Hi all,
I've spent WAY too many hours up until 2am reading and comparing and searching and agonizing over my first set of good headphones.
I'm looking for an all around set to dip my toe in. The features I'm looking for:
- Closed back (kids and house noises)
- Will only be wearing for an hour or so at a time, so comfort is always nice but I won't be wearing for hours on end.
- My available time to listen is limited so I want to know when I commit the time that I'm listening to some quality. I don't want "cheap" ones just because I'm not using them as a workhorse.
- Wireless is a perk but not necessary.
- Will mainly be listening to vinyl via my AC Receiver, so that's the audio quality priority; but they do need to work "well enough" from my iPhone.
- I'd like to start with phones that don't require a dac/amp but am interested in purchasing one as I get more into headphone listening.
I understand the basic functionality and pros/cons of DAC/amp vs no DAC/amp, ohms, balanced, etc.
Music - I really listen a wide range of genres pretty regularly: country, rock, metal, pop, bluegrass, singer-songwriter, some hip-hop. I appreciate but am not hardcore into classical/jazz. Am not into EDM, Trance, or club music (maybe that translates to "I don't need them to tackle boomy bass"?) Having said that I realize some headphones reproduce different styles of music better than others. But ultimately for my first, I need an all arounder.
I'm either looking at ~$150: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80ohm OR AKG-k371/AKGk371bt
Or jump up to the ~$300 range: something like the Meze 99 Classics?
Will one of the ~$150 phones be the right way to go as a first set, assuming I will want to buy a better set down the road? )r is it better to jump up to that $300 price range so I have room to grow with this first set?
I'm a grown up who realizes (for the most part) you get what you pay for. I don't want to "underbuy" and wish I had bought something "better". But I also don't have the ability to listen before I buy. And unfortunately, I just can't yet wrap my head around the idea of "what kind of sound you like: flat, V, warm, etc" - I don't have that experience yet; but would like to get there.
And two other bits:
1. I have a big head.
2. I have an old pair of Pioneer Monitor 10's that I inherited. They sound pretty good but I have zero basis for comparison - I feel like I want to start with a new set of headphones as a clean slate, so to speak.
Does all that make sense?
Thanks and I welcome your questions and expertise!
I've spent WAY too many hours up until 2am reading and comparing and searching and agonizing over my first set of good headphones.
I'm looking for an all around set to dip my toe in. The features I'm looking for:
- Closed back (kids and house noises)
- Will only be wearing for an hour or so at a time, so comfort is always nice but I won't be wearing for hours on end.
- My available time to listen is limited so I want to know when I commit the time that I'm listening to some quality. I don't want "cheap" ones just because I'm not using them as a workhorse.
- Wireless is a perk but not necessary.
- Will mainly be listening to vinyl via my AC Receiver, so that's the audio quality priority; but they do need to work "well enough" from my iPhone.
- I'd like to start with phones that don't require a dac/amp but am interested in purchasing one as I get more into headphone listening.
I understand the basic functionality and pros/cons of DAC/amp vs no DAC/amp, ohms, balanced, etc.
Music - I really listen a wide range of genres pretty regularly: country, rock, metal, pop, bluegrass, singer-songwriter, some hip-hop. I appreciate but am not hardcore into classical/jazz. Am not into EDM, Trance, or club music (maybe that translates to "I don't need them to tackle boomy bass"?) Having said that I realize some headphones reproduce different styles of music better than others. But ultimately for my first, I need an all arounder.
I'm either looking at ~$150: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80ohm OR AKG-k371/AKGk371bt
Or jump up to the ~$300 range: something like the Meze 99 Classics?
Will one of the ~$150 phones be the right way to go as a first set, assuming I will want to buy a better set down the road? )r is it better to jump up to that $300 price range so I have room to grow with this first set?
I'm a grown up who realizes (for the most part) you get what you pay for.
I don't want to "underbuy" and wish I had bought something "better". But I also don't have the ability to listen before I buy. And unfortunately, I just can't yet wrap my head around the idea of "what kind of sound you like: flat, V, warm, etc" - I don't have that experience yet; but would like to get there.And two other bits:
1. I have a big head.
2. I have an old pair of Pioneer Monitor 10's that I inherited. They sound pretty good but I have zero basis for comparison - I feel like I want to start with a new set of headphones as a clean slate, so to speak.
Does all that make sense?
Thanks and I welcome your questions and expertise!
Last edited:
