style points?

[paul walrus]

I've been meaning to upgrade my currently lackluster zune-bundled phones, and am now in the process of market analyzation. My sole delve into the aficionado's sound market was weakly tethered with a pair of grado sr-60s (gems) and a cheap sound card, so needless to say I am not a professional requiring perfection, although I do understand quality. My busted zune bundles now join my beloved gradoes, long dead and buried.

My current requirements for headphones are relatively stylish sub-$150 full cans, with preferably low energy requirements as I am definitely not opting for an amplifier wedged alongside my zune in my pocket. Style is very much an issue as I am a spineless worm still in high school with easy money. What else do you do with easy money other than make yourself look better as you make your life easier?

My music tastes are set on random, as is my mp3. I often listen to as much classic rock as I do metal, as much rap as big band, punk as folk, videos as comedy,etc, etc, etc. so the more balanced the better, but as I said I do not have the golden, 43,000$ ear. The only genres absent from my mp3 are r+b, most metal offshoots, opera, and, both supposed staples of this forum, jazz and classical.

My choices seem to be
AKG 240 Studio (balance issues)
Grado SR-80s (lotsa leakage, "unique" appearance, amp requirement)
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, (cheap looking, apparently flaky highs+lows)
Ultrasone DJ1 HFI-100 (expensive, average sound)

but please help me add more to the list. I hope to receive input from the more knowledgeable of the field, and I thank you in advance.

Also, to all the fashion < sound advocates, I would honestly never, ever think of giving a dime to SkullCandy; It's just not like that. Style plays a big part, but nothing will beat sound. All my choices have far better quality than what I have now, and I will be sure never to "settle" for a striker.I will persuade myself really forcefully, though.

 

[xnothingpoetic]

sound before fashion.

Always.

 

[mow_the_hawk]

Senn HD25. I dont know about sound personally. People love them here though. I might get a pair. I love my sr-80s though. If you fine with open, grado all the way. I have mine on right now. I think both the HD25 and the grados are stylish. I am in High School also, and IMO sound before style still applies.

 

[VolkswagenFox]

I'm in high school, and I couldn't care less what my headphones look like. Just like everybody says, sound before style. Of you're alright with open cans, maybe get the Alessandro MS-1. Since you listen to a lot of different types of music, I heard these cans are great for all kinds of music. In a school environment, I really like IEMs, because of their noise isolation.

 

[Ranma13]

Grado SR-80's need amp?

 

[Assorted]

You can achieve both with the ATH-EW9s. The AKG K27i's look pretty good too, and sound very nice for its $50> price.

 

[paul walrus]

well, I thought they needed an amp, from what others are saying. May be just a balance issue, then otherwise, whatever.

also, i'm kind of reluctant to pony up for the 271 after so many badmouthed the closed-mouth design in the AKG M/S/600/701 review thread. also, used to gradoes, so you know.

got confused with senn HD25. 205, right?

Wish I knew about the alessandros before I bought my original gradoes, I was looking for that microphone netting-oldschool look at the time. Must be pretty open though.

the ATH-EW9s have a really nice steampunk feel to them, maybe I can try to brass it up. i'll just have to find some specs on this somewhere. I said stylish, not cool.

 

[threEchelon]

ES7. Only downside is comfort. The style, build quality, and sound quality is outstanding for the the price.

 

[boomana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul walrus /img/forum/go_quote.gif What else do you do with easy money other than make yourself look better as you make your life easier?

Buy some cheapo marshmellows now, then save your money until you can get some of these.

Looking better has nothing to do with what style you have on your head. Since you're in high school, you might as well learn that now. It has to do with what you know, what kind of person you are, and how you carry yourself.

 

[paul walrus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomana /img/forum/go_quote.gif Looking better has nothing to do with what style you have on your head. Since you're in high school, you might as well learn that now. It has to do with what you know, what kind of person you are, and how you carry yourself.

please boomana, save your inferior lessons for your pathetic seed. If music has taught me anything, it is that there are three solitary rules of life that transcend petty "personality" and useless "intellect".

1.bitches.=b

2.money.=$

3. Cred.= c

the formula continues. if I have enough of either, I will more than likely obtain the others through what theologists constantly refer to as the "meaning of life" and its interconnectivity. I usually must gain enough of b from a sense of luck or otherwise, usually creating a better situation of c but altogether destroying $, although not often. c can usually pay off as lucrative, increasing $, but may not always garter completely towards b. $ is always a simple method of obtaining b, but may change myself, halting my chances for healthy c. When charted by others less lazy than I (vegetarians((kahnts))), this graph represents "the circle of life" so many attempt to explain.

The meaning of life also happens to make a really awesome rock-paper-scissors/pokemon main character guidebook, all the more validating it's importance in our everyday life. I'll send you a pamphlet some time, it'll like, totally change the way you look at the universe and stuff.

also, the ES7s are nice, just a little plain. comfort would actually be pretty up there being that I can't really stash these in a pocket or anything.

 

[boomana]

Since you've obviously thought deeply about your philosophy on music, style, and theology, I will only say that in your few posts so far, you've well established your "cred" here. What, though, are kahnts? A typographical euphemism? Do explain.

 

[rxc]

lol, he's trying to get more B in order to increase his C and $.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul walrus /img/forum/go_quote.gif please boomana, save your inferior lessons for your pathetic seed. If music has taught me anything, it is that there are three solitary rules of life that transcend petty "personality" and useless "intellect". 1.bitches.=b 2.money.=$ 3. Cred.= c the formula continues. if I have enough of either, I will more than likely obtain the others through what theologists constantly refer to as the "meaning of life" and its interconnectivity. I usually must gain enough of b from a sense of luck or otherwise, usually creating a better situation of c but altogether destroying $, although not often. c can usually pay off as lucrative, increasing $, but may not always garter completely towards b. $ is always a simple method of obtaining b, but may change myself, halting my chances for healthy c. When charted by others less lazy than I (vegetarians((kahnts))), this graph represents "the circle of life" so many attempt to explain. The meaning of life also happens to make a really awesome rock-paper-scissors/pokemon main character guidebook, all the more validating it's importance in our everyday life. I'll send you a pamphlet some time, it'll like, totally change the way you look at the universe and stuff. also, the ES7s are nice, just a little plain. comfort would actually be pretty up there being that I can't really stash these in a pocket or anything.

Careful there, Sparky. It would be a b to lose your 3 and return to see an empty screenie.

 

[MarineLand]

as someone freshly out of high school I would never opt for a pair of open cans.
HD 280s and 25s may not be lookers but atleast people will not hate you as "that guy" the guy with the double pedal drums for a head that you can hear coming down of any hall.

 

[luckypictures]

Steampunk?

You have a fellow enthusiast here.

Get the ATH-EW9 and replace anything you can with brass.