Birthday in two weeks: trying to decide on headphones

[Mr.Radar]

My birthday is in two weeks and I want to get some better headphones. The only good headphones I have are my Koss PortaPro 2's and I really like them. I'm mainly going to be listening to 80's New Wave, with some Pop and Rock and a little bit of everything else. My source will be my Chaintech AV-710 and whatever 'phones I choose will be unamped for at least the first two or three months of use (so I want something that will still sound good without an amp). They will be used mainly at home so I don't need good isolation, though that would be a plus as I'd be using them right next to a quiet but still slightly annoying computer. I'm a basshead so I want some cans with good bass. My budget goal is $200 but I'm willing to go up to $250 and maybe a little beyond if you can convince me thats how much some killer cans for me would cost, but I'd generally like to keep it under $200. I've been looking at some good cans in my pricerange for about a month now and here's a small list I've compiled of headphones that I think might be good for me:

Grado SR-225
AKG K240S
Beyerdynamic DT-531 (if I can find one)
Audio Technica A900
Sennheiser 555
Shure E2C

I'd be willing to use others if they fit my needs. Thanks for your advice.

 

[philodox]

get one of the groovalisers in your list... I'd be interested in trying the DT531's myself... but I havent heard them... I can highly recommend the K240S's though... great for jazzy stuff

 

[commando]

The standard recommendations are A900 if you need closed, and I would suggest 555 if you can have open - open usually sound better than closed for the $$$, IMHO. You might even be able to get the 595s for around $200 if you use http://froogle.com - but they might need an amp, even if it's a small one.

I've read that the 710 just has a line out, not a headphone out, so you better choose something that can be run very easily.

I'd cross Shures off your list - I tried the E3s and found their highs lacking, and poor value. Instead i've just ordered Sharp MD33s from Audiocubes (and an A900). Got for Ety 6 or 6i's if you want in-ear, IMHO.

 

[pnrgi]

All's i can say is the A900s sound nice

although i did just order a pair of SR-60's from headroom. So maybe ill have something to compare my A900's too in a few days. I hope i dont like them too much i might have to sell my a900s for a pair of 225's

good luck on you purchase.

 

[MooGoesTheCow]

i'd recommend the 225s. they sound fabulous amplified, and fabulous out of the jack of a portable. if i had an excuse to get another headphone...man...the 225s would be way up there.

 

[PYROTAK]

another vote for the a900 cuz i burned in mine for around 50 hours now and im loving it!

everything at around 256kbps bit rate (incase you are using mp3s or ogg or something like that) sound great.

but the things at 192 you can hear the flaws and stuff. o well

they still sound good just not as good as the 256. good thing i have all my music ripped in --alt-preset extreme

 

[Budley007]

I love my sr225s, but for a "basshead", they wouldn't be my first choice. There are still a good choice for an unamped source. If you're serious about purchasing an amp in a few months, I'd recommend you research your choices now and purchase your cans with that consideration in mind. 3 months is not that long of a wait to reap the benefits of a good amp/can combo.

 

[Mr.Radar]

I've been doing a little more looking and the Beyerdynamic DT250-80 seems to be a pretty good choice for me. Anyone have some input on these?

EDIT: Right now I'm trying to decide between the following cans:
Beyerdynamic DT531
Beyerdynamic DT250-80
AKG K240S
AT A900

 

[TrevorNetwork]

I'd consider snapping up a used pair of HD580 / 600's (About $180) and a meta42/pimeta/cmoy (About $50). You'd have a great, high-end can, and decent amplification on the cheap. You can't really go wrong. Check out the forsale forums.

 

[Mr.Radar]

Hmm... I never really considered the HD 580/600 for the kind of music I listen to. I'll have to look into those.

EDIT: I've heard the DT860 is like a better DT531 and it's on the very upper end of my pricerange if I order from Europe. Is there any place that sells them in the US?

EDIT2: How about the DT440?

 

[lindrone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorNetwork I'd consider snapping up a used pair of HD580 / 600's (About $180) and a meta42/pimeta/cmoy (About $50). You'd have a great, high-end can, and decent amplification on the cheap. You can't really go wrong. Check out the forsale forums.

I would say it's far from "you can't really go wrong."... There's a lot of people who find Sennheisers too laid back for their taste, as well as a lot of people who love their warm, lush, laid-back sound.

It's something you should audition, and a $50 amp really isn't enough for the HD580/600 imo either. Most people who really love their HD580/600 are driving them out of much better equipments to get the full benefit (of course, there's always the requisite cable upgrade as well).

 

[slug]

I love my SR225's. I think they would be a good choice for you as they sound great unamped... and then later on when you get an amp you will love them even more as the sound improves. I'm not sure the same could be said about the a900's growthwise.

 

[Zoide]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindrone I would say it's far from "you can't really go wrong."... There's a lot of people who find Sennheisers too laid back for their taste, as well as a lot of people who love their warm, lush, laid-back sound. It's something you should audition, and a $50 amp really isn't enough for the HD580/600 imo either. Most people who really love their HD580/600 are driving them out of much better equipments to get the full benefit (of course, there's always the requisite cable upgrade as well).

I agree with lindrone... Looking at his Mr. Radar's profile, it seems he likes mostly rock, which is not the most ideal music for the HD580/600. Maybe you should be looking more toward the AT, Beyerdynamic, Grado, or Sony (only the CD3000 model though!) lines.

 

[Mr.Radar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoide I agree with lindrone... Looking at his Mr. Radar's profile, it seems he likes mostly rock, which is not the most ideal music for the HD580/600. Maybe you should be looking more toward the AT, Beyerdynamic, Grado, or Sony (only the CD3000 model though!) lines.

After just doing a little bit of reading (and reading these comments) I was reassured that the Senns aren't for me and I've been right in focusing my attention on AT, Beyerdynamic and Grado (the CD3k is out of my pricerange and I don't think I have a good enough source for it).

Can anyone give me a quick review/impression of the DT440 or DT860? Right now I think one of those are the 'phones for me. EDIT: Maybe I should wait for JensL's review. Afterall I've got two weeks.

 

[stromie]

My pair of DT531 headphones just arrived this week. I would definitely recommend them. They have a good amount of bass although it doesn't really compare to the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speakers I have. The bass is good at "flat" equalization and if I decide to use a rock type equalization the bass is quite sufficient. I am a mostly rock listener as well and they have fit the bill so far.

Good luck!