New Set of Headphones?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
J

JoJoBoy

Member
Nov 5, 2009
34
0
61
Any suggestions for a good set of headphones. I can spend up to $80 but would prefer to spend a little less if possible. I have really loved my Koss TD61 but they are wearing out. I must have a over the head set that cups around your ears since I have bad cartilage in my ears from wrestling making any pressure on my ears uncomfortable within minutes. I like the specs on the Koss Pro4AAT Titanium Pro Headphones which amazon carries for $60 now. Any thoughts on these or other headphones?
 
Last edited:
aphex

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
I've been using the Denon D1001's recently (retail $149 but findable for $75-$100) and have been very impressed. Probably the most comfortable headphones i've used outside of the Denon D2000's which I owned previously, and no amp required.

Great full sound signature with deep bass, good mids and highs (though not too bright/siblant).

If comfort is key (which for me it is as well as I wear headphones 6-8+ hours a day), the Denon's take the cake.
 
C

Corsairs

Member
Feb 28, 2005
54
0
0
I'm currently looking at the Technica ATH-AD700, which can be bought here for $86. Let me recommend that you take a look at head-fi.org. It's an amazing site for getting info on all things related to headphones.
 
S

Sumotku

Member
Jul 31, 2004
167
0
0
I tried a 10 different pairs over the last year and finally settled on Sony MDR-7506. They run a bit more than you want but are widely agreed to be superior to anything in the price class. Currently 95.00 at Amzon, but again, if you can swing it you won't be sorry. Some of the best sound I've heard. Especially voices, how real they come across. At the same price point I tried a pair of Sennheiser 250's, these make them sound like earbuds- and they were very uncomfortable, in case you're contemplating them as well.
 
ChaiBabbaChai

ChaiBabbaChai

Golden Member
Dec 16, 2005
1,090
0
0
SENNHEISER HD280 Professional http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=386017

They were just on sale for $80 a couple weeks ago - that's the lowest I've ever seen. I paid $99 for mine in 2005. They are great cans but their "flavor" is a bit warm and soft, which compliments their warm and comfortable fit on your noggin'. :) Some of the similar priced Sony's are great, too.
 
Last edited:
T

TheKub

Golden Member
Oct 2, 2001
1,756
1
0
ChaiBabbaChai said:
SENNHEISER HD280 Professional
Click to expand...

Amazon has them for $78 shipped.
http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-...9956946&amp;sr=8-1

I second these ones, primarily for the isolation they provide. I wear them at work (cubical farm) and some times I have a hard time concentrating with every one talking around me. I slap these on even if Im not listening to anything and it cuts 80% of it out. If thats not enough I fire up simplynoise.com and play it on low.

Now with your ear issues I dont know what these will be like, they are over the ear but they are quite tight.
 
C

Corsairs

Member
Feb 28, 2005
54
0
0
Ugh, I just realized I missed the part of the OP's post where he said the cans must be cups. Forget my suggestion of the ATH-AD700, then. Those Sennheiser's being recommended are a good choice. Another option may be the new Shure models; the SRH440 ($77) and the SRH840 ($146).
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
The Shure SRH440s look like they're a good prospect headphone. I'm thinking about buying a pair myself, but I don't know if I really need them. I currently have the JVC HA-RX700 and they sound absolutely fantastic. I like Koss headphones, too, so the sound will be right up your alley (kind of).
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
ChaiBabbaChai said:
SENNHEISER HD280 Professional http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=386017

They were just on sale for $80 a couple weeks ago - that's the lowest I've ever seen. I paid $99 for mine in 2005. They are great cans but their "flavor" is a bit warm and soft, which compliments their warm and comfortable fit on your noggin'. :) Some of the similar priced Sony's are great, too.
Click to expand...



yes size matters.

what i say is important yes?
 
ChaiBabbaChai

ChaiBabbaChai

Golden Member
Dec 16, 2005
1,090
0
0
0roo0roo said:
yes size matters.

what i say is important yes?
Click to expand...

I copied the text from zipzoomfly.com and it kept the formatting in here..... too lazy to switch to advanced mode. Jackass.... :thumbsdown: I actually un-bolded it though....
 
M

murphyslabrat

Senior member
Jan 9, 2007
314
0
0
I'm gonna give my couple cents:

Most of the phones that are being listed are ones that put pressure fully or even marginally on the ear, which was specifically mentioned as a problem. So far, the best phones listed for the purpose were the Sennheiser HD 280's.

Here's a link to a b-stock listing for ~$60 shipped. It's a really good deal from a decent seller.
http://www.dakmart.com/product_info.php?products_id=9813

Runners up would be the Sony MDR-7506/MDR-V6 (both are the same headphones, but with different decals) and the Denon D1001k/Creative Aurvana Live!, which are also practically the same headphones.

Both models (Sony and the Denon/Creative one) put mild pressure on the ears. Try stuffing a rag in a bowl, and put it over your ear, and you'll get an idea of what they feel like. The Denon/Creative ones are definitely the more comfortable set of the two. Basically, the pressure is slight enough that both will "disappear" after a while, at least with good ears. As Aphex noted, though, the Denon/Creatives are definitely some of the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. Though, the Sennheiser HD 280's would be the safer choice. You're Guaranteed to be ok with them, as they are fully circumaural headphones, as apposed to the runners up, which are semi-circumaural.

Links are below:
Sony MDR-V6, again from Dakmart for about $70. I found it elsewhere for a similar price, so you can look.
http://www.dakmart.com/product_info.php?products_id=3546

The Denon/Creative phones are more expensive, typically retailing at <$100 from any reputable dealers.
Here's a link to the aforementioned eBay seller's auctions. At the time of this post, there was one listing on the second page, and one on the third. Mine ended at about $40, but didn't come with the bag or 1/4" adapter.
http://shop.ebay.com/123bidsold/m.h...7C72%3A2464&_ipg=&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_pgn=1
 
Last edited:
konakona

konakona

Diamond Member
May 6, 2004
6,285
1
0
If AD700's cups are anything like AD2000, I wouldn't exactly call them very comfy without doing the tube modding. Excellent value otherwise, or so I was told. Not sure what you will be able to find in that price range that meets all the criteria. I am personally a senn 580/600/650 fan, and I think you would be able to find a used 580 for that much. It's just that decent enough amping would cost more than the phones themselves (pretty much a given at this level for any phones, mostly). You would want something that works without amping, and any grado/alessandros are automatically ruled out as mentinoed above for ergonomics. Again, if D1001s are as comfy as my D7000s, they should be very good in that regard.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
konakona said:
If AD700's cups are anything like AD2000, I wouldn't exactly call them very comfy without doing the tube modding. Excellent value otherwise, or so I was told.
Click to expand...

They look like they're the same. Light velour pads which are technically circumaural, but mostly sit on your ears. I don't know about you, but these are probably the most comfortable headphones I've ever used for a short time. They're not too heavy, and the half-on-ear doesn't leave an annoying ring around my ears like my JVC HA-RX700s do.
 
konakona

konakona

Diamond Member
May 6, 2004
6,285
1
0
Aflac said:
They look like they're the same. Light velour pads which are technically circumaural, but mostly sit on your ears. I don't know about you, but these are probably the most comfortable headphones I've ever used for a short time. They're not too heavy, and the half-on-ear doesn't leave an annoying ring around my ears like my JVC HA-RX700s do.
Click to expand...

I guess we all have different issues when we consider comfort. AD2000, while sounds very unique and fun to listen to, hurts my earlobes after a few tens of minutes due to drivers coming directly in contact with my earlobes and pressing them against my head. Widening the headband with some books helped to mitigate the problem, but it has never been as good as inserting some plastic (polyurethan?) tubes inside the cups. The sad part is, that changes the sound a whole lot - some like it, some don't. I did notice widened soundstage, at the cost of the famed euphorically colored mids. I felt the AT engineers knew what they were doing, and un-did the mod.

To me, Denon D7000s are about the most comfy, though HD650s are very nice as well. I tend to dislike overly heavy phones like CD3000 for extended use.
 
H

hans030390

Diamond Member
Feb 3, 2005
7,326
2
76
Definitely the JVC HA-RX 700s or 900s. I think most on Head-Fi agree that they're some of the best under your budget. I have both and love them. Prefer them greatly over the Grado SR-60s, which are considered the king of sub $100 headphones.

Did I also mention that they're only priced at $35 and $55?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom