[martinq]

What about these ones:
Wharfedale DD1
Prinzdound 808vs
Pioneer SE205, SE305, SE405, SE505
Lenco K106
Sansui SS20, SS35, SS40, SS60, SS80

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinq /img/forum/go_quote.gif What about these ones: Wharfedale DD1 Prinzdound 808vs Pioneer SE205, SE305, SE405, SE505 Lenco K106 Sansui SS20, SS35, SS40, SS60, SS80

Those aren't retro, they're what retro should look like

I doubt if many, if any, of those sound too good.

I saw someone wearing the Panasonics today, they have the retro look. I haven't seen anything about the sound.

 

[phkd]

Yea I would go with the Grado SR-60 or Panasonic HTX7. they are both inexpensive, retro and sound good. the sr-60 are open, the htx7 are closed. if you crave deep, powerful bass, go with the panasonic. I really like both sounds myself though.

grado:

panasonic:

 

[intoflatlines]

For rock music, the Grados win.

 

[bjarnetv]

the panasonics are also damn comfy!

 

[phkd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by intoflatlines /img/forum/go_quote.gif For rock music, the Grados win.

i don't know... have you heard the htx7's? if you haven't yet, you may be surprised!

and yea, they are very very comfortable as long as you don't have huge ears.

 

[moogoob]

Forget retro styled, get true retro. I've got a pair of late 70s Koss PRO 4AAAs that were passed down to me. They still sound nice, but they'll sound better once I get some replacement earpads from Koss (they still make 'em!). I've heard these were the best cans on the market in the late 70s, and 'sides, I get a kick out of listening to music made before I was born on headphones made before I was born.

 

[facelvega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phkd /img/forum/go_quote.gif i don't know... have you heard the htx7's? if you haven't yet, you may be surprised!

I've heard them. They're great-sounding and well-built for the price. The Grados still win, no contest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by moogoob /img/forum/go_quote.gif Forget retro styled, get true retro.

That can be a great solution, but it requires some time online. The dangers are that

1. most of the coolest-looking vintage headphones have crap paper-cone drivers and sound dreadful. They're also heavy and uncomfortable. 4 or 8 Ohm ratings are the telltale here, avoid them like the plague they are;
2. most of the good-sounding vintage options can't be satisfactorily driven without a dedicated amp;
3. parts and repair are often a problem. Try finding earpads for a B&O U70;
4. the few vintage options for which none of these things is a problem are almost all well-known around here, and increasingly command prices just as high as new headphones. Witness the planar inflation of the last year or so, or the ridiculous prices demanded for a K340 or Sextett.

However, with some time reading the boards and dedication beyond "I think retro headphones look cool," good deals are always still findable, and you can still build a fantastic rig for little money if you know what you're doing. But unless the reader plans on making this a hobby, I refer him to the Grado and Panasonic pics above. Good choices, easy to find, easy to drive.

 

[moogoob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by facelvega /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've heard them. They're great-sounding and well-built for the price. The Grados still win, no contest. That can be a great solution, but it requires some time online. The dangers are that 1. most of the coolest-looking vintage headphones have crap paper-cone drivers and sound dreadful. They're also heavy and uncomfortable. 4 or 8 Ohm ratings are the telltale here, avoid them like the plague they are; 2. most of the good-sounding vintage options can't be satisfactorily driven without a dedicated amp; 3. parts and repair are often a problem. Try finding earpads for a B&O U70; 4. the few vintage options for which none of these things is a problem are almost all well-known around here, and increasingly command prices just as high as new headphones. Witness the planar inflation of the last year or so, or the ridiculous prices demanded for a K340 or Sextett. However, with some time reading the boards and dedication beyond "I think retro headphones look cool," good deals are always still findable, and you can still build a fantastic rig for little money if you know what you're doing. But unless the reader plans on making this a hobby, I refer him to the Grado and Panasonic pics above. Good choices, easy to find, easy to drive.

Good point. I've noticed that the 4AAAs struggle quite a bit when used with an ipod or laptop, so that is indeed a problem. I say in this case, going Grado might be a great idea.

 

[Dr.Jakobsen]

Beyerdynamic DT150. Retro look with great sound!

 

[Serge44]

Koss Pro/4 AAA Plus is looking cooler than Pro/4 AAA. Very nice black colour.

 

[moogoob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serge44 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Koss Pro/4 AAA Plus is looking cooler than Pro/4 AAA. Very nice black colour.

Is the plus a newer variant, or were they made around the same time? The 4AAAs I have are sort of a beige-y olive and look like the sort of thing an artillery crew would wear.

 

[Serge44]

Koss Pro/4 AAA Plus is a newer version about 1977-82. Yes, their construction is very heavy, but Pro/4 AA is much worse

 

[moogoob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serge44 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Koss Pro/4 AAA Plus is a newer version about 1977-82. Yes, their construction is very heavy, but Pro/4 AA is much worse

Yeah, I've seen the four-double-A's. They look kinda like the type of thing you'd want on your ears while operating a jackhammer.