Want a new one to replace my old Philips

[opresterud]

I have an aging Philips SBC3396 Studio Reference Series headphone, which is in a need to be replaced. I have not that great choice in headphones. I can get Koss 3aa/4aat, Sennheiser HD 497 and Philips HP890/910/1000.

I am listening to mostly Springsteen, no heavy and no techno. Don't need extreme bass, but a clear guitar/piano sound is much appreciated.

So, which of these should I choose?

(the HP1000 is in fact a little tad to expensive, so maybe it should be removed from the list....)

The Philips sets looks very comfortable to wear, and I like the ones which complete surrounds the ear.

 

[commando]

Are you only considering those headphones listed above, or would you consider others also? If you'd consider others, tell us your preferences (closed/open), source, and your budget.

 

[opresterud]

I am only considering those listed, since they are the candidates I have access to without paying overprice. Not very many headphones seems to be normaly imported to Norway, and special import skyrockets the prices.

 

[commando]

http://audiocubes.com ships anywhere in the world for reasonably cheap fees. They'll even write a lower price on the package so you get charged less/no customs fees.

 

[opresterud]

Their shipping cost was low, so they might absolutely be an alternative.

My price range is around USD80-100, maybe closed might be the best since I am going to have these at my office (I have my own walls, but sound carries throuh pretty well).

Source will be an iRiver IMP-550 portable player (not going to use them for walking) or computer with SB Audigy card, and I am not planning to buy an amp now, so they have to be farly light driven.

 

[commando]

Sound from headphones won't carry thru walls, if it does you've got them way too loud. I find closed good for work though.

My standard recommendation is for A500s, if you can stretch to it. I've tried loads of closed cans, and the A900s are the best i've found. The A500 are meant to be almost as good.

 

[opresterud]

A500 is on the definit upper limit. Can you/someone say how these compares to some of the ones I mentioned in the first post?

Does Audiocubes deliver any cheaper headphones that still might be better than my Philips ones?

 

[commando]

I can't compare with those ones sorry, except to say the A500s should be head and shoulders above the 497s.