Wrong choice?

[MERK26]

Hi all, First post...about my first mistake.

My son and I decided we needed a good set of headphones...that way we could use them for gaming, and also use them to listen to music. So I mentioned this to a friend and he says he has a really cool set of vintage Pioneer phones that I can buy because he never uses them. Great. They`re Monitor 10`s. I do a quick search on them...they seem to be well respected. I try them at his place, they`re gorgeous and sound great, so I buy them up. Then I get them home...my son hates them..too heavy (he`s used to small phones), too hard to adjust, no volume control. Great...just blew 75 bucks.

.
So...I guess I`m looking for a new set. Anyone with a recommendation for a set that`ll meet our requirements?

 

[TheMarchingMule]

No volume control? What are you driving the 'phones from? The source should have a native volume control, no?

For the community to accurately recommend the headphones that will best fit your needs, there are five basic questions that need to be answered:

1. open or closed? aka do you want a more natural sound, or is isolation to outside noise more important to you and your son?
2. do you guys want the earpads to be on the ear, or around the ear?
3. what kinds of music do you and your son mostly listen to?
4. what is your budget?
5. what will these headphones be plugged into (aka what is the source)?

In the meantime, welcome to Head-Fi, and sorry about your wallet!

 

[Mercuttio]

I think you should definitely cast aside the idea of a good pair of headphones having a volume control. It's simply not present, as better phones are amplified externally, from say a home theater receiver or an iPod etc.

 

[MERK26]

Thanks for the quick response! I really wasn`t expecting it, and should have given more detail...

* open or closed? aka do you want a more natural sound, or is isolation to outside noise more important to you and your son?

I`d say isolation...

* do you guys want the earpads to be on the ear, or around the ear?

Around the ear...

* what kinds of music do you and your son mostly listen to?

Rock, and Gaming

* what is your budget?

Less now!

Under $100....

* what will these headphones be plugged into (aka what is the source)?

The Computer and occasionally, our home stereo...

Thanks so much...

 

[Trance88]

Seems like most kids these days they can't see past earbuds. Well, at least you like them Merk, you've got an extra pair just in case one breaks or something.

 

[Oggranak]

I think you're going to have to choose between having volume control and getting a good pair of headphones.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700s are great for gaming (sound-wise), the adjusting is done simply by pulling them down onto your head to the right size and they go back to the smallest when you take them off (so no manual adjusting), and they're lightweight. On top of that, these are some of the comfiest headphones ever made, IMO. They go for around $100 or less new in the US.

They are open, however. There is no perfect headphone when you're on a budget, and I think that the sound quality and other nice aspects of the AD700s may make up for the volume control and openness issues.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-A...0963728&sr=8-1

 

[likethesearchengine]

I'd suggest the Sennheiser PC350s, if inline volume control is important & isolation as this is closed...

I'm a noob here, too, but I was just considering either the HD555, AD700, or PC350. The PC350 is a headset for gaming specifically, so it includes a mic.

Supposedly if you mod the headset (there is a thread on it here), the PC350 is excellent. Out of the box it is OK, but low on bass. Inferior (to the HD555 or AD700, etc.) for the price... which is $140 on amazon... higher than your $100, but it is the only one with inline volume control I can think of.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Yeah, I'd say check out either the A700 (not the AD700, those are the open version), or the upcoming Shure headphone models: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/lea...srh840-420561/

 

[MERK26]

Okay guys, I appreciate the help. I didn`t realize about the volume controls, maybe we`ll have to do without that. Thanks for the advice...

 

[Mercuttio]

I'd also say that you should consider spending $50 more, and getting the much more durable and long lasting Beyerdynamic DT770-80. Incredibly comfortable, impossible to break, great for games and rock music.

Check around eBay for a pair at $150 or under.

 

[garfnon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, I'd say check out either the AD700 (not the A700, those are open)[/url]

Other way around.

 

[Oggranak]

Also, make no mistake, AD700s and A700s are not as similar as the name implies. If what I've read about the A700s is true, the AD700 are certainly better for gaming, the key problem is that they are open. If you go closed, the DT770/80 might be a better option.

I haven't heard the DT770/80 or the A700, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, I'm just repeating what I've heard.

 

[Swingtops]

DT770/80 - wear mine every day, they isolate very well and sound great

 

[dcpoor]

get him a pair of koss ksc75's with the volume control.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by garfnon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Other way around.

Dammit! Ha, thanks for checking that. I'll go edit it right now.