Loud but cheap headphone search

mrtheshaggy

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 28, 2003
Messages
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heya,

My hearing is pretty bad from working with jets for a couple of years. I'm using some sennheiser hd201's with a Xonar DG. The problem is that they just don't get loud enough when im just kicking back and listening to music.

So i was wondering what some good headphones are that can sound fairly good (remember, my hearing sucks) and can get really loud.
 
A good amp is what you're looking for.

Fiio E9 is a great starter amp and it has loads of power
 
I'm looking for cheap headphones and you recommend a $200 amp?

Hope your not planning on going into sales.
 
I'm looking for cheap headphones and you recommend a $200 amp?

Hope your not planning on going into sales.

It might not be a bad idea. A high power amp will drive your phones to higher volume levels. My Tube DAC-09 drives my high impedance cans to deafeningly high volumes at just half volume where the iPhone and both my PC and Mac only go a small distance above the pain threshold at max volume.

Here is a sample, top is 40% from my amp, bottom is 100% from PC, both same track recorded from my headphones using an iPhone:
33bhg21.png


EDIT: And it doesn't really have to be an expensive amp either.
EDIT2: Alternately, consider IEMs. They're not as comfortable as headphones, but they will be loud because of their seal and proximity to the eardrum.
 
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You're not going to get headphones that get much louder without an amp.

Any amp will do.....

And actually the E9 is a hundred bucks, not 200. A cheap cmoy amp can be had for <50.
 
He has senn 201s. They are pretty awful. Try something like a Koss Portapro, JVC HARX700. Or a pair of iems will certainly play louder without an amp. MEElectronics M6 with Sony hybrid tips will play LOUD.
 
Don't forget sensitivity. Those Senns are 108dB @ 24ohms. If he wants louder without an amp he'd be looking for something at 16ohms 108dB+. IEM's are a good bet to find something along those lines for cheap.
 
I like the sound out of IEM's but holy hell do they hurt my ears. The HD201's were a replacement for some icemat siberias I had that were sufficient, but they died on me. I'll get those JVC headphones, seem like a good buy.

Thanks.
 
Those JVC will sound a world better.

They will play less loud than your current phones however.
 
heya,
I'm using some sennheiser hd201's with a Xonar DG. The problem is that they just don't get loud enough when im just kicking back and listening to music.

Well it's not completely your hearing. The HD201's are extremely inefficient headphones, so the volume issues with that set are not unusual.
 
My recommendation: don't get closed headphones if possible.

Open: Audio Technica ATH-AD700
Closed: Sony MDR-V6
 
the HARX 700 are not substantially superior to the HD201, the 201 just really needs to be amped to shine. they're actually quite impressive for $20. they're the only sennheisers i find to actually be worth what they cost.

OP: the reason people aren't recommending alternative headphones is because what you're asking for and what you need to achieve your goal are two different things.

EDIT: just saw that the OP already decided to buy the harx. bummer. here's hoping he'll revisit this thread and read the good advice when the jvc headphones don't get any louder.
 
If it's any consolation, my Sennheiser HD 280 pro's are too loud... have to keep the PC volume on 1 or 2% or else my ears hurt.
 
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