Headphone recommendations? <$100

[cirthix]

I've moved and no longer have speakers, so I'm looking for some nice headphones.

I don't care for earbud style ones, they annoy me after an hour or so. I used some sennheiser 2200s for a few months a while back and enjoyed them, so I'm looking for something similar.

I've done a bit of reading and the sennheiser hd280 and hd555 look pretty good. How do these compare with the 2200s and others?

What would you recommend? I'm in a quiet room and these will be hooked up to a desktop, no plans for mobile devices or amps. The target application is music (techno+trance mostly) and games (mmm, cod4).

thanks!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Hi

I'm not a really big headphone guy. I have a pair of ~6-7 year old 280s and some newer 580s. I've tried a few others over the years, but I don't know how the 2200s compare to them of the 555s, which I have also read is a pretty solid choice in the pricerange. There are a lot of people who love Grado (sr-80?) on this range as well.

Also Denon AHD1001?

Audio Technica A700/AD700?

Alessandro MS-1?

 

[mshan]

General Survey: http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-budget/

Specific Recommendations and Listening Impressions: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/

 

[Earballs]

For no amplification, good music, and gaming.. I recommend Bose Triports which are close to your $100 price limit.

I game as much as I listen to music at my PC and needed a headset. The Sennheiser PC350 headset does both well, but not as comfortably as the Bose. I felt the need to amplify the Sennheisers however, I used an Asus Xonar Essence STX soundcard to do this. ($160)

I looked for a headset mic I could attach to my Bose Triports for months before I found a great deal on the Sennheisers at ewiz.com ($115). I just loved my Bose that much. Sennheiser sounded better with music, but gaming they come across tinny. That's why I find the Bose to be better all around cans for the price. I can use them with my MP3 player and they sound great too. Their customer service is really professional and helpful. They replaced a first generation set that broke without any cost or hassle to me.

I will also say as a tip, for these purchases I found that ewiz site (or superbiiz, same thing) with bing and they were ~$50 cheaper than newegg and are located in San Jose (local to me) so I get next day delivery from UPS. My new favorite place. Got to love bing cashback too.

I also own Logitech Fatalitys and they were sitting in the garage in a week. (horrid)
Also, a pair of Sennheiser HD280s and they just can't keep up with the Bose. They are quite uncomfortable for my large head too. They are my lan cans though because of the sturdy construction.

 

[ivan2]

the V6s fits the bill and they are made to last.

 

[yh125d]

Refurb HD555? $85 @ ewiz with SUPERSTEAL15

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=HS-SHHD555

 

[Earballs]

The Sennheiser PC350 use the same drivers as the HD555. Minus the mic. That's a great deal. I noticed that the Sennheiser prices have been dropping. I think they are about to refresh their product line.

 

[frostedflakes]

Those ones at eWiz are the 120 ohm version of the HD555s. Fine if you have an amp, but it doesn't sound like OP does.

 

[Tiamat]

Denon D1001 for my ears. It beats out the Grado SR-125 which I have had and enjoyed for over 6 years.

I own a pair of D2000s, my brother owns the D1001

 

[trexpesto]

OK you

15-25,000Hz titanium

Well-loved.

I can vouch for the KSC75 as being comfortable to the point of not noticing.
Headphone.com calls them surprisingly good.
I like the inline volume control, but it wouldn't hurt to get the ones without for purer delivery.
They dont press to your ears, but sound better when you do, which is why the Pro1 is interesting to me. They have a great range, and lively response. Lacking a bit in the timbre department, but they enunciate well. Soundstage is badd, until you press them to your ears, but I just bent the wires with some needlenose pliers and they are better..

KTX KSC75 $11

KTXPro1 $18

Deel thredd

 

[hans030390]

I'd definitely say the JVC HA-RX700 or 900 with mods (900 needs more mods to sound great). At $35 and $55, you really can't go wrong. AMAZING headphones for the price, honestly.

 

[cirthix]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'm leaning more towards the denon d1001k and can get it for 87 shipped on ebay.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: cirthix
Thanks for the recommendations guys. I'm leaning more towards the denon d1001k and can get it for 87 shipped on ebay.

I've read the JVC HA-RX900s are better out of the box than the Denon 1001ks. With mods, some people prefer them in some ways to the Beyerdynamic 880s and Alessandro MS1s. Some people even prefer the 700s over them (the 900s).

BUT, if you're set on getting the 1001Ks, I'd consider the Creative Aurvana Live! headphones. They're the exact same as the 1001s, just with different "housing". (Foster is a company that distributes to companies like Denon and Creative). They would also probably benefit from some modding, like the AH-D2000s.