Can anyone recommend some good open-air headphones?

[NTB]

Suggestions? I'm specifically looking for open headphones because I'm partially deaf - I'm afraid that closed and / or noise-cancelling headphones would block out too much background noise, that I'd miss the phone ringing or somebody in the house yelling for me or something. As for price, I'd like to stay near or (preferably) under $100.

Nate

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

My own sennheisers are closed, but these are some nice open ones in the $100 range from them.

HD555s for $99 from zzf shipped for example. OOS now though.

HD590s from a place with good reseller ratings for a little over $100 shipped

Check out headfi.org for more headphone info.

 

[Chesebert]

Grado sr60, 80,
Allesandro MS1
Used: HD580, AKG K501, ATH 900, DT990, DT880

no amp? MS1, sr60,sr80, and ATH900 ONLY

 

[CorCentral]

If you choose any sennheisers, just remember, the Bass is just not there. I own a pair of JVC HA-DX3's and they beat the more expensive sennheisers by a large margin.

The JVC's will run you around $130.00 new but you won't think of returning them once you get them I returned 2 sets of sennheisers because they were more like tweeters you find in a cellphone or cordless phone speaker!
Here's a review site that's pretty decent.
Hither

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
If you choose any sennheisers, just remember, the Bass is just not there. I own a pair of JVC HA-DX3's and they beat the more expensive sennheisers by a large margin.

The JVC's will run you around $130.00 new but you won't think of returning them once you get them I returned 2 sets of sennheisers because they were more like tweeters you find in a cellphone or cordless phone speaker!
Here's a review site that's pretty decent.
Hither

Actually, at this point I think I'll be looking at the two Grados mentioned in the post above, especially the SR60s

EDIT: I wonder where I could find some of these locally, especially the grados...

Nate

 

[gozulin]

I highly recommend the HD580. A bit outside your pricerange but they are quality stuff that you'll have for years and years to come. They're open, comfortable and they sound amazing.

I have'em and I'm no audiophile but I can tell the difference!

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: CorCentral
If you choose any sennheisers, just remember, the Bass is just not there. I own a pair of JVC HA-DX3's and they beat the more expensive sennheisers by a large margin.

The JVC's will run you around $130.00 new but you won't think of returning them once you get them I returned 2 sets of sennheisers because they were more like tweeters you find in a cellphone or cordless phone speaker!
Here's a review site that's pretty decent.
Hither

No bass? I prefer a natural response instead of artificially boosted sounds. I think the Senn's in that range need amplification to work properly. But I think there are newer versions with lower impedance that are suitable for PC users.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: NTB
Suggestions? I'm specifically looking for open headphones because I'm partially deaf - I'm afraid that closed and / or noise-cancelling headphones would block out too much background noise, that I'd miss the phone ringing or somebody in the house yelling for me or something. As for price, I'd like to stay near or (preferably) under $100.

Nate

first off, buy from www.headphone.com

they are the best company and will stand behind everything they sell

second get some high end sennheisers. i think they make some good entry level ones around $150

i myself use the HD600's which really were worth every penny.

remember a $300 pair of headphone can sound as good as a $10,000 pair of speakers. don't be cheap.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: orangat

Originally posted by: CorCentral
If you choose any sennheisers, just remember, the Bass is just not there. I own a pair of JVC HA-DX3's and they beat the more expensive sennheisers by a large margin.

The JVC's will run you around $130.00 new but you won't think of returning them once you get them I returned 2 sets of sennheisers because they were more like tweeters you find in a cellphone or cordless phone speaker!
Here's a review site that's pretty decent.
Hither

No bass? I prefer a natural response instead of artificially boosted sounds. I think the Senn's in that range need amplification to work properly. But I think there are newer versions with lower impedance that are suitable for PC users.

if there is no bass it is because you do not have enough power not because of the headphones. really you should at least be using one of those portable amps if you are using high end headphones. again, www.headphone.com

 

[NTB]

bump for the daytime crowd. Still trying to find somewhere to go and see some of these in person, though I probably will end up ordering them online. A couple of the big chain stores around here carry *some* Senheisers, but none of them (that I'm aware of) carry Grados. Suggestions?

Nate

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug

Originally posted by: orangat

Originally posted by: CorCentral
If you choose any sennheisers, just remember, the Bass is just not there. I own a pair of JVC HA-DX3's and they beat the more expensive sennheisers by a large margin.

The JVC's will run you around $130.00 new but you won't think of returning them once you get them I returned 2 sets of sennheisers because they were more like tweeters you find in a cellphone or cordless phone speaker!
Here's a review site that's pretty decent.
Hither

No bass? I prefer a natural response instead of artificially boosted sounds. I think the Senn's in that range need amplification to work properly. But I think there are newer versions with lower impedance that are suitable for PC users.

if there is no bass it is because you do not have enough power not because of the headphones. really you should at least be using one of those portable amps if you are using high end headphones. again, www.headphone.com

Isn't that what I just said?

 

[forumposter32]

Koss Porta Pro

BTW, I just ordered a Altec Lansing headset, although I haven't tried it yet. It has a microphone.

 

[NTB]

received my Grado SR-60s today. Loving them so far

Nate

 

[Muadib]

Return them, and get the Sr-80. The improvement in bass makes it well worth the extra cash.
I miss the hell out of mine. They were so much better than the sennheisers 595 that I have now.