Good headphones?

dude8604

Platinum Member
Oct 3, 2001
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I've been using my dad's 1970s headphones which still sound really good, but there's some sort of loose connection which is making them unusable. I have some Sennheiser HD500s, but they just don't sound the same anymore, after the better 70s ones. I'm looking to buy some for about $100, maybe up to $150 if they're really good. Do you have any suggestions? Also, if someone knows a lot about headphones, I want to know if I can do much better than my Sennheisers for that price range. Thanks.
 

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
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Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: EGGO
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
You might want to check out the Head-Fi forums: http://www.head-fi.org/

You forgot, "Sorry about your wallet."

:confused:

It's their famous phrase they say to people when they join the board. It means once you try a good pair of headphones, you will be hooked and will end up spending a lot of money on new pairs/amps/upgrades, etc.

 

thespeakerbox

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2004
2,654
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71
HD595s for open. Audiotechnica a900s for closed.

Open ...music
Closed...gaming

You do both you say? Go fro the a900s.
 
Dec 10, 2005
28,333
13,173
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Originally posted by: Special K
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: EGGO
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
You might want to check out the Head-Fi forums: http://www.head-fi.org/

You forgot, "Sorry about your wallet."

:confused:

It's their famous phrase they say to people when they join the board. It means once you try a good pair of headphones, you will be hooked and will end up spending a lot of money on new pairs/amps/upgrades, etc.

Oh.
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
Go out and listen to a few, but sure, check out some Sennheisers, Grado SR-60 or SR-80s, etc.

Good luck! :D
 

lizardboy

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2000
3,488
0
71
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Go out and listen to a few, but sure, check out some Sennheisers, Grado SR-60 or SR-80s, etc.

Good luck! :D

got the sr-60's last month, love 'em so far
 

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
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I have Grado SR60s and love them. Only costed me $65 bucks too. Sounds really really good to me. I also have e2cs that I pair with my cmoy headphone amp. But I wouldn't really recommend those, except for the fact that Shure's customer service is awesome (sent me a new headphone case free of charge when I broke mine).
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
I have the Etymotic ER4S/amp, and I also have the Sennheiser HD497. The Etymotic BLOWS away the Sennheisers, HANDS DOWN. There's absolutely no comparison. It's like a whole nother level of sound. It adds a third dimension to sound that you won't experience from any other setup. Forget surround headphones, or 7.1 speakers. These are the real deal. Live recordings are absolutely amazing. You feel like you're there. You can hear distinctly where the audience is - even down to where each scream is coming from. I've never gotten this sense of soundstage before. Not even from listening to my neighbor's $15k audiophile setup. The Etymotic ER4P can be found for $150. You can get a DIY ER4S(high impedance) upgrade cable for $15 if you choose to get an amp. It really enhances the highs. If you're on a budget, you can get the Altec Lansing iM716, that's based off the Etymotic ER4P for under $100. I think that's easily the best earphones for the price.
 

Ricemarine

Lifer
Sep 10, 2004
10,507
0
0
Originally posted by: lizardboy
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Go out and listen to a few, but sure, check out some Sennheisers, Grado SR-60 or SR-80s, etc.

Good luck! :D

got the sr-60's last month, love 'em so far

I need to pair my sr-60's with a pa2v2 :(... Sucks for my wallet! :).
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Originally posted by: lizardboy
Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Go out and listen to a few, but sure, check out some Sennheisers, Grado SR-60 or SR-80s, etc.

Good luck! :D

got the sr-60's last month, love 'em so far

I need to pair my sr-60's with a pa2v2 :(... Sucks for my wallet! :).

Check out the little dot micro+
It costs less than the PA2V2, has better battery life, better sound. Just ask the people over at head-fi :)
I love mine. The built in battery lasts for over 100 hours!!
 

ethebubbeth

Golden Member
May 2, 2003
1,740
5
91
Chock up another vote for the Grados. I have owned a pair of SR-80's for the past three years and have loved every minute.

I will admit that they are a smidge unfomfortable at first, but eventually the metal headband will conform to the shape of your head making things more bearable.

The 60's are an incredible deal. The 80's are more pricey but get you stronger bass output. If you are willing to go up to $150 like you say in the OP, the SR-125's take things up a notch further.

I had a pair of Sennheiser HD-490's and was relatively unimpressed with their performance. The bass was overly loud and muddy. However, they were incredibly comfortable. I have not tried their higher end phones and have heard that they are much better past the $150 mark.
 

Special K

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2000
7,098
0
76
How strange is it going from a pair of closed phones to an open set like the Grado SR-60 or SR-80 for the first time? If you are going to get an open set, why not just use speakers, cost difference aside?
 

ethebubbeth

Golden Member
May 2, 2003
1,740
5
91
Originally posted by: Special K
How strange is it going from a pair of closed phones to an open set like the Grado SR-60 or SR-80 for the first time? If you are going to get an open set, why not just use speakers, cost difference aside?

The quality of sound in open headphones tends to be much higher, especially in upper and lower frequencies, than with closed headphones. Even if sound leaks out to the surrounding area, it would be much less of a disturbance to others than speakers.

That said, I would never use a pair of open headphones on a portable player.
 

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
0
0
I would reccomend a pair of Grado SR60's. You'll annoy some people, but the sound quality is worth it.

The Sennheiser HD100s are'nt a bad value for the dollar, either.