places to test out headphones before purchase?

[rhy]

I'm in the market for a decent pair ($100ish) and don't really want to fool with blindly buying a pair online before I know I'll like what I hear. Are there any common places you could recommend or is my only shot local mom/pop type places?

I'm right outside S.F. for those of you in the area.

 

[markmaxx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhy I'm in the market for a decent pair ($100ish) and don't really want to fool with blindly buying a pair online before I know I'll like what I hear. Are there any common places you could recommend or is my only shot local mom/pop type places? I'm right outside S.F. for those of you in the area.

If you read around here you will find some great headphones in that price range.

After reading and maybe asking a few more questions like what do you intend to do with your new headphones (you cant cut the lawn with Sennheiser PX 100's but out of a portable player my favorite portable headphone) If you order from one of the reputable on line sites like Todd,Headroom they will give you a 30 day trial.

It's very hard to find anyplace to try headphones

That's why this place is so popular.

 

[iancraig10]

Also, it's not good enough to stand and listen to select tracks in a shop in order to draw accurate conclusions.

We have a shop near me that allows you to jump between headphones for quick intial listening to the same track, but in a noisy shop, using their equipment and music, you can't get enough from it.

The best test is to order with 30 day money back so that you can listen in the quiet on your own set up. Then, do you want to buy headphones from a shop that sends them out for people to try and return?

It's very difficult which is why quite a lot of people end up buying so many headphones.

Ian

 

[Uncle Erik]

Yeah, it tough to test them out. I've found that you can't get a good feel for the character of the phone without putting in a good 40-60 hours of listening with your own music. Casual listening at a store or meet will not tell you everything.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the majority of headphones discussed here sound terrific. The sound signatures might vary, but none are bad. It's like choosing between four good restaurants. None are bad, but one might suit what you're hungry for better than the other ones.

So don't stress too much about it. Of my four full-size cans, I could live happily with any one of them. I like the variety, but it's not necessary. And I hadn't heard any of them when I bought them, either. It all worked out. So take a look around here and see what you can find that fits your needs. $100 will take you a long way.

 

[PaulRivers]

Well, personally, I really wouldn't recommend buying headphones that you haven't tried and couldn't return. When I found places to try headphones, I found I was severely dissapointed with one of the headphones that gets highly recommended over and over again online. It doesn't really matter how much "detail" the headphone has if you don't like its overall sound signature.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about your area. I tried out headphones at Guitar Center - they have a number of the closed models. If you have to order online, I would *definitely* order from somewhere like headphone.com that has a good return policy.

Hope someone else can recommend a place to try out headphones in your area.

 

[PaulRivers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik ...I've found that you can't get a good feel for the character of the phone without putting in a good 40-60 hours of listening with your own music. Casual listening at a store or meet will not tell you everything....

It won't tell you everything but it will tell you something. It's like trying on a shirt before you buy it. Sometimes you try it on in the store, then get it home and wear and realize you made a mistake. But at least by trying it on, you know it fits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik ...The good news is that the majority of headphones discussed here sound terrific. The sound signatures might vary, but none are bad. It's like choosing between four good restaurants. None are bad, but one might suit what you're hungry for better than the other ones...

This is a great example, actually - no matter how excellent the food is, or how fantasic the chef is - if you don't like seafood, you're not going to like eating there. I'm not just comparing analogies - I found that there's a certain kind of sound people on this board seem to like that I just *hate*. It doesn't matter how much detail, transparency, etc the headphone has - I just don't like the laid-back sound of certain headphones.

 

[lostbobby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik Yeah, it tough to test them out. I've found that you can't get a good feel for the character of the phone without putting in a good 40-60 hours of listening with your own music. Casual listening at a store or meet will not tell you everything.

it's *very* complicated, sometimes you just slap them on your head and you know. Sometimes you listen for a week or a month then start reading head-fi , realize you need new pads/tips, an amp. Sometimes you have a dry or "reference" pair laying around and then you start to play with 10-band equalizer.

 

[EternalShadow]

I live in Burlingame! Actually, sorry though, i have no help to give. I listened to all these headphones in my school. Still in High School, but i had a larger budget. I spent 300 on 701s and haven't regretted it. Other headphones I heard at school: def worth a hear even if u don't buy it : Hd650s, RS-1s, CD3ks, LOL. Actually, look/listen at/to Grados SR-60s.

 

[Quadfather]

Anywhere in Chicago area?