[vinylvibe]

To date, my full size headphone experience has been somewhat limited and not particularly successful. I'm looking for any suggestions that would meet the following criteria:
 
1) Looking for 'proper' fully sized headphones to be used at home only.
 
2) Unfortunately, my listening area is sometime subjected to noise from an adjacent room (family TV)
 
3) A number of over ear headphones I've tried in the past still managed to sit on my ears so I guess I could be classified as having 'larger' ears.
 
4). My ears tend to get hot quickly & I definitely don't want any headphones that put a lot of pressure on the ears.
 
Given the above, I've often had to resort to ear buds as they allow my ears to 'breathe' and are comfortable to wear for extended periods but of course they're a huge compromise on sound quality. I loathe in-ear headphones. On ear headphones get hot way too quickly for me. I like the idea of open back headphones and imagine they might stay a bit cooler given their construction but then the external noise from other parts of the house might be an issue with this design.
 
So - any thoughts? Re-reading this I fear I'm coming across as incredibly fussy but my hope is someone out there can identify with at least part of my conundrum.
 
Any suggestions very welcome!

 

[Hughkk]

if i am correct, open HPs will leak sound.
which also mean that u will be able to hear sound from your family room

 

[vinylvibe]

Yup, that's one of the considerations I need taken into account when making any recommendations thanks.

 

[NinjaSquirt]

Well your needs are at loggerheads. I would suggest some higher end IEMs, they'll sound just as good as some midrange to maybe some high range headphones while isolating noise and not making your ears sweaty. As far as closed headphones go, they don't isolate well. The Sennheiser HD-25 supposedly does isolate well BUT it's on ear and chances they will make you sweat. Closed over ears probably won't isolate enough but if you're looking for a good one:
 
-Shure SRH 940 Does Jazz and possible classic well
-Shure SH 840 a lil cheaper.

 

[vinylvibe]

Thanks very much and certainly take your point about being at loggerheads. Suppose that's what's made figuring this out so tough and why I appreciate input such as yours. Understand your suggestion of the IEMs and the reasons behind it but I really don't like having anything "in" the ear. Feels very uncomfortable to me.
 
Sounds like over ear is probably going to be my best bet. In your experience do the open ones keep 'cooler' than the closed? Also, looking at the two closed back units you recommended, both look more like on ear rather than over ear. Is this the case or am I just looking at bad product shots?

 

[nikp]

Budget? Sound signature preference/favourite genres?

 

[vinylvibe]

Budget would be up to about £250. Regarding sound signature don't really have an ideal other than not wanting things too bright. Genres quite varied but of late it's mostly been rock & folk. 

 

[kiteki]

 
Audio Technicas have the least clamping force and are very comfortable.
 
 
Have a look at the Audio Technica W1000, A1000X, A900X.
 
 

 

[alv4426]

I think you need to try some cans with velour earpads as they would help out with the heat/comfort issues.
Here are some DT770 (picked just as an random example of cans with velour earpads)
http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-DT770-PRO-250-ohm/dp/B0006NL5SM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323341235&sr=8-1

 

[vinylvibe]

Thanks for the recommendations Kiteki but these all look to be on-ear and I think those are likely to get warmer faster than over ear?

 

[vinylvibe]

Very good point alv4426.

 

[alv4426]

All of those are over ear, and from what I've read not tried are comfortable cause of of the headband. 
 
Quote:

Thanks for the recommendations Kiteki but these all look to be on-ear and I think those are likely to get warmer faster than over ear?

 

 

[kiteki]

Haha they are all very over-ear, surrounding the entire ear.
 
The headbands on Audio Technicas are usually wing-design, I dunno I think all Audio Technicas are comfortable since they are so extremely light-weight and low clamping force, well the metal ones anyway, maybe the wood ones are a little bit heavier.
 
Haven't tried velour myself.