[tipsy mcswagger]

hey there,
what are your favorite headphones that can be driven by a portable? i just had a bad experience with a couple pairs of sony cans, (don't even think about trying the mdr-v500djs - absolute junk) and am looking for a set to use with my discman. i need something closed to block out city sounds, etc... mind you the grado sr60s might do the trick or maybe the sennheiser hd280s?

any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations are much appreciated.

thnx

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Welcome to Head-Fi, tipsy mcswagger!

And be prepared for us to say "sorry about your wallet!"

Grados are very open-air, so they block no external noises at all whatsoever. So that rules them out for listening in a noisy environment.

The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is a very good choice for the price, and can be driven directly from a gutless portable -- but it will sound better with an amp. If your budget is tight, and you don't want to use an amp, you may also want to consider the Sennheiser HD 2#2 series of closed headphones. Though I wasn't particularly impressed with the HD 212 Pro, that model sounds quite good compared to the generally horrid-sounding crop of sub-$50 closed headphones.

 

[Duncan]

Hey Tipsy

...It depends what kind of portable you have... pre 1998 (Sony) Discman... 1998-2000 Panasonic Personal CD, something more modern... MD, Walkman?!

Each one of those has different strengths and weaknesses... if you could enlighten us, then i'm sure we'll head you up the right path

 

[Nezer]

Go cheap, get some Koss KSC-35s or 50s or 55s. Or the Portapro or sportapros.

Under $40 at most (and as cheap as $15 for the 50s at Circuit City). If you like what you hear and have the urge to upgrade, Etys.

Telling us to not try the 500DJs is like telling a fireman not to start a forest fire.

 

[LTUCCI1924]

koss 35s, senn. mx500 with slicsound, aiwa vx100
15.00 17.00 15.00 35.00

 

[AngusMcToon]

The RatShack Optimus 45 phones say Koss on the cord and look like the PortaPhones, and for the $14.97 I paid for them, made em worth going back for 2 more pairs to treat like disposables. Nothing too special, but above average for the price...

 

[kwkarth]

Etymotic ER4P

 

[MacDEF]

For any use where I don't need isolation, and for any active use: KSC-35 by a LONG shot.

For any time I need isolation: Ety ER-4P or ER-6

 

[andrzejpw]

ksc-35s hands down. mx500s on occasion

 

[Jeff Guidry]

The KSC-35's have officially supplanted the Sony MDR-V6's as my favorite headphone. Cheap, portable, and for my money the best bang for the buck in headphones.

 

[myke]

I just got my mdr-e888 over the weekend- I've yet to hear the MX-400/500 but nonetheless, these headphones are so smooth. The top end is a little reticent but the midrange is absolutely lush. It may lack detail in absolute term and in all probability some music may not sound good on it but for the last few days I've been going through my classical collection (through Sony MD player N505) much to the chagrin of my fellow commuters on the bus; but today, Orff's Carmina Burana was amazing.

 

[TimSchirmer]

KSC35 all de way

 

[a1leyez0nm3]

get ety er6 or er4p if you can afford. you want isolation (sealded phones) if you are going portable, i think. or get 280 pro.

 

[tipsy mcswagger]

hey guys,

thanks for the replys. i'm going to check around town for the ksc-35s, ety er4ps, and i also want to check out beyerdynamic's dt 250-80s.

duncan, i'm using a 2001 panasonic sl-ct780 discman.

thanks again

 

[Maj0rMaj0r]

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