Which headphones for an upgrade from the Monster Dre Beats.

[Remedial]

Okay, I haven't done the search, but I'm sure these phones have probably been panned from China to Brazil around here. Hear me out first, though.

Okay, my fiance got me a pair of these for my birthday because she knows how much a headphone fanatic I "once" was. Had to lay off the purchases after a few of them burnt me (2 pairs of HD280 Pro's falling apart, Shure E4's looking like crap with minimal usage, etc.., one phone of my Grado SR-60I breaking off). Now, I could understand these things happening if I even used these phones everyday AND mistreated them. But, that is not the case.

So, I decided I wouldn't give my money to these companies anymore. But then, I'm presented with this dilemma: I know there have got to be some much better sounding phones for the price that the Dre Beats are going for.

So, I headed on over to headphone.com and the following phones really caught my eye:

ATH-M50
Ultrasone HFi 780
Ultrasone PROline 650

Now, after looking at the specs on most of them, the PROline 650 sounds like a great deal, but, at 75 ohms I might have a hard time using it with my Sansa Clip around the house as I tend to do. But, it's critical nature would help me a lot when I have turn the studio monitors off and use solely headphones on my productions.

The HFI 780 looks like it might be great for using with my Clip and for recreational listening through my soundcard, but, doesn't look like it would be "that" great in critical listening situations. Same for the ATH-M50.

As you can tell from my selections, I'm aiming mainly for sealed cans.

So, what do you guys recommend from this bunch or what you've experienced otherwise.

I'm really looking to replace my HD280 Pro's as the build quality is horrible and their lower end is very boxy while being very minimal.

 

[Remedial]

No takers??

 

[Gluegun]

Get the Beyer DT 770 Pro if you want a "megabass" headphone that doesn't actually overdo the quantity of bass... *loves his*

 

[Sherwood]

They're a present from the woman you love: keep them. Appreciating a heartfelt gift is far more important than headphones, in my opinion.

 

[momomo6789]

HFI-780s are like 189 if you look around

 

[charliex]

Ultrasone HFi 780 - best of the 3

 

[notmuchcash]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gluegun /img/forum/go_quote.gif Get the Beyer DT 770 Pro if you want a "megabass" headphone that doesn't actually overdo the quantity of bass... *loves his*

I agree on the loving DT 770... but he mentioned a Sansa Clip.
Without a proper amp, the headphones are quite lacking. My HD205's probably sound as good out of the hp in my iPod, at a third of the price. But I love the Beyers to death and will be getting an amp within the next week.

 

[hvu]

You may want to check the for sale forums to save some money.
I got a pair of M50 if you are interested to save a few bucks.

 

[jjinh]

since you're going to use them around the house, the m50s. The coiled cable is going to be more manageable than the 3 metre straight cable.

 

[LaBrosse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif They're a present from the woman you love: keep them. Appreciating a heartfelt gift is far more important than headphones, in my opinion.

This, seriously.

 

[Ruffle]

As someone who hasn't listened to your three choices, I'd choose the 780. This is based on your source, and your listening styel. 780 is made more for consumer, audio/visual use while the Pro 650 was for studio use. 780 seems it would sound better and play better with your Sansa, it's foldable so can be transported easily and seems durable to me.

But then the HD280 are also durable. What were you doing to ruin 2 HD280s?

And lastly, if you don't care about getting improved sound over the Beats and they sound good enough, I suppose it's a nice gesture to just use them since they are from your fiance.

 

[Remedial]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruffle /img/forum/go_quote.gif As someone who hasn't listened to your three choices, I'd choose the 780. This is based on your source, and your listening styel. 780 is made more for consumer, audio/visual use while the Pro 650 was for studio use. 780 seems it would sound better and play better with your Sansa, it's foldable so can be transported easily and seems durable to me. But then the HD280 are also durable. What were you doing to ruin 2 HD280s? And lastly, if you don't care about getting improved sound over the Beats and they sound good enough, I suppose it's a nice gesture to just use them since they are from your fiance.

I don't know, maybe I got my HD280's from a bad batch (Guitar Center), but both of mine have had the plastic on the headpiece just start to chip away, piece by piece. Also, the vinyl material (on my eldest pair) covering the earpieces has totally eroded, leaving me with the gray cloth material underneath that covers the foam. Now, mind you, they both still work pretty fine, although my eldest "used" to have some distortion in one of the ears but that has since magically disappeared.

I know this can't just be me. I really think the durability of the HD280's (at least aesthetically) is a myth.

 

[Remedial]

Thank you all for your replies. I am still considering just keeping it, but what has the verdict been on the Dre's?

I can tell you that they leak sound like a mofo and they do get pretty loud. The high end is a little obscured, but I haven't really broken them in.

Their sound signature reminds me of the Sony MDR-V600. Loud, decent soundstage but kind of boxy.

I'm hoping break in will help.

 

[charliex]

As long as you understand that Dre's are NOT headphones, but merely low-end bling aimed at preteens. Anything that uses noise cancelling technology (aka batteries) are not audiophile let alone worthy of anything headphones.

 

[Emooze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherwood /img/forum/go_quote.gif They're a present from the woman you love: keep them. Appreciating a heartfelt gift is far more important than headphones, in my opinion.

I'm gonna put my vote behind this as well.