Some doubts...

[Ashade]

Hello all!

I've been reading a lot in the last months about headphones as I'm increasingly entering in this world. I've always loved music, but recently I had to move from Spain to States and my colleagues decided to gift me a Bose AE2. I have to say that I don't hate them at all, they are very comfortable, isolate quite well and with a little bit of EQ you can get something out of them, but... here is where the doubts come...

I've been considering to buy couple of headphones more. I currently own Sennheiser MX880, PX100 & PX100-II, and the Bose, and the PX100-II are currently my favorite ones by far although they hurt after a couple of hours. After those Bose I feel I want to go one step ahead.

On one hand, I'm searching for one over-the-ear headphones under 150$, with the best possible sounding, closed-back (as I want to used them in public spaces), and as portable as possible. I was considering BRAINWAVZ HM5 as everybody says they're outstanding for the price, or Kicker HP541 DJ-Style. I'm really opened to suggestions. I will use them with my phone primarily and the computer.

On the other hand, my girlfriend is searching for some over-the-ear noise cancelling to use in the library while studying. The noise cancelling is the most important future in these ones as she wants to use them even without listening to music, but we both will be using them in flights very often. I've been reading quite a lot on this aspect and apparently only the Bose QC15 look to be awesome in this future, but I wanted to ask because I hope to be wrong... This why I already discarded the Sennheiser PXC-450. As I said, she doesn't want any kind of distraction on the library were some people tends to talk by times. I was considering in getting them second hand in eBay as people usually sells them with very few hours of usage at 100$ les the original price.

I'm really sorry another post like this, but the more I read, the less I know what to buy. Thank you very much in advance! Every single suggestion will be very appreciated!

 

[PanamaHat]

Give the Koss Pro dj100 a listen. They sound pretty similar to the px100 with a few better technicalities. Try the ath-m50 as well, skip the hfi-580 and srh840 since you like darker headphones sans the px100ii which I happen to adore as well haha. 

 

[Ashade]

Thank you very much for the advice! I knew I needed a bit of advice. I'm going to have a look to all of these and come back to tell my decisions.

 

[Ashade]

Well... After much reading, I think I found the ones. I am going to try the Beyerdynamic Custom Pro. It looks like it´s possible to get them for a reasonable price.

 

[ev13wt]

Quote:

Hello all!

...

On the other hand, my girlfriend is searching for some over-the-ear noise cancelling to use in the library while studying. The noise cancelling is the most important future in these ones as she wants to use them even without listening to music, but we both will be using them in flights very often. I've been reading quite a lot on this aspect and apparently only the Bose QC15 look to be awesome in this future, but I wanted to ask because I hope to be wrong... This why I already discarded the Sennheiser PXC-450. As I said, she doesn't want any kind of distraction on the library were some people tends to talk by times. I was considering in getting them second hand in eBay as people usually sells them with very few hours of usage at 100$ les the original price.

 
For flying, the noise canceling headphones work great. There is one "drawback". The engine and wind noise gets cancelled out really well. Due to this, and the fact that human hearing works best in the voice range, now you can hear every single spoken word 4 rows behind and in font of you clearer than with the engine / wind noise. Where as you could drown out the non-stop blabbing ladies and the baby with the airplane noise... Since the fatigue in flying id from the airplane noise, active works great. I personally prefer ear plugs or closed back cans.
 
So the effect in the library will be almost the same. I suggest good foam earplugs for the library. Or possibly closed back / iem headphones if she wants to listen to music.

 

[davidsh]

Etymotic hf5 and shure olives... That is good comfort and amazing isolation. I could be run over by a car without noticing. Without music I can hear cars and traffic vaguely. With, nothing. I was at my school for half an hour and waiting for 10 minutes outside for my bus. I heard NOTHING from the outside all along.

 

[Ashade]

Quote:

 
For flying, the noise canceling headphones work great. There is one "drawback". The engine and wind noise gets cancelled out really well. Due to this, and the fact that human hearing works best in the voice range, now you can hear every single spoken word 4 rows behind and in font of you clearer than with the engine / wind noise. Where as you could drown out the non-stop blabbing ladies and the baby with the airplane noise... Since the fatigue in flying id from the airplane noise, active works great. I personally prefer ear plugs or closed back cans.
 
So the effect in the library will be almost the same. I suggest good foam earplugs for the library. Or possibly closed back / iem headphones if she wants to listen to music.

 
Thank you! I didn't realize that... That is gonna save for me some hundreds, and now I can focus better on the sound of the other cans.

 

[Ashade]

Quote:

Etymotic hf5 and shure olives... That is good comfort and amazing isolation. I could be run over by a car without noticing. Without music I can hear cars and traffic vaguely. With, nothing. I was at my school for half an hour and waiting for 10 minutes outside for my bus. I heard NOTHING from the outside all along.

 
I am pretty sure IEMs are the best option but I have the ears really small and my girlfriend cannot stand them neither. I might have to give them a second chance anyway...

 

[davidsh]

Quote:

 
I am pretty sure IEMs are the best option but I have the ears really small and my girlfriend cannot stand them neither. I might have to give them a second chance anyway...

Just my experience... But the etymotics are probably the most isolating universal fit IEM's on the market. They are not sturdy, though, and they break too easy. Over-ears would probably also suit you fine.

 

[Ashade]

Well, in the short term, I bought yesterday the Jaycar Pro Monitor for 50$+20$(shipping). I think they are so cheap that I couldn't avoid doing this movement. And I will buy a better pair in a couple of months or so.