Recommend me a headphone for work (please)

[Nicholasb]

While I have been enjoying immensely my Alessandro MS1's at work, it appears others around me are not sharing in my appreciation..

Essentially I want something with a similar sound to the the MS1's but in a closed, or at least much less leaky design.

Other criteria are:

- Must be able to be driven from an unamped portable source (Iriver H340), but the phones themselves do not have to be portable.
- Must not be too leaky.
- Preferable full sized, IEM's are no good as they will be need to be easily removable. Clip ons/street style thingies are probably fine tho.
- Budget of no more than around AUD$250 (something like US$175) and available to me here in Australia, I don't mind internet ordering but delivery to Perth, Western Australia needs to be quickish as i'll likely be without music in the meantime.

'Phones will be used mainly for rock/metal.

My brief search has uncovered a few AT 'phones in the right price range, namely the ATH-A500/A700/A910Pro. Are any of these likely to be what i'm after?

Thanks in advance.

*edit* oops, got the names of the AT cans wrong.

 

[episiarch]

I can't speak to price/availability in Australia, but I think the A900 or its siblings are what you're after. The A900 is easy to drive, has a fun, bassy and somewhat bright presentation, is closed and non-leaky, and is comfortable enough to wear for long periods. The A500 and A700 supposedly sound substantially similar, but I haven't heard them.

Other possibilities for you are the CD3K, if you can find a used one in your price range, and the HD25. But I think the A900 is your best bet.

 

[Chri5peed]

I agree, AT cans are what you're after.

 

[3lusiv3]

I think the AT's are too big for office use.

edit: welcome to head-fi, sorry about your wallet.

 

[The Monkey]

I recommend the Beyer DT 250-80.

 

[blessingx]

I use the A900 for work. Course I'm not sure what type of work you do, but for desk jobs, etc. I don't think it's (except maybe aesthetically) too big. I'd highly recommend it, however while I think it's at the least as good as the MS1s overall, I don't think they sound much alike. I think The Monkey is on target for sound (though I prefer the A900).

 

[v4i5r6]

Hi mate.
I have alessandro MS-1 also and didn't have any intention to use it as portable or outside my bedroom.
I've purchased etymotic er-6i recently and I can say sometimes I prefer listening to the etymotic rather than MS-1, the sound is much clearer.

I know that you aren't looking for IEM at the moment coz it's not easily removable. But I changed the triple-flange with the foam that came with it. I can definetly say removing it in and out is as easy as a normal earphone. You can easily pull it.

Maybe this may change your opinion on IEM like er-6i.

 

[Nicholasb]

Thanks all for the replies.

Got to try an A900 this morning, sounded pretty good, not too sure about the size of them tho, think they may be a little big for my liking.

Beyer DT250's are a little out of my price range I think, in Aus. anyway.

Another option I have available to me is the AKG K240s, I realise these need an amp to get the most out of them, but what are they like as far as sound leakage goes?

I'm still not sold on the idea of an IEM, I work in an office and will need take them off quite often to be able to talk to people.