Help me with search for the ideal portable phone

[MikoLayer]

Thanks to some head-fiers like Iron_Dreamer and AK[Zip], I am pretty much set as for the headphone rig at home.

I was generally satisfied with unamped HD-497 with my mp3 player until i sold it to my roomate, as I was hoping to jump on HD280pro deal at ecost. Alas, I was a bit slow and missed out on the deal

Now I am headphoneless on the go, painfully realizing how long and boring walk to and from classes can be.

Having done some research ahead of time, I have narrowed it down to either AKG 26P or Sennheiser HD-201, but not limited to either one. Primary use for them would be walking between the classes, bus rides and such. They might get some use in subways and prolonged airplane rides if I happen to go home, so the more isolation the better. Of higher priority will be the sound, and I want it to be very forgiving and warm. Airiness is something I might like, but detail and resolution doesnt really matter much. I despise analytical sounding phones and too much higher or lower frequency energies can be fatigue inducing.

No particular preference for either canalphones or full-sized headphones. The most I could afford is probably near $100 used or new. Keep them ideas coming, any input is appreciated.

 

[MikoLayer]

oh yeah, I have used mx300/400/500s for some time. While they are ok, I definitely demand something better sounding, hopefully with some isolation.

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer Thanks to some head-fiers like Iron_Dreamer and AK[Zip], I am pretty much set as for the headphone rig at home. I was generally satisfied with unamped HD-497 with my mp3 player until i sold it to my roomate, as I was hoping to jump on HD280pro deal at ecost. Alas, I was a bit slow and missed out on the deal Now I am headphoneless on the go, painfully realizing how long and boring walk to and from classes can be. Having done some research ahead of time, I have narrowed it down to either AKG 26P or Sennheiser HD-201, but not limited to either one. Primary use for them would be walking between the classes, bus rides and such. They might get some use in subways and prolonged airplane rides if I happen to go home, so the more isolation the better. Of higher priority will be the sound, and I want it to be very forgiving and warm. Airiness is something I might like, but detail and resolution doesnt really matter much. I despise analytical sounding phones and too much higher or lower frequency energies can be fatigue inducing. No particular preference for either canalphones or full-sized headphones. The most I could afford is probably near $100 used or new. Keep them ideas coming, any input is appreciated.

Well, they're over your budget, but the super.fi 5 pro sounds like it would make you happy.

 

[ILUVIPODS]

Etymotic ER6is?

 

[MikoLayer]

how much do super.fi 5 pros usually go for?

I was under impression ety phones in general, and 6i in particular, were somewhat analytical/lean sounding and had shrill highs to those with picky ears

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer how much do super.fi 5 pros usually go for?

$250 USD. A bit over your budget.

 

[MikoLayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veniogenesis $250 USD. A bit over your budget.

Team anime-fi? sounds interesting

do you watch anything from September? me likes Okusama wa Maho Shoujo, DCSS, FMP TSR and Pani Pani Dash! the most. better yet, Gokujo Seitokai is my favorite among the ones being aired now.

 

[Veniogenesis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer Team anime-fi? sounds interesting do you watch anything from September? me likes Okusama wa Maho Shoujo, DCSS, FMP TSR and Pani Pani Dash! the most. better yet, Gokujo Seitokai is my favorite among the ones being aired now.

Most definitely!

I'm up to date on Okusama wa Maho Shoujo, FMP: TSR, PaniPaniDash, and Gokujo Seitokai in terms of fansubs. As for DC:SS, I'm only on episode 2.

Hightlights of the new season probably, in my opinion, also include Shuffle, TideLineBlue, and Suzuka.

 

[MikoLayer]

I am soooo behind in suzuka, only saw the first episode

Ichigo Mashimaro is quite fun as well, Shuffle seems terribly low budgeted... still fun to watch and the OP/ED songs are superb. How is TideLineBlue?

Let me take a guess who your avatar is... Eclair from Kiddy Grade perhaps? personally, didnt care much for the show, but another Goto Keiji anime Uta-Kata on the other hand was remarkable. In fact, it is one of my top 5 picks from last year. Other series include : 2x2=shinobuden, School Rumble, GA 4th season, Hikari to Mizu no Daphne, Gakuen Alice, Rozen Maiden and perhaps Boukyaku no Senretsu

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer how much do super.fi 5 pros usually go for? I was under impression ety phones in general, and 6i in particular, were somewhat analytical/lean sounding and had shrill highs to those with picky ears

$250, but you can find them new for $175 if you look hard enough. The super.fi's are anything but analytical. Really fun IEM's and very forgiving.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Veniogenesis $250 USD. A bit over your budget.

I wouldn't be a good head-fier if I didn't exceed his budget immediately.

 

[Frank M]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer Team anime-fi? sounds interesting

Sure does

Unfortunately I'm stuck with just one part-time anime channel here, which airs mostly reruns of the few animes it has licenses for, so I'm way behind everybody in terms of seeing newer anime...

at least there's still the net

Back on topic, how's about Shure e2s? They can be had for less than $100 new in the US. I don't have one yet, but I've been searching for a used one for some time (new the dealer wants ~$135 for it

)

 

[MikoLayer]

I been dwelling on UE super. fi's all day long and concluded that $150 might sway me towards them, but even $175 is a bit too pricey for me.

how do AKG 26P or and HD-201 compare? Do they have good enough seal?

 

[MikoLayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank M Sure does Unfortunately I'm stuck with just one part-time anime channel here, which airs mostly reruns of the few animes it has licenses for, so I'm way behind everybody in terms of seeing newer anime... at least there's still the net Back on topic, how's about Shure e2s? They can be had for less than $100 new in the US. I don't have one yet, but I've been searching for a used one for some time (new the dealer wants ~$135 for it )

do you mean the e2c by any chance? i searched all over and couldnt find anything on e2s. in case you are reffering to e2c, i have found a head-fier in this thread : http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...&highlight=e2c
complaining about the fatigue. I find myself to lie on the extreme of that spectrum that gets bothered by what many would call "treble presence". excessive bass doesnt bother me as much, but i would stay away from bloatedness if i had a choice.

Part of me keeps on telling me I cant afford super.fi and should just settle for the AKG cans, while there is another part that reminds me I have no experience with canalphones and should try one just to see what its like. at $170+ tho, it isnt exactly an inexpensive venture for a college student. I have had some bad experiences buying first and reselling later strategy, so I am not really inclined to repeat the process. Let me reiterate my criteria again... simply put, I want something with good mids and rolled off highs (well, not necessarily but something with least fatigue possible). Overall sonic quality I am looking for is "warm, musical", which makes me wanna settle with the px100, hadnt it been for isolation. Price is definitely an issue here, and isolation is a huge plus. Too much to ask for a sub $100 headphone?

 

[ojnihs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikoLayer I been dwelling on UE super. fi's all day long and concluded that $150 might sway me towards them, but even $175 is a bit too pricey for me. how do AKG 26P or and HD-201 compare? Do they have good enough seal?

I've tried both the AKG26P and the HD-201 and I prefer the AKG's over the Senns personally. The AKG26P have decent seal, but I felt that they wouldn't do quite well if you're on the bus or subway a lot.

 

[MikoLayer]

thanks for your impressions, ojnihs.
I think what I will do now is just grab a pair of AKGs and wait for an iressistable deal on super.fi to pop up down the road