Looking for good headphones

B

bmoney9

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
236
Hey all,

I am in the market for some new Headphones. I am not a huge audio head but do like a good set. I am in the price range of about 100$. Max would be 150$.

I am a sennheiser fan. I own their pc150 headset with mic. The left ear is cutting in and out so I decided its time for a new type of headset/headphones. I can use my webcam for a mic anyways, so I think I will stay with headphones now unless you all can convince me.

Looked at sennheiser hd555 and have seen great reviews for them. Anything else I should look at? I want to stray away from an amp as I would like to use them for travel too.

Let me know what you all think!

Thanks in advance!
 
I have the hd555's and they are not too shabby... Maybe the best you can get for $100. They are a little bulky, and the sound does bleed out so anyone within 10 feet will hear what you're listening to; not too ideal for use in voice chat.
 
Open air ftw, but like TOP has mentioned, they bleed out. Hint the mesh.

IMO I would rather get these. They are cheaper and IMO better.

Audio Technica ATH-AD700
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU

But if you want a pair of cans to use on the bus or w/e, you should be looking elsewhere or you will be pissing off a bunch of people.

This is twice your budget, but a great pair of closed cans. About $100 off their normal price.
http://www.buy.com/prod/denon-ah-d2...eo/q/sellerid/23519142/loc/111/204242050.html
 
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Another vote for the AD700/ HD555 (I have the HD595 which I have used a lot, the difference to the HD555 without the foam inside isn't massive, and I like them a lot, although they are less comfy now than they were before)
 
MrWizard6600 said:
whats driving them? Your standard Onboard 5.1?
Click to expand...

yea its onboard 7.1

BurntToast said:
Open air ftw, but like TOP has mentioned, they bleed out. Hint the mesh.

IMO I would rather get these. They are cheaper and IMO better.

Audio Technica ATH-AD700
http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU

But if you want a pair of cans to use on the bus or w/e, you should be looking elsewhere or you will be pissing off a bunch of people.

This is twice your budget, but a great pair of closed cans. About $100 off their normal price.
http://www.buy.com/prod/denon-ah-d2...eo/q/sellerid/23519142/loc/111/204242050.html
Click to expand...

Yea I don't want to piss off a bunch of people. I would use it for traveling via airplane, bus, car, anything of the sort. I wouldn't mind buying a great pair of closed cans if they are worth it. Any other suggestions?
 
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Audio Technica do a range of closed cans, but with your travelling requirements they might be a bit unwieldy and cumbersome. They do an A500 and 700, although not as loved as the AD series I think they are still fairly good. And of course, if you could stretch to the Denons, they would be great, but of course increasing the budget opens other options too, such as the A900 AT and maybe even the Shure 840's. Not sure exactly how prices are your side of the pond though :)
 
Yeah there's alot to be gained by throwing a decent amplifier into the mix. Typically integrated audio does give you all the channels you want and half decent quality if you're going for high gain speakers, but for headphones there not so great.

If you're looking to spend $100 go for the Senny HD 555's, they're excellent and they're relatively low nominal resistance meaning they'll make your onboard audio sound as good as it can.

If you're looking for something better / more expensive you could buy a $100 sound-card in addition to some higher impedance cans such as the Audio Technica A/AD 700, but don't try to drive a pair of those headphones with onboard audio.

my .02.
 
MrWizard6600 said:
Yeah there's alot to be gained by throwing a decent amplifier into the mix. Typically integrated audio does give you all the channels you want and half decent quality if you're going for high gain speakers, but for headphones there not so great.

If you're looking to spend $100 go for the Senny HD 555's, they're excellent and they're relatively low nominal resistance meaning they'll make your onboard audio sound as good as it can.

If you're looking for something better / more expensive you could buy a $100 sound-card in addition to some higher impedance cans such as the Audio Technica A/AD 700, but don't try to drive a pair of those headphones with onboard audio.

my .02.
Click to expand...


Ok I wasn't looking to spend a lot of money on this 'upgrade' but these thoughts will keep in my mind until I come to decision. Thanks for the help and explaining that to me!
 
Liggywuh said:
Audio Technica do a range of closed cans, but with your travelling requirements they might be a bit unwieldy and cumbersome. They do an A500 and 700, although not as loved as the AD series I think they are still fairly good. And of course, if you could stretch to the Denons, they would be great, but of course increasing the budget opens other options too, such as the A900 AT and maybe even the Shure 840's. Not sure exactly how prices are your side of the pond though :)
Click to expand...

Yea I wouldn't mind increasing my budget just a little bit. I think I will need to look for an amplifier sound card too then.
 
The FiiO E7 + FiiO E9 together is a fairly popular budget non tube amp setup. The E7 is also portable btw for when it is not docked with the E9 for home use.
 
I tried the HD595 and they sound very bland, boring to me. Thats the HD555's better headphones.

I have the AD700 and they are better in terms of soundstage and audio quality.

+1 for AD700.
 
I love my Sennheisers, but I hate that the design is horrible and they are doing nothing to fix it. Had a pair of 555s, now on a pair of 518s. Had the 555's for a little over a year, and I've had the 518's for less than 2 months, and there's already a crack developing where the drivers connect to the headband. Unless they can resolve this once and for all I don't think I will buy another set. I know they have a great warranty, but it's a huge hassle to deal with.
 
Yeah I'll put in my bid for an Auzentek Bravura + Audio Technica A700s (the closed ones). Total that will run you about $250-$300, but its a nice setup.

pwnrhasta2 said:
I tried the HD595 and they sound very bland, boring to me. Thats the HD555's better headphones.

I have the AD700 and they are better in terms of soundstage and audio quality.

+1 for AD700.
Click to expand...

Yeah they have good clarity (after buying some Senny earphones that are terrible I've realized how good those headphones were), and they'll produce sound right down to the bottom of my audible hearing range, but the sound stage isn't there and the mid-tones do blend a bit. The Senny HD500s are also without a doubt the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. You can wear them for a full day and not walk away with sweaty or inflamed ears.

Jumping back to the advantages of a sound card and a good pair of high-resistance headphones: the advantage of going with such a setup isn't massive, Its not "omg how did I ever listen to anything else", but its noticeable. I'd liken it to the difference between a good DVD and a 720P source on a 32" TV. Sitting down and listening to Hyper's Cascade (which sounds a fair bit better in half decent quality) on my setup is one of my favourite ways to code ("aggressively commit changes" as Gina Trapani puts it). Also worth noting is that after 3 or 4 hours with the AT A700s (difference between the A700s and the AD700s is that the A700s are closed, meaning no air circulation) my ears get inflamed to the point where I have to take a break --which is probably a good idea at that point.

edit: My experience has not at all been like adurn03's. To the contrary, I really liked my HD 555's because they are modular and thus very easy to clean. They met their death 2.5 years after I bought them because I was dumb enough to put a screw-driver through the driver cone (long embarrassing story).
 
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Been dj'ing for 11 years. Sennheisers are without a doubt one of the best studio level headphones you can buy in the lowend (sub 300$) part of the spectrum. You might also want to consider a pair of pioneer's. They make some really good comfortable headphones that are good for noise canceling (ideal at a party when you cant rely on whats coming out of the speakers due to a slight delay depending on how its wired). Whatever you buy, just make sure not to listen to them too loudly, i've done more damage to my inner ear from headphones than from the thousands of parties and events i've been to.

Its a little out of your budget but i'd recommend the Sennheiser hd25's
 
MrWizard6600 said:
Yeah I'll put in my bid for an Auzentek Bravura + Audio Technica A700s (the closed ones). Total that will run you about $250-$300, but its a nice setup.



Yeah they have good clarity (after buying some Senny earphones that are terrible I've realized how good those headphones were), and they'll produce sound right down to the bottom of my audible hearing range, but the sound stage isn't there and the mid-tones do blend a bit. The Senny HD500s are also without a doubt the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. You can wear them for a full day and not walk away with sweaty or inflamed ears.

Jumping back to the advantages of a sound card and a good pair of high-resistance headphones: the advantage of going with such a setup isn't massive, Its not "omg how did I ever listen to anything else", but its noticeable. I'd liken it to the difference between a good DVD and a 720P source on a 32" TV. Sitting down and listening to Hyper's Cascade (which sounds a fair bit better in half decent quality) on my setup is one of my favourite ways to code ("aggressively commit changes" as Gina Trapani puts it). Also worth noting is that after 3 or 4 hours with the AT A700s (difference between the A700s and the AD700s is that the A700s are closed, meaning no air circulation) my ears get inflamed to the point where I have to take a break --which is probably a good idea at that point.

edit: My experience has not at all been like adurn03's. To the contrary, I really liked my HD 555's because they are modular and thus very easy to clean. They met their death 2.5 years after I bought them because I was dumb enough to put a screw-driver through the driver cone (long embarrassing story).
Click to expand...

By design, I meant the fact that they continually have the problem with cracking. They are extremely comfortable once the headband is broken in (minor "clamping" sensation when brand new), and the sound I feel is superb. The cracking is the only downfall of them.

Basically this:

senn2.jpg


Turned into this:

senn1.jpg


And eventually the left driver assembly came completely detached from the headband. I wish they sold replacement assemblies so I could reattach them. Such a shame to not be able to use the old set.

And before anyone says abuse, they never left my computer desk, and I always hung them on a hook on the wall beside my desk to keep them away from damage.
 
What i like about the Senn HD25's is every part on them is replaceable, and i've never seen a broken pair either (of the hd25's)
 
Just reading this and checked my 595's and yes, they have a crack on the left side. Never noticed as it is so small.
 
If you are using them for travel as well wouldn't you prefer buds since they block the noise (crying babies, jet engines, etc)? If you want another pair of open air then you might consider the Grado 60 or 80 as they are under $100 and sound great. If you are concerned about sound quality a Fiio e7 plugs right into your USB port (avoiding the need to open up your case and allowing you to easily move it to a laptop or whatever) and provides MUCH better sound than most sound cards. It also works with MP3 players etc as it has a battery.

Grado 125 + E7 == audio goodness.
 
Gnasher said:
Consider these too. Closed headphone and $9.00 over your budget.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000P62ND6

Audio-Technica ATH-M50
Click to expand...

I have a pair of these and a pair of Grado SR-80's. Both about $100 and COMPLETELY polar opposites. I tend to listen to the M50's more but the treble on the SR-80's is sooo nice.

I would suggest getting (or at least listening to) some phones, (these two are a very good example) to see what 'kind' of sound you prefer. Then you can spend the big bucks and get some higher end cans.

Honestly it's hard for me to say which one of these two I like better. They both have quite different qualities, and I like them both for different reasons. If you are into bass then get the M50's and if you are a treble head get the Grados. Honestly I am kind of BOTH a bass head and a treble head so I like having both and switch them out fairly often.

(BTW I got my M50's for about $100 on ebay, and the SR-80's go for about that at retail so you may even be able to step up to the 125's if you find a good online price.)
 
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I am goin to look more into the AD700 the Grado 125, and others you all have suggested. It is hard to narrow down the headphones. The fii7 looks like to be a good addon for a 'sound card' and it is portable which is cool.
 
Grado are pretty fragile imo. They are very lightweight but also old style construction. The AD700 are earmuffs. Traveling with those would be a bit of a pain. You are truly better off with either earbuds or iems for travel.
 
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