Is there one headphone you think is extremely overrated?

[bangraman]

I suppose it depends on if you're judging on the basis of sound only, which is valid for home phones but the situation would be different given portable phones. There are other issues of practicality which should be considered along with sound. The HD25-1 for example is indeed overpriced for the sound that you get, if you compare it to any number of open phones. But I still can't find a genuinely portable and tractable closed headphone which sounds better for less.

 

[[AK]Zip]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn But the MS1 housing is identical to the SR60, how could one be comfortable and the other not? All you have to do is bend the headband and presto no more pressure.

I tried. I used the bowl pads and no go after an hour 1/2 it was killing my ears. The SR60's didn't bother me at all for some reason.

-Alex-

 

[S_Dedalus]

Of all the headphones I've listened to, a certain pair of AKGs, just slightly more than half a K1000, were the most dissapointing. I nearly bought their little brother, the K401, so when I heard them, i was very happy that I hadn't. It just seemed like half of the music was gone, and not like with the koss cans or shure E2's. The midrange was fine, but the drums, bass, and cymbals seemed as though they had been plucked from the stage by an alien spaceship.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by [AK]Zip I tried. I used the bowl pads and no go after an hour 1/2 it was killing my ears. The SR60's didn't bother me at all for some reason. -Alex-

I wonder if it was due to the age of the bowls you were using. I think grado covers their pads in sandpaper before shipping them out. Eventually, the sandpaper rubs off, though, and they become more comfortable. I have two sets, one new one old, and I can tell a difference. I don't think they will ever be as comfortable as my 595's, but they have become comfortable enough where they don't bother me at all anymore.

Could this be the source of differences of opinion on grado comfort? Can anyone with more experience with grados comment?

 

[NeilPeart]

Here’s how these <$100 full-size ‘phones compare with the MS1:

AKG K240S – warmer sound, more refined (and "sweeter" midrange, more bass quantity, but bass is slightly over-done and treble isn’t quite as open
Audio-Technica ATH-A500 – tighter bass, more top-end extension, but mids sound somewhat plasticky and treble can be a tad harsh
Beyerdynamic DT231 – warmer midrange, but treble is recessed and ‘phone sounds muddy in comparison
Grado SR80 – more aggressive sound, but treble is less refined and bass is looser
Sennheiser HD25-SP – more refined midrange, tighter bass, but bass doesn’t extend and treble is muted (I'm not referring to the HS25-1, which is a much better headphone, IMO)
Sennheiser HD280 Pro – deeper bass extension, but mids are recessed and the can lacks impact (and I find it very uninspiring)
Sony MDR-V6 – more bass quantity, more forward treble, but bass is overbearing and treble is way too harsh for me
Sony MDR-SA1000 – more detail, tighter bass, larger soundstage, but a tad too harsh and a bit thin for my tastes

The above cans represent viable alternatives to the MS1 and all hover at or below $100. However, the Alessandro MS1, Grado SR80 and SA1000 are the only open headphone amongst these and even then only the SR80 and MS1 could be considered portable (and the MS1 is a better-sounding headphone than the SR80, IMO); therefore the MS1 is the best semi-portable open headphone under $100, IMO.

From the above list based on pure sound quality (no other considerations) these are my top 5:

1. MS1
2. K240S
3. SA1000
4. ATH-A500
5. HD25-SP

 

[jesse_w]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm I think you should always say how you feel about a particular headphone, no matter how you think people will react - ESPECIALLY if you have a strong opinion about it.

This is a poor way to go about things. If you have an extremely strong opinion about something, chances are it's a biased and careless opinion. Things tend alot more towards middle ground than people would have one believe. I disregard all opinions that say X is crap or Y is better than everything else for a given whatever--they're useless, and clearly mean the person does not have an open mind.

jesse

 

[Nights_85]

strictly speaking from a retail price vs. performance point of view I would say anything that sony sells/"makes". Frankly after learning the hard way a one too many times Im quite certain I wont be recomending any sony products in the future. And Im not just speaking from using the ex70's here.

 

[gloco]

I never tried em, but i always felt the AT line of headphones were/are very overhyped based on how often they change hands on head-fi.

Also, the CD3K were terrible when i demoed them as well at a meet two years ago.

 

[cire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesse_w This is a poor way to go about things. If you have an extremely strong opinion about something, chances are it's a biased and careless opinion. Things tend alot more towards middle ground than people would have one believe. I disregard all opinions that say X is crap or Y is better than everything else for a given whatever--they're useless, and clearly mean the person does not have an open mind.

i disagree. i dont see how saying anything like that with good solid proof makes the person have a closed mind. i hate cigarette smoking and it sucks with a passion (it pisses my asthmetic lungs off), but does that make me not open minded? certainly not

 

[bangraman]

There's also the 'living with it' thing. A meet impression does not make you an expert on it... in many ways, quite the opposite.

 

[EdipisReks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn so i'll say the CD3K. how anyone can live with that little bass is beyond me. don't buy it just because it's out of production gang!

the CD3k's have plenty of bass when they are amped properly.

 

[Rhydon]

For me, it would have to be the shure E3C's. I dont ever want to hear something so medicore again in my life.

 

[DJGeorgeT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhydon For me, it would have to be the shure E3C's. I dont ever want to hear something so medicore again in my life.

LOL hahahahaha

 

[DJGeorgeT]

Shure E5 is most overrated and overpriced IMHO

 

[Usagi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 God Bose... by far... ever strike up a conversation with a casual person on the street/office. they almost always rave about bose or at the very least already have some pre-formed, "word of mouth" oppinion that they are a good product.

Yes, this happens all the time when I converse with others regarding audio equipment. Its amazing what advertising is capable of. I have grown wary of other's recommendations regarding everything having to do with anything now.

Anyways, I say Bose