Headphones ($80 budget)
- Thread starter tcG
- Start date
Try to find a used pair of Audio Technica ATH-500's. I got a pair for $75. It's quite comfortable and it sounds much better than anything I've had.
I love my Grado SR-60s. You don't need volume high to get all the details in the sound. They sound balanced and true rather than lopsided. If you're used to lopsided sound it'll take you a couple days to get used to them. They are fairly comfortable though my ears get hotter than they did with my old Sennheiser HD457s. Others have worn them for six hours straight with no issues so your experience may vary. The general consensus is that they're very comfortable. The cord on them is very durable as well. I have broken every previous set of headphones I've had just because the cord was flimsy (I was able to fix them but I just wanted an upgrade). I ordered mine from HeadRoom (headphone.com) with not a single issue.
Ika
Lifer
- Mar 22, 2006
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Grado? Balanced? That's a new one...
I'm not saying they're bad headphones, it's just that if you want balanced headphones, Grado is probably not gonna be your first choice. Grado headphones are usually pretty bright, with more emphasis on the upper end of the frequency range, and are always very aggressive sounding (which makes them perfect for metal/distorted guitar). I have a pair myself and I love them to death, but I definitely wouldn't snatch them up for classical music or anything.
OP: if you want COMFORT and audio quality, I think it's pretty hard to go wrong with the Audio-Technica A500. The only problem is, they're HUGE. So if you plan on wearing them in public, don't plan on it.
If you ARE going to wear your headphones in public, pick up the AKG K81DJ. These headphones are much smaller and are just as good audio quality-wise. However, the main problem with these headphones is that they're very tight. If you have a large head (like me), you'll probably have some comfort issues (three weeks and I still can't wear them for more than two hours... yarg! I want to love these headphones but I can't!). Other than that, they're amazing.
The bass on the Grado SR-60s may be a little weak compared to others, but the liquid midtones are what make me think they are balanced. Nothing is getting clipped even if the bass response isn't quite as strong. I should perhaps say all-encompassing as opposed to balanced as it is more 'in your face' than other headphones, which is good for some things and not so good for others.
Hmmm...at the time I bought my second pair of MDR-V6 five years ago, the general consensus was that the v6 and 7506 are the same (except for the plug). Here, here, here. Did you mean to say the V600 instead of the 7506?
I've heard both positives and negatives about the Grados, with one negative being they become uncomfortable with extended wear. And open-ear cans aren't for everyone or every situation. Otherwise, they have long been regarded as a decent choice for the price.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2
that should get you started just don't fall in the hole and spend too much.....
that should get you started just don't fall in the hole and spend too much.....
ironically, i never can tell the difference between 320kbps mp3 file vs 128kbps mp3 file.
i mean i am not deaf, but i just dont see a difference
and i probably cant notice the difference between $800 professional headset, versus $20 headphones
Please use emoticons when making jokes. Otherwise, some people here will think you're being serious. Thanks
Have you always used crappy headphones / speakers? On crappy equipment I could see not being able to tell the differenec between 320 and 128
maybe thats why
i always used cheap dollar store speakers for all my life.
maybe thats why i never can tell the difference between 320 vs 128kb
but recently, i got SONY headset for $30, and it pretty much sounds the same
i think its safe to assume that even if i buy $400 headset, it will sound the same
i always used cheap dollar store speakers for all my life.
maybe thats why i never can tell the difference between 320 vs 128kb
but recently, i got SONY headset for $30, and it pretty much sounds the same
i think its safe to assume that even if i buy $400 headset, it will sound the same
Definitely not. It's not that hard for me to tell a 320k MP3 vs. a FLAC on $60 headphones. Not all songs benefit much from lossless encoding, but for those that do, there's quite a difference.
Ika
Lifer
- Mar 22, 2006
- 14,264
- 3
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It really doesn't matter HOW much you spend, but WHAT you spend it on. I can find $15 headphones (Koss KSC75) that sound as good, if not better, than $100 headphones (let's bring up a name.... BORSE omfg). Sony is not exactly the best "audiophile" brand name you can pick, but to get into the next level of sound quality, you'll probably need to spend at least $50. BUT! I can guarantee you if I make you listen to a pair of $200 headphones for three months, then make you listen to a pair of dollar-store headphones, you'll be shocked at how you once couldn't hear the difference.
320kbps versus FLAC? You must have some really good ears, because half the self-proclaimed "audiophile community" can't tell the difference
Originally posted by: Aflac
It really doesn't matter HOW much you spend, but WHAT you spend it on. I can find $15 headphones (Koss KSC75) that sound as good, if not better, than $100 headphones (let's bring up a name.... BORSE omfg). Sony is not exactly the best "audiophile" brand name you can pick, but to get into the next level of sound quality, you'll probably need to spend at least $50. BUT! I can guarantee you if I make you listen to a pair of $200 headphones for three months, then make you listen to a pair of dollar-store headphones, you'll be shocked at how you once couldn't hear the difference.
320kbps versus FLAC? You must have some really good ears, because half the self-proclaimed "audiophile community" can't tell the difference
Is that so? I can even tell the difference on my Sennheiser PC 150's.
- Jul 31, 2006
- 1,202
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Thanks for all the responses guys...
...I know these haven't been brought up yet but, how are these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826159412
...I know these haven't been brought up yet but, how are these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826159412
SonicIce
Diamond Member
- Apr 12, 2004
- 4,771
- 0
- 76
Originally posted by: DavidoFoo
Originally posted by: Aflac
It really doesn't matter HOW much you spend, but WHAT you spend it on. I can find $15 headphones (Koss KSC75) that sound as good, if not better, than $100 headphones (let's bring up a name.... BORSE omfg). Sony is not exactly the best "audiophile" brand name you can pick, but to get into the next level of sound quality, you'll probably need to spend at least $50. BUT! I can guarantee you if I make you listen to a pair of $200 headphones for three months, then make you listen to a pair of dollar-store headphones, you'll be shocked at how you once couldn't hear the difference.
320kbps versus FLAC? You must have some really good ears, because half the self-proclaimed "audiophile community" can't tell the difference
Is that so? I can even tell the difference on my Sennheiser PC 150's.
What would be a good song to compare. I can never tell on senn 497.
Ika
Lifer
- Mar 22, 2006
- 14,264
- 3
- 81
I haven't heard much about Sennheiser's cheaper line, but they might not be all that decent.
If you feel overwhelmed by all the choices you have, then try this link: HeadRoom's Headphone Selection/Summaries.
It may be only one source, but I'd say it gives a pretty decent summary of what you have available. A pretty nice resource for newbies, and their prices are pretty fair as well. If you pick something from there, I'd suggest buying something with at least a 4/5 rating, though there are lots of exceptions.
Oyeve
Lifer
- Oct 18, 1999
- 22,021
- 868
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I have them and the 435 and they both sound pretty good. Only prob is they over emphasive the bass and they will make you sweat as they are foam cushions. They also cannot take much power before clipping but other than that they are pretty darn good. Not very portable at all tho but are very light.
On second thought the Grados are getting a little uncomfortable and I'll probably return them (though I'm going to miss the detailed midtones I'm sure). I just wanted to let you know so you didn't make the same mistake. My Sennheiser HD457s are very comfortable. It's hard to know until you use them a little but I had just gotten them the other day. The bass response wasn't that good and they had little to no 3D spatialization for most of my music. I shouldn't have recommended them so soon. Picking headphones is rather a subjective and frustrating task. I didn't even know how much I would miss the bass of my Sennheisers, but apparently more than I missed the midtones of the Grados.
Update: I still haven't made my decision, but there are some things I am sure about at this point after research. My recommendation is to look at the www.headphone.com and their test section. The frequency response graphs are very helpful in seeing which 'phones respond best at what frequencies, however choosing them is still difficult unless you know what you want. The SR60s do tend to be on the bright side (notice the spark in this graph at the high frequency). More info here: http://www.headphone.com/technical/prod...ments/how-to-interpret-headphone-data/
I've also determined that just what you use your headphones for also matters. One will be good at rap/rock, but another will be noticeably better for jazz/classical.
Forget this. I'm keeping the Grados. It's just that the Shoutcast station I was using as reference had too much treble. The HD457s sound muddy now. I still say the HD457s are more comfortable though. Moral of the story: be sure to use an audio source that doesn't suck.
Picking headphones is rather a subjective and frustrating task. I didn't even know how much I would miss the bass of my Sennheisers, but apparently more than I missed the midtones of the Grados. Update: I still haven't made my decision, but there are some things I am sure about at this point after research. My recommendation is to look at the www.headphone.com and their test section. The frequency response graphs are very helpful in seeing which 'phones respond best at what frequencies, however choosing them is still difficult unless you know what you want. The SR60s do tend to be on the bright side (notice the spark in this graph at the high frequency). More info here: http://www.headphone.com/technical/prod...ments/how-to-interpret-headphone-data/
I've also determined that just what you use your headphones for also matters. One will be good at rap/rock, but another will be noticeably better for jazz/classical.
Forget this. I'm keeping the Grados. It's just that the Shoutcast station I was using as reference had too much treble. The HD457s sound muddy now. I still say the HD457s are more comfortable though. Moral of the story: be sure to use an audio source that doesn't suck.
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