[biged]

I'm always seeing in these threads people asking about headphones.
I would like to see people's opinions on their recommendations for headphones by price range, just like goodcans.com does in its website.
I think the categories for price would/could be broken down like this:

- below 50 dollars
- 50 - 100 dollars
- 100 - 200 dollars
- 200 - 300 dollars
- 300 - 400 dollars
- 400 - 500 dollars
- 500 - 1,000 dollars

regardless of use, style, etc.

Would love the opinions of experienced and inexperienced Head-Fi members.

Take care, Ed.

 

[kramer5150]

*edited to add second choices

0 - 20 dollars = Koss KSC75, Koss plug
20 - 50 dollars = Koss UR40, portapro
50 - 100 dollars = Koss A250, MS1
- 100 - 200 dollars = Grado HF1
- 200 - 300 dollars = Alessandro MS2
- 300 - 400 dollars = AKG K701
- 400 - 500 dollars = HD580 + M^3, K701 + Pint
- 500 - 1,000 dollars = RS1 + millet, K1000

 

[biged]

koss a250 over the ms-1? Interesting.

 

[The Actual]

I have significantly different sonic taste than Kramer, but here goes:

- below 50 dollars: Koss KSC 75 (from reviews here)
- 50 - 100 dollars: Sony MDR7506 or V6
- 100 - 200 dollars: Grado HF-1
- 200 - 300 dollars: Sony SA5000
- 300 - 400 dollars: Stax SR-404
- 400 - 500 dollars: Stax SR-404 again
- 500 - 1,000 dollars: AKG K1000



This is all for me, a listener who likes a lot of detail. Obviously people should audition things before buying.

 

[Pete7]

Nice, but an HF-1 realistically is not in the $100-200 range. Maybe the original list price was $195 or whatever it was, but the going rate now is easily $300-400.

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 - 100 - 200 dollars = Grado HF1

I don't think anyone can get the HF-1 at this price point...

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by biged koss a250 over the ms-1? Interesting.

Tough call... But YES I think the A250 is a better can than the MS1. A250 soundstage is broader, while still maintaining a strong center image. The A250 sounds a hair faster/quicker/snappier than the MS1 to my ears. The A250 sub-bass extends deeper and treble reaches higher than the MS1.

I listed prices I have personally paid for cans (except for the K701, which sells for $400).... So that places the HF1 in the $200 class. Am I wrong, should it be placed higher... based on its current street price or the price I paid?

Yes, I tend to prefer groovy cans over detail revealing. The K701/RS1 is about as detailed as I care to get.

Garrett

 

[Zenja]

I've thought of making such a list before, but I'm not experienced enough. I think there should be more than one headphone recommended for each price bracket (for different tastes), and maybe one of those upper brackets should be removed (like 400-500).

The Actual, where can you find SA5000 for 200-300? Let me know because I want it

Also, I'm not sure about recommendations for electrostats like the SR-404; don't they need a dedicated amp meant for electrostatics?

Prices indicated should definitely be based on current going price. This is for recommendations after all. You can't get the HF-1 for 100-200 anymore.

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Actual - 300 - 400 dollars: Stax SR-404

But wouldn't you have to spend a few hundred dollars more to get a compatible amp? I've always been interested in a Stax system, but I've been thrown off at their expensive price tag because of proprietary amps (3030 system is $779 and 4040 system is $1349 on Audio Cubes; I don't know any retailers that sell the amps separately).

 

[Zorander]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 I listed prices I have personally paid for cans (except for the K701, which sells for $400).... So that places the HF1 in the $200 class. Am I wrong, should it be placed higher... based on its current street price or the price I paid?

The HF-1 can only be obtained from the second-hand market at the higher market price and this guide is meant mostly for a headphone buyer (not someone owning them already). Hence I think it's not correct to put the HF-1 in the sub-$200 category.

 

[skyline889]

Dynamic Headphones

$0-50
-Koss Portapro
-Sennheiser HD497
-Sennheiser HD515

$50-100
-Alessandro MS1
-Grado SR60
-Sennheiser HD555

$100-200
-AKG K601
-Beyerdynamic DT880 old version
-Grado SR225
-Sennheiser HD595
-Sennheiser HD600
-Sony MDR-SA3000

$200-300
-AKG K701
-Audio Technica ATH-W100
-Beyerdynamic DT880 new version
-Grado HF-1
-Sennheiser HD650

$300-400
-Audio Technica ATH-W10LTD
-Audio Technica ATH-W10VTG
-Grado RS2
-Moon Audio Black Dragon SA3000
-Sony MDR-SA5000

$400-500
-Moon Audio Black Dragon SA5000
-Sony MDR-CD3000

$500-1000
-AKG K1000
-Audio Technica ATH-W11JPN
-Audio Technica ATH-W2002
-Audio Technica ATH-W5000
-Grado RS1
-Grado GS1000
-Headphile Darth Beyer DT880
-Headphile Darth Grado HF-1
-Headphile CD3000
-Moon Audio Silver Dragon CD3000
-Moon Audio Black Dragon RS1
-Sennheiser HD650 W/SAA Equinox+Headphile Deep Woodies

$1000+Up
-AKG K1000 with SAA Equinox/Black Dragon/Nordost Valkyrja

-Audio Technica ATH-L3000
-Grado HP1/2/3
-Grado PS-1
-Moon Audio Black Dragon GS1000
-Sony MDR-R10

Have only heard or owned half to three quarters of this list, but judging by the reviews the one's I haven't heard have gotten I mostly likely would like their sound and recommend them.

 

[flamerz]

- below 50 dollars: KSC-75 or PX100
- 50 - 100 dollars: V6, K81DJ
- 100 - 200 dollars: A900, HF-1
- 200 - 300 dollars: K701, HD650
- 300 - 400 dollars: Good question...
- 400 - 500 dollars: Darth Beyer

- 500 - 1,000 dollars: I'm guessing this is completely personal taste here.

 

[The Actual]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenja The Actual, where can you find SA5000 for 200-300? Let me know because I want it Also, I'm not sure about recommendations for electrostats like the SR-404; don't they need a dedicated amp meant for electrostatics?

Hm, I don't really keeps tabs on prices, but when I was looking to buy some for myself I thought I saw the SA5000 at around 290 USD most of the time. That price could have gone up with time, or I may just be confusing it with another headphone.

And I was being kind of tricky with the SR-404 recommendation. They will need an amp that is for electrostatics, but in the same sense all my other recommendations will need an amp for dynamic headphones. The SRM-313 isn't much more expensive than the good dynamic headphone amps.

 

[Asr]

- below 50 dollars - KSC 35
- 50 - 100 dollars - ...
- 100 - 200 dollars - DT770/80
- 200 - 300 dollars - K701
- 300 - 400 dollars - DT880, HD600
- 500 - 1,000 dollars - W2002

 

[stewtheking]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asr - 300 - 400 dollars - DT880, HD600

How much for an HD600? Gosh...