Newbie Needing Guidance

[psock]

Hello all.

I'm looking to buy my first decent pair of headphones, with about $100-$120 to spend. I've been researching online for a while and finally resolved to ask for help here.


Ideally they should be versatile enough to be used for home recording aswell as whilst walking to school (along noisy roads) and in various other noisy situations. So I'm looking for a pair that are noise cancelling or provide at least some degree of isolation. I have considered buying a pair of Grado SR60s for purpose A, and a cheapish pair of canal phones purpose B, but I'd prefer to get a big, comfortable set of cans that I can use for both.


I'd like to avoid leather/pleather as I fear that my ears will get hot while I'm walking. That said, I have been looking at the HD280s, and Koss QZ Pros. Also at the HD515s and, because I might be able to get them reduced to $135, HD555s. I remember liking the beyer and akg phones that I used to use in the music department at school, but can't find any models of theirs that meet all my criteria.


Any advice/recommendations?

 

[jpr703]

Grados sound great, but the leak a lot. If you need isolation, the Senn 280s or a pair of canal phones are probably the way to go in that price range.

 

[gratefulshrink]

Welcome to Head-Fi and sorry about your wallet!

The 280's provide great isolation and are good quality for the price.

As for new Beyers in your range, you could look into the 231's.

As for AKG's, the 240S provides some isolation (not nearly as much at the 280).

It sounds like you need cans that will just need to be driven by a portable (i.e., no amp) -- is that correct?

 

[psock]

oops... double post.

 

[psock]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gratefulshrink It sounds like you need cans that will just need to be driven by a portable (i.e., no amp) -- is that correct?

That's right.

And thank you for the advice so far -- I'll take a closer look at the HD280s aswell as the Beyer and AKG phones you mentioned.

 

[DobsOnly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by psock That's right. And thank you for the advice so far -- I'll take a closer look at the HD280s as well as the Beyer and AKG phones you mentioned.

For portable use have you considered the Ety's ER6 or ER6i for Isolating < $90
For a nice cheap (Price wise) open can - KSC-35 for ~$20

I find this to be a great combination to use with my Karma. Both sound good without an amp but do improve if you add one.

 

[Emon]

The ER-6 and ER-6i are outstanding. You can't beat their sound quality for the price. The closest canalphone in their class are probably the Shure E3c...and some say the ER-6/ER-6i are still better. But I've not heard the E3c, so don't pay much attention to me.

 

[Mercuttio]

Man, I really can't reccomend those HD 280s. Number one, they have the exact pleather problem you're talking about above, and number two, they're just not all that musical. They're cold and analytical... be sure to try them next to a pair of Grados or perhaps the HD 555. I simply don't like my music that cold.

 

[MonkeyButt]

I just saw somewhere that the Shure E3s were going for $117 - forget where but you can definitely find them for a few dollars more. A little bit more on the warm side compared to the Ety sound . . .

 

[450]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emon The ER-6 and ER-6i are outstanding. You can't beat their sound quality for the price. The closest canalphone in their class are probably the Shure E3c...and some say the ER-6/ER-6i are still better. But I've not heard the E3c, so don't pay much attention to me.

The ER6 is somewhat expensive now for some reason (or maybe I just suck at searching now)...

I mean...the cheapest I see the ER6 is now like 90! The new i version is at least 10 dollars cheaper! What's up with that??

 

[arspy87]

DT231 recommendation!

 

[Emon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450 I mean...the cheapest I see the ER6 is now like 90! The new i version is at least 10 dollars cheaper! What's up with that??

The ER-6i are mostly likely cheaper because they're slightly modified ER-6s, and you're not paying for R&D. Just like how the Koss KSC-35 are $10 more than the KSC-75, which are newer and have softer ear clips.

 

[socrates63]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyButt I just saw somewhere that the Shure E3s were going for $117 - forget where but you can definitely find them for a few dollars more. A little bit more on the warm side compared to the Ety sound . . .

Looks like you may be referring to Buy.com. The E3c is $130 but right now, there's a 10% sale, so $130 - $13 = $117.