- Joined
- Dec 23, 2014
- Posts
- 313
- Likes
- 39
I’ve been looking to upgrade my headphones for months now and it has turned out to be about the hardest audio thing to do ever. I’m looking to step up from my Sennheiser HD518
I don’t use headphones much at all and especially not during warm/hot weather. I also can’t seem to wear headphones for long periods, I’m generally good for about 10 to 15 minutes tops. That may have to change because of something I will be doing involving serious listening. I generally plug headphones straight into an amp/receiver.
The hard part is that there is no place to demo headphones. Sure I can do the whole purchase on internet thing, try them and return them, but that will only result in frustration after all is said and done. I’d have to order from different places so as not to exceed returns policies, plus try to find all who carries what I want to try, then pay shipping both ways and restock fees. The shipping probably would not be bad, but added to the restock fees and multiplied by say six, it would eat up all monies for the phones and I would end up with nothing unless I got lucky the first time. (I don’t have that kind of luck).
I’ve been at this for months, so I am giving it one last shot. My revised plan in desperation is to wait until around November and see what goes on sale and then just closing my eyes and picking one from whatever list I have unless something better happens first or just staying with the HD518s once and for all. Investment headphones ($400 and up as I consider them) would be a waste for someone like me.
So here is what I am looking for: I have a budget of up to a max of around $200. I am willing to stretch that by say $50 to $75 if need be.
I’m looking for a pair of headphones that are well balanced in sound with a bit more width in staging compared to my HD518s.
I listen to all kinds of music with few exceptions. Basically, I need something than deals well with Prog rock, classic rock, folk, blues, jazz, full symphony classical and everything in between.
I like tight, detailed musical bass, not boom boom, loose cannons and such. I also don’t like shrill tinny sound.
They must be the around the ear style and comfortable and no leather or vinyl ear pads (some models one can get replacement pads to their liking, so that opens a few more windows). I prefer the cloth or velour or whatever that stuff is.
I prefer open, but have no problem also considering closed.
Also if any cans suggested require a headphone amp that’s fine too, there are enough affordable amps out there to provide choice I can save up for since I won’t be using the phones until maybe September/October.
So far on my list of considering are:
Sennheiser HD280 Pro, HD598, HD558
AKG K550, K240, K702, Q701
Shure SRH840, SRH440
Beyerdynamic DT660, DT770 Pro 250 ohm or 80 ohm, DT-150-250, DT-250 80 ohm, DT990 Pro 250 ohm
Grado Prestige SR225e
Audio Technica ATH-AD900x, ATH-MSR7GM
Yamaha HPH-MT220
Takstar HI2050 (This may be dropped soon as it seems not right to me and I’ve never heard of the name)
(Other models currently out of range but would consider if on sale = Sennheiser HD650, HD 600, Beyerdynamic DT880 600 ohm, Philips X2/27 Fidelio, Shure SRH 940, AKG K701, K712)
Problem is that I have only had the opportunity to try the HD558s and HD600s (through a bad amp) and none of the others outside of the Philips and a prototype AKG.
Are one of these from the above list an absolute standout that would provide me what I seek? Any other ones or suggestions I don’t know about, please inform.
Unless anyone knows of a place that has a sort of home trial program like those eyeglass sites do where they send you 4 to 6 frames, you have 7 days to try them and then send them back. That would be good, but I’m dreaming, I know.
My biggest question may be what ever happened to the days when one could walk into a stereo shop try 18 pairs of headphones if one wanted and walk out with a purchase of confidence.
Thank you.
I don’t use headphones much at all and especially not during warm/hot weather. I also can’t seem to wear headphones for long periods, I’m generally good for about 10 to 15 minutes tops. That may have to change because of something I will be doing involving serious listening. I generally plug headphones straight into an amp/receiver.
The hard part is that there is no place to demo headphones. Sure I can do the whole purchase on internet thing, try them and return them, but that will only result in frustration after all is said and done. I’d have to order from different places so as not to exceed returns policies, plus try to find all who carries what I want to try, then pay shipping both ways and restock fees. The shipping probably would not be bad, but added to the restock fees and multiplied by say six, it would eat up all monies for the phones and I would end up with nothing unless I got lucky the first time. (I don’t have that kind of luck).
I’ve been at this for months, so I am giving it one last shot. My revised plan in desperation is to wait until around November and see what goes on sale and then just closing my eyes and picking one from whatever list I have unless something better happens first or just staying with the HD518s once and for all. Investment headphones ($400 and up as I consider them) would be a waste for someone like me.
So here is what I am looking for: I have a budget of up to a max of around $200. I am willing to stretch that by say $50 to $75 if need be.
I’m looking for a pair of headphones that are well balanced in sound with a bit more width in staging compared to my HD518s.
I listen to all kinds of music with few exceptions. Basically, I need something than deals well with Prog rock, classic rock, folk, blues, jazz, full symphony classical and everything in between.
I like tight, detailed musical bass, not boom boom, loose cannons and such. I also don’t like shrill tinny sound.
They must be the around the ear style and comfortable and no leather or vinyl ear pads (some models one can get replacement pads to their liking, so that opens a few more windows). I prefer the cloth or velour or whatever that stuff is.
I prefer open, but have no problem also considering closed.
Also if any cans suggested require a headphone amp that’s fine too, there are enough affordable amps out there to provide choice I can save up for since I won’t be using the phones until maybe September/October.
So far on my list of considering are:
Sennheiser HD280 Pro, HD598, HD558
AKG K550, K240, K702, Q701
Shure SRH840, SRH440
Beyerdynamic DT660, DT770 Pro 250 ohm or 80 ohm, DT-150-250, DT-250 80 ohm, DT990 Pro 250 ohm
Grado Prestige SR225e
Audio Technica ATH-AD900x, ATH-MSR7GM
Yamaha HPH-MT220
Takstar HI2050 (This may be dropped soon as it seems not right to me and I’ve never heard of the name)
(Other models currently out of range but would consider if on sale = Sennheiser HD650, HD 600, Beyerdynamic DT880 600 ohm, Philips X2/27 Fidelio, Shure SRH 940, AKG K701, K712)
Problem is that I have only had the opportunity to try the HD558s and HD600s (through a bad amp) and none of the others outside of the Philips and a prototype AKG.
Are one of these from the above list an absolute standout that would provide me what I seek? Any other ones or suggestions I don’t know about, please inform.
Unless anyone knows of a place that has a sort of home trial program like those eyeglass sites do where they send you 4 to 6 frames, you have 7 days to try them and then send them back. That would be good, but I’m dreaming, I know.
My biggest question may be what ever happened to the days when one could walk into a stereo shop try 18 pairs of headphones if one wanted and walk out with a purchase of confidence.
Thank you.
