[Uncle Erik]

The Wuss, I agree. However a lot of us aren't putting down the cash for the Ed. 10 and many others. I might pick up another flagship headphone, but my audio cash is going towards speakers at the moment. I don't see that changing unless something really good turns up.

 

[TheWuss]

Well. If you can build a speaker rig that competes with the hd800 and k1000, then it will be money well spent...
; )

 

[charliex]

When I purchased the AKG K 1000 recently at $850, I was simply in awe, and didn't realize that a pair of headphones could so faithfully and realistically
elevate the listening experience to such aural heights - nothing has touched them since, not even the LCD-2's I must admit.

 

[Ikarios]

I would say the $300 range is right about where the point of diminishing returns is. Under $300 you've got the DT880, HD650, D2000, K701/702... all the nice headphones of yesteryear are here.

 

[Drubbing]

Quote:

Not a great question really. It completely depends on what you want. If you don't care about what more expensive cans delver, then.....

 
Quote:

I think its a great question. you know, there is such a thing as diminishing returns.

 
Agree, it's a very good and relevant question for anyone new to this. I also agree it's around $400 (Aus prices tend to be higher). Having access to Headphonic, I've heard a lot of products, and to my ears, diminishing returns kicks in around 400.
 
More expensive phones are technically better in what they do, but I haven't enjoyed any of them. Even for those wanting that in a headphone, $800 phone isn't going to be 100% better than a $400 one. Unless the gauge is enjoyment, and for that, we pay whatever the asking price is for it, and a $ 4 $ improvement is moot.
 

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

  The headphone manufacturers need to lower prices before more people switch to speakers.

People use headphones for often a special reason, not that they can't find a speaker that they like for their budget, IMO. Also, many of us HP fans also use speakers. This subject has been done to death so I should stop here.
 
To comment on the subject, I say $300~$400 is a nice range.

 

[warrior05]

Hmm... interesting question.  Financial status can certainly play a part.  I've always contended that there a number of fine headphones at budget prices but what I consider to be "budget prices" may be considered expensive by others.
 
There are a number of very capable headphones in the $150-$200 range and I have a lot of fun trying out headphones in this range.  One of them being a fav fun sounding, head bobbing 'phone - Shure's 750DJ.
 
I have made a conscious effort to avoid going all out in this hobby.  First, I really don't think I have the level of critical listening skills that others do here. So I have kept myself to a more lower high-end level.  I am totally contented with my DT990/600.  Love my RS1s as well.  I do have interest in the T1s but spending that much money certainly gives me pause.  The key question - will I really get out of the T1 a level of enjoyment that justifies spending that much money? Only I can decide that of course but sometimes I find others let themselves get talked into that it is justified.  Then they get in over their heads.
 
Personally, I am around the $500 or so range where I feel there are enough choices of headphones that I can hone in on what I really enjoy.  Above that becomes a manner of diminishing returns where I just don't find it worth - for me - to spend more.  Uh... except perhaps the T1s. 

 

[dmk1]

My K701 certainly have a good quality/price ratio (more so than my HD595), but the HD800 are so much better that, at 3.4x the K701's price, I still consider they provide great value.
 
Now compared to speakers, I couldn't say, but my "listening room" is so acoustically poor that I feel it would be a waste for me to have quality speakers.

 

[MrFisherman]

Quote:

You can get wonderful speakers for less than the big ticket headphones today.

 
Would you care to name some of those speakers?  I'd be interested in your opinion.
 
Thanks.
 

 

[Frank I]

 
Quote:

 
Would you care to name some of those speakers?  I'd be interested in your opinion.
 
Thanks.
 

I have the Maggie MMG for a 600.00 speaker they are ultra revealing with super detail and you are there live feeling. I do use a sub to fill in the bass. My T1 is a 1300.00 can and comes closest to the maggies but do not have the soundstage height or depth and inner detail the Maggies have.

 

[MrFisherman]

Quote:

 

I have the Maggie MMG...

 
I was hoping for something a little less exotic.  Something I could pronounce, even.
 
I kid.  If I ever get out of the city, way east of here where the dealer is, I will stop in for a listen.  It sounds promising.
 

 

[AudioDwebe]

I'm with the consensus on this one.  I feel that 300-500 range headphone will get you 95% of the way to the big boys.
 
In anything audio, it's that last 5% that costs a fortune.  For some, it's worth it; others, not.
 
 
 

 

[spartan123]

for me it is around $400.00 - $500.00.  Amps it is a different story.  I would easily go over 1K for a great amp.

 

[krmathis]

Somewhere around $3-400.  Higher and the law of diminishing returns hit in.

 

[oqvist]

Quote:

People use headphones for often a special reason, not that they can't find a speaker that they like for their budget, IMO. Also, many of us HP fans also use speakers. This subject has been done to death so I should stop here.
 
To comment on the subject, I say $300~$400 is a nice range.

Agree. The reason we are willing to spend that much of money on headphones is due to wanting equal performance as out of speakers often.
 
2-400 for dynamic headphones and 955$ for the orthodynamics  I say.