I need some headphones. Update: Bought Grado SR-80s. Update2: Recieved. Update3: Bought some new pads. Update4: Recieved

[Eli]

I want new, fresh advice.

So, how about this...

I'll list a price, and you tell me what's good in that price range.

~$50$(±$20)7

And ~$100(±$20)

I'll weigh whether the added cost is worth it or not ....

Update: Picked up some Grado SR-80's for 91$ shipped on eBay the other day. Should be recieving them next week sometime.

I'll post what I think.

Update2:: Wow, recieved them way earlier than I thought. USPS Priority is way faster than UPS Ground.

Well... hmm.

The comfort thing is definately going to be an issue.

When I first got them, the spring was so stiff that it made my ears/head hurt after a half an hour. A bit of stretching and adjusting has eased the clamping force on my head.

The biggest problem is that I guess my ears are small, so my ears try to fit inside the cups.. Parts of my ears are resting against the harsh plastic driver grill instead of the foam.

I'm thinking that if I can get new foam pieces for them, that it will be OK.

As for the sound, they sound great. You must take into account that before this, I have never had a pair of headphones that was over 10$.. so I do not exactly have a lot to compare it to.

They definately sound better than the 10$ headphones I had(Sony MDR-201). And they haven't even broken in yet. Although I do have to admit, I don't know if the difference is worth 8x the price... I haven't objectionally listened to enough headphones.

The bass is more full. It sounds much more like listening to the stereo through the regular speakers, than tinny headphones.

Mids and highs are crisp and non-fatiguing. I put on the other headphones to compare and immediately noticed the incredible ammount of high frequency distortion my old headphones were giving off, even at only moderate volume levels. It was really grating compared.. And to think, I was used to it.. :Q

I've only logged about an hour with them so far, but I let them play all day yesteray to help break them in.

Are there different foam pads you can get for these 'phones?

Update3: I picked up some "Mod" pads for them.

They're pads for the Sennheiser HD414's. Apparently they fit perfectly and are more comfy.

Update4: Got the new pads. They're a tight fit, but wow.. they make all the difference. The headphones are 100x more comfy now. I should be able to wear them forever without any ear fatigue.

 

[dc]

open?closed?headphones?earbuds/plugs/canalphones?

 

[jagec]

Sennheiser HD280s.

 

[Nohr]

Sennheiser HD497 and Grados are popular in the $50-$100 range.

 

[Viper GTS]

dc asks a good question, but for starters:

Open: Grado SR-60/SR-80
Closed: Sennheiser HD212/Sennheiser HD280 Pro
Canals: Sony EX-71/Etymotic ER-6

Suggestions in both price ranges for each category. I ignored earbuds intentionally.

Viper GTS

 

[poopaskoopa]

I liked and bought Sennheiser HD280 because it was about $80 and I think they sound great. I also listened to a couple of Sonys and I didn't like the popular DJ one at all. I liked V6 though. That one cost about $80 as well, I think.

 

[myusername]

I had the 497's for a day and was impressed with the sound, but didn't realize they were "on ear" instead of "over ear", so I traded them in for 555's, which fit very comfortably. (I couldn't see wearing the 497's for hours on end, which I have no problem doing with the 555's).

 

[TitanDiddly]

Sennheiser HD 212 pros. 497s are good too.

 

[Baked]

Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

 

[esun]

Grado SR-80s. I've got the HD280 Pros and while they're nice for sealed phones, they're just not as good as the Grados. I've also heard the MS-1s, and you should definitely consider them depending on what you like listening to. The Grados are more aggressive than the MS-1s, which can be either a good or a bad thing depending on your preference.

 

[aux]

Another vote for Grado SR60 or SR80. I have SR80, these are not the most comfortable headphones, but the sound quality is great for the price. I had Sennheiser HD-280, but I didn't like them, although most people like them.

 

[Anubis]

Grado SR-90s

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: dc
open?closed?headphones?earbuds/plugs/canalphones?

Dunno? Dunno? Yes? No/no/no.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: dc
open?closed?headphones?earbuds/plugs/canalphones?

Dunno? Dunno? Yes? No/no/no.

What kind of listening environment?

How important are isolation & leakage to you?

Isolation = How much you can hear your environment
Leakage = How much your environment can hear your music

Since you've already nixed canals (which you might want to reconsider, some excellent sound for cheap...) do you prefer headphones that rest on your ears (supra-aural) or around your ears (circumaural)?

IN GENERAL:

Open = Low isolation, high leakage
Closed = High isolation, low leakage
Canals = Very high isolation, very low leakage

At your pricepoint (excluding canals) the open options sound better than the closed options. Get open if you don't need to worry about leakage and don't need high isolation.

Viper GTS

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Baked
Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

An amp to drive headphones? I'll be using them through a preamp such as this eventually, not for portable music or anything.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Baked
Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

An amp to drive headphones? I'll be using them through through a preamp such as this eventually.

Yes, an amp is an essential component for high end headphones.

If you don't plan to go that far avoid cans that need amps to sound good.

Virtually all modern portable players have EXTREMELY weak output (to jack up battery life). They simply aren't capable of driving even moderately decent headphones.

If you want to get really extreme you'd have a CD player feeding an external DAC, then an amp with two fully separated channels + headphones wired for dual mono.



Viper GTS

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: dc
open?closed?headphones?earbuds/plugs/canalphones?

Dunno? Dunno? Yes? No/no/no.

What kind of listening environment?

How important are isolation & leakage to you?

Isolation = How much you can hear your environment
Leakage = How much your environment can hear your music

Since you've already nixed canals (which you might want to reconsider, some excellent sound for cheap...) do you prefer headphones that rest on your ears (supra-aural) or around your ears (circumaural)?

IN GENERAL:

Open = Low isolation, high leakage
Closed = High isolation, low leakage
Canals = Very high isolation, very low leakage

At your pricepoint (excluding canals) the open options sound better than the closed options. Get open if you don't need to worry about leakage and don't need high isolation.

Viper GTS

Just in my room.. I don't care about isolation or leakage, but comfort is a plus....

My ears don't seem to do well with pressure on them, it makes them hurt..

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Baked
Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

An amp to drive headphones? I'll be using them through through a preamp such as this eventually.

Yes, an amp is an essential component for high end headphones.

If you don't plan to go that far avoid cans that need amps to sound good.

Virtually all modern portable players have EXTREMELY weak output (to jack up battery life). They simply aren't capable of driving even moderately decent headphones.

If you want to get really extreme you'd have a CD player feeding an external DAC, then an amp with two fully separated channels + headphones wired for dual mono.



Viper GTS

See my edit. They won't ever leave my house, and I don't own any portable music devices. They'll only be hooked up through my stereo.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Baked
Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

An amp to drive headphones? I'll be using them through through a preamp such as this eventually.

Yes, an amp is an essential component for high end headphones.

If you don't plan to go that far avoid cans that need amps to sound good.

Virtually all modern portable players have EXTREMELY weak output (to jack up battery life). They simply aren't capable of driving even moderately decent headphones.

If you want to get really extreme you'd have a CD player feeding an external DAC, then an amp with two fully separated channels + headphones wired for dual mono.



Viper GTS

See my edit. They won't ever leave my house, and I don't own any portable music devices. They'll only be hooked up through my stereo.

What is your "stereo"?

Much like separates are used in high end HT separates are used in headphones too.

Portable devices aren't the only reason you'd want an amp.

Bottom line is how far do you plan to take this?

Viper GTS

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Baked
Sennheiser doesn't sound "good" until you get to HD580/HD595/HD600/HD650 range, and you're gonna need an amp that can drive them.

$100 = Alessandro MS-1 or Audio-Technica A500. Excellent value and performance for starting Open and Close cans. Don't require amp.

An amp to drive headphones? I'll be using them through through a preamp such as this eventually.

Yes, an amp is an essential component for high end headphones.

If you don't plan to go that far avoid cans that need amps to sound good.

Virtually all modern portable players have EXTREMELY weak output (to jack up battery life). They simply aren't capable of driving even moderately decent headphones.

If you want to get really extreme you'd have a CD player feeding an external DAC, then an amp with two fully separated channels + headphones wired for dual mono.



Viper GTS

See my edit. They won't ever leave my house, and I don't own any portable music devices. They'll only be hooked up through my stereo.

What is your "stereo"?

Much like separates are used in high end HT separates are used in headphones too.

Portable devices aren't the only reason you'd want an amp.

Bottom line is how far do you plan to take this?

Viper GTS

See the link.

I'm planning on getting a Dynaco Stereo 120 along with one of their tube-pre amps, like the PAS-3 I linked to on eBay. But I'm going to have to pick them up one at a time due to budget constraints.

So I want some at least above average headphones. I'm using some 15 dollar Sony MDR-201's right now... lol

 

[chuckywang]

porn waking mommy and daddy up?

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
porn waking mommy and daddy up?

.....

No? lol

 

[Viper GTS]

I'm not sure how appropriate those will be for driving headphones...

Viper GTS

 

[Eli]

Picked up some Grado SR-80's for 91$ shipped on eBay the other day. Should be recieving them next week sometime.

I'll post what I think.

 

[fbrdphreak]

NM