Who here is super experienced with headphones run AMPLESSLY in the $100-200 range?

[ken3592]

I know it's a weird question but I'm looking for a headphone that's essentially not meant to be amped for maximum convenience and multipurpose use. I know there are lots of you that know your headphones but I'm looking for those who have tried like dozens of different headphones, both mainstream and professional, and could make a recommendation or make comparisons. I'm super obsessive about my purchases and want to know I'm making the right decision! OCD much?

I own the ATH-M50s and the V-Moda Crossfade M100s. Ideally I'm looking for something as a gift similar to either of their sound signatures and ampless drivability with more comfort and isolation, and no unwieldy long and coiled cables; and no more than $200!

Right now I'm wondering how these 4 sets compare amongst eachother: DT770 Pro 32 Ohm ($124), Custom one pro ($136), Sennheiser HD 598 Cs ($99), and HD 380 Pro ($150). I pretty much already know the technical differences so I'm looking for someone who has experienced all 4 ideally!

Are there better options in this price range for a super comfortable, sound isolating, amplessly-driven, fun-but-relatively-accurate set of headphones?

Which is the most comfortable? Most Isolating? Easiest-driven without an app (I know theoretically the COPs would be but what about through experience)? Least fatiguing and most fun musically? How much difference in bass is there between the BDs and Senns?

 

[PurpleAngel]

What sources exactly will you be plugging the headphones into?
Think i would go for the HD598CS.

 

[ken3592]

What sources exactly will you be plugging the headphones into?
Think i would go for the HD598CS.

iphone and macbook pro

 

[aamefford]

My choice would be the Oppo PM3 for your described use case. There are some other good choices as well. I'm not a fan of the DT770, I have not heard the Senns you list. I do like the Senn HD25-1-II. It sounds good and it's bullet proof and rebuildable. It clamps a bit tight though. The Grado SR 80 variants are pretty excellent also for the price, if you can stand a bit of brightness. All I've listed should work great from a phone or Mac. There's other good stuff out there I haven't heard.

 

[obobskivich]

The HD 380 (and their "little brothers" the HD 280) should do just fine from your sources. Can't speak to the others as directly, but just by the numbers they should work too - low impedance, high sensitivity, and you shouldn't have many problems. This will generally describe most studio/pro headphones - Sony, Audio-Technica, Koss, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, etc all have headphones that fit that model. Another model I'd consider would be the Bose Around-Ear - if I'm understanding their newest branding correctly, they're right at that $100 mark too. They drive easily from portable/mobile devices, and sound good enough - they'll also be a lot more forgiving of lower quality sources/material and less fatiguing than many studio/professional headphones, which may or may not be an advantage depending on what you plan to listen to. Just food for thought.

Grado is also a good choice, but I'm not sure if you need isolation. SR-60 or SR-80 would be my pick there as well.

 

[ken3592]

I do like the Senn HD25-1-II. It sounds good and it's bullet proof and rebuildable. It clamps a bit tight though. The Grado SR 80 variants are pretty excellent also for the price, if you can stand a bit of brightness. All I've listed should work great from a phone or Mac. There's other good stuff out there I haven't heard.

Are the HD 25-1-IIs around-ear or on-ear? Besides the clamping force are the headband and ear-pads comfortable enough for 4-5 hour sessions? Possibly with glasses too.

 

[ken3592]

Another model I'd consider would be the Bose Around-Ear - if I'm understanding their newest branding correctly, they're right at that $100 mark too. They drive easily from portable/mobile devices, and sound good enough - they'll also be a lot more forgiving of lower quality sources/material and less fatiguing than many studio/professional headphones, which may or may not be an advantage depending on what you plan to listen to. Just food for thought

Thanks for your input! I was considering the Bose around-ear for $99 it's just the sound quality and durability concern me. I feel like the Bose's I've listened to have no sub-bass extension. Grados are out of the question unfortunately due to my need for high comfort and isolation.

 

[Monsterzero]

Thanks for your input! I was considering the Bose around-ear for $99 it's just the sound quality and durability concern me. I feel like the Bose's I've listened to have no sub-bass extension. Grados are out of the question unfortunately due to my need for high comfort and isolation.

was going to add that but you already know...Grados are good,but comfort and ISO arent their strong suits....

I have only heard DT770s on your list....

Pros-comfy,detailed,decent thump
Cons-bright highs,kinda recessed mids

Could be okay,depending upon your musical tastes

 

[obobskivich]

Thanks for your input! I was considering the Bose around-ear for $99 it's just the sound quality and durability concern me. I feel like the Bose's I've listened to have no sub-bass extension. Grados are out of the question unfortunately due to my need for high comfort and isolation.

Good to know on the isolation bit.

On the Bose - if I'm understanding their current marketing correctly the "SoundTrue" is the third-generation of the TriPort. I've heard both prior generations (actually owned multiple examples of both, reviewed them at various points too), and while this is a "blind suggestion" since I haven't tried the newest ones (and if you want to stop reading right here, that's fine), the differences between TriPort ("AE1") and the Around Ear 2 ("AE2") weren't insanely big - they both comport to the Bose house sound. That is, they're relatively laid-back, non-fatiguing, decently extended, forgiving, and spacious/diffuse sounding. They aren't ever going to be the final word in detail, speed, or tonality as a result, but that isn't always a bad thing: they will play nicer with a lot of lower quality sources while also being enjoyable with higher quality material. Basically, they're easy to listen to. I've never heard a Bose headphones that doesn't offer good isolation or excellent comfort/fit as well, and while that may seem like a secondary consideration, my honest feeling is that if they're not comfortable, it doesn't matter how good they sound sitting on the table un-worn. :rolleyes:

As far as "sub-bass extension" - I've seen this keyphrase thrown around a lot recently, and I'm starting to feel like its becoming the new generation of "as the artist intended" or "high definition." Honestly, you aren't going to get speaker-like, subwoofer-like, concert-like, etc BOOM BOOM felt bass from any headphone (at any price point, with any amp, from any source, with any cables) because end of the day they're headphones. That doesn't mean "bad bass response" but "good bass" on a headphone is a very different experience than "good bass" on a speaker or from live acoustics. And beyond that, very little content (especially music) actually relies on "sub-bass extension" (as in, actual sub-bass or near-infrasound reproduction). There's a big difference between "good bass" (especially for music) and "sub-bass" as well (not to mention the difference between "extension" and "usable response"). My point is, be realistic in your expectations, and know what you're asking for - none of the headphones you've mentioned are going to provide intense bass response, or run down there at near-infrasound, and even headphones that *do* offer that kind of performance, do not re-create the same experience as say, IMAX.

 

[Monsterzero]

As far as "sub-bass extension" - I've seen this keyphrase thrown around a lot recently, and I'm starting to feel like its becoming the new generation of "as the artist intended" or "high definition." Honestly, you aren't going to get speaker-like, subwoofer-like, concert-like, etc BOOM BOOM felt bass from any headphone (at any price point, with any amp, from any source, with any cables) because end of the day they're headphones. That doesn't mean "bad bass response" but "good bass" on a headphone is a very different experience than "good bass" on a speaker or from live acoustics. And beyond that, very little content (especially music) actually relies on "sub-bass extension" (as in, actual sub-bass or near-infrasound reproduction). There's a big difference between "good bass" (especially for music) and "sub-bass" as well (not to mention the difference between "extension" and "usable response"). My point is, be realistic in your expectations, and know what you're asking for - none of the headphones you've mentioned are going to provide intense bass response, or run down there at near-infrasound, and even headphones that *do* offer that kind of performance, do not re-create the same experience as say, IMAX.

Agreed to a certain extent...totally agree that headphones will never be able to deliver the sub-bass of a home theater or IMAX theater experience,but...

You strap some LCD-2s on your skull and listen to Ajja & Cosmosis "Live @ The HR Giger Museum" and you will know why you spent 1k on em.....wonderful sub bass extension....*for a headphone 

 

[obobskivich]

Agreed to a certain extent...totally agree that headphones will never be able to deliver the sub-bass of a home theater or IMAX theater experience,but...


You strap some LCD-2s on your skull and listen to Ajja & Cosmosis "Live @ The HR Giger Museum" and you will know why you spent 1k on em.....wonderful sub bass extension....*for a headphone 

Oh I don't mean sub-bass "doesn't exist" on headphones, just that bass in general is a very different experience on headphones than on speakers or from live acoustics. "Good bass" on a headphone will still always be "heard" as opposed to "felt" if that makes sense. There will never be that "hit you in gut" or "knock the air out of your lungs" sensation that you can get with speakers or live acoustics. Sub-bass and infrasonics are much more into the genre of "felt" as well (human hearing attenuates very significantly down low), so the experience of low-freq reproduction on headphones is unique compared to how (I assume) most people are familiar with it (e.g. via speakers or live acoustics).

 

[Monsterzero]

Oh I don't mean sub-bass "doesn't exist" on headphones, just that bass in general is a very different experience on headphones than on speakers or from live acoustics. "Good bass" on a headphone will still always be "heard" as opposed to "felt" if that makes sense. There will never be that "hit you in gut" or "knock the air out of your lungs" sensation that you can get with speakers or live acoustics. Sub-bass and infrasonics are much more into the genre of "felt" as well (human hearing attenuates very significantly down low), so the experience of low-freq reproduction on headphones is unique compared to how (I assume) most people are familiar with it (e.g. via speakers or live acoustics).

true,true

 

[ken3592]

Good to know on the isolation bit.

On the Bose - if I'm understanding their current marketing correctly the "SoundTrue" is the third-generation of the TriPort. I've heard both prior generations (actually owned multiple examples of both, reviewed them at various points too), and while this is a "blind suggestion" since I haven't tried the newest ones (and if you want to stop reading right here, that's fine), the differences between TriPort ("AE1") and the Around Ear 2 ("AE2") weren't insanely big - they both comport to the Bose house sound. That is, they're relatively laid-back, non-fatiguing, decently extended, forgiving, and spacious/diffuse sounding. They aren't ever going to be the final word in detail, speed, or tonality as a result, but that isn't always a bad thing: they will play nicer with a lot of lower quality sources while also being enjoyable with higher quality material. Basically, they're easy to listen to. I've never heard a Bose headphones that doesn't offer good isolation or excellent comfort/fit as well, and while that may seem like a secondary consideration, my honest feeling is that if they're not comfortable, it doesn't matter how good they sound sitting on the table un-worn. :rolleyes:

As far as "sub-bass extension" - I've seen this keyphrase thrown around a lot recently, and I'm starting to feel like its becoming the new generation of "as the artist intended" or "high definition." Honestly, you aren't going to get speaker-like, subwoofer-like, concert-like, etc BOOM BOOM felt bass from any headphone (at any price point, with any amp, from any source, with any cables) because end of the day they're headphones. That doesn't mean "bad bass response" but "good bass" on a headphone is a very different experience than "good bass" on a speaker or from live acoustics. And beyond that, very little content (especially music) actually relies on "sub-bass extension" (as in, actual sub-bass or near-infrasound reproduction). There's a big difference between "good bass" (especially for music) and "sub-bass" as well (not to mention the difference between "extension" and "usable response"). My point is, be realistic in your expectations, and know what you're asking for - none of the headphones you've mentioned are going to provide intense bass response, or run down there at near-infrasound, and even headphones that *do* offer that kind of performance, do not re-create the same experience as say, IMAX.

By sub-bass extension i don't necessarily mean heavy impact and head-shaking but more just the ability to reproduce frequencies of 20-40hz. From what I've listened to I have trouble hearing anything under 50 or so hz on the Bose's whereas with my M50xs and crossfade M100s I hear frequencies down to about 30 hz I'd say. The gift recipient listens to a lot of EDM so that sub-bass frequency range is pretty important but it also won't be their only use!

 

[Monsterzero]

By sub-bass extension i don't necessarily mean heavy impact and head-shaking but more just the ability to reproduce frequencies of 20-40hz. From what I've listened to I have trouble hearing anything under 50 or so hz on the Bose's whereas with my M50xs and crossfade M100s I hear frequencies down to about 30 hz I'd say. The gift recipient listens to a lot of EDM so that sub-bass frequency range is pretty important but it also won't be their only use!

I dont think DT770s are as good as your M-100s for EDM,but you could do a lot worse...in fact EDM is about one of the only genres that didnt make me wanna rip the 770s off my head and scream in pain.

 

[ken3592]

I dont think DT770s are as good as your M-100s for EDM,but you could do a lot worse...in fact EDM is about one of the only genres that didnt make me wanna rip the 770s off my head and scream in pain.

As these will be a gift I'm essentially looking for a headphone slightly cheaper than the M100s but more comfortable and isolating and possibly slightly easier to drive amplessly. I suppose I'm looking for a similar sound signature.

I was thinking that had lead me to the custom one pros but since they're slightly more expensive than the DT770s when the MSRPs are the other way around I felt like I'm passing up a better headphone but in reality the COPs might be the better option considering they'll be ampless and "fun" sound is part of my criteria.