I’m in the market to buy some headphones. Unfortunately, I know very little on this subject and have a hard tie determining what makes one pair good and another not so good.
I shouldn’t say blah blah blah. Some of this is probably useful information but I can’t distinguish between marketing fluff and what is real here.
I see headphones ranging in price from $5 to $700. I know for certain the $700 pair is not in my ballpark. Right now I figure that something decent will be in the $75-150 range but again this is just a guess. I’d be willing to go to $200 if the pair really rocked but that is at the outside limit.
My criteria are:
Extended wear without becoming uncomfortable
Use on a computer for both gaming and music
For the most part should be silent to the outside world (beyond, say, 5 feet) even when blasting my eardrums out
If I could hear the outside world some that would be preferable but is secondary. Complete isolation would be ok too.
If you haven’t guessed yet I’m not an audiophile and my ears are not trained to pick out the finest nuances. Basically I don’t need a pair with audio response that only my dog could really appreciate (although it would be fine if they did as long as that doesn’t become a significant cost issue).
Any ideas? Also, any web sites with good reviews would be great. I remember coming across a very nice one awhile ago but I can no longer find it (I thought it was http://www.headphones.com or .net but that’s just a place selling headphones now).
I don’t own any nice headphones, but for years people have been raving about the Grado SR-60 headphones as the top “bang for the buck” set. They’re only $69.00.
Like speakers, taste in headphones is so individual that I don’t want to recommend. In general, you’re looking for two factors: comfort and reporduction.
Comfort is important. If you’re going to be listening for even 30 minutes, it’s well worth your while to find a pair that feels really good. Try both the on-ear and over-the-ear types (personally I don’t like buds, and don’t think they sound as good). As a rule people prefer one type over the other. Once you decide which feels best, you can move to. . .
Reproduction. Listen to the balance between highs and lows, listen to the headphones at the quietest possible setting as well as the loudest you can stand. Remember, that little hiss that doesn’t bother you when it comes over your speakers will be intolerable when it’s beamed directly into your ears.
I suggest starting with a general retailer just to get a feel for what you want. Then move to a specialized audio retailer. If you really can’t tell the difference between what they offer and what the general retailer offers, choose by customer service and price.
Actually if you’re a lunatic you can spend $10,000 on a pair of headphones .
I agree with Kunilou in general, but egotist that I am, I will make a starting recommendation .
Unwashed Brain is right - Relative to price, Grado Sr-60’s are probably the best bargain to be had in terms of sound quality. I would definitely give them a listen. However I find that all of the Grado models feel fine when I put them on, but become very uncomfortable very quickly ( not everyone agrees with that assessment, but many do ). Give them a try - But get them from a store with a return policy. Grado’s, IMO and that of many others are the best “quality” headphones for rock, sound-wise.
Personally, I’m partial to Sennheiser. Vastly more comfortable, a little less “bright” and fatiguing to MY ears than the Grado’s. They do tend to be pricey. You can get the brand new, but discontinued Sennheiser 580 model ( which is what I use ) for a very reasonable price right now on the internet ( try http://www.audioadvisor.com or, cheaper still, Ebay ) - Well worth it. However they can be a little less clear than the Grado’s with bass-heavy hard rock. Also you cannot drive them with a little Walkman, at least not properly. You need a real amp of some sort. Very good for classical, jazz, acoustic in general.
The problem with both of the above is that they are “open” designs and do not insulate sound well. Getting headphones that are silent to the outside world come at a trade-off in sound quality. If you must have sealed phones look at some of the models at:
They make headphone amps ( unnecessary, as often as not, IMO - Except for extremely discriminating audiophiles ), but their headphone reviews are extensive and reasonably balanced.
I’ve looked up the Grado headphones and like what I read. EVERY review is glowing and the price is right.
Unfortunately they only come in supraural design which rests on your ears (as mentioned above). From past experience I know this will bother me. For short listening periods it is fine but I will most definitely use mine for extended hauls on occasion and this simply won’t do.
So next up I’ve been perusing the Sennheiser which overall are given solid reviews. In addition, they have a circumaural design (see…I’m learning buzzwords!). The around the ear cup is the only way to go it seems for true comfort.
Unfortunately for me the Sennheisers seem to require a decent amp to be plugged into for proper audio clarity. The majority of my listening will be via my PC and while my soundcard is decent I somehow suspect it lacks in the amp department (Soundblaster Live if anyone cares). The Sennheisers are also pricey (as mentioned above) which doesn’t help.
Sony headphones seem capable but kinda blah. Whne they start rockin they start costin $$$.
Koss…I dunno. A few decent reviews but…I dunno. They just don’t do it for me for some reason.
So again…thanks for the opinions and links so far. They’ve been a big help.
BTW: Here’s a link to a pair of $12,000 headphones mentioned above (in case no one thought they were real).
But then I had a look… If they throw in the valve amplifier then I may sonsider it!
I’ve got to say that I bought some £35 Sony earphones and they are the dogs! And I do like my music. I recommend them. Wee things that sit right in your ear for great bass.
If you’re worried about the way you LOOK… then you should avoid headphones altogether. I have a pair of Koss phones (about $50 retail) and I love them. Now, I’m not using the classic Koss’s, but the PRO580 (or some such number).
Three things:
They are comfortable
They sound great
Lifetime guarantee
…in general, they seem to meet most of your requirements.
Sennheiser is also a good brand, but it’d be best if you went to a stereo store and tried on a few paris to judge sound quality and comfort yourself.
I think only a REAL audio freak with money to throw away would need a pair of those phones that equal the cost of an entry-level Mustang…
I was extremely happy with my Sony MDR-V6 headphones for 10 years, and when the cushy earpieces finally fell apart recently, I went shopping for replacements. After checking out all the offerings at several stores (mainstream stores, mind you, no places that carry audiophile stuff), I decided that the Sony MDR-V6’s are still a very clear winner in sound and comfort, so I bought another pair.
I highly recommend them. I think they cost me $69.
One thing to consider is whether you want to block outside noise out. A friend of mine has a very nice sounding pair of Sennheiser headphones, but they hardly block outside noise at all. It’s as if instead of wearing headphones, there is just music coming from a spot half an inch away from your ear. Some people prefer this, but I prefer the enclosed-ear type.
Sure thing Honkytonkwillie; The model is MDR-EX70LP. And they have little rubber things surrounding the driver that actually sit right in your ear.
Probably awful for the well-being of your ears, but at least you can enjoy the music while you’re still capable! I’ve never had to use the bass level button on my minidisc player again.
I use my Sennheiser 580s with my PC, no problems. I use an old stereo receiver that was sitting around gathering dust as a headphone amp. If you don’t have an old receiver or amp sitting around, check out a couple of yard sales (or even eBay, but you’ll pay more) - you should be able to find a cheap one fairly quickly.
And don’t write Koss off too quickly - I have two pairs of headphones I use while commuting - a pair of Koss TNT/77s I bought about 8 years ago for under $50, and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-831s that cost me about 4 times that, plus a Headroom Supreme amp to drive them (the Koss’s don’t need it). The Koss’s sound almost as good as the Beyers, and I probably wouldn’t have bothered with the Beyers at all except I needed a set of sealed headphones, and I couldn’t find anything cheaper that I liked.
Unfortunately, the TNT/77s are out of production, but the Porta-Pros sound similar. However, you did mention you were looking for circumnaural phones, so that would rule those out.
Here’s a tip: when auditioning phones, try to find a well-recorded piece of classical music to listen to. I’ve found that a set of phones’ “openness” (something that most of the cheap Sonys lack) is most noticeable with classical.
I was recently looking for some nice headphones and after doing a bit of research, I decided to get the Sennheiser HD495s. As far as value goes, you can’t beat the direct offer from Sennheiser: $65.95 and no S/H for a refurbished pair (MSRP is $150)
And just for the record…
28 users gave the HD495 an average rating of 4.79/5
74 users gave the Grado SR60 an average rating of 4.55/5
Maybe Sennheiser is just really good at restoring stuff…but my refurbished pair looked brand new. I’ve been very happy with them because:
They sound great (though I’m no audiophile)
They look great (check either of the links)
They are extremely light and comfortable
The only negative I have found is that there is a little too much sound leakage for my taste, but that’s what you get with the open-air design. It’s not that bad though.
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