PX200 alternative? ATH-FC7, ATH-FC5, AKG K24P, Pioneer SE-F3, Sony A115SP, KTX-Pro???

[markl]

It's that time again...

My PX200s bit the dust. I need headphones for work-outs. There seem to be a lot of competitors since I last looked that resemble the underwhelming (to me) PX200s. I need a vertical-style headphones, no behind the neck, clip-ons, ear buds, or IEMs. From my quick research the following seem to be the choices. Many of these have very little info available on them here on Head-Fi, I've already searched, maybe beating the bushes will bring some out:

Audio Technica ATH-FC7 and FC5 (Look promising.)

AKG K24 P (I've read this is prone to breakage and is uncomfortable, though Headroom rates them highly.)

Pioneer SE-F3 (Saw them on audiocubes, never heard of 'em, who knows?)

Sony A115SP ($20 probably suck, but you never know.)

Koss KTX-Pro (What is that blob on the cable? Is that an in-line volume adjuster? If so fuggedaboudit.)

Koss Porta Pros (Can these be had anymore? Had them in the past, not my first choice due to fugliness and comfort, but maybe...)

Are any of these superior in some way to PX200(/100) in your opinion?

I also like the regular vertical-style headphones of this style, is there anything new an exciting in this style?

 

[sgrossklass]

Quote:

Originally Posted by markl Audio Technica ATH-FC7 and FC5 (Look promising.)

There was a freq response shown in j-curve's old DIY FR thread. Doesn't look *that* great.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...fc7#post279799

Quote:

AKG K24 P (I've read this is prone to breakage and is uncomfortable, though Headroom rates them highly.)

I guess you mean the K26P (closed)? Comfort is OK, nothing too great but acceptable for portable use. If you've got a source with weak or rolled-off bass, these will compensate this (on something that has no problems with bass, however, the bass might blow your ears off). They're rolled off in the treble, but one doesn't notice this anymore when it's moderately noisy outside; and while we're at noise, that is being kept outside quite well. As for breaking, I wouldn't want to put too much pressure on these while they're folded up.

Quote:

Koss Porta Pros (Can these be had anymore? Had them in the past, not my first choice due to fugliness and comfort, but maybe...)

Yes, you can still buy them, and they're still as stylish as ever.

Quote:

Are any of these superior in some way to PX200(/100) in your opinion?

If you need isolation, the K26P should be better, there have been a number of fit problem reports with the PX200. Presumably the less narrow earpads of the K26P make the difference. If you don't need isolation, then I think PX100s are pretty hard to beat.

Quote:

I also like the regular vertical-style headphones of this style, is there anything new an exciting in this style?

PX10s are supposed to be pretty decent.

 

[markl]

sgrossklass, thanks for the reply. I'm not concerned with frequency response graphs (not even headroom's), I'm sure 100 people measuring them under different conditions with different skill/care levels and equipment will come up with 100 different-looking curves. With headphones, they are also not engineered to a flat frequency response anyway. I would rather have some subjective impressions of those ATs.

I also discovered there's a Creative Labs headphone (that does not seem to be available in the USA) that is *suspiciously* similar to the ATH-FC7, called the Creative HQ1700. They have the same specs and look suspiciously alike. I have no doubt that Creative does not make their own cans, they must be re-badged from someone else:

ATH-FC7:

Creative HQ1700:

Quote:

PX10s are supposed to be pretty decent

ooh, those look interesting. Where can I buy them? Headroom doesn't seem to stock them. EDIT: wait a minute, doies this have an in-line volume control? If so, what a mistake!

 

[Erik S.]

I use the FC7 as my main portable headphone and I really like how it sounds from my iPod mini, can't complain about the comfort either.

Sound:
- They have a good amount of bass, but not overpowering.
- The mids are somewhat recesed, a little hollow.
- Not much to say about the highs, comfy and non piercing to my ears.

They are more detailed and clearer than the PortaPro.

I find them comfy, sit on top of your ears and stay there. They should stay on your head when running, unless you have long hair that comes between the ear and the pads on the headphone, then they slip of quite easily even when walking

Some have complained about clamping force, give the FC7 a week and it's fixed.

The FC7 is a good match with my iPod, but when I hook it with my main rig (AV710->Millett Hybrid) all its flaws become very apparent.

And yes, the FC7 and HQ1700 is the same except from the pads I believe.

 

[BigD]

I had ATH-FC5 and they were not up to the task. The sound was rather thin and underwhelming. However the FC7 should be considerably better from what I hear.

As for the comfort and finish, Audio-Technica always makes very good looking products as well as their comfy. Very well designed in ergonomic term and nicely finished in material and durable. Also very compact when folded together.

 

[markl]

Thanks Erik S. and BigD. Since it seems the Senn PX10 has a (ugh!) voulme control in line, I think I'm leaning toward the FC7. Anyone else with any more words of wisdom?

 

[jjcha]

Check out the NYC meet thread. Wmcmanus posted a few thoughts on the FC7. I thought they were fine, but agree that they weren't in the same class as the ES7. I wouldn't expect exceptional sound quality from the FC7, but it ain't bad, especially if you like the audio-technica sound.

I posted some thoughts on the ES7 in zChan's thread about the can. The FC7 is clearly from the same family, though it's a step behind.

Best,

-Jason

 

[markl]

jjcha,
Where can you buy the ES7 and how much is it? Also, how much bigger is it than say a PX200? It looks to be a little large-ish.

 

[jjcha]

Yah, it definitely is larger than the PX200 - I've got a photo in the zChan thread, lemmie know if you can't find it. If you need something PX200 size, it definitely is too big, but it's only a somewhat bigger than the FC7. It does folds up differently.

I imagine bluetin would be selling it.

Best regards,

-Jason

 

[Veniogenesis]

The ES7 doesn't fold up into a ball. I don't know how much of a portability issue there is. But it can lie all flat.

Bluetin says a price of $130 but it seems like they won't be available until December 5? Weird.

 

[markl]

Ouch, $130 is too expensive for something that will take the abuse of running/exercise. My PX200s barely lasted a year and a half.

Well, maybe I'll just go crawling back to the (*yawn*) PX200. It is the devil I know. But I'm still very underwhelmed with its sound quality. As so-so as the FC7 may be, is there anyone who prefers the FC7 over the PX200?

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by markl As so-so as the FC7 may be, is there anyone who prefers the FC7 over the PX200?

Yup, me for example - that's taking the HQ-1700 over the PX200 to be exact.

Greetings from Hannover!

Manfred / lini

 

[eddd]

do the hq-1700 have the same pads as the fc7?

 

[fureshi]

there's also the es5, which i think sound lots better than the px200. the only problem is that i don't think they'll stay on your head well enough for running. if you don't mind buds, the ec7 are great for exercise as they have clips that keep them securely on your ears.

 

[lini]

eddd: If I'm not mistaken, the ATH-FC7 should have pleather/softskin (at least it appears so on the pics)., whereas the HQ-1700 comes with velour pads.

Greetings from Hannover!

Manfred / lini

P.S.: markl: I'm not a runner myself (neither does my exercising reach far beyond a good stretch in the morning

), but I'm not really sure whether the ATH-FC7/HQ-1700 is good for that. I.e., I could imagine the thingies to be already bit too heavy for not shifting their position/falling off, while one runs along...