[Jet]

Help out an audio n00b! I am looking into buying some new headphones for my computer. I was using Microsoft's headset made by Plantronics...but it broke.

I'm interested in purchasing from the Sennheiser line off Newegg. I would please like some information on the differences between the different headphone models (400/500/200). I don't understand all the technical terms of the models to compare.

Here are my preferences:
- Under $150
- Good for gaming (first person shooters)
- Listening to mp3s (techno,trance,dance)


So far, I am interested in the following models:
HD212
HD280
HD497
HD580

I would greatly appreciate the help. Thanks in advance!

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Welcome to Head-Fi Jet, sorry about the wallet. (Standard greeting until we come up with a better one.)

Sound to me like you've really got two good choices there. The best within your criteria is the HD280 Pro. It's only $99 and easily driven from your sound card. The 580 is a much better headphone, but runs $200, which is a bit over your budget, and with its high impedance may be hard to drive well from the sound card. IMHO, if you can spring for the extra money, it would be better to get the 580s, high impedance or no.

Here's some good info on the pros and cons of the varisou headphones you might be interested in:

http://headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=26

 

[slonik]

Actually HD280-PRO is 65$ at newegg and 75$ at etronics...

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Well, there you have it. That would seal it for me at that price!!!

 

[Jet]

According to Sennheiser page, the 212Pros fall in the DJ/Studio section. Is that category much different than the 400/500 series headphones?


Also, What are the major difference in the following:
- Full sized vs. Med size

 

[blip]

On the HD 580s... Check out newegg, a while ago they were selling for $120.

Personally I love the HD 580s, they have the truest bass reproduction that I have heard. The highs and mids are pretty astonishing as well. The soundstage is fairly wide and at times frighteningly vivid. My only complaint is that they are maybe a little too unforgiving. This means that bad recordings sound REALY bad.

The only thing is that the HD 580s are fairly hard to drive. (My CDP-211, vintage CDP does it fairly well but I've heard plenty of mini-systems that don't) That means that you may have trouble using it on a computer. If you put an amp in the picture then this isn't a problem, but without one, it may not be the perfect solution.

Also consider the quality of your MP3s... if it is good (and your soundcard is decent) then the HD580s will sound great. If the quality isn't so good, you may not be happy with the precision.

Edit: Shoot, scratch that about the price... Newegg raised there's up to $200. Wow, so many things change when you are away for a week or two!

 

[andrzejpw]

The senn 580s really wouldn't be too happy without an amp. Have you considered the beyer 250-80s at all? They are in your price range, sound great unamped from a computer, and are closed. In short, the perfect computer gaming/mp3 headphone.

 

[Jet]

what is the general rule of thumb when wanting to choose between OPEN and CLOSED cans?

Is it just preference? Or does each have it's on PROs and CONs?

 

[jessica00]

being an owner of a pair of HD-497's, they are great for gaming and techno out of my PC, used them exclusevly for such mostly.

open vs closed is basicly

open = better sounding, but u can hear stuff outside em and they leak some sound to the immediate area

closed = boomier, but u cant hear alot of stuff outside em, and they wont bug anyone.

HD-497's are open btw.

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

Originally posted by jessica00 being an owner of a pair of HD-497's, they are great for gaming and techno out of my PC, used them exclusevly for such mostly. open vs closed is basicly open = better sounding, but u can hear stuff outside em and they leak some sound to the immediate area closed = boomier, but u cant hear alot of stuff outside em, and they wont bug anyone. HD-497's are open btw.

Many well designed cans (several beyers come to mind) have not been reported as boomy - this is kind of a stereotype for close cans that doesn't always hold true when dealing with quality equpiment. Heck the $4000 Sony R-10s are closed and I don't think anyone would call them boomy

Although the definitions of open or closed get blurred with alot of higher end cans (ie allowing noise in and not allowing noise out or vice-versa).

-dd3mon

 

[radrd]

Quote:

open vs closed is basicly open = better sounding, but u can hear stuff outside em and they leak some sound to the immediate area closed = boomier, but u cant hear alot of stuff outside em, and they wont bug anyone.

W1000= closed and better sounding than the HD600 to some people, definitely not boomy

HD280= absolutely not boomy, possibly too bass light for some people

Etymotic ER4= No, no boominess there at all and outstanding sound

The list can go on...

Basically, a good headphone is a good headphone closed or open. It's just harder to make a good closed headphone than an open one. For computer use, I think you would do quite well with the Beyer DT250-80. Though I have not heard it, I have read that the bass is quite good, it can be driven from an amp, and since it's closed, you will have some isolation when you are gaming. It's also quite comfortable. You might also consider the Ultrasone HFI-650.

Here is a link to a review that should help you a bit:
http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=21885

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jet Is it just preference? Or does each have it's on PROs and CONs?

Like all things it depends on the price point your speaking about. The cheaper cans can sound bad whether open or closed, while the really high-end cans tend to sound good whether open or closed. The design and implementation of the design can take advantage of the strengths WHILE miniming the weaknesses. The world's most expensive dynamic headphones, the Sony R10s are closed and sound incredible, so why didn't Sony make them open if only open cans can sound good and present a good soundstage? Answer: implementation and LOTS of money.

So yes, it comes down to preference and what you hear with your ears. Nothing more, nothing less. Give each a chance and see what you prefer. You night be suprised which you prefer!

 

[Habib]

I was in the same boat and jump on the HD580 for 120 at newegg. If you get the HD580 I can assure you that your mp3 is going to sound like crap except the ones that are encoded properly. So you might end up like me and try to upgrade your gear to get a better sound. THe HD580 will grow with you as you improve your stereo equipment. So if you intend on becoming a audiophile by all means get the HD580 becuase it's that good. I've heard the HD212pro and was not very impressed with it.

If you just need a gaming/mp3 headphone for your computer, you might want to looking into a HD590. Might be a little outside your price range but if this is the only pair of headphone you will ever get without getting anything else (amp), HD590 seems like a better fit. I've heard a 590 w/o amp at a LAN party it was pretty impressive. But I didn't have the 580 to compare with at the time so I don't know which is better. But straight out of comptuer I am pretty sure 590 is great.