[pipot]

As we all know, regardless of how awesome a pair of headphones, certain social situations require a headphone where the people next to you (family members, small children etc.) can't hear what's playing.
 
For example, I've a pair of Denon AH-D5000s, which I love, but can't really take them anywhere for fear of having people on the other side of the road commenting on my taste in music.
 
So: Are there any recommendations or strong opinions out there as to a good, full-size, isolating (so that no-one else can hear my music) headphone for out and about?
 
 
 
 
 
(ps. My previous favourite in the category was... the Bose Triport - its being SO quiet for everyone else around made it (in my estimation) a very good and useful headphone despite any other percieved shortcomings.)

 

[calipilot227]

Full size:
Audio Technica M50, Sennheiser HD280 Pro
 
On-ear:
Sennheiser HD-25

 

[pipot]

M50s, eh? Can you believe: they're $115 on Amazon.com (which I use as a benchmark) and £125 on Amazon.co.uk (which I'd have to buy from). That makes them about 1.8x more expensive over here - so annoying, I think I may not buy them because of that (sour grapes, I know, but I've had enough of paying so much more when not all companies have such significant price differentials.)
 
And is it just me, or do the HD-280s look absolutely hideous?? Maybe the Amazon product shots don't do them justice?
 
Someone's going to have to stop me - I'm leaning towards some Bose AE2s... It's like watching a horrid crash in slow motion...

 

[pipot]

Actually, no I'm not - scratch that.
 
I'm actually leaning towards a pair of Bose AE1s (that's right, the original Triport model).
 
People always slate them for being overpriced - here in the UK, I can pick up a new pair of AE1s for about £80 - that's 2/3rds of the price of the M50s. And the new AE2s cost the same as the M50s.
 
Maybe that's why Bose products seem over-priced in the US? Maybe they're closer to parity here in Europe (for example)?

 

[jdavidx]

I should say that Bose AE2 is not too bad. Actually, it's pretty good. Once I owned denon 1100 and Bose ae2 at the same time. As for SQ-wise, I should take denon 1100 over AE2. But, I wouldn't say Bose AE2 is nowhere near the Denon1100. Plus, it's extremely comfortable.
 
So, I think either Bose AE2 or Denon 1100 can be one of good options. Oh, I forgot to mention the one that I'm using for my outdoor can. Phiaton ms400 is also pretty good: Fashionable, very portable, fairly comfortable. SQ is also good enough.
 

 

[alphaphoenix]

Ultrasones HFI-780. 

 

[classakg]

Or HFI-580's a nice alternative to the M50's. 

 

[pipot]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
 
Still trying to decide - rip-off UK prices vs. inferior sound quality...
 
Wish there was a ranking of full-size headphones by isolation - I find it a far more important factor than cable length or whether or not they come with a carrying pouch

.

 

[pipot]

Ah, maybe I should be referring to 'leakage' rather than to 'isolation'?

 

[Genocide174]

Quote:

M50s, eh? Can you believe: they're $115 on Amazon.com (which I use as a benchmark) and £125 on Amazon.co.uk (which I'd have to buy from). That makes them about 1.8x more expensive over here - so annoying, I think I may not buy them because of that (sour grapes, I know, but I've had enough of paying so much more when not all companies have such significant price differentials.)
 
And is it just me, or do the HD-280s look absolutely hideous?? Maybe the Amazon product shots don't do them justice?
 
Someone's going to have to stop me - I'm leaning towards some Bose AE2s... It's like watching a horrid crash in slow motion...

Don't feel too bad. The cheapest price I can find for the m50's here in Sweden is 250$...

 

[DaBomb77766]

Hm, you could also check out the ATH-A700, though they don't seem to be of particularly high profile here.  A really old review on the site here said that they isolate sound pretty well from others sitting around you.  And they certainly aren't ugly, at least I don't think so.

 

[tyoung8]

Too right about M50 overpriced in UK.  Grado and Beyer as well.  You *might* be able to get yourself a Ultrasone DJ1 for £80 on lookat if you ring them.  Total isolation.

 

[FearSC549]

M50 is not good at isolating at all IMO. It seems like the people who recommends M50 for anything only heard the M50 before and not any other headphones. 

 

[crinacle]

IMO, the M50s ARE good as an isolation can. It's better than the HFI 580s, and can easily snuff out train noises at a pretty moderate volume.

 

[Genocide174]

I ride the train pretty much everyday and I hate for people to get disturbed by my music. Will the m50 leak any sound? I have my K518LE and they don't leak at all.