[msweeney]

Hi folks,

I have been into home audio/video for a few years and have learned a lot on that subject. However, I'd also like a good set of headphones for listening to music in the office. I prefer circumaural but am not sure why one would prefer the "open" type vs "closed" type. To be honest, I'm not sure how physically the open and closed types differ in terms of construction, but I think I read in a thread here that the "closed" type can negatively affect sound quality. With that in mind, I'd like a set of phones around $250 (+/- $50 is fine) for listening to my music at the office. I don't think sound leakage would be too much of an issue since our cubicles are large, but I would like to filter out as much office noise as possible!

My very brief research on these forums has led me to the Denon AH-D2000. As an additional point, I would like headphones that also don't look so hideous-some of the Grado ones I have seen are ugly.

All recommendations are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Hardwired]

Closed cans literally have closed, solid cups over the ears that isolate you from your environment. Open cans have screens or some other material that expose the driver inside the cups to the outside environment. Open cans tend to have a wider, airier sound and closed cans have more bass. These are generalities and there are certain headphones that don't subscribe to their stereotypes but it's a good place to start.

This basically means open cans leak sound that others around you can hear and closed cans keep the sound inside the earcup.

The D2000s are closed and I use them at work so I can heartily recommend them for sound quality and not forcing co-workers to listen to my music. There are other cans might isolate better, but they either don't sound as good or they cost more. The D2000s are also about as comfortable as headphones can be.

Oh, welcome to Head-Fi and sorry about your wallet.

 

[msweeney]

Thanks for the nice explanation about closed vs open. I should probably try to find a good hifi shop around the area to check some phones out in person. In the meantime, I guess I have to wait for the D2000s to get back in stock somewhere

.

 

[grndslm]

Instead of waiting a week or two for D2000...

Why not spend $100 more than the Denon, custom build a Darth Beyer at headphile.com, and wait 6 or 7 weeks more?? Darths are supposedly more comfortable and pleasing than not just the D2000, but the D5000 also...

But Darths would definitely require a hefty amp.

Just depends on how much you wanna spend... MDR-V6 is loved by most people here and can be had for only $75. Portable, foldable, comfortable, good-looking, great detail with bass & highs, coily cord which is sweet for office use.

If I weren't getting a V6 or a Darth Beyer... D2000 would definitely be what I'd buy for that price range!!

 

[slwiser]

I enjoy my ATH-ANC7s around the office. My ears do fit inside these and they have active noise cancellation. Search is your friend and search on athanc7 .

 

[cyrian]

check out audiolabs in the garage in harvard square, since you are from boston, ma. they have a fairly good selection of headphones, and they let you try stuff out.

just a suggestion.

(if you're close to cambridge anyways, or feel advernturous and feel like taking a trip down the red line.) to harvard square!

 

[feh1325]

whats your source?
makes sure your files are of high bitrate

 

[Bisco82]

I second Audiolabs as a great place to tryout gear. The guy that works there is awesome, and if you're anything like me, you'll snag a slice of pizza while mulling over your decision at Crazydough's, which is in the Garage as well... Some of the best Pizza in the cambridge/boston area hands down.

 

[AudioCats]

Koss ESP7 or ESP9 electrostat!
they have very very little sound leak and are vintage enough that nobody will know what they are (so no one will want to steal them, especially when they see the 5-pin plug). Sound is surprisingly good.

I guess I have just became a sucker for the electrostat sound...

 

[slwiser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif Koss ESP7 or ESP9 electrostat! they have very very little sound leak and are vintage enough that nobody will know what they are (so no one will want to steal them, especially when they see the 5-pin plug). Sound is surprisingly good. I guess I have just became a sucker for the electrostat sound...

The ESP7 were built in the late 60s and early 70s.

The ESP9s were built in the 70s and early 80s.

These are very old designs and may be classics and probably should be handled as such but in an office setting? I am not sure.

 

[msweeney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyrian /img/forum/go_quote.gif check out audiolabs in the garage in harvard square, since you are from boston, ma. they have a fairly good selection of headphones, and they let you try stuff out. just a suggestion. (if you're close to cambridge anyways, or feel advernturous and feel like taking a trip down the red line.) to harvard square!

Awesome, I'm close to harvard square so I'll check it out this weekend!

 

[Ryan Williams]

Just to elaborate slightly on the matter of to what extent open headphones let in/out sound (Can't have too much information!):

It's not an exaggeration to say that when listening to my HD595s, someone can stand a whole room away, through a concrete wall and wooden door, and still vividly hear everything except the bass. We're not just talking a bit of tinny leakage; good-quality open headphones are like cheap, generic computer speakers on low/medium volume to outside listeners.

That said, the quality is excellent and because they're open you can wear them for longer without your ears feeling like they're on fire. I can, anyway.

 

[judas391]

Can't go wrong with A900s, unless you prefer in your face music. Fairly deep bass and great comfort

 

[msweeney]

So I went down to "The Audio Lab" this afternoon and checked out some phones. I took my stock 1st gen ipod mini with me too to audition the different phones. I listened to the Senheiser HD205, Senheiser HD555(I think), and Koss AKG240.

The guy that works there said he was out of the HD595 so I couldn't audition those. I listened to the HD555(I think), which are open cans. Anyways, open cans are definitely not for me, they leak so much sound. I don't know why anyone would buy open cans, it's like why not use speakers instead so you don't have to wear anything on your head, lol.

The HD205 sounded pretty nice but I preferred the sound of the AKG240. When i asked about the HD595s initially the guy at the store said spending $200 on headphones was overkill if I'm using the iPod as a source since they are not a "very dynamic source." I know a lot of you guys got iMod, or use other DAPs with better DACs, but I'm not going to go down that route. I have a pretty nice Paradigm setup at home, the headphones are only for the office.

With all that said, I still want to buy the Denon D2000

. Is that just a waste of money considering my source? I also feel a bit uneasy buying headphones I've never seen in person or auditioned. How big are the D2000s compared to any of the headphones I've mentioned that I auditioned above?

Any input is welcome!

 

[Hardwired]

You'll never go wrong buying good headphones now, so you can upgrade everything else to match later.