[Swigger]

I'm speaking of myself, of course.

I listen to rock music almost exclusively, and game on my PC a lot.

I already have a descent pair of Koss UR-30 full sized sealed monsters, so if gaming would be a huge problem with the reccomended headphone, I could always plug in the full sized beasts.

I'm using the new Philips HDD100 mp3 player. It has a terribly weak output, and doesn't even drive the low-impedance UR30. I'd probably need to buy an amp no matter what phones I got, so don't shy away from reccomending headphones that require an amp.

I am open-ended as far as price goes, but (of course), the cheaper the better. I'll definetly be purchasing the phones from headphone.com (I love those guys), and I'll most likely get the Airhead portable amp. If the situation required it, I might be able to pull an upgrade to the Total Airhead.

How I listen to my headphones : I am on the computer a ton every day, and have a job that requires me to listen in on songs while recording (I'm transferring some guys monsterous cassette collection to CD), which is a full-time job pretty much. I also have my HDD100, which I listen to when I'm chilling at home, reading, traveling, etc. I don't travel enough to exclusively warrant closed headphones just for that purpose, but if there's a real nice sealed set for the cash, I'd pick it up. I'd be walking around with my headphones a small amount as well, but I wouldn't be too shy wearing embarrasingly large cans on my head

With an unlimited price range, I was thinking perhaps a Senn HD580/HD600 set combined with an Airhead amp (can they drive the phones????), or the Ety ER-4S/ER6 combined with an Airhead amp. If anyone has a used pair of real nice headphones that they want to sell for a reasonable price, I'd probably accept (same goes for amps).

Oh, almost forgot. Other than the Headroom amps, I haven't done much research on ultra-portable amps. If there's anything better in the same price range, let me know

And thus concludes my $50-$450 headphone reccomendation request.

 

[RacerX]

Great cans under 100 bones for rock and PC gaming are the Grado SR 80s. They'll also benefit from a headphone amp like the Airhead. You probably won't want to use them as portables as they are a bit large and, er, retro looking.

 

[Swigger]

Thanks RacerX.

Anyone else??

 

[TravelLite]

Quote:

Originally posted by Swigger I am open-ended as far as price goes, but (of course), the cheaper the better. I'll definetly be purchasing the phones from headphone.com (I love those guys), and I'll most likely get the Airhead portable amp. If the situation required it, I might be able to pull an upgrade to the Total Airhead.

We all really like and appreciate the HeadRoom guys, but please, no AirHeads.

If you've come this far (Head-Fi), you should really aim "higher" in terms of an amp.

Fortunately "today", there're any number of great alternatives in the $100.00-200.00+ price range, new and used.

Once you commit to a specific headphone, try searching/researching or posting in the Head-Fi Amplification forum.


TravelLite

 

[blessingx]

If you go the Grado route the Alessandro MS1's ($99 shipped) or Grado SR-225 (~$200) are two good price points. Not recommending them as portable phones though. Cord is long and not very flexible, and they leak noise like crazy (though the above Senns will some also). Do you need isolation (both directions)? How portable do you want them to be?

Check around the amp forum for info on DIY kits of built by Head-Fiers. There're also, as you mentioned, HeadRoom and HeadAmp & Miere's models. Again how portable do you need them to be? I have a Meta Mint (mine built by Tigger). You may want to look into that.

Also what will you be playing through both, mp3's? What compression?

And welcome to Head-fi, sorry about your wallet... course you got that free player right?

 

[Swigger]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx If you go the Grado route the Alessandro MS1's ($99 shipped) or Grado SR-225 (~$200) are two good price points. Not recommending them as portable phones though. Cord is long and not very flexible, and they leak noise like crazy (though the above Senns will some also). Do you need isolation (both directions)? How portable do you want them to be? Check around the amp forum for info on DIY kits of built by Head-Fiers. There're also, as you mentioned, HeadRoom and HeadAmp & Miere's models. Again how portable do you need them to be? I have a Meta Mint (mine built by Tigger). You may want to look into that. Also what will you be playing through both, mp3's? What compression? And welcome to Head-fi, sorry about your wallet... course you got that free player right?

I'm looking into Grado's right now, since I listen to rock and metal. Also, the HDD100 hasn't effected my listening experience much... I already had a Nomad Jukebox, so I was already enjoying portable mp3.

Oh, and about meh wallet? I'm waiting on paychecks for headphones anyways, the cash isn't even in my wallet yet

I'm not too worried about noise leakage to the outside. I work in an office. I would like them to be semi-sealed, perhaps 3-5 db of isolation? I mean, when I would wear my cans with no audio coming through, I wouldn't want to be able to hear ambient sound as well as without them on, but I would want some noise blocked out.

I can handle non-portability, as long as they will fit in a backpack. Foldability (Grado style) is nice for that use methinks.

 

[erikzen]

If I were in your situation, I would buy a pair of Grado SR225s and a Headsave Transit from here

 

[Swigger]

^bump^

I'm still doing research but I still need help!

 

[Duncan]

For PC Gaming, the Audio Technica A900 still deserves some attention as it gives you a great sense of spatial perception... also with their DADS system they're pretty good for rock... but forget using them as portables... a bit big

Other than that.... as others have mentioned... it seems that Grado is the way to go