I'm sure this is the millionth "budget headphones" topic of the day, but.

[StealthyCow]

I'm very sorry for making this topic. I know nothing annoys me more than some random new guy who just registered at a forum and made a way too common topic, but I'm a rather hypocritical guy, so here I go.

My mom's been doing some non-stop complaining since we moved. I'm used to listening to my music as loud as I'd like without anyone caring, but now my room is right next to hers so she'll come in 3 or 4 times at night telling me to turn it down. Basically, I'm looking into getting headphones to make her be quiet.

I'm not rolling in the cash so I'm looking to keep it cheap. Definitely under $100. But quality is still very important to me. Right now the only pair of headphones I own are the bundled iPod headphones (yeah, go ahead and laugh at me for listening through these since August. Only on my iPod though!) so almost everything at this point would be a huge step up.

I'm not really trying to get into the headphones scene, I'm not sure what terms like "closed cans" are as opposed to "open cans" and why anyone wouldn't want sound isolation headphones. I mean I personally like to hear my music and not cars driving by but I'm likely wrong about what sound isolation is.


So anyways, sorry for making such a long post for such a short question. But I'm looking for some comfortable headphones, listening from both my computer and iPod. I hate, hate, HATE in ear headphones of any type, so please don't recommend those. And, I'm honestly clueless, like absolutely in the dark about kinds of headphones, so I'm probably going to be struggling trying to describe what I like, like "I don't like that itchy felt stuff I like that smooth leathery stuff" and you guys will be like "rofl huh"

So help me out, please?


OH, by the way. My Music I listen to, which is apparently important. I listen to different kinds of Indie rock, Indie pop, a few ska bands, and punk bands. Notable bands: Streetlight Manifesto (ska), The Weakerthans (indie rockish), Radiohead (I'm sure you're familiar with their genre), Operation Ivy (punk-ish)


k thx

 

[skoolage]

Grado SR60s. They can be had for 65 shipped at ttvj.com. Just use the coupon code. The headphones are open, but its not really a huge deal. They are open, so the people around you can hear the music pretty well, but you cant really hear what is going on around you, which doesnt seem like a bad thing considering youll be listening to them in your room. Grado SR80s or Alessandro MS1s would be decent alternatives but Id choose the SR60 over the 80 because it seems like youd like the added comfort of the SR60 more than the slightly better sound quality of the SR80. If you were into more classical stuff Id say the MS1s were the best choice, but the grado really is better suited towards rock.

 

[Venus In Furs]

I don't think they get mentioned a lot, but I'd like to recommend the Sennheiser eh350s. I think they do well for a lot of different types of music. They can initially feel a bit clampy, but it goes away. They have nice pleather pads, but if you have big ears they might be a little uncomfortable. I don't, and I find them to be extremely comfortable. They sound awesome with Radiohead, very detailed for how little they cost. They're open air, but the sound leakage isn't too bad, and even at moderate listening volumes, outside noises really shouldn't distract you much.
You can find them on amazon for less than 60 bucks, and Headroom has a description of them here: Sennheiser eh350

 

[StealthyCow]

I guess its time for me to do some guess work on the material of the headphones.


From the pictures I can find of SR-60s, it looks like they're made of that felt material. Well, probably not felt. I wish I knew what it was called, it'd make this so much easier... but hell, I'm probably wrong either way.


The part that actually goes on your ears. The material that's made out of is what I mean when I'm talking about comfort. Judging by the pictures, and once again I'm probably wrong, SR60s look to be made out of the material which I really can't stand. I'm trying really hard to get you guys to understand what that material is here-but dammit I can't do it. I'm sure you'd know what I was talking about if I could show you.


But yeah, anyways. Maybe the ear part isn't made out of what it looks like. But just to clear that up...the headphones posted just above me. Leather/pleather pads. That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for, and I'll check out those Venus.

By the way, if I gave you the wrong idea that this is just for home listening, I'll probably be listening to them while in a school bus (very noisy environment) more than in my room. So I guess shutting out outside noise is pretty important to me.

 

[skoolage]

Oh. So you dont like foam? In that case, Id reccomend these. AudioCubes.com - Audio-Technica ATH-A500 Art Headphones - ATH-A500 -
They use the fake leather stuff, are 90 bucks, sound good, and block out outside noise.

 

[StealthyCow]

Yeah, skoolage. The foam stuff is what I was talking about.


those look pretty nice. I'll definitely consider them, and if I don't get any recommendations I'll order them up

 

[birchre]

My 2 cents recommendation would be for the Sony v6 or v7506 both can be had for under 100 dollars. The v6 will probably be cheaper, and for your purposes will most likely sound the same as the 7506. These have a very neutral sound signature, meaning they reproduce an audio signal fairly accurately. They also isolate very well. For these reasons they are often used as studio monitors. I think the "pleather" pads are quite comfortable; however, some find them to get a bit hot.

"welcome to Head-fi, sorry about your wallet."

luck

 

[SBD]

I know you kind of ruled it out already but the Grado SR-60 I recommend but be warned that it does leak some noise in and out. The "pads" (that the word you looking for?) are pretty comfy and I expected probably the same itchy scratchy material but I can't feel it at all and it's very light, especially after they adjust.

Also, KSC-75 anyone would recommend especially for its price. I'm pretty sure for under your price mark you won't find that great headphones with the leather/pleather pads. Maybe you should just stick with apple buds on the bus...its easier.

 

[StealthyCow]

I am still considering the SR60s, reading up on them everyone seems so satisfied with them. I could probably get over the comfort factor, but the biggest negative I see in them is the sound leak factor. I mean I don't plan on listening to them in a small, quiet room where silence is a huge importance but I hate when I can hear people's music at full volume when they're sitting a seat in front of me and I'd hate to be that guy.

And they're like $30 cheaper than the Audio-Technica headphones thats always a plus. If they're really highly recommended I'm leaning heavily towards them at this point

 

[Zigosity]

I think you should go with the SR-60\80 personally. They're really great sounding for your kind of music and they're really quite comfortable if you make some adjustments (Read: Bend the headband a bit). I personally own the 80s and I love them! : P.

Anyway, when people say others can hear your music outside, well, they aren't kidding, but it might not be as loud as you think. They don't leak a LOT... But they do leak =P.

Good luck, and sorry about your wallet : P.

 

[vorlon1]

The Sony MDR V 6's that were mentioned ealier are quite decent for the money, but if you can scare up 100 bucks or so look into the Equation Audio RP-21s. Nice "Pleather Pads" like you want, and fantastic sound, easily driven by Ipods and such.

 

[RBYRER]

The pads on the sr 60s are not made of any type of itchy felt. If I were you, I would buy them from Headroom or TVJ and if you don't like them , you can always return them and get your money back. That's what I did.

 

[TenaciousO]

The grados are good headphones, but the problem is that you might not be able to hear the music if you're listening to them on the bus. Look into a closed headphone if you start to think that isolation is really important. I've heard good things about the sony and equation audio headphones mentioned already. The audio-technica that has been mentioned in this thread is waaaay too big for portable use unless you don't mind looking silly, being made fun of, and perhaps risking a beat down.

 

[StealthyCow]

These Equation Audios are swaying my opinion very heavily based solely on the fact that they are like beautiful :O

 

[Nagasaki_Kid]

the v6 has detail and a flat response but the mids are kinda weak. The only time I like the v6 is when I wear earplugs along with the v6. The high become softer and the mids will flow throught.