Budget Cans (<$75USD) for Home/Cafe/Exercise Use

Sep 24, 2004 at 8:55 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 10
sbatth

sbatth

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Okay, I'm going to try this again. Please bear with me as I've made a lot of progress thanks to all of the great folks here at Head-Fi. I know I started another thread, but that started going in a lot of directions. Don't get me wrong. That's great and all, but I am more focused now and would like some more advice before I "Add to Cart". Thanks in advance.

I have used the Sony MDR-E829V headphones for about five months now and am about to go crazy. They are uncomfortable, always fall out, and the sound is bad. Because of this I am hesitant to buy some earbuds even though the ones I'm thinking about are much better.

I'm looking for headphones under $75 USD for all-around use. I mostly listen to alternative, rock, punk, jazz, classical, a little techno, and occasionally some hip hop/r&b... mostly anything but country. The majority of my listening is with my PowerBook. I also use a 15GB 3G iPod pretty frequently (not as much as the PB). I do not want to use an amp. I value sound quality (obviously), portability, and comfort. The catch is that I'd also like these cans to be good for exercise (running, biking, etc.) use. This rules out most closed headphones and canalphones. I will also use them pretty frequently in my dorm room and cafes. Cans that can reduce sound leakage a bit and/or provide some isolation would be nice, but not a requirement.

I know, I know. It's hard to find great quality for what I'm asking... I may want to get some Ety ER-4p's one day. Then these cans will be used mostly for exercise and when I don't want isolation. That's pretty unlikely to happen anytime in the near future so I really would like some budget all-around cans.

From advice I've found from searching and the other thread I've started I've narrowed it down to the following cans:

Koss KSC-35 - Good sound, comfortable for most, great for exercising, very light, not so stylish

Sennheiser PX 100 - Good sound, comfortable, good for exercising, case and being able to fold them makes them even more portable

Sennheiser PX 200 - Not as good as the 100 in terms of sound. I'm not sure about the comfort comparison or how bad these would be to exercise w/. These are really only on here b/c they're budget cans that would not leak like mad.

Sharp MD33 - These seem to be not such a bad in-ear option. Not big on this idea, but they would be pretty portable. However, I would need a converter for the 4-pole.
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Sort of ruled out already:

Audio-Technica ATH-EM7: Darn these were hard to put on this list b/c they look so cool. Anyway, I hear they lack in the lows and tend not to fit as many people's ears as well as the KSC-35s.

Sony EX51/71: From what I hear it might not do so well for me while exercising

Koss PortaPro 2 - It seems like the PX 100s are better than these in terms of comfort and portability

ATH-CM7 - Too expensive...

thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Sep 24, 2004 at 12:18 PM Post #2 of 10
I would say go with the 35. The ear clip style makes them very hard to dislodge and keeps them in the proper listening position. The only problem might be if you find them uncomfortable for extended wear. I don't, but there are all types of ears in the world.

The Sharp 33s are phones that I haven't heard. The PX100s are great, a bit easier to drive than the KSC 35s, but the more conventional frame design means they are a bit more dislodgeable than the Koss. If you don't like the feel of the Koss, this should definitely be your second choice.

Avoid the PX200s. Horrible headphones with a completely ordinary sound, and extremely position sensitive. Knock them a millimeter off center, and the bass vanishes altogether. Definitely not worth $50.

hope this helps,

des
 
Sep 24, 2004 at 5:47 PM Post #4 of 10
awesome... thanks f/the feedback. would anybody happen to know which cans leak less, the ksc-35 or the px100?
 
Sep 24, 2004 at 5:51 PM Post #5 of 10
Roughly the same in terms of noise out. For noise in, the PX100 has a slight advantage, but really not enough one way or the other to make the decision to buy one or the other an easier one.

des
 
Sep 24, 2004 at 5:53 PM Post #6 of 10
KSC-35 for open.

PX200 for closed.

A lot of people complain about the lack of bass and the fit with the PX200. I like them and happen to find them very comfortable and a good portable headphone for use when some isolation and little leakage is desired. Not quite enough isolation for a NYC subway but good enough for the "fast train".
 
Sep 24, 2004 at 5:57 PM Post #7 of 10
The PX-100s and PX-200s aren't going to stay on your head while you exercise (i.e. run) unless you have a REALLY big head.

The KSC35s/Porta Pros leak less than the PX-100s. There is a plastic cap on the back of the KSC35s/Porta Pros. With the PX-100s, I believe the other side of the driver is exposed (i.e. no plastic cap).

Purely for sound, I think the PX-100s are the best of the bunch. PX-200s can sound really bad if you can't get a good seal.

Never tried the Sharp MD33, but I can't imagine them being better than the KSC35 clips, sound-wise.

The four-pole to three-pole converter that you'll have to use with the MD33s might make them uncomfortable in the gym (big connector dangling from your ear=very heavy).

I'd purchase the KSC35s. You will be satisfied. They will sound better with an amp, too, if you ever decide on purchasing one.

Listening to: "I Can See Clearly Now" by Jimmy Cliff on my ATH-A900s.
 
Sep 25, 2004 at 1:59 AM Post #10 of 10
awesome... thanks a ton everyone. i'm finally buying some headphones. boy can one get distracted from life after stumbling upon good ol' head-fi.org.
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to make a long story short, i started off being completely stoked about the B&O A8s. whew... thank you head-fi.org. can't wait until my cans arrive.
 
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