[bill_98765]

My son is a serious musician (conservatory student) - wants headphones for xmas - mention Grado SR-80, but also mentioned Sennheiser. I am an absolute amateur, non audiophile.

His main application, as I understand it, is using a portable CD player to listen to and transcribe jazz piano CDs, although some classical as well. He may also plug them into his stereo (Bose).

I'm trying to do a little more than just go buy the exact model he mentioned - within a reasonable price range (say, within $50), can I do better than the Grado SR-80 for this application?

Many thanks in advance for your expert advice - sorry to bring such a pedantic question to a serious audiophile forum. Bill.

 

[jessica00]

SR-80's are supposedly really nice, them, or sennheiser HD-590's

 

[BaronJack]

I agree on either the Grado SR-60's or SR-80's. The SR-60 will sound great straight out of a portable. The SR-80 will sound good out of a portable, but really will shine if he ever decides to get a dedicated headphone amp.

 

[akar]

How about the Alessandro Music Series One?
According to Alessandro it is based on the Grado SR-125.
It costs $99, shipping included.

 

[dgs]

I would make two recommendations based on the fact that he intends to use them directly out of a portable device.

1. Grado SR60. Very nice headphone for use with a portable. The SR80 can sound a bit timid to some without an amp. However, the Grado is felt by some to have a signature sound that is a bit of a coloration. This is slight, and many serious musicians find this brand of headphone pleasing and natural. Also, this is an open headphone: sound will leak freely both in and out of these phones (people will be able to hear what he hears, and he will hear people talking around him).

2. Sony V-6 (Not V-600). Also very nice headphone for use with a portable. This is felt by some to be slightly more natural sounding, and by other others to be slightly harsh (some people say this about the Grado as well). The important difference between the two is that these phones are closed (they isolate what he hears from the environment and keep sound from the environment overpowering his music). This can be of benefit if he wants to use them in the library, on the train, on the plance, etc.

Both of these headphones are quite good for the money (both around $60-80). The Sennheisers in this range are not as good directly out of a portable device, although some find them to be superior sounding with an amplifier.

There is one more possibility I can think of right away, which is the etymotic er-6. They go for about $130. They are "in the ear," and are very isolating and clean sounding.

You can read more about all these phones here on head-fi, or take a look at headroom (www.headphone.com), and for more on etymotics, look at www.etymotic.com.

Happy shopping.

 

[RVD]

The Sony V6 or Sennheiser HD280 also would be excellent choices. Both of these are under $80. I know these are more then the $50 budget, but you mentioned the SR80’s, which are more than $50.

 

[elipsis]

Wait, you want to spend around $50, or are willing to pay AROUND what the phones he asked for cost, to a limit of $50 difference?

 

[ooheadsoo]

Not that I'm in any way as qualified to answer as most of these people, but from my reading here on these forums, I've gathered that your choices are probably limited to the Grado 125 and the Sennheiser 580 (from newegg.com.) The Sennheiser 580 at $120 + tax + shipping and handling is a real deal, especially when you throw in the $20 rebate. The average normal online price for these headphones is closer to $170, I believe.

From reports on these forums, I gather that the Grados are especially impressive for those interested in Rock, while the Sennheisers are typically more pleasing to those interested in Classical music. Where exactly Jazz falls inbetween these two categories, I believe depends on the type of jazz that the listener listens to. As a listener to jazz myself, I feel that the bass is extremely important because it is absolutely essential for me to know the bassline in order to identify the harmonic progressions more easily. Also, without a strong bassline, some jazz, especially post bebop/cool avantegarde jazz is especially atonal without a strong bass tying it down to familiar territory. However, after all this talk about bass, I must say that the most often mentioned difference between Grados and Sennheisers is the treble. The Grados are reputed to provide a very close soundstage meaning, with respect to the treble, that the high sounds are especially much louder and crisp. The Sennheiser's while no slouch in the treble department, are comparatively more relaxed and less aggressive sounding. A caveat with the exceptionally pronounced treble with the Grados is that some users find the constantly pushed treble sound may be "screechy" in subjective way, and perhaps objectively by all involved, we can find a consensus that they cause more fatigue to the listener at a greater rate.

One more note that I can think of off the top of the head: The senns are considerably more comfortable than the grados, though for shorter listening periods, it wouldn't be such a great factor. It really depends on his applications. If he listens to acid jazz and fusion, he may be more pleased with the grados.

 

[ooheadsoo]

I really think he means $50 more than the SR-80

 

[bill_98765]

thanks all for the input - i should clarify - i'm willing to spend $50 more than the SR80s, whcih I understand are about $100.

 

[bill_98765]

This is great input everyone. You've touched on my two main concerns - running it off the protable CD without additional amplification; and comfort. He wanders around campus from practice room to practice room, so can't take an amp along. He wears these for HOURS, so comfort is key.

 

[RVD]

With the updated price range the Beyerdynamic DT250-80, if he does not mind a canal-type phone, and the ER6 would be excellent choices.

 

[cdeviney]

My persoanl preferance for a very good, general purpose headphone is the Sony MDR-V6 or Sony MDR-7506.

I also have the Grado 60 and Alessandro Music One....they are both very good.

 

[plainsong]

I was a music student once, voice & clarinet...

Anyways.. I'll say that the Grado sr60s are the phones I use when I want to double check that I heard something correctly in the music, and am nowhere near an amp. Yeah I could go up the Grado line, but I'm not using an amp when I use these cans.

In the closed headphone dept, I'll throw in my vote for the Beyerdynamic dt250/80ohm version. I don't actually own these (but wish I did), but I'm a fan of the Beyer sound. My headphone with amp is the Beyerdynamic dt990.

What I can say is that the ety er6s are kind of dissappointing. Maybe they won't be for him if he's never heard any different. And certainly the sound is correct (the most important thing for those ear training classes and transposing), it's just not all there IMO, and I can't fully describe what that means. It's like a sneak preview of how much more you'll get with the etymotic 4p or 4s...but that's out of your budget (and mine too, sadly).

I know I'm knew hear, but I thought maybe it would help since I was once where your son is. I think you more or less can't go wrong with most of the suggestions made here. Good luck!

plainsong

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by bill_98765 This is great input everyone. You've touched on my two main concerns - running it off the protable CD without additional amplification; and comfort. He wanders around campus from practice room to practice room, so can't take an amp along. He wears these for HOURS, so comfort is key.

he may find the Grado's annoying then. They definitely make your ears hot after extended listening and the cord is very thick and heavy, i think the cord on the Grado SR80's are of a softer material, so their easier to bend. If he really wants the Grado's, go for them.