Budget Unamped Headphones for Rock Music

[BW202]

I've been searching other threads for an answer, but I can't find a pair I'm set on. I'll be listening to mostly rock/metal/alternative (RHCP, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Metallica, Black Keys, etc). I'm leaning towards Sony MDR V6's or Grado SR80i's, more at the former because I'll be using them around people. I'm also looking at Shure SRH440's and ATH-M50's. I'm not a huge audiophile, but I appreciate music enough to get some good headphones. If there are any other suggestions please try to keep it not much more than $100, I have a pretty low budget.

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,
 
Spend $30 and get the Shure 840 or the Ultrasone HFI 580.
 
Very best,

 

[Gwarmi]

My vote goes to the SR80i with bowl pads. Absolutely beautiful from Queen, Led Zeppelin to Metallica.
 
Yes, they're open and yes the styling is an acquired taste but they do acoustic and electric guitar like no other can
in that price range.
 
Shure 840 as per Malveaux's recommendation is also an excellent can if you can get it at that price.

 

[BW202]

How will they perform if I'm sitting in a loud basketball gym before a game? I'd say that's what I'm most worried about now that I think of it. I would go with Mal's suggestions, but they are out of range.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Superlux HD-668B (semi-open) or Superlux HD-669 (closed).
You will save a few dollars.

 

[acticulated]

1. Grado sr60i/sr80i with L-cushion aka 'bowl' pads.
 
Best budget headphones (especially for the music you listed) by a longshot. Not only would the 60 with bowls come in under $100, but there is a wealth of knowledge here on head-fi about free modifications you can perform yourself with otherwise no special skills or technical knowledge required that will improve an already outstanding budget headphone.
 
If you're not firm on your $100 budget then spring for the Shure srh-840 (and do everything else that Malveaux thinks you should for that matter, he really knows his stuff).
 
If you're looking for something good that will come in significantly under the $100 mark then glance at this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/433318/shootout-88-portable-headphones-reviewed-sennheiser-hd428-bose-triport-ae-added-08-06
From which I'd recommend the Creative Aurvana Live! or Sennheiser hd-280 pro, both of which frequently can be found online for between $60 and $75. The Live! is made by the same oem in the same factory with the same driver as the denon d1001, which went for $150 before it was replaced with the current d1100 model. That kind of value is rare in head-fi.

 

[200poundsofamp]

Creative Aurvana Live

 

[acticulated]

Quote:

How will they perform if I'm sitting in a loud basketball gym before a game? I'd say that's what I'm most worried about now that I think of it. I would go with Mal's suggestions, but they are out of range.

Then I guess forget the stuff I said, the creatives don't isolate well at all for a closed phone, and the 280 pro is competent with your preferred genres but by no means the best.

 

[acticulated]

Quote:

Creative Aurvana Live

It does note in this review, as I said, that they don't isolate well for a closed can. OP says he's worried about using the in a loud gym before a basketball game. But I like where your head is at! Keep on crusading for the Live! It often feels under-recommended around here considering the quality.

 

[BW202]

Quote:

Quote:
Then I guess forget the stuff I said, the creatives don't isolate well at all for a closed phone, and the 280 pro is competent with your preferred genres but by no means the best.

So, what do you think I should go with? I've tested the SR60/80i's and LOVED them, they just let in a lot of outside noise which really turns me off. Are the MDR V6's out of it? I've heard some good things about them.

 

[acticulated]

I initially had the same reservations about an open phone that you have. But the grados are good enough that I'm willing to keep them at home and just use IEMs (I had the RE-0 and liked them) when I'm commuting or somewhere loud. It sounds like isolation is more important to you than I eventually decided I could live with. The V6 is not out of it, but I'm actually not sure that I've heard a closed phone that is really gonna do much for you in a noisy gym before a basketball game. Once outside noise reaches a certain level there's just not that much that can be done. I stand by the 280 pros ability to isolate, and it does sound great. I guess I'd give the 280 pro the edge for isolation but the V6 the edge for your genres. Either way you're not going to be able to achieve a very isolated music experience inside a crowded gym before a basketball game if there's a band, cheer squad, crowd, announcer, etc.

 

[BW202]

I initially had the same reservations about an open phone that you have. But the grados are good enough that I'm willing to keep them at home and just use IEMs (I had the RE-0 and liked them) when I'm commuting or somewhere loud. It sounds like isolation is more important to you than I eventually decided I could live with. The V6 is not out of it, but I'm actually not sure that I've heard a closed phone that is really gonna do much for you in a noisy gym before a basketball game. Once outside noise reaches a certain level there's just not that much that can be done. I stand by the 280 pros ability to isolate, and it does sound great. I guess I'd give the 280 pro the edge for isolation but the V6 the edge for your genres. Either way you're not going to be able to achieve a very isolated music experience inside a crowded gym before a basketball game if there's a band, cheer squad, crowd, announcer, etc.

Alright, since nothing is going to sound very good in a gym I'll go with the better phones for my genre. That leaves me again between the V6's and the 60/80i's. I can't decide between better quality for my genre or better isolation when in a moderately loud environment. If you were in my shoes, which would you pick?

 

[acticulated]

If you don't record, produce, or create music, get the grados. The major draw of the V6s is in my opinion that they sound good, isolate decently, are durable, not too expensive, and can double as a monitor headphone/quick and dirty mixing in a portable set-up (I used to work on recordings during a decently peaceful ferry commute when I lived back in Seattle and the V6s rocked for that). If you can't amplify the value of a closed phone like the V6 by having it fulfill a studio function for you, then I would go with the grado sound. It is unprecedented at that price point.

 

[BW202]

If you don't record, produce, or create music, get the grados. The major draw of the V6s is in my opinion that they sound good, isolate decently, are durable, not too expensive, and can double as a monitor headphone/quick and dirty mixing in a portable set-up (I used to work on recordings during a decently peaceful ferry commute when I lived back in Seattle and the V6s rocked for that). If you can't amplify the value of a closed phone like the V6 by having it fulfill a studio function for you, then I would go with the grado sound. It is unprecedented at that price point.

Ok then, I'll be ordering my 80i's tomorrow. Thanks for the help!

 

[BW202]

The Grados will sound fine unamped off of an Android right?