Recommendations on Some Good/Inexpensive Headphones?

[Longsleeve]

I was window shopping the other day, took a look at the Bose and Sony stores, almost brought out the credit card and then I remembered the good help you guys gave about the stereo equipment (and that Sony and Bose make absolute crap). I'm looking for a pair no more than $175-200 (or cheaper) that would be of higher quality than something I could pick up at Best Buy. Thanks in advance.

[anagrama]

my concepts on "inexpensive" doesnt run around $200 for headphones.

congratulations on being rich and stuff.

I use $50 Sony earbuds and I absolutely swear by them, I used to like gigantic clunky DJ headphones but I hate the size and the fact that the earbuds...generally have nearly the same quality.

[Patrick]

Grado SR-60 or SR-80 might fit your budget. They sound great. Search for deals on the web.

Patrick

[Longsleeve]

Originally posted by anagrama
my concepts on "inexpensive" doesnt run around $200 for headphones.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply mine did, but I know how much some people around these parts shell out for audio.

[Patrick]

Oh, and for the poster with more money to spend - I'd recommend Sennheiser HD-600s. They supposedly list for close to $300, but I got my pair for like $179. You have to shop around online. There are also good "grey market" deals on Ebay if you don't mind taking the risk - sealed in the box, but no warranty.

These headphones are splendid sounding and also magnificently comfortable with big cushioned velvet pads.

Be aware that all the 'phones I'm recommending are "open" phones - they don't seal out the outside world entirely, and the outside world can also hear your music.

For much more detailed info on headphones, headphone amps and the like, check out this amazing site:

http://www.head-fi.org

Patrick

[impossible]

My vote goes to the Grados and/or the Sennheisers. I've never worn a good pair of earbuds. Check out this link. If you really want to get the most out of the cans, youw ill want to have an amplifier. This site has a kit you can buy to build your own! It really isn't very difficult at all.

http://www.headwize.com/

[Longsleeve]

Originally posted by Patrick
Oh, and for the poster with more money to spend - I'd recommend Sennheiser HD-600s. They supposedly list for close to $300, but I got my pair for like $179. You have to shop around online. There are also good "grey market" deals on Ebay if you don't mind taking the risk - sealed in the box, but no warranty.

These headphones are splendid sounding and also magnificently comfortable with big cushioned velvet pads.

Be aware that all the 'phones I'm recommending are "open" phones - they don't seal out the outside world entirely, and the outside world can also hear your music.

For much more detailed info on headphones, headphone amps and the like, check out this amazing site:

http://www.head-fi.org

Patrick
I'll take a look, but I did notice on the Sennheiser site:

HD 600 MSRP $449.95

[Longsleeve]

I went into Sound Ideas, a small audio store in the middle of the Columbus ghetto, and the guys there insisted that Sony 700's or 900's are the best headphones I can buy, and I told him how highly recommended the hd600s were and he said professional quality is much better than audiophile and the Sonys will last much longer. Anyway, I still haven't bought anything, but I thought that was interesting.

[Patrick]

The pro headphones might be measure better on the stats, but they're also made for close listening and analysis. The emphasis will be on providing a really detailed picture into the sound. This is what sound engineers need.

This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the record, considering that not all great records are well-recorded (in fact most aren't). Pro equipment will show the recording warts and all... which can make for fatiguing listening.

I like equipment that emphasizes musicality over accuracy.

Patrick

P.S. To the other poster: whatever MSRP you see listed, you can find the HD-600s for under $200. Poke around on the Web.

[Longsleeve]

Poking around the web for the 600's it is.

[Patrick]

Just thought I'd add this essential link to this thread:

http://www.head-fi.org

[Maximo]

Originally posted by Patrick
Just thought I'd add this essential link to this thread:

http://www.head-fi.org


again? :p

[Patrick]

OK, so I'm getting old!

PA

[Maximo]

Oh my... Two major things have occurred in this thread (someone please tell me how to spell occurred...)

First, two Patrick posts ago he forgot to add his classic "Patrick" at the end-- its a first for me, never seen that happen.

And now he's saying "PA" ? Don't we, as the Matador community have some say in this?!

[Paul Davis]

Originally posted by Patrick
Grado SR-60 or SR-80 might fit your budget. They sound great. Search for deals on the web.

I recently picked up the SR-60's and they do sound great. I would highly recommend them.

[nefarious]

For another idea, I really like my AKG Acoustics k240S headphones. You should keep in mind longsleeve that a lot of expensive headphones actually require an amp to sound good. The AKG 240s headphones are low resistance so they sound cool in your walkmen or whatever, and they are sooo comfortable. They sound accurate too as they are actually studio headphones. (Maybe not as good as those grados tho I'm not sure). They may be right in your pricerange too. Made in austria too that's impressive.


And wow.. 100 bucks!
http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--AKGK240STU

Cheers,

Russ

[Patrick]

I've heard good things about these.

Patrick

[dola]

I'm very bummed about about having to return my inexpensive Koss UR-40 headphones to Radioshack today after one day of service. There is just too much sound leakage and I hate when I have to listen to other people's music on the subway, so I need to extend the same courtesy. Too bad, because I obviously am not looking for audiophile quality with these and between the collapsable design and the fabric on top they feel like a damn angel is perched on my head.

So, any suggestions for a decent 50-$100 pair of (i guess) closed headphones for my big head? Do I ask too much for too little?

Patrick you mentioned that the SR-60s, being open, will create some amount of outside sound? How much? The UR-40s are really terrible with this but I guess that's part of the deal.

I'm thinking the HD-202's (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-202-Headphones/dp/B000065BP9/ref=pd_cp_e_2?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000065BPB&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=044TV5XR4VD8RN4GE9T4) or the HD-212's (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-212-HD-212-Headphones/dp/B000065BPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244129652&sr=1-1) but i'm reading conflicting reviews that are scary. You'd think the 212's are necessarily better but maybe not?

This thread on head-fi (http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/koss-ur40-vs-sennheiser-hd202-369041/) has been kinda essential in helping me beyond idiot-level.


Also looking at these:
AKG K26p (http://www.amazon.com/AKG-Acoustics-K26P-Foldable-Headphones/dp/B00066UTBS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1223093479&sr=1-5) / Roland RH-50s (http://www.amazon.com/Roland-RH-50-Headphones-ear-cup/dp/B000EMLLGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244130518&sr=1-1) / Philips HP460 (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HP460-Foldable-Stereo-Headphone/dp/B0008GN8MS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244130643&sr=1-1)

Also, what does it mean when you say that a certain headphone "isn't very efficient?" You have to crank it or need an amp?

[Patrick]

Closed headphones I don't know much about, sorry. I think those Senns you mentioned are probably the ones to go for.

The Grados leak sound.

I know it's too much information... but Head-Fi is the place to go for recommendations:

http://www.head-fi.org

[dola]

Thanks PA i'll prolly go for the 202 and hope for the best.


And right on schedule I just took the elevator back up from with a woman whose earbuds were leaking some "dollah bill y'all" shit (not CREAM). Gross.

Navigating this forum

1. Read before posting. Research before posting. Use the search function before posting. There are answers to almost every question you have and ones you didn’t know you had buried everywhere in this forum. Please do a little research before asking, “What’s the best headphone for $100?” There are already 900 threads answering questions about good headphones for bass, and gaming, and jazz, and trance, and classical, and there was even a not surprisingly lengthy thread about what headphones for were good for dirty movies.

lol

Edit: Fuck sound i'm going with the Panasonic RP-HTX7PP-K (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-RP-HTX7PP-K-Retro-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000I2T5E2/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_1)! Actually the sound seems fine for $34.