Any cheap ~$30 headphone, completely cover ear

[legolas52]

Are there any cheap ~$30 headphones(don't care about looks), but which go completely over your ear(like they don't touch your ear at all). I have the MDR-v150, but I don't like how it touches my ear. I'd like complete isolation, at a good price. I can compromise on sound quality.

 

[AudioCats]

sony MDR-CDV180. goes all the way around the ear, very very comfortable, I can wear mine for 6 hours straight. fabric ear pads, not sweaty. I installed Koss 60 ohm non-coated drivers in mine, and now (to my ears anyway) they sound better than my KSC75.

Sound insulation isn't very good though, the housing is pretty thin......

CDV180's are around $15-$20 new when you find them, cheap. But the stock drivers sound like crap, a driver transplant of some kind is a must.

 

[AudioCats]

here are some strange reviews about the MDR-CD180:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-CD180...8291124&sr=1-1

The like-new ones are around $10 on ebay, shipped. That will leave you some money for some good drivers....

 

[ericj]

The closeout-priced little-known MB Quart QP-45x should be very comfortable:

http://www.electronicsbonanza.com/co...MB-Quart-QP45X

And probably sounds pretty decent too.

MB Quart headphones use a unique earcup mounting they call "cardamatic suspension" - basically the earcup is suspended on 8 loops of elastic around the circumference of the cup.

For another $10 you can get the QP-55x from the same vendor, which gets you velour rather than leatherette earpads, and grado sr-60 level sound quality.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif The closeout-priced little-known MB Quart QP-45x should be very comfortable: http://www.electronicsbonanza.com/co...MB-Quart-QP45X And probably sounds pretty decent too. MB Quart headphones use a unique earcup mounting they call "cardamatic suspension" - basically the earcup is suspended on 8 loops of elastic around the circumference of the cup. For another $10 you can get the QP-55x from the same vendor, which gets you velour rather than leatherette earpads, and grado sr-60 level sound quality.

It's just four loops per side on the cardamatic suspension, and no, it's not a gimmick, I'm really missing it since I sold my QP95. The QP45x would be a better choice for legolas, since they're semi-closed instead of open like the 55x. (but if you really need closed, then these aren't for you) I think the difference between the 45 and 55 is just that, plus the pleather earpads instead of the nice velour ones. Otherwise the statistics are the same:

24-20,100Hz, 2x100 ohm, 98dB efficiency, 220 grams, same distortion figures.

I'll stand by these. Heck, I'll even guarantee it: If you think an HD201 or any other sub-$50 new circumaural headphone sounds better or is more comfortable, I'll buy them back from you for $25 plus a priority mail package, so you'd only lose the original shipping. However, be warned that like the HD201, they like a strongish source-- i.e., not at their best straight out of your ipod.

 

[AudioNoob]

There were some philips' around, I'm pretty sure

 

[porschemad911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif sony MDR-CDV180. goes all the way around the ear, very very comfortable, I can wear mine for 6 hours straight. fabric ear pads, not sweaty. I installed Koss 60 ohm non-coated drivers in mine, and now (to my ears anyway) they sound better than my KSC75. Sound insulation isn't very good though, the housing is pretty thin...... CDV180's are around $15-$20 new when you find them, cheap. But the stock drivers sound like crap, a driver transplant of some kind is a must.

Haha, that's a fantastic idea! Years ago I had a Koss KSC-55, to which I upgraded from a Sony MDR-CD180. I loved the upgraded sound quality, but missed the comfort a little. Maybe I should do some cheap headphone purchasing and surgery ... hehe!

 

[AudioCats]

porchemad, there is one problem with the coated drivers (KSC75, 55): their driver housing are not the same as the non-coated so they are picky about what kind of closed cups you put them into.
I took the non-coated driver from my GT-5 and put them into the CD180 and it worked well (after installing different foam it has almost too much bass for me, a lot more than the KSC75). But the KSC75 coated drivers don't work in the GT housing, so they might not work in a CD180 housing either. If the 55 driver is exactly the same as the 75's then the transplant might require lots and lots of tuning, probably not worth it. Still fun to try it though.

Are the KSC55 drivers exactly the same as the 75's?

I think the QP's are great deals, I might go get a pair myself.....