which headphones are best for unamped ipod

[shochu]

please help a newbie out.
i've been lurking and following the discussions on this board for weeks now, and still can't decide. i've been changing my interests too many times, to a point where i think that help is needed.

i was originally going to go for the grados, then i thought a lot about the ability to listen to great details in low volume, changing my mind to isolating canalphones, which led me to the new shure e4 and the new super.fi pro.

but now i have just decided that isolation will probably be a con for me, as i will be using the phones in my office/home/sometimes car.
i definitely will need to hear phones ringing, someone calling out my name, cars honking etc..

so.. i guess canalphones are out of the question now.
i'm back to what got me to head fi in the first place. Grados?
i mainly listen to jazz (primarily vocal), and i would consider myself to be a low-volume listener (if there's such a terminology). difficult thing is, this will be my first headphone, thus i really do not have anything to compare to (to be used as a benchmark). all i know is that i couldn't stand my ipod earbuds, the more i listen, the more frustrated i get.

the main consideration to be taken is that i will be listening to my ipods (4G and shuffle) straight, without amplification all the time. So, please leave out headphones that need good amp to shine. As i was prepared to shell out $250-$300 for the UE, i thought i'd just set my budget there.

any ideas? suggestions? help?
any brand/model is welcome, as long as they will sound good unamped.

finally, i'd like to say that i've really enjoyed reading everything on this discussion board. you guys definitely are good resources for a newbie like me. thanks.

 

[kramer5150]

vocal dynamics on both my grados is incredible.
my suggestions in no particular order
SR60
SR225
MS2
MS1

K240s-55

 

[seeberg]

Any suggestiion on the Sony SA series cans, i.e. SA1000? Those might also be up your alley, and my personal pick of any grado for your needs is definitely the SR60. They just slam with any music. 'Nuff said.

You could also try MS1's or SR225's, as they are killer as well, but they are also more expensive. However, I think if you get a heaphone and are genuinely satisfied with it, you'll know where your money went- where it counts.

On another note, it'd be nice if HD580's could run with an iPod unamped. They can't, or can they?

,
Abe

 

[RnB180]

I hope you wont be wearing them while driving, anyhow, with Grados they are open cans so its not too public friendly they leak a lot of sound.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 I hope you wont be wearing them while driving, anyhow, with Grados they are open cans so its not too public friendly they leak a lot of sound.

what's wrong with wearing headphones while driving? I can see canalphones, cause you couldnt hear someone honking, but grados? I can hold a steady conversation with grados on (though i never have

)

Oh, and Ive used my MS-1's straight from the ipod, and they sound pretty dam good. An amp definitely helps, but for sure is not required. Just keep in mind that whichever headphone you get, factor flat pads into the cost (35 shipped from www.toddthevinyljunkie.com) because IMHO, grados are not happy without them

 

[RnB180]

here in Cali, its illegal to where headphones while driving.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 here in Cali, its illegal to where headphones while driving.

oh

 

[shochu]

wow..
thank you all for those quick replys.
i guess a lot you head fi members likes grados..
i find it a bit trange however, that nobody mentioned SR80 or SR125.
or is it safe to assume that for the same money, i'd be better off with alessandro's MS1 than SR80? and for $50 extra, better go for SR225 than SR125?

soo...
$30-$40 isn't much, so either is fine.
which one would i enjoy more, grado's SR60 or alessandro's MS-1?
both comes standard with 1/8" plug for ipods, correct?

 

[seeberg]

Let's put it this way: SR80's and SR125's are nice, but the MS1 is considered better than both, in price and sound. So basically, the best choices for your budget for Grado/Alessandro consideration are the SR60, MS1, and SR225. Any one of these are excellent for the money you shell out.

BTW, the SR60 and MS1 come with a 1/8" mini plug for use with your iPod, and they come with a 1/4" adaptor to use with a home stereo. The SR225 can be used with your iPod if you get a 1/8" adaptor, which Grado makes. It's very good for $15.

,
Abe

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shochu wow.. thank you all for those quick replys. i guess a lot you head fi members likes grados.. i find it a bit trange however, that nobody mentioned SR80 or SR125. or is it safe to assume that for the same money, i'd be better off with alessandro's MS1 than SR80? and for $50 extra, better go for SR225 than SR125? soo... $30-$40 isn't much, so either is fine. which one would i enjoy more, grado's SR60 or alessandro's MS-1? both comes standard with 1/8" plug for ipods, correct?

I think you should decide what kind of sound you want. The SR60's are going to give you a more forward/aggresive sound (a boosted high end that makes them in your face sounding, which some people love and others hate) and the MS-1's are going to give you a more neutral presentation (they are still pretty in your face, but the high end is refined and they are more gentle on your ears)

if you have trouble staying awake you might want the sr60

if you want a more natural presentation, go with MS-1

, Whitney

 

[shochu]

no recommendation other than the grados & alessandro?
anyone??

last call before i put in my order for the MS-1..

i'm making the right choice, right?

 

[NightStalker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shochu i'm making the right choice, right?

Yep

Awsome value for money thos MS1's are... to much yoda for me

Cheers
Jake

 

[fatp3nguin]

Well, I don't have any personal experience to speak from, but it looks like no one else has pointed out the Senn HD 5x5 series. They're reputed to be pretty easy to drive. HD 555s can be found for around $120, so it might be worth considering.

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shochu no recommendation other than the grados & alessandro? anyone?? last call before i put in my order for the MS-1.. i'm making the right choice, right?

hell yeah... Im listening to adrian legg, tuck & patty and larry carlton on my MS2 as I type this and its amazing the detal clarity...

 

[donunus]

get grado sr60s... youll be fine with that for now. use your 300 dollar budget when you can get an amp. I think most headphones above 100 to 150 bucks need an amp to make them sing well. You might regret getting your expensive headphones if you connect them directly off an ipod. If you were planning on spending your 300 for canalphones, that is a different story. I think the super.fi with the 119db sensitivity spec and low impedance will be easy to drive without an amp. It is said that the ipods roll of the bass for very low impedance headphones though (under 40 ohms i think), but the super.fis, if equivalent to the ue5c has bass that rises about 5 to 10db above the rest of the frequencies... so it should be fine.
Another headphone known to be good off of a portable player is the AT- A900. around 200 dollars.