Found: decent-sounding vertical headphones.... at Radio Shack?!

[markl]

So I have been looking for ages for a decent set of vertical phones for workouts.

I was in radio shack and noticed they had a few different pairs of verticle phones. One looked like a more modern design, sort of like Sonys or aiwas. This one was cheaper at $9.99 and was just abysmal.

I took it back and got the $19.99 model which looks primitive and is black in color. The headband mechanism sucks. Nevertheless, sound is remarkably good for this kind of phone. Pretty clear without too much treble, and reasonably decent bass.

Wish I had the box now to see model number, but I threw it out. Worth tracking down, though.

markl

 

[sapphiremodena]

Which one was it? They should have em here:
http://www.radioshack.ca/en/template...5Fid=9190&sf=1

 

[markl]

Wow-- it's "none of the above". They look a little old-school. They are branded "Optimus". They are skinny and black with flimsy aluminum band.

Maybe it's some discontinued earlier model. have to stock up-- there were 3 or 4 more at my local.

markl

 

[Vertigo-1]

Mark, next time you take a trip to RS, do get down the model number if they have any left.

I wouldn't mind a pair of good vertical 'phones myself...all the ones Sony makes have too much treble and too little bass.

 

[lini]

markl: Maybe you should have a look at Koss' website - some of Ratshack's Optimus-phones are obviously relabeled Koss-models. And they also have some $19.99-earbuds which look remarkably similar to the Sennheiser MX500...

Greetings from SF!

Manfred / lini

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vertigo-1 ...all the ones Sony makes have too much treble and too little bass.

It depends on the Sony model. The current ones with the 16mm drivers have boomy mid-bass (i.e. the bass on the current Sony verticals with the larger drivers have some deep-bass extension, but at the expense of crappy performance at higher frequencies) and recessed midrange, while the current ones with the 13.5mm drivers have too little bass and either too much treble or too little midrange.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Quote:

Originally posted by markl Wow-- it's "none of the above". They look a little old-school. They are branded "Optimus".

Um...did you go to the other pages? Look at the last entry on the second page...or the second one on the third page...

 

[markl]

I had no idea Radio Shack had so many different phones. I only saw 2 models at my local, and assumed that's all there were. My post is not much use without a specific model no., I see that now.

markl

 

[Onix]

Are those the model with the foldable headband? I used to have those before I got my Grados, and I remember that they sounded better than any other cans I ever had. One thing, for example, is that they seem to project the sound outside the ears and are very clear. They are a keeper for sure.

 

[Vertigo-1]

I see about 3 models there that are $19.99...you sure it's none of those?

 

[markl]

Onix, no this model doesn't fold.

Vertigo-1-- It's none of the ones pictured on the site. It does look sorta like this one, but it is not branded Koss and the earpieces look different.

http://www.radioshack.ca/en/template...%26sf%3D1&sf=1

markl

 

[Neruda]

yeah, I know which one you're talking about. they look appalling, but hey, if they sound good who cares?

 

[Danosaurus_Rox]

Might be model 33-1133...they were not on the Canadian website you guys referenced above but they are on the U.S. website at:

Optimus Ultra-Lightweight Headphones

Are these the phones? I might have to pick up a pair!

 

[markl]

Bingo! Those look exactly like the ones I have. I never noticed they could fold up, but indeed, they do!
These are probably the ones Onix mentions and raved about.

The Sony CD3000 these ain't, but certainly very good for a class of phones (vertical) that doesn't have a lot of outstanding models.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but they seem to excel in terms of soundstage and left to right imaging.

My source is a Sony SRF-M70, so YMMV.

markl

 

[MadDog5145]

is this true? If they sound as good as people say they do I'm defintely gonna get them

. any confirmation..........