[Aravax]

Hey there, I'm in the market for a new set of cans for less than about $250, and I have a few interesting requirements.  I suffer from moderate (not nearly severe, but not classifiable as mild) high-frequency hearing loss and (very) mild mid-frequency loss, and I'm looking for a good set of over the ear headphones to use while at work.  That said, the biggest need I have is for solid treble, and outstanding sound definition.  I sometimes have trouble differentiating sounds between vocals and guitar if the phones are too muddy or the frequencies are too similar, and it gets annoying.
 
I would really prefer closed-back, since I work in a cube farm and usually have to run the volume a little above what I can get away with using open back.  I mostly listen to rock (anywhere from classic rock to euro-metal), but sometimes there's other things mixed in. My current pair, which are literally hanging on by about 4 filaments of wire, are Sennheiser EH-150s, and while I know they're nowhere close to audiophile level, they do an outstanding job producing the kind of soundstage/sound definition that I need.  Maybe they're crap, and I just don't know any better, but they sure sound better than anything else I've owned up until this point.  I would order another pair, but they're discontinued, and I'm thinking it's time for a quality upgrade.
 
Suggestions?

 

[OMGLadyGaga]

Have you considered IEMs? They'd probably suit your situation rather nicely

 

[Aravax]

Can't wear IEMs on order of my audiologist, she says with my kind of hearing loss, it may accelerate it.

 

[OMGLadyGaga]

That's unfortunate. Given your situation the only thing I have in my inventory that accentuates mids and highs with amazing instrument separation which it sounds like it ticks all your boxes are the AKG K550. They isolate pretty good as well. The problem is they have BIG cups, but are very very comfortable.

 

[Aravax]

That's unfortunate. Given your situation the only thing I have in my inventory that accentuates mids and highs with amazing instrument separation which it sounds like it ticks all your boxes are the AKG K550. They isolate pretty good as well. The problem is they have BIG cups, but are very very comfortable.

 
I have a big head, so big cups are right on my style.  These look like they may very well work.  I was looking at the "usual contenders" of the ATH-M50, Grado sr225e (Yes I know they're open, but they seem to be uber popular, and I assume that's for a reason), and the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II.  Any thoughts on any of these?

 

[OMGLadyGaga]

Grados are open, as you mentioned, so if you wanna go that route there's more recommendations given your needs. There's some audio technica models given their propensity to attack eardrums with the high frequencies. I don't have any of those so can't comment.

Ath m50 is too bassy. And the hd25s do a great job with mids and highs (exxagerated and harsh, perfect for you!) The problem is that the bass is very present, and overly punchy, don't know how you feel about that. Also they are uncomfortable for long periods due to on ear design and clamp force.

Beyerdynamics are also kings of harsh highs, I have a dt990 and can't stand listening to it because of that. Fully open tho, not sure how the dt880(semi open) compares.

For budget options that I have and are too harsh for me, superlux 668b -this is semi open, but sounds pretty damn good. The highs and upper mids remind me of my dt990, which is the sound they were going for I think. Not very bassy either and fairly neutral. So might work.

Sony 7506, classic studio monitor with decent isolation with peaky upper mids and treble. Sounds very bright for a closed headphone, so I think that might work as well.

As an aside, it's kinda ironic recommending headphones that I can't stand to listen to lol.

I do like the akg k550 tho, it sounds very spacious and as mentioned the comfort is top notch.

 

[cel4145]

Soundmagic HP150. Tending toward neutral with a slight elevation to the lower bass and treble. Excellent headphone overall at the $200 price point. Given that the EH-150 has a reputation for a fairly neutral response, the HP150s might be a good choice for you. I wear an XXL hat size (can't wear most one size fits all hats), and the HP150 fits fine on my head--I'd imagine it would you, too.

The HP150 was only recently released, and is a change in cup aesthetics, better cable setup, and new case over the HP100. They are apparently very similar to the HP100 (if not the same) in sound quality, so you could look at reviews of the HP100 to get ideas of how the HP150s might sound.

The HP150s are a good step up in SQ over the M50s, IMO. I also have the K550s. While I would consider them somewhat similar in SQ signature to the HP150 (people that like one would probably like the other) and similar in overall sound quality, there are fit issues with it (difficult to get placed well for a good deal for good bass) and the long cable is annoying. Unless you can try both the HP150 and K550 to discern whether or not you like the K550 sound signature better (I like the HP150 only slightly better) and the fit issues and cable don't annoy you, then I would go with the HP150.

 

[appsmarsterx]

The HP150s are a good step up in SQ over the M50s

 
+1
 
 
m50 is way too over-hyped for its performance. good thing is headphones like hp100/150 is getting more recognition here on headfi. new hp150 also looks really premium with its new design.

 

[cel4145]

+1


m50 is way too over-hyped for its performance. good thing is headphones like hp100/150 is getting more recognition here on headfi. new hp150 also looks really premium with its new design.

+1

The M50 is a very good headphone for <$125, but of course there are some others that are good as well. And as you go up to $150 or more, there are better

 

[Aravax]

Thanks for all the input.  After doing some homework, I think you're spot-on with the hp150 recommendation cel.  I took a look, and I love the fact that they come with a nice case and accessories, and the removable cable is something that actually made me a bit giddy.  Every pair of phones I've had for the last 15 years I've lost to fraying/breaking of the joint between the cans and the wires.  Also, I took a look at my hearing loss curve (it looks surprisingly like a headphone frequency curve), and the result against these phones when averaged comes out to almost dead neutral.  As soon as I get my bonus check, I plan to pull the trigger,  Thanks for all your help everyone!

 

[cel4145]

Great. I hope you really like them. I've just been trying mine with a new dac/amp. They provide so good at detail, it seems like the better audio signal you give them, the even better they sound.

Be sure to come back and share your impressions once you get them

 

[Aravax]

Great. I hope you really like them. I've just been trying mine with a new dac/amp. They provide so good at detail, it seems like the better audio signal you give them, the even better they sound.

Be sure to come back and share your impressions once you get them

I was just a bad boy, got impatient, and pulled the trigger out of my paycheck instead of my bonus check.  I will have them in hand tomorrow, and I will make sure to post some impressions both here and in their thread.

 

[gradofan1]

  Thanks for all the input.  After doing some homework, I think you're spot-on with the hp150 recommendation cel.  I took a look, and I love the fact that they come with a nice case and accessories, and the removable cable is something that actually made me a bit giddy.  Every pair of phones I've had for the last 15 years I've lost to fraying/breaking of the joint between the cans and the wires.  Also, I took a look at my hearing loss curve (it looks surprisingly like a headphone frequency curve), and the result against these phones when averaged comes out to almost dead neutral.  As soon as I get my bonus check, I plan to pull the trigger,  Thanks for all your help everyone!

Have you tried formally integrating (maybe some calculus involved with your audiologist) your hearing loss response curve with the HP150 frequency response curve? If it comes out as dead neutral, as you said, you made a big score! ;D

 

[Lorspeaker]

Shure 940...

Krk kns8400....


N if u can find a badly scratched t5p going for cheap.

 

[Aravax]

Just got my package, unpacked it, and have spent the last hour or so in utter awe. I am hearing details in things that I haven't heard in years. It's actually strangely emotional. I'll take the time to put together a formal "review" I'm a day or two, once I've gotten over the initial shock of being able to really hear music the way I remember it sounding before working in a server room for 2 years with no hearing protection.