[metal hed]

Hi,

My criteria for headphones is specific so I can't find answers by doing a search. My current sennheiser headphones have great sound quality and personally I can't tell a lot of difference between 50-100 bucks. The problem is the headphones seem to slip off of their own accord, especially when I'm looking down at the guitar. (This has resulted in me turning the volume up and letting the phones rest so there's a gap between them and my earlobes to make them more steady - quite uncomfortable.) At the slightest pull on the wire they always fall down, which is a common occurance as it gets caught between the guitar and body. I wouldn't consider wireless due to sound quality and price.

Tried on Grado 80s and Sennheiser 580 (?) today, and found the sound quality similar but the Sennheiser seemed as if it might stay on better. Really I'm looking for recommendations given my criteria and application. I play hard rock/metal. Should I discount the Grados as I have read their brilliance can hurt the ear over extended periods? I understand the Sennheiser 580s are discontinued; these were offered to me half price today as the store said they were better than their replacements and all the stores had bought up Sennheiser's leftover stock due to this - any opinions?

Thanks,

 

[stereth]

Just tried the same thing with my V6s...if I look down, they're still on, but fall off if I bob my head a little.

Canalphones sound ideal, if they fit you well. Etymotic ER-6, ER-4, Shure e2c, e1c.

The higher-end Sennheisers are controversial for rock music. Some love them, some find them too laid-back. Grados are better for that kind of music, and since they're supraaural, you might be able to rotate them back on your head.

 

[ph0rk]

stay away from the 580's, they are open and trust me, open headphones suck for headphone guitar/bass playing. (What do you want to hear, your amplified and effected signal, or you twanging away on the strings?)

The senn HD280's have some nice clamp force, and canalphones/earbuds would probably work well too.

Another nice pair (the ones I use for practicing) are the Senn eh2200's or 2270's. They are analytical enough for you to make sound tweaks that are worth your while, and while not providing as much isolation as the 280's, they don't fall off even if you start nodding along with the music somewhat vigorously...

 

[metal hed]

Why do you say closed headphones are better - I always thought to buy open for sound quality unless you're tracking in a studio or want to keep sound in or out? I tried on a pair of closed phones (hd 250s) today and found the low e string a bit booming especially when I turned up the lows; also there was a little rattle in the right phone. Perhaps this is specific to this phone.

I'm not sure of the application for a headphone amp, so would the output from the headphone jack of a guitar amp be suitable to drive these kinds of headphones?

 

[ph0rk]

the headphone out on an amp would be fine.

Closed cans would be better because you can hear the amplified signal over your pick hitting the guitar strings, without cranking the headphones up loud enough to hurt you.

(I hate hearing pick noise personally, and closed headphones work even better than no headphones for getting rid of it)

Alot of people like open headphones for their soundstage, etc, but you don't care about that, you're listening to one instrument, yes?

I'm not certain about the rattle, but chances are the hd-25 had alot more low end with your boost knob up because it has better low end response then your amp. (Most guitar amps have crappy low extension).

Headphones will sound a bit different than your amp anyway, unless you have a cabinet emulator