# Recommend a set of headphones please! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382 "2014-09-03T17:19:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/1 "2014-09-03T17:19:20Z")
For the past couple of years I’ve been using this set of headphones: > **[Razer Orca Gaming and Music Headset: Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Razer-Orca-Gaming-Music-Headset/dp/B00472O206)** > > Razer Orca Gaming and Music Headset: Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games Sound quality is fantastic, best I’ve ever experienced and better than much more expensive headphones. Unfortunately they’re also very flimsy and poorly made, I’ve gone through three sets of them in two years, always with the same problem, that a loose connection would cut the sound to one ear. My most recent edition has also gone that way and it turns out the model has been discontinued. :\ I thought it would be a fairly safe bet to buy these from the same manufacturer: > **[Razer Electra Essential Gaming and Music Headset - Black : Amazon.co.uk:...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Razer-Electra-Essential-Gaming-Headset/dp/B0083EZURI)** > > Buy But on testing them out, uggghhh, the sound overly bass-heavy and other tones are muffled and unclear, basically I find them unlistenable. Anyone have any recommendations, I use them mostly for listen to music while using my desktop and occassionally for playing games, but mostly for the former. edited to add that these seem at least physically similar to the first set but I’m reluctant to shell out £70 without the opportunity to test them out. [http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/pc-accessories/pc-gaming-accessories/headsets/razer-kraken-pro-gaming-headset-green-18893009-pdt.html](http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/pc-accessories/pc-gaming-accessories/headsets/razer-kraken-pro-gaming-headset-green-18893009-pdt.html) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/2 "2014-09-04T15:33:35Z")
I’ve had pretty good luck with Sennheiser for reasonably-priced over-the-ear-style headphones…they have a pretty broad range of prices, but even the cheaper ones sound pretty decent, and they aren’t overly bassy like some headphones. I like Shure for in-ear monitors…mine sound great and they are pretty low-end for Shure – I think they were around $100. Edited to add: [a link to the cheapest Sennheisers](http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Lightweight-Over-Ear-Binaural-Headphones/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409844831&sr=1-10)…these get pretty good reviews for the price, and if these sound good I think anything Sennheiser makes will be good in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/3 "2014-09-06T11:38:51Z")
> [@SpeedwayRyan](#): > > I’ve had pretty good luck with Sennheiser for reasonably-priced over-the-ear-style headphones…they have a pretty broad range of prices, but even the cheaper ones sound pretty decent, and they aren’t overly bassy like some headphones. > > I like Shure for in-ear monitors…mine sound great and they are pretty low-end for Shure – I think they were around $100. > > Edited to add: [a link to the cheapest Sennheisers](http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Lightweight-Over-Ear-Binaural-Headphones/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1409844831&sr=1-10)…these get pretty good reviews for the price, and if these sound good I think anything Sennheiser makes will be good in my book. Thanks for the recommendations! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/4 "2014-09-06T17:06:35Z")
I can’t recommend [Koss Portapros](http://www.amazon.com/Koss-PortaPro-Headphones-with-Case/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410023086&sr=8-1&keywords=koss+portapro) enough. Amazing performance for the price, really comfy, and light and portable. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/5 "2014-09-07T08:37:28Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I can’t recommend [Koss Portapros](http://www.amazon.com/Koss-PortaPro-Headphones-with-Case/dp/B00001P4ZH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410023086&sr=8-1&keywords=koss+portapro) enough. Amazing performance for the price, really comfy, and light and portable. Thanks, I’ll check them out! ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/6 "2014-09-07T09:13:59Z")
Perhaps more than you want to spend, but I have had these [Bose headphones](http://www.amazon.com/Bose-On-Ear-Headphones-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002LK2QJK/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1410080709&sr=8-15&keywords=bose+headsets) for three or four years. Sturdy and the sound quality is fantastic. I use them for listening to music while on my desktop. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/7 "2014-09-07T11:16:04Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Perhaps more than you want to spend, but I have had these [Bose headphones](http://www.amazon.com/Bose-On-Ear-Headphones-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B002LK2QJK/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1410080709&sr=8-15&keywords=bose+headsets) for three or four years. Sturdy and the sound quality is fantastic. I use them for listening to music while on my desktop. Thanks for the recommendation, I’m just a bit leery of shelling out a lot of money as I’ve done that before on an expensive set that had fantastic reviews though I wasn’t impressed at all, whereas the Razer Orca’s had mixed reviews and I thought they were excellent, though unfortunately unreliable. Sound is such a subjective thing I suppose! ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/8 "2014-09-07T16:20:27Z")
I use a white pair of [these guys](http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-HTX7-G1-Monitor-Headphones-green/dp/B00186YNIA) - I love them. I’ve never been able to like in-ear or clip-on headphones, and almost every other pair of over-ear except these gives me a pressure headache after a while. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/9 "2014-09-07T21:15:03Z")
There are different types of headphones. Some isolate from outside sounds, some don’t at all. If you can live with open-air headphones with no isolation, then break whatever laws you have to to afford a pair of Sennheiser 500- or 600-series headphones. They’ll have better sound quality than anything else mentioned here, except they’re a little weak in the really deep bass. I think the HD558 is the best buy, as it has better sound quality and better earpads than the 518. I wouldn’t bother with the 598, at that level I’d look for a used HD580 or HD600. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/10 "2014-09-08T04:21:56Z")
I bought these Sonys for my girls a couple of years ago after every other one either broke or a wire crapped out in a few weeks to a few months. They’re cheap, virtually indestructible, and sound fine. I bought pairs for me and my wife as well since she likes the swivel cup type and kept breaking the jvc ones. > **[Amazon.com: Sony MDRZX100 ZX Series Stereo Headphones (White) : Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRZX100-Stereo-Headphones-White/dp/B004RKQM8I)** > > The Sony ZX Series Stereo Headphones gives you the power to take your music on the go. These Sony Stereo Headphones, White, boast a 30mm multi-layer dome diaphragm and extra-comfortable, pressure-relieving ear pads in a noise-cancelling, supra-aural... ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/11 "2014-09-08T04:39:20Z")
I second checking out the Sennheisers. I’ve been using these for the last couple of years… they sound great, and I find them very comfortable: > **[Amazon.com: Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones (old model) : Electronics](https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD280PRO-Headphones-old-model/dp/B000065BPB)** > > Product Description The HD 280 PRO is a pair of closed, dynamic stereo headphones that deliver accurate, linear sound reproduction with up to 32dB of ambient noise attenuation for critical monitoring applications. Optimum impedance ensures... HTH ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/12 "2014-09-08T19:27:43Z")
Thanks for the recommendations everyone! ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/13 "2014-09-09T22:31:48Z")
My Sennheiser HD600s finally died and I bought some HD558s. I am really impressed with them. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/14 "2014-09-10T03:26:47Z")
Don’t get one with adjustable volume on the cord. There is an exploit to Apple products that allows someone with a remote transmitter to jack up the volume on your headphones w/o your control to the the absolute maximum, even if all the safety volume limits are locked & limited. If you are riding a bike or driving or operating machinery, it can cause a dangerous accident and there’s always a handful of people thoughtless enough and ignorant enough to think causing accidents is funny. I don’t have a cite, but I’ve seen it demonstrated first hand (the volume slider flies up and down seemingly by itself) and I’ve verified with an electronics expert that its not only possible, but easily done. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/15 "2014-09-10T12:14:49Z")
Have had [Sony MDRV6 headphones](http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRV6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1410351146&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+mdrv6) for a long time now. Over-the-hear design provides moderate environmental isolation. Comfortable for long periods. If they broke today, I’d buy them again tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/16 "2014-09-10T15:48:21Z")
[Grados](http://www.grado.co.uk/headphones.htm). Bang for the buck, nothing else even comes close and I’ve owned Sennheisers (which I also loved), Koss Porta pros (also very good) Audio Technicas, and tried dozens of others.I bought a set of SR-80s for my son and I’m saving up for a set of SR-325s. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/17 "2014-10-16T15:54:12Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > [Grados](http://www.grado.co.uk/headphones.htm). Bang for the buck, nothing else even comes close and I’ve owned Sennheisers (which I also loved), Koss Porta pros (also very good) Audio Technicas, and tried dozens of others.I bought a set of SR-80s for my son and I’m saving up for a set of SR-325s. Decided to give these a try, got a pair of SR-80e’s and I’m very impressed so far, thanks for the recommendation! And thanks for the suggestions everyone, much appreciated! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-set-of-headphones-please/697382/18 "2014-10-16T16:07:34Z")
You’re welcome! I hope you get many years of enjoyment out of them! I know my son loves his and I should be getting mine around Christmas!