[172438]

Im considering a pair of Grado SR80i, which seems to have good reputations. Only thing that worries me, is the open headphone. I don't wish to disturb other people, i need something that's portable and has good isolation. something that can carry around and listen on the plane.
 
any good suggestions?
i was also looking at the audio technica ATH-M50, but that looks huge and not ideal for portability.

 

[Ikelmonster]

If you can afford them, the sennheiser hd-2 1 ii has a very grado-like sound, and is a closed and extremely portable. check out the 80 portable headphones thread by joker for a good review on them. only downside is that they are $200.00.

 

[172438]

yeah that one is bit over my budget.
im looking for something like the sr80i price...

 

[172438]

how's the ath-m50 for portability?
is that too big to carry around?

 

[lazuline]

depends on what you mean by portable.. if you want to walk down the street with them on (why people do this is beyond me), then for 95% of the population I'd say no.
 
If you want to pull them out of a bag/backpack to listen to music at work/school/library/coffee shop while seated, then yes. They fold and coiled cord is great for laptop usb DAC use. In absolute terms, the bad-assed-ness of the sound you get for $100 is worth the added bulk over a similarly priced purpose-built portable headphones.

 

[ZARIM]

JVC on ear with NC.

 

[yd2zhang]

+1 for the sennheisers, you can find them for 130~ refurbished or 100-150 around the forum.
http://www.dakmart.com/p10974/SLD-SENNHEISER-HD25-1II-HD25-PROFESSIONAL-DJ-HEADPHONES/product_info.html
 
They isolate very well and you don't stand out walking down the street with them on. Their sound quality is decent and they have a fairly bright sound signature (much like the grado sr80's). 

 

[soundstige]

KRK KNS 6400. It even sounds Grado-ish. Tight but recessed bass, liquid and clear midrange, and tame but detailed highs. And they're closed, extremely lightweight, and not "tiny" but fully portable wherever you go. Smaller/lighter than the M50. And only about $100 new.

 

[kmhaynes]

An airplane is probably the WORST place for a Grado phone, and most anything that sits on your ear.  For me the HD-25 II was fairly good at isolation, even tho' sitting on the ear, but on a plane, I can't imagine they will block out that level of noise.
 
Do you have to be full-size headphones? Have you considered ear-canal phones? For example, the Etymotic MC5 or HF5 are both great earphones and the isolation is extremely high. They are cleaner sounding than the SR-80i as well.  The Grados would be great for private listening at home, but too big and open for the public, IMO.