Elite 835, HD 202, XP311, or AIWA Open NC?

[komm]

Can't decide between which pair...
The Labtech Elite 835 was the cheapest
The Sennheiser HD 202 was recommended by this a few other forums
The AIWA XP311 seems to have fairly good stats
The AIWA XP311 seems pretty cheap for a good NC set

I currently have a Phillips HP150, but it hurts my ears, so i'll be returning them.

I can spend 40 bucks max on a pair... I will only use them for my computer listening to di.fm, planetsideradio, and playing FPS's like HL2. I have a lousy soundblaster live, and I can't get a better card unless I pay roughly 60 bucks for a ZS... I ordered some fans from newegg that have a noise level of 28 db, and i'm pretty sure that won't be hearable from a good closed headphone set. I'm leaning for a good set with NC or insulation, so I don't have to hear my sister doing karaoke in the adjacent room...

40 bucks is the absolute max I can pay. Saving up for a better set isn't an option either, because I need the money for other things, like getting enough money to buy a car...

EDIT: I'm leaning towards Noise cancelling, because closed headphones do give me a very mild headache from external sounds after not wearing them for a day.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by komm Can't decide between which pair... The Labtech Elite 835 was the cheapest The Sennheiser HD 202 was recommended by this a few other forums The AIWA XP311 seems to have fairly good stats The AIWA XP311 seems pretty cheap for a good NC set I currently have a Phillips HP150, but it hurts my ears, so i'll be returning them. I can spend 40 bucks max on a pair... I will only use them for my computer listening to di.fm, planetsideradio, and playing FPS's like HL2. I have a lousy soundblaster live, and I can't get a better card unless I pay roughly 60 bucks for a ZS... I ordered some fans from newegg that have a noise level of 28 db, and i'm pretty sure that won't be hearable from a good closed headphone set. I'm leaning for a good set with NC or insulation, so I don't have to hear my sister doing karaoke in the adjacent room... 40 bucks is the absolute max I can pay. Saving up for a better set isn't an option either, because I need the money for other things, like getting enough money to buy a car... EDIT: I'm leaning towards Noise cancelling, because closed headphones do give me a very mild headache from external sounds after not wearing them for a day.

I can tell you to avoid all "active" (battery-powered) noise-cancelling headphones in your price range. None of them sound any better than the freebie headphones that came with a typical portable player. And the only decent noise-cancelling headphones cost well over $100.

The Aiwa XP311 was an older, discontinued headphone that delivers extremely muddy sound. I had a pair before, but could never get myself to even like it, no matter how hard I tried. It was one of the worst-sounding headphones that I've ever listened to, especially in the $25~$40 price range - in fact, just about as vile, putrid and horrific as the Sony V-CRAP headphones in that same range. (Heck, for that matter, Aiwa is now completely owned by Sony itself - and expect future Aiwa product to be equally as wretched as the Sony products which they're based on.)

 

[komm]

Ok, then do you have a suggestion for a good set?

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by komm Ok, then do you have a suggestion for a good set?

Of those on your original list, the Sennheiser 202 is tolerable - but may be equally as uncomfortable as, if not more uncomfortable than, your current cans. And the Elite 835 is just plain crap.

And I forgot to mention this in my earlier post, but just don't expect much from any active noise-cancelling headphone in your price range (<$50). Every one of those that I've looked at uses exactly the same drivers as some of the freebie Walkman-supplied headphones.

 

[komm]

Well, that blows me out of the bucket for my choices...

Can you suggest a good set under 40 bucks?

 

[Mr.Radar]

If you can use canalphones instead of noise cancelling phones you may want to check out the Sony EX51. They sound decent and block a fair amount of noise. You might also want to look at the Sharp MD33S which is suppost to have better sound but less isolation.

 

[komm]

No, I can't stand canalphones. I have to buy one later today, so if noone comes up with anything, i'll just get the HD202...

 

[terrymx]

either that, or the px200 for more balanced sound, but probably bit less isolation. i recommend stealing $15 from your parents and buy the ath-m30. the sound quality difference for this little more money is a lot. but yeah, i dont see anything wrong about getting the hd202, and you'll have some money left too.

also which canalphone has you use before?

 

[komm]

I used some fairly crappy Jensens and the ones that came with my CD player. I hate them because they not only look stupid IMO, but I can never get them to fit.

 

[komm]

Can't just steal money... My mom won't let me spend any more than 30 bucks on it. If I had a choice, i'd pay more since I know budget headphones aren't great...

 

[Mr.Radar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by komm No, I can't stand canalphones. I have to buy one later today, so if noone comes up with anything, i'll just get the HD202...

I'm talking about IEM's (In Ear Monitor's), not earbuds (which stay outside your ear).