The Perfect Portable [a multiple choice poll]

[Pianist]

For me the most important on that list are:
 
1. Closed - if I wanted to listen to background noise, I wouldn't be wearing headphones;
2. Build quality - it's of no use when it's broken;
3. Comfort - headphones are devices for music listening, not torture
 
I also checked "easy to drive" option as well, but when I think more about it, it's not crucial. I can always save up a little and get a nice audiophile quality DAP if necessary. Lagging around dedicated amps in a portable setting is silly, but with players like HM-601, Colorfly and AMP3 around, you don't really need a portable dedicated up anymore.
 
My reasoning for not choosing the other options:
 
- size doesn't matter much as long as comfort is good
- folding is a nice extra, but not necessary. Well, I personally can live without it
- you won't need to make use of detachable parts and cables much, if at all, if build quality is good
- I don't use iPods
- I can buy accessories separately if I will need any
- I care little about the looks of the headphones as long as they don't have very fancy designs (fancy to me that is). I would hesitate to wear something like Grado GS1000, Denon AH-D7000 or K1000 in public, but I think I would be OK with an HD800, K701 or ATH-AD2000

 

[JamesMcProgger]

Thank you sir.
 
stuck at 654 Total Votes so far, I'm sure we can gather more.
 

 

[Raguvian]

I voted comfort, easy to drive, build quality, detachable cable, foldable and appearance. Appearance doesn't matter too much but the rest do. If I'm going to wear it in public though I don't want to look too dumb.
 
I also couldn't decide between semi open and closed so I didn't vote on that.
 
Comfort does matter for me because I generally only take one pair of headphones with me so I'd like something that's easy on my ears. I also have decided that I don't like carrying an amp. Detachable cables aren't a huge must but I prefer them for anything portable. Foldable is also nice but not needed if the headphones are super strong (HD25-1 ii).
 
This thread is making me want some portables now.

 

[JamesMcProgger]

+1 for detachable cables. I think is a must on portables, just so many easy ways a cable can go wrong, specially if you are carrying the headphone around everywhere.
 
that was one of the ways the DT1350 dissapointed me out of the box.
 
cant explain how only 32 out of 663 think so.

 

[Raguvian]

Quote:

+1 for detachable cables. I think is a must on portables, just so many easy ways a cable can go wrong, specially if you are carrying the headphone around everywhere.
 
that was one of the ways the DT1350 dissapointed me out of the box.
 
cant explain how only 32 out of 663 think so.

 
Ouch, I always thought the DT1350 had detachable cables for some reason. At that price, it's a deal breaker for me. If the phones are less than $100 I can deal with non detachable cables since the cost of the cable would be a good portion of the headphone's price, and I would be more willing to attempt a DIY fix, but on $300 cans detachable cables would be a definite requirement.

 

[JamesMcProgger]

lets get to the 10k votes.

 

[AyeVeeN]

I checked comfort, small (I personally found using my M50s on the go a hassle), accessories, build quality, closed, appearance, and detachable cable .
 
And my HD25 has those besides comfort and appearance.. and maybe detachable (easily replaceable?) cable (though they only bother me after it's on for a long while, making my earlobes ache to even a slight movement of the earcups). I don't like the HD25's plugs and would much rather have a 3.5mm female one but eh. Was thinking of the TMA-1s for that feature. No idea what you mean by accessories but I like it when my stuff comes with accessories.

 

[kiteki]

If only Sony, Yuin and Audio-Technica clip-ons had detachable cables.
 
 
For those 5 that voted "open", I've met one of them, I love it when teenagers use open headphones in public with their music at max volume.

 

[chrislangley4253]

Quote:

If only Sony, Yuin and Audio-Technica clip-ons had detachable cables.
 
 
For those 5 that voted "open", I've met one of them, I love it when teenagers use open headphones in public with their music at max volume.

I use my open headphones in public all the time without being a nuisance to anyone. I wouldn't generalize people based upon their ages. Age and maturity are quite independent factors. 

 

[JamesMcProgger]

My problem with open headphones is that Id have to set it really loud to block outer noises, and I dont like listening loud, Im sort of a low volume listener.

 

[shamrock134]

Having recently moved to London I've found isolation is absolutely the most important thing I want in a portable now. While commuting SQ, comfort, looks etc are all irrelevant if you can't hear the music over the rumble of buses, motorcycles and general hustle and bustle of a city.
 
For that reason I've stopped using my portables and now only use IEMs - they cannot be beaten for isolation. Even the HD25 and Edition 8 don't provide good enough isolation for me.

 

[JamesMcProgger]

333 more to 1k votes.

 

[JamesMcProgger]

Hard to believe how "easy to drive" are in 3rd place, this is headfi, at glance it seems like everyone carries at least an DAP+amp.

 

[chrislangley4253]

bah.. no way. I've moved on to earbuds now
 
Surprising quality in a super small package. 

 

[JamesMcProgger]

Cant believe you moved to IEMs after being so much of a grado lover!! I've been using my TF10 more and more recently but my portable for serious listening is still the HD25.
 
and the Vmoda M80 gets impresively close to what my perfect headphone would be.