PX100/Open Headphone question

[Girdot]

I recently ordered a pair of PX100's from newegg (their due in tomorrow). Now I know that with the PX100s and other 'open' varieties of headphones people can hear what you're listening to and you can hear the world around you...now I thought I'd had a pair like this growing up, but the more I read about it the more unsure I get. How bad is this effect, exactly? Will people on my bus start freaking out at me in the morning? More importantly, will I not be able to listen to any of my 'guilty pleasures' in public? ;O

If anyone could explain the 'open' headphone effect to me in detail, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Dobro]

No, your music will not be broadcast throughout the bus. Unless you play your music really load, only someone sitting right next to you will be able to tell your listening to "Tiny Tims Greatest Hits".

 

[Girdot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dobro /img/forum/go_quote.gif No, your music will not be broadcast throughout the bus. Unless you play your music really load, only someone sitting right next to you will be able to tell your listening to "Tiny Tims Greatest Hits".

Lol, thanks for the speedy response.

 

[sackynut]

yeah its not that big of a problem for me. i mean, if you are sitting in a quite classroom or lecture hall, sure some people will get pissed, but elsewhere either 1. its not an annoyance or 2. no one can even hear. outside noises COMING IN are something else. although they let external noise in almost 100% (at least for me) unless you use them in a construction zone its not a big deal.

note: i have used them in a noisy classroom, the voices from people working or talking is annoying, but I think it pays off overall.

 

[Shakey27]

if you blast them, others nearby will be able to hear what you're listening to as well. it usually isn't too bad in noisy environments, but in quieter situations you could bring down the volume a bit if you find yourself uncomfortable with the idea of others listening along with you. they should still sound pretty good at lower levels.

 

[wavoman]

Girdot, you're going to love them; I never leave home without them since my IEMs (which are great Shure 500's [now 535's]) sometimes irritate my ears. The PX-100's folded fit with ease in a jacket pocket. When I am on a plane I do worry about the music annoying my seatmate (when I have the Crossroads amp way up), especially if it is a stranger, so I also have PX-200's which are identical form factor and folding but CLOSED back, and sound very very close.

I always travel with PX-100, PX-200, Shure 500s, Crossroads amp, and airplane adapter (Radio Shack Gold, best I could find). Fits in a nice padded vinyl zip case from a 1970's HP pocket calculator.

 

[taskerc]

And the leakage is not that bad. On my morning commute, I never get the "why the hell are you listening to that music so loud" look - but it is down to the volume you use. On the other side, I have missed the streetcar announcements at times so they don't let everything in either.

But, listening to them at bedtime is bad for me as my wife can hear a gnat f@rting from 50 metres ........

they are great headphones and as in the subject, sound much better than they deserve to - bought them 4 years ago for 25 EUR and still going strong, although they are a bit loose now (not in sound but in physical terms).

taskerc

 

[icebird144]

From my experience, I find the leakage out isn't too bad, as long as the environment isn't total (or near total) silent.
However, the leakage in is more of a problem for me. But I guess you can consider a plus sometimes, if you want to listen to someone talking or something.