

For big heads the Pro series are a bit more comfy, and they have a bigger sound stage.

 

[Halftrack]

I thought this would be some crazy obviously-fake deal for an Orpheus.

 

[Gbjerke]

Srh 840 or hd25-1 II. Steer away from bose and monster when it comes to pretty much everything

 

[Palpatine]

Stay away from the Beats. Shure 840 , Senn HD 25 I II.
The ATK M50 are fine, but I prefer the others for better clarity and sq.

 

[yashu]

Check out Denon AH-D1001s. These phones really can take someone right into the high end, if you have halfway decent output. External something like an E-Mu 0202, or even an x-fi extreme music. The Shures are going to sound rather thin without enough amplification. I wouldn't be able to even listen to their little brothers the 440s if I did not have a DAC + amp. Budget minded solution would be a set of HD555s. I used those for years from every type of output that was near me and was never really let down. Spme will say they have all these problems, but they really do sound damn good for the price, plus are way more forgiving than a lot of phones. If you want to extrapolate this out to the HD238s, I think the 238s are a good bet, along with the Denons, and Sony XB700s. I am constantly impressed by how well the XB700s handle lower power situations. They aren't fart cannons, despite their marketing, but they certainly do give you a controlled low end on just an ipod's output. Not muddy, and since the drivers are the same 50mm drivers they use in the v700s, you are getting something taylored for the kind of music you enjoy, but more refined, and very nice looking. They are more comfortable than anything other than senn fabric, and possibly the Audio Technicas, to which they certainly match the ability to be worn for a long time. Denons are comfortable, as are the Shures, but the Shures straight from an ipod would sound pretty thin IMO.

238s are a good choice for portables, as are the XBs. I don't know a lot about Utrasone, so I won't comment there, but of the phones I do know about, getting sound out of a portable needs something really easy to drive, but can still produce the full spectrum of audio, not just the HF.

I also suggest you do go listen to some prospects with the type of setup you are going to use the most (ipod?) I love to use a set of PortaPros on my Sansa instead of cans, and that only changed recently when I bought the XB700s. The v700s may have the same drivers, but they mash your ears and have a very small image, vs the XBs that are like having pillows on your head and have a soundstage that extends beyond the phones without breaking a sweat. Portable player users should really look into these, even the 25th anniversary Koss PortaPros. Something is to said of a design that has stood that test of time.

Also, avoid the v500s, v600s, and even the v700s. While the v700s can sound rather nice, the XBs win in every aspect, except, perhaps, DJing. Look at a frew. plot of the v700s and you will see what I mean. The v700s peak in key req. one would need to hear when queuing a track. The XBs are made for listening without fatigue on lower power amp sections.

The Beats are kind of a joke, as are anything other than cheap-o IEMs when speaking of Sullcandy. Here, many phones are sold by word of mouth, not marketing. Monster, overall, is in markets where there is much better for less money, but less marketing as well.

 

[kunalraiker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbjerke /img/forum/go_quote.gif Srh 840 or hd25-1 II. Steer away from bose and monster when it comes to pretty much everything

I agree with that too.

have the HD's love em