Best headphones for Hip Hop...

[Harmz]

Hi, I just joined the forum and I'm a complete novice with headphones, but from what I've been reading, the best headphones for Hip Hop would be:

1.Sony MDR-XB500
2. Audio Technica ATH-WS55
3. Panasonic RP-HTF600-S

I'm looking for headphones that provide good bass, without compromising on overall sound quality. I'm willing to increase my budget for something really special. Thanks

 

[Harmz]

I'd appreciate some advice guys...

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

Hi, I just joined the forum and I'm a complete novice with headphones, but from what I've been reading, the best headphones for Hip Hop would be:
1.Sony MDR-XB500
2. Audio Technica ATH-WS55
3. Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
I'm looking for headphones that provide good bass, without compromising on overall sound quality. I'm willing to increase my budget for something really special. Thanks

What source(s) will you be plugging the headphones into?
What would be your max budget?

 

[PFULMTL]

I'll say my favorite $99 headphones - AKG K618DJ.  http://us.akg.com/akg-product-detail-us/k618dj.html
Not only does it have a ton of bass, but the vocals sound really good on it with decent amount of detail.  They are however on-the-ear design, smaller than the ATH-WS55.

 

[Bee inthe Attic]

best is subjective, but I really enjoy my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro's (80 ohm) for hip-hop. the bass is tight and hits hard, and the sound quality is great for cans under $200. these headphones are among the most comfortable i have ever used, and are great for long listening sessions. they are durable and isolate pretty well from outside noise. the mids are a bit recessed though, which makes the vocals sound a bit sucked in (or quieter). if you really like your bass, pair these with an amp with bass boost (like a Fiio E10 desktop or E11 portable, for example) and they make you feel like you are listening to the artist in the recording studio. search for any closed headphone with good bass to see what else is recommended... I auditioned a bunch, and the Beyer's suited my tastes the best.

 

[TwinQY]

Quote:

Hi, I just joined the forum and I'm a complete novice with headphones, but from what I've been reading, the best headphones for Hip Hop would be:
1.Sony MDR-XB500
2. Audio Technica ATH-WS55
3. Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
I'm looking for headphones that provide good bass, without compromising on overall sound quality. I'm willing to increase my budget for something really special. Thanks

 
Depends on what you're looking for in a Hip-Hop can. Is it just the bass? Do you want quantity over quality (tightness, punchiness)? I'd go with the XB500 personally, well received around here, just a solid bass-heavy can. Everything else isn't lacking too much, and anything that is can be partially remedied with EQ. I'd also put in some suggestions for the Uptown or the HP700 if you can really stretch that budget.

 

[Harmz]

What source(s) will you be plugging the headphones into?
What would be your max budget?

I'll be plugging them into an iPhone/iPad and laptop. I do intend on buying the Fiio E11 in the future. My budget was fairly low, around $80, but after reading the replies my budget has increased to around $200 haha...it seems in order to get bass with overall quality, I would need to up the budget, right?

I'll say my favorite $99 headphones - AKG K618DJ.  http://us.akg.com/akg-product-detail-us/k618dj.html
Not only does it have a ton of bass, but the vocals sound really good on it with decent amount of detail.  They are however on-the-ear design, smaller than the ATH-WS55.

These do look pretty good and the price isn't too bad at all. Would you say the bass on these are better than the ATH-WS55?

best is subjective, but I really enjoy my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro's (80 ohm) for hip-hop. the bass is tight and hits hard, and the sound quality is great for cans under $200. these headphones are among the most comfortable i have ever used, and are great for long listening sessions. they are durable and isolate pretty well from outside noise. the mids are a bit recessed though, which makes the vocals sound a bit sucked in (or quieter). if you really like your bass, pair these with an amp with bass boost (like a Fiio E10 desktop or E11 portable, for example) and they make you feel like you are listening to the artist in the recording studio. search for any closed headphone with good bass to see what else is recommended... I auditioned a bunch, and the Beyer's suited my tastes the best.

The Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro are very tempting indeed. I have read a lot of good things about them on the forums and they may be big, but I actually like the way they look. The build quality looks really good too. I'm definitely putting them on my short list. Would say that the mids are fixed with the E11?

Depends on what you're looking for in a Hip-Hop can. Is it just the bass? Do you want quantity over quality (tightness, punchiness)? I'd go with the XB500 personally, well received around here, just a solid bass-heavy can. Everything else isn't lacking too much, and anything that is can be partially remedied with EQ. I'd also put in some suggestions for the Uptown or the HP700 if you can really stretch that budget.

I definitely want quality with the bass, I just don't see the point of bass without overall good sound quality. The only issue I have with the XB500 is the way it looks, its not the nicest looking cans. How about the Sony MDR-XB700...are they as good as the XB500 for Bass and overall quality? I tried searching for Uptown, I didn't find anything. What is the particular make/model?

 

[Bee inthe Attic]

Quote:

The Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro are very tempting indeed. I have read a lot of good things about them on the forums and they may be big, but I actually like the way they look. The build quality looks really good too. I'm definitely putting them on my short list. Would say that the mids are fixed with the E11?

 
nope.
while amps i've tried have made subtle improvements, they do not change the can's sound signature.
 
 
ps: the Uptowns are by Philips

 

[PurpleAngel]

Quote:

I'll be plugging them into an iPhone/iPad and laptop. I do intend on buying the Fiio E11 in the future. My budget was fairly low, around $80, but after reading the replies my budget has increased to around $200 haha...it seems in order to get bass with overall quality, I would need to up the budget, right?
These do look pretty good and the price isn't too bad at all. Would you say the bass on these are better than the ATH-WS55?
The Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro are very tempting indeed. I have read a lot of good things about them on the forums and they may be big, but I actually like the way they look. The build quality looks really good too. I'm definitely putting them on my short list. Would say that the mids are fixed with the E11?
I definitely want quality with the bass, I just don't see the point of bass without overall good sound quality. The only issue I have with the XB500 is the way it looks, its not the nicest looking cans. How about the Sony MDR-XB700...are they as good as the XB500 for Bass and overall quality? I tried searching for Uptown, I didn't find anything. What is the particular make/model?

If you want to try to save a few dollars and take a little more risk, the Takstar Pro 80 are only $88
They are a Chinese knock off of the Beyerdynamic DT770 headphones
and as they are only 60-Ohm headphone, should work decently well plugged straight into your iPhone/iPod and laptop.
http://www.takstar.com/eng/view.asp?id=707
 
Cheapest price on eBay is $87.99, ships from Hong Kong.
 
On Amazon they sell the Fiio E11 portable headphone amplifier, with extra battery (BL-5B) and battery charger for $61.99
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Accessory/dp/B004QVPGXK
 
The Fiio L cable hooks up to the LOD port on apple products, allows you to bypass the internal headphone amplifier, providing a slightly cleaner analog audio signal, $10.
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-L9-L-Shaped-Cable-iPhone/dp/B004QVNNI0/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y

 

[Harmz]

I'd rather not take the risk, knowing my luck I will probably receive a knock off of a knock off haha, but I have found the DT770 for $187...from what I've been reading they're the best headphones I can get for the money.


Thank you all for your help, you're awesome

 

[Harmz]

By the way, what are the V-Moda M80 headphones like?

 

[MalVeauX]

Quote:

Hi, I just joined the forum and I'm a complete novice with headphones, but from what I've been reading, the best headphones for Hip Hop would be:
1.Sony MDR-XB500
2. Audio Technica ATH-WS55
3. Panasonic RP-HTF600-S
I'm looking for headphones that provide good bass, without compromising on overall sound quality. I'm willing to increase my budget for something really special. Thanks

 
Heya,
 
Depends on what you like about hip-hop. Some people listen to it for just bass lines. Some people listen because they like the articulate rhymes and subtle verbal styles that are used and want to hear the cleverness (if any) which requires clear, excellent, unrecessed mids.
 
I would say up your budget, get the Ultrasone HFI 580 and be done with it.
 
Very best,

 

[291835]

The WS55 is closer to an on-ear headphone. If you go the on-ear route, the V-Moda M-80 has the perfect bass-vocal balance for hip hop. The M100 is the full-size version of the M-80 but even it doesn't match the balance of the M-80. (The M-Audio Q40 is the real full-size version of the M-80.

)
 
I have the DT770 Pro LE and prefer the Q40 over it when listening to hip hop or any dance music. I like the sound of vocals on the Q40. Very intimate and smooth. Vocals on the DT770 sound distant in comparison. Also, the bass rumbles hard on the Q40, especially when you pair it with something like the E11's bass boost feature or the Zo. For hiphop I'd even take the M50 over the DT770, which have more intimate mids and heavier bass. Sure the DT770 has better soundstage which is great if you listen to jazz or instrumental music. But when comes to low-fi beat-driven music, that extra bit of bass juice helps, which you get more of with the M50, Q40, and the V-Modas.
 
Personally, my favorite rig for hip hop is the ATH-Pro700MK2 paired with a Cowon. Sweet bassy darkness and soundstage.

 

[Harmz]

Heya,

Depends on what you like about hip-hop. Some people listen to it for just bass lines. Some people listen because they like the articulate rhymes and subtle verbal styles that are used and want to hear the cleverness (if any) which requires clear, excellent, unrecessed mids.

I would say up your budget, get the Ultrasone HFI 580 and be done with it.

Very best,

I guess I want punchy bass, but I also want to hear the vocals in order to hear the "cleverness"...I want it all really haha. I'm very close to buying the Ultrasone HFI 580 and its head to head with the ATH-Pro700MK2 now. It seems that The HFI 580 provides overall sound quality? Also the HFI 580 is cheaper at $160. Thank you for the advice.

The WS55 is closer to an on-ear headphone. If you go the on-ear route, the V-Moda M-80 has the perfect bass-vocal balance for hip hop. The M100 is the full-size version of the M-80 but even it doesn't match the balance of the M-80. (The M-Audio Q40 is the real full-size version of the M-80. )

I have the DT770 Pro LE and prefer the Q40 over it when listening to hip hop or any dance music. I like the sound of vocals on the Q40. Very intimate and smooth. Vocals on the DT770 sound distant in comparison. Also, the bass rumbles hard on the Q40, especially when you pair it with something like the E11's bass boost feature or the Zo. For hiphop I'd even take the M50 over the DT770, which have more intimate mids and heavier bass. Sure the DT770 has better soundstage which is great if you listen to jazz or instrumental music. But when comes to low-fi beat-driven music, that extra bit of bass juice helps, which you get more of with the M50, Q40, and the V-Modas.

Personally, my favorite rig for hip hop is the ATH-Pro700MK2 paired with a Cowon. Sweet bassy darkness and soundstage.

The ATH-Pro 700MK2 seems good from the reviews, but its $75 more than the HFI 580. Do you have any experience with the Ultrasone HFI 580?

 

[Harmz]

I'm like a kid in a candy store, but theses candies sure ain't cheap