Headphones

[andrew911tt]

I am looking to the audiophiles for help here but i don't think that they can help me with such a cheap purchase. I am looking at both the SENNHEISER PMX100($39.99) and the SENNHEISER CX55($49.99). Right now I use cheap sony ones that are the same form factor as the PMX100 and they really start to hurt after 2 or 3 hours of wearing Which for me happens almost everyday. I have never really had ear buds because the few times that i have tried them they started to hurt after 20 or 30 mins.

Any information on which ones i should get would be very welcome. Also suggestions on headphones in the same price range I should look at would be very helpful.

Thanks
Andrew

 

[ashmedai]

Are you explicitly looking for open phones like the ones you linked? Open = the speakers aren't covered on the outside of the earpieces, so no attempt is made to keep sound from leaking; closed = they are covered in attempt to keep outside sound out and the music in. Open phones tend to sound a bit better, if you do your listening somewhere that you don't have to worry about being a public nusiance.

Canalphones are a bit more comfortable than earphones in my experience, if you can get the pressure right. There are also ones that resemble foam earplugs, which can be pretty nice if done correctly.

Is your price range around $50, or is that just an artifact of the ones you decided to link?

Are you particularly attached to Sennheiser, or just looking at those because you've read that they have good sound?

Do you have any special constraints, like wanting them for use while exercising / jogging? Some otherwise nice phones aren't appropriate for situations like that.

 

[andrew911tt]

Open or closed

I have a hard ceiling on at $65

I any brand is fine with me

I would like to use them for hiking, biking, and sitting at a computer.

If i should get a separate pair for outside i can look into that also.

 

[JamesL]

px100's one of the best choice for that price range. maybe look at koss porta-pro's too.

 

[ashmedai]

To be a lazy bum and paste a copy of the sticky:

$50 and under

Koss SB45 or 40. Owns all headsets in this price point. Get them they are new and they are good. Well built with a lifetime no questions asked they will replace them or fix them good warranty. They sound like the KSC-75 but BIGGER with more sound stage b/c of the over the ear design. Very sturdy build. I am very impressed with the Mic too. They are simply the best headset available. Highly recommend you skip the $20 headset and save up for this one at least. This is entry level. Don't skimp on sound. It is half of the fun in gaming.

http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/p?openform&pc^mm^SB45

SB45 Multi-Media Stereophone

Ideal for gamers who enjoy deep bass, the SB45 features a dynamic element constructed of anisotropic ferrite magnet structures the deliver high sensitivity and reduced distortion for premium sound at all volume levels. Incorporating a frequency response of 18Hz - 20,000Hz, the SB45 delivers a full-range of sound that will bring your favorite games to life. Utilizing oxygen free copper voice coils for improved signal transmission and conduction, sound comes through loud and clear.

Whether you're alone or online, the SB45's sound will be so efficient that you'll hear your opponent before they even know you're there. Its large, closed ear cups surround the ear for maximum isolation so you can stay focused on saving the world or kicking a forty-yard field goal.

Soft, leatherette ear cushions envelope your ears without creating pressure for long lasting comfort. Koss' Clear Voice Technology (CVT) noise canceling electret condenser microphone eliminates excessive background noise for a greater ease of use with PC voice applications, such as speech recognition.

The SB45 has an adjustable headband to fit most head sizes. Built of durable plastic, the SB45's headband can stand up to the rigors of daily wear and tear for a fits-like-new feel after years of use. The SB45 also folds up for compact storage to reduce pains from your desktop clutter and to conveniently fit in your briefcase or backpack if you're gaming on the road.

Built to last, the SB45 is covered under Koss' No-Questions-Asked Lifetime Warranty - the only warranty of its kind in the stereophone industry

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1234050

These look like a headset, and are probably a bit big for athletic stuff. However, they might have some other nice stuff around there.

Here's another version similar to the Senn PX100 - the Senn PX200. Not really sure what's up with that.

 

[fss69]

That Koss is a headset and nowhere near the best in the sub $50 headphone range. Maybe look at the Sennheiser PX100 or Koss KSC75 (if you can stand earclips). Don't go for the PX200, it doesn't have much isolation and sound much much worse than the PX100 which is open. If you don't care about looks and are willing to spring for a couple extra bucks, there's the Crossroads Mylarone X3i for $57. It ships from Singapore, but the store is pretty trustworthy from online reviews http://www.jaben.net/shopping.html . ALL canalphones/IEMs below $50 are garbage and not worth looking at.

 

[ashmedai]

ALL canalphones/IEMs below $50 are garbage and not worth looking at.

If you're looking for something cheap for portable use, they're a pretty solid option since disposability and halfway decent isolation are rather desirable qualities for that case. But apparently the OP has problems wearing them for long.

 

[fss69]

Oh, he mentioned earbuds. I thought he meant the ones that end with plastic, and not the silicone/foams ones you use to plug up your ears.

 

[ashmedai]

Oh, he mentioned earbuds. I thought he meant the ones that end with plastic, and not the silicone/foams ones you use to plug up your ears.

Not really sure. He was a little ambiguous about that, but was talking about them hurting right after linking some canalphones? Otherwise, those tend to be way better than cheap supra-aural phones in my experience. Cheap crap to cheap crap.