[bass thump]

i tried looking this up just now and didn't find what i'm looking for. most of the "best $50 bass" threads here were for hideous in ear buds. oh i DESPISE those! one thread was from years ago when sony still made the XB500. another suggested flimsy superlux 668s and another suggested some DJ cans and a bunch of the rest of the suggestions were for headphone amps or cans that are only 100dB efficient.
 
i'm not stretching my budget to audio-technica $150 ATH-50s, as they're SERIOUSLY overrated as far as bass goes at least as far as i'm concerned. i thought they sounded bass light compared to the $100 sol republics i heard a couple years ago when i audition both and was looking to compare sols to what i have now a few days ago.
 
my current headphones are decent enough presonus (AKG clone) HD7s whose straps have worn out and snapped & duct tape isn't working. i listened to a used pair of sol republics that a shop wanted $80 for. they had deeper bass than my presonus and maybe a little more efficiency, but their highs were closed in and muddled where the HD7s are better sounding all around with more HF air.
 

 
 
i used to own a pair of formerly $20 sennheiser HD 202s which were a pretty good deal with decent sound and bass that challenged headphones up to $80 or more, and were super efficient at 120dB, if memory serves me right, but they had extra long flimsy cords and like a lot of sennheisers, clamp your head like a vise. i used to keep mine spread a few inches wider than a head on a bunch of books to loosen the headband.
 
 
 
there's a few things specifically i want or don't:
- no in ear, clip on ear or flimsy "walkman style" headphones
- a minimum 105dB efficiency, but 110 or more is better
- no long flimsy cords. (sadly most good cans aren't portable friendly)
- no flimsy anything, plain old school looking cans are fine by me if they're sturdy enough to get stuffed in and pulled out of a full gym bag every day as well as take some headband twisting from being put on and taken off one handed. my HD7s looked sturdy and up to the task, but they just couldn't take tough handling.
- no vise-like head clamping
- i prefer soft breathable velour cups over sweaty eventually cracking pleather any day
- no swivel cups!!!! $80 grados were what it took to beat my 202s at one shop, but i just can't abide by swivel cups. i'm an amputee, and they drive me crazy.
- reasonably balanced sound besides the extra bass. i don't like closed in and muffled sounding overly warm cans, like the grados i checked out. i'm not expecting state of the art disappearing transparency, but at least acceptable sound all around. not a fan of shrieking mids either. i guess i probably prefer a smiley face curve... relaxed mids, but bass you can actually hear as well as top octave speed & clarity for cowbells.
- no skull/demon etc. names/graphics. in fact, the plainer the looks, the better
- preferably no sonys as i've had too many broken as soon as warranties expire it sucks to be you "customer service" expreriences
 
so, can anyone recommend a basic, solid, decent sounding $50 or less set of cans that are efficient and have plenty of bass extension... at least enough to hear the subharmonics in woofer cooker?
 
if it helps, i TOTALLY loved the extra simple ergonomics of the sennheiser HD25 LIGHTs i got, thinking they were marked down HD25IIs. i loved the flexible soft plastic headbands and the simple way the held the ear cups, the light weight, the simple looks, the soft feel on my ears even with the small cups and their ease/clarity, but they had practically no bass unlike their upscale, deceptively similar named, big siblings. i'd love headphones like that with some real bass weight and a more affordable price. not to knock the quality of the HD25 lights, but they felt like a really good pair of cheap phones to me. i would have kept them if they had some thump going on.
 
a poor man's version of HD25IIs is basically what i'm looking for.


as to looks, along very similar lines, and probably inspired by my brief ownership of HD25 lights, these grey Aiaiai TMA-1 are what i'd call sexy if only they weren't $200 too. beautiful, matte finished, simple, understated, clean, sturdy, functional lines.
 

 
 
 
any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated if not agreed with. if anyone has mint condition HD25IIs, TMA-1s, or even some super comfy plush beyers for $50... hey, that'd be great. hahahahaha!

 

[bass thump]

the silence was deafening

 

[ev13wt]

Save mony. Don't buy crap.

 

[ev13wt]

I have some 25-IIs for you, but not for 50.

 

[xdog]

"a poor man's version of HD25IIs is basically what i'm looking for."
superlux 562
Hehe, I paid for them like 20$ (standard price is 30$ I think)
They have bass
 
The philipse CitiScape Fixi has subbass, and a much of bass (not much as superlux 681) with generally normal sounding mids (however they are cleared by smaller amount of highbass) + they have strong 'high' highs reproduction (>10kHz) yet there are not pircing
 
The comfort is not greate, but the general sound is more 'refined' that of 562, and the extensions on subbass + high are really satisfying

 

[xdog]

And Takstars HD5000 have generally OK sound, subbass + 'cleared' (meaning that high bass region is down a notch) normal sounding mids + diminished highs, (but not super dark or anything); they are comfortable
 
The takstars hd6000 are balanced with bass emphasis, you can get them like 70$? but the build quality is worth it, however they might not be suitable for very large heads.
 
If you listen mainly to rock I would also look on superlux hd330 (the bass extension is good, but they feel much dark, slow downward slope in frequency response))

 

[alynx]

M50s bass light??? Whoaaaat?

 

[sikki-six]

Crearive Aurvana Live? They often cost just about 50 bucks and beat the competition by a mile. They don't have the hugest bass, but enough for most bassheads.

 

[MayorDomino]

Just repair your current headphones and save for some decent ones

 

[bass thump]

i was NOT impressed at all by the audio technicas, at least as far as their overrated bass goes. i was REALLY excited when i picked them up for the chance to finally hear the alleged "giant killers" first hand but when i listened to them, my response was "that's it?! that's what people consider deep bass?!" they sounded great otherwise, but i wouldn't rate their bass an iota over AVERAGE as in just as unimpressive as everything else.
 
i don't know what it is about headphones, but they just don't do bass as well as speakers do 90% of the time to my ears. i auditioned everything that worked at B&H photo and the cans that impressed me the most were sol republics which had the most bass in the $100 range (fearlessly taking on cans twice their price) and were very efficient, unless they were driven by a different amp than everything else. i also liked the the 2012 brushed aluminum look... like higher end beats. 
 

BTW... i love the aesthetics too! one soft but durable (NO SWIVEL!!!) headband... like an "improved" sennheiser HD25II and even the minimalist SOL logo that looks more like a tasteful high tech graphic is nice too. it surprised me that they didn't get rave reviews here, but hearing possibly the same model, but with ugly skull graphics on my media player, their sub 110dB efficiency and closed in treble weren't as awe inspiring as i remembered them destroying virtually everything else up to $200 in NYC. regardless, they still do have above average bass extension. i never knew the subharmonic bass from funky stuff by kool & the gang that i can barely hear on my presonus cans is actually stereo panned. i could hear that much clearer.
 
 
the $80 used SOLs i checked out DID have nice bass, much deeper than my presonus cans, but weren't much more efficient than the 104dB AKG clones and lacked the top end air and clarity sounding HF challenged, but otherwise clear.
 
i was CONSIDERING $40 superlux 681 EVOs based on mostly favorable reviews and a few comments about bass extension until i saw they're rated a LOUSY 98dB where i'm looking for 110dB+ as i don't want to be carrying an amp around too. besides that, i saw one user had the same cracked headband problem that's the main reason i'm looking for replacements and not wanting yet another pair of cans that can't last more than a year's worth of regular use like EVERYTHING else i've owned. i was also impressed that the 681s come with both plush earpads (!!!) as well as 3 meter replacement cords. i despise anything longer for portable use. my presonus' cable is always tangling in my gym bag when they weren't getting torn off my head because the cable hooked around my chair's armrest hooked up to my PC.
 
i wish i could just replace my presonus' headband, but i can't see any way to get to the screws as there's no way to take the ear cups off. they're ACCEPTABLE with bass boost, but even then, i STILL can hear the subharmonics i know are there in woofer cooker. i consider xduoo X2 bass prowess overrated too.
 
i just can't hear bass in headphones. ANY headphones i've ever owned.
 
i've actually owned a pair of superlux AKG clones that sounded drop dead AMAZING except they couldn't do bass to save their lives and i'm pretty sure had lousy efficiency too. otherwise, they were neutral, detailed and extremely distortion free, even cranked provided you had enough juice to drive them. they'd make great mixing monitors, but were anything but head bobbing fun on dance tracks.
 
the closest to that i've owned were $22 head clamping senn 202s. i think they were rated a whopping 120dB and had more bass than anything else i heard at one shop until $80 grados matched them, but i DESPISE swivel cups! they are a serious pain for anyone with only one hand. the 202s were flimsy though. i trashed mine when i stepped on their excessively long (another annoyance) cables and shorted one of the channels. since then, i've owned those superluxes i gave away, $50 AKGs that were painful to wear, sonys, JVCs & "davids" that all broke along with my superluxes. i used to have a nice late 80s pair of JVCs that were pretty good sounding (back in the days when you could still audition cans at most places) and that lasted a good 10 years. i think i paid $40 for 'em.
 
for $40, if they wanted to, headphone manufacturers could make a very decent and efficient sounding set of cans (using 202 drivers) and investing another dollar in durable (soft) plastic headbands & cups. sadly, just like computers & software, they're designed to break so you buy another pair, and i just don't have $200 for the light & comfy studio senns i'd like to own.
 
i'm thinking i'll just visit a guitar center and probably stretch my budget a little for house of marleys. they were nicely built and had nice bass too, but i cheaped out on the AKG (K55s i think). i really don't like buying audio gear unless it gets universal raves after being SERIOUSLY disappointed by both mission M71s and energy RC20 speakers that were both highly reviewed but sounded HIDEOUS with their ports plugged and crappy 5/8" MDF resonating like cardboard boxes. i especially don't trust headphone reviews after coming to the conclusion i wouldn't pay a penny over $50 for overrated audio technicas that i've heard similarly priced beyers easily match if not surpass in the bass department.

 

[bass thump]

  Just repair your current headphones and save for some decent ones

no can do. that was the FIRST thing i considered, but there's just no way to get around the earcups and no way to take those apart that i can see as they have no visible screws and i've already tried turning the inner blue trim ring. if there's a trick to taking them apart, i can't figure it out. if it IS doable, i'd also like to upgrade them to velour. they work fine except for the headband which is only connected on one side that's also starting to tear with the attempted duct tape repair to to first tear before it totally snapped. instead of replacing the band, i think i'd rather have someone craft a replacement out of nice durable leather, but i have to get the earcups out of the way to do it.
 
 

Crearive Aurvana Live? They often cost just about 50 bucks and beat the competition by a mile. They don't have the hugest bass, but enough for most bassheads. 

i'm not a basshead by any stretch. too much bass gives me a headache. it's just that headphones suck so bad at bass. i don't want "brain shakers", just to actually be able to hear the bottom octave. as far as speakers go, i actually prefer smaller acoustic suspension ones and even appreciate some bass rolloff. a pair of 8" 3 ways is more than enough for me indoors.
 
as to affording a REAL set of cans, that might not be as far in the future as previously "ain't gonna happen ever" if i get hired at the the place i want to work, but i won't know for a couple weeks. then, i'll just get a pair of HD25IIs and be done with it. their half priced siblings were awesome except they had no bass which the HD25IIs supposedly have in abundance. i loved the ergonomics too. if they don't, B&H photo is really good about returns as they took the confusingly named siblings i THOUGHT i was getting for half price back without a hitch. that's probably why THEY were rated THE #1 business in the country for customer service a year or two ago. i bought my 202s, the superluxes packaged with a free large diaphragm mic, an ART soundcard/preamp, a canon camera (or two?), a cowon media player, and 2 generations of sansa clips there instead of trying to save 50 cents gambling on another vendor.
 
i THOUGHT i heard of a try before you buy place online, but couldn't find it. that'd be my preference, even if it wastes postage. headphones are very personal, especially when you're spending $200+.

 

[Roderick]

You can use a knive to carefully pry open the blue ring. After that the center piece should come of quite easily. Underneath are screws that allow yout to disassemble the headphones.Be careful not to damage the small cables inside. Those are a pain to solder back in place.
 
If you fail to fix the presonus, you could consider logitech ue6000. With anc on it should satisfy your bass needs. Those used to be really cheap while ago but now the rises have risen again. You still might be able to find a used one for $50.
 
About all headphones sucking at bass you sort of got a point there. Lowest frequencies are more felt than heard. Speakers and subwoofers move a lot of air causing the visceral impact you feel with your whole body. You can't get that with headphones, regardless of price. Of course there are so called basshead headphones and headphones with good bass in general but in the end using headphones is always a compromise.

 

[bass thump]

the whole "feel the bass" thing can be a big part of the bass experience for sure, but just sonically, i've gotten headaches from a neighbor's boomy one note bass and could clearly hear a free air subwoofer i was breaking in down to 12Hz, but i've never clearly heard the infrasonic bass to woofer cooker i've only been able to barely detect along with the bass "wows" in funky stuff. i WAS able to finally hear those on the sol republics, but i didn't think to try woofer cooker which is supposed to be an epic bass track for annoying people on the other side of town.
 
i think i'll wait to try taking my cans apart as i don't have a soldering iron at the moment, but will be getting one soon.
 
a long time ago, i tried fixing what i think was my first pair of headphones by koss. their plug shorted out in one channel, so i cut the cable and was unable to solder the tiny wires and get them working again even after several cuts and re-solders. i kind of don't like the idea of soldering as far as headphones are concerned, even if i could shorten this annoying 12 foot cable because of that.
 
every "high end" headphone should offer a short cord option.

 

[kranebrain]

It seems like your standards are very high, which is great. But having all these requirements for $50 headphones seems ... unrealistic. I honestly think your bet is going on Amazon and looking at the most popular Chinese knock-off headphones. Guarantee they'll be under $50 and if you don't like them? Return them! Rinse and repeat.

I would have thought this to be terrible advice. But my frugal friend bought $15 Chinese knock-off gaming headset from Amazon. And I couldn't believe how good the mic and headphones were for that price!

Just give it a look. Guarantee you'll have better luck than looking for $50 headphones in these brand-name companies with all those requirements.

 

[bass thump]

it's VERY possible to get acceptable sound in the $50 range. i was very happy with the sound of my, then $22 sennheiser HD202 headphones.
 

 
besides having a pretty DECENT bass, they were rated at a whopping 115dB efficiency! no, they weren't giant killers in absolute resolution, but they were acceptably "full range & hifi" and quite a bargain at $22. i compared them to cans at a stereo shop, and the first cans that could MATCH their bass were $80 grados! (oh do i ever despise swivel cups!) i saw no motivation to seek an upgrade after that. in fact, i bought TWO pairs after i trashed the first by stepping on its too long and flimsy cable (always hated that, just as i hate the long cable on my presonus cans) and pulling the wire out of one of the channels. i'd be inclined to buy the HD202IIs were it not for that useless (for portable use) 20 foot flimsy cable. as is typical of senns too, they did clamp like a vice, but i used to keep mine stretched on a bunch of books which helped i think. if they came with 3 foot cables, i'd buy another pair right now. they are REALLY GOOD for the price.
 
as to "true" giant killers, my sampson SR850s were amazing sounding at around $50, and i lucked out on getting a FREE large diaphragm mic (a little noisy, but otherwise super transparent) with mine from B&H photo. (because they've always given excellent customer service & usually have great prices too)

they have AMAZING ease, detail, air, speed and just about anything else BUT bass. even with bass boost, they were still weak in the bass, but everything else about their sound CRUSHED anything else i've ever owned, and i seem to remember them being fairly comfortable which was what first drew me to the presonus AKG clones i bought. they didn't have the best isolation either (plush pads?) but if one wasn't trying to follow a bass line in a dance track, they had more transparency than they should for the price, and could crank, but only if you have a high powered amp. they were low efficiency, especially after the 202s, played on a sansa, but still very easy to listen to and enjoy for extended sessions. i listened to them all day for a couple days on a bust trip once.
 
i'm NOT expecting the last word in resolution at $50, but there has to be SOME headphone that rises above the others at this price point in the bass department. i don't remember the price of what i listened to, but i remember marleys having nice bass and cables too. i really liked the minimalist looks of sony X-bass cans from a few years back, but all the critical reviews slammed them for having really sloppy bass. i'm not really a fan of sony anyways as i've had so many reliability issues with them including a portable player that died IMMEDIATELY after my 90 days was up and sony gave me the "it sucks to be you".
 
i need SOMETHING to listen to RIGHT NOW, and i don't want to buy more pure junk (my $40+ AKG K55s got to be very painful and annoying to wear) or invest time and money into repairing my presonus(es?) as they'll STILL have that annoying 50 miles of cable tangling on everything they touch, especially my office chair's "T" armrest.
 
from my research, it's looking like Superlux HD-681 EVOs at $40 are going to be my "best bet".


they supposedly have their own version of the sampsons that were even cheaper, and i WAS plenty impressed with those EXCEPT in the bass department and to a lesser extent, effiency. i like the simple styling and AKG clone dimensions, and most of the reviews are VERY favorable for them with a lot of praise for their bass. what i REALLY like besides that though is they come with plush pads which i've always loved since listening to beyers in the 80s and they have swappable 3m cables too. (ANYTHING over $100 should have that!) heck, i could keep the long cable permanently wired to my computer so it goes around the back of my table where it won't keep getting caught in my armrest, and use the short cable for portability as it looks like it's just a matter of plugging in another mini jack.
 
SOME DAY, i would like to own at least a serious "entry level" ($200+) pair of cans, but it's just not my highest priority. right now, i just want something to listen to when i have to sit around half an hour waiting for a bus or when i get bored with an hour and a half's worth of commuting each way every day.
 
my AUDIO priority is completing a 500w (+?) bi-amped bicycle trailer stereo i've been collecting part by part for almost a year now i'd intended to get rolling a couple months ago. i just bought a $75 92dB JBL GT5-15 subwoofer for it because those just became unobtanium and 4 ohm 15" subs with rubber surrounds and thiele small parameters (or that are compatible with 1.9 cubic foot sealed boxes) are virtually impossible to find. the next closest subs i could find were dayton $150+ ones that the JBL would still hold a SLIGHT output edge over, if not quite match the SQ.

 
ugh! just ONE of those 12v batteries is HEAVY (i was planning on getting 2-3 more) and takes forever to charge. mine never fully charged from 80% overnight and a few hours more the next day. now i still need a sub box, batteries (probably going to switch to $$$ li-on before summer to cut weight), a drill, a power meter, possibly an EQ, and to build a light show for it.
 
headphones are mostly for commuting or watching movies at home late at night for me, not so much critical listening. down the road, i might even dedicate the presonuses to PC use when i do get the headband fixed after i get the soldering iron i'll be using to build my trailer system.