[shannim]

Disclaimer: I am not an audiophile and I need your advice/help.

I've been using my Aiwa HP-X222 headphones for quite awhile now and I want to get something with better sound quality. I'm currently looking at the Sennheiser HD495s and the HD280s. I can get the 495s for about $55 shipped and the 280s for about $80 shipped.

I listen mainly to classical to jazz to rock. My sources of audio would be CDs, MiniDiscs, and MP3s. I also do quite a bit of computer gaming. The sources I would have these new headphones plugged into would be the headphone jack on my Logitech Z-560 computer speakers (I'm not quite sure if this jack constitutes a headphone amp), and my portable Sharp MiniDisc player.

I know the 495s are open and the 280s are closed. I've heard that open headphones sound better than closed, however, one person told me that he got the 280s to replace his 495s b/c the 280s sound better. I realize that open headphones allow sound to leak out while also letting sound from the outside to come in. Closed, on the other hand, have good isolation (esp. the 280s, from what I've read), but the design causes internal reverb.

Also, I've been told that the 280s are easier to drive than the 495s, even though the 280s are 64ohm loads and the 495s are 32ohms. Does the ohmage make a difference? Is it possible that b/c of their closed nature, the 280s just *seem* to be driven easier? I would figure that b/c of the closed nature, the 280s don't have to be turned up as loud to achieve the same listening volume. I also assume that listening to the 280s loudly would cause hearing loss quicker than the 495s.

For those of you who have heard both, which would you recommend? I don't really need sound isolation (actually, I would prefer to be able to hear things outside, like the phone ringing). The only time I'd need sound isolation would be when I'm flying on a plane, but it's not that big of a deal. I want a set of headphones that fit my listening needs and reproduce sound as close to the source signal as possible (ie. no exagerated bass, clear highs, etc).

Thanks for any help.

- shannim

 

[radrd]

Quote:

one person told me that he got the 280s to replace his 495s b/c the 280s sound better.

/me raises hand

 

[andrzejpw]

lol, I second. 280s.

 

[shannim]

yeah, so two people from the other forum that i have over 2000 posts to chimed in. anyone else?

so far, it's 2 votes for the 280s and 0 votes for the 495s. but are they worth the extra money? i really don't want to spend too much since i have a rather small income right now. the cheapest i've found the 280s was at ecost.com for $78.52 + $8.85 shipping. there is a $10 off rebate from Sennheiser for the 280s for a grand total of $77.37.

i found the 495s from buy.com for $47.95 + $5.70 shipping for a grand total of $53.65.

are the 280s worth an extra $23.72 or so?

- shannim

 

[andrzejpw]

Well, I'd say the 280s are a bigger stepping stone. I'm not sure how far you want to get into this hobby, but imho, you'll want to upgrade SOME day. Maybe not tommorrow, but someday.

 

[shannim]

hrm. if i order the 280s through amazon.com it's $99.99 - $10 rebate and free shipping. i also get a $20 credit towards anything in their music store.

i think i'll stick with the 495s for now. they'll be an improvement on my Aiwas, and i really don't want to spend the extra money on the 280s just now. i'm going to try to go to that store in town on thursday to test out the 495s. i'll probably end up upgrading later on down the road...

- shannim

 

[Hamsterball_Z]

You might be able to find the 497 about the same price as the 495. I think anyone here would tell you that they're far better than the 495 and much easier to drive. I don't think your MD player or computer speakers would have enough power for the 495, they need a lot of juice. And no, the computer speakers don't qualify as an amp by the way.

I have the 497 and 280. The 497 is good but I listen to the 280s more. The 280s bring out huge amounts of detail in games and have great positional audio. I'd say they're easily worth the extra money. If you can't spend that much though the 497 should still make you happy.

(HBZ)

 

[MacDEF]

According to HeadRoom, the HD 495 are better than the HD 497, provided you have a headphone amp. Without an amp, the HD 497 would be better.

I would assume from what I've read on their website that the HD 495 would also be better than the HD 280 if you have a headphone amp.

It doesn't sound like you'll be getting a headphone amp, so I'd go with the HD 497 or the HD 280.

 

[radrd]

Quote:

According to HeadRoom, the HD 495 are better than the HD 497, provided you have a headphone amp. Without an amp, the HD 497 would be better.

I posted something like that in the other forum. I really think you should go with the 497s in your budget.