Low-Price Audiophile Headphones
May 19, 2013 at 6:03 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 62
Ruffball

Ruffball

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Hi everyone, I'm looking for a set of budget full-size over-the-ear headphones to replace my trusty but aging Koss Portapros. I'm looking for something below (or a tad over) $50.
 
So far, I've found the Jaycar Pro Monitor Headphones (Fischer FA-003 clones) (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA2065) to be pretty well-reviewed, as well as the Monoprice DJ Headphones 8323 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/608453/monoprice-dj-headphones-8323-review).
 
Can anyone attest to these/offer any alternatives? Noise isolation would be nice, but sound quality is my top concern in this price range. Thanks!
 
May 19, 2013 at 6:19 PM Post #2 of 62
I tried my friend's Koss UR20s today and they sounded very good, considering the 20$ price tag. My main concern is the lack of bass, but of course that depends on your music choices.
 
link: http://www.headphone.com/headphones/koss-ur-20.php
 
EDIT: also has decent isolation. Isolation: -10dB ~ -13dB
 
Another EDIT: Similar headphone with a slightly more nominal midrange frequency response, albeit with a big dip in the treble: http://www.headphone.com/headphones/koss-ur-29.php
 
May 19, 2013 at 8:08 PM Post #3 of 62
Quote:
ruffball said:
Hi everyone, I'm looking for a set of budget full-size over-the-ear headphones to replace my trusty but aging Koss Portapros. I'm looking for something below (or a tad over) $50.
 
So far, I've found the Jaycar Pro Monitor Headphones (Fischer FA-003 clones) (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA2065) to be pretty well-reviewed, as well as the Monoprice DJ Headphones 8323 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/608453/monoprice-dj-headphones-8323-review).
 
Can anyone attest to these/offer any alternatives? Noise isolation would be nice, but sound quality is my top concern in this price range. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Send your portapro's in for a warranty repair/replacement. :) Far less expensive than buying a new pair. 
 
If you want a full sized headphone, the jvc harx700's are a good value. They're under $40 with good sound quality. These are a semi-open design with a fair amount of noise isolation. 
 
If you don't need noise isolation, stay with the open koss headphones. The portapro, sportapro, ktx1pro and ksc75's are all superior values with very good to excellent sound quality.
 
May 20, 2013 at 1:10 AM Post #5 of 62
Quote:
jaycee1 said:
Send your portapro's in for a warranty repair/replacement. :) Far less expensive than buying a new pair. 
 
If you want a full sized headphone, the jvc harx700's are a good value. They're under $40 with good sound quality. These are a semi-open design with a fair amount of noise isolation. 
 
If you don't need noise isolation, stay with the open koss headphones. The portapro, sportapro, ktx1pro and ksc75's are all superior values with very good to excellent sound quality.
Click to expand...

 
How do the Sony V6 and the JVC HARX700 compare to the Jaycar Pro Monitors, since they're in about the same price range? Also, are these a step up from the PortaPros, or are they about the same sound-quality-wise?
 
May 20, 2013 at 1:45 AM Post #6 of 62
Quote:
ruffball said:
 
How do the Sony V6 and the JVC HARX700 compare to the Jaycar Pro Monitors, since they're in about the same price range? Also, are these a step up from the PortaPros, or are they about the same sound-quality-wise?
Click to expand...

 
I only have the jvc's and koss in that list. I consider the portapro's to be much better sounding. They are a completely open back design, unlike the jvc's, which are semi-open (closed back with narrow air vents).
 
The jvc's sound good overall, but exhibit some significant problems such as sibilance, bass distortion, and a tendency to highlight problems in recordings. They are not especially fast in transients, either.
 
I consider the jvc's to be "near hi fi" headphones, and the portapro's to be true hi fi headphones with a big bass boost (as you are well aware). 
 
May 20, 2013 at 3:09 AM Post #8 of 62
I find headphone reviews to be almost completely unreliable. It seems like every pair of headphones is "best in class," or "competes with headphones that cost 5X as much," etc. If EVERY pair of headphones are garnering such superlatives and effusive praise, where are the mediocre headphones that serve as the baseline for comparison?
 
You guessed it, those other headphones which are supposedly just mediocre are ALSO receiving the exact same level of praise (best in class, worth 5X as much, etc.).
 
Having said that, the monoprice and jvc's are both relatively inexpensive. 

Why not simply send in your old pair of portapro's for factory replacement/repair? I'm sure it would cost $15 or less. 
 
Quote:
ruffball said:
Hi everyone, I'm looking for a set of budget full-size over-the-ear headphones to replace my trusty but aging Koss Portapros. I'm looking for something below (or a tad over) $50.
 
So far, I've found the Jaycar Pro Monitor Headphones (Fischer FA-003 clones) (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA2065) to be pretty well-reviewed, as well as the Monoprice DJ Headphones 8323 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/608453/monoprice-dj-headphones-8323-review).
 
Can anyone attest to these/offer any alternatives? Noise isolation would be nice, but sound quality is my top concern in this price range. Thanks!
Click to expand...

 
May 20, 2013 at 9:38 AM Post #12 of 62
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