YAHT: Headphones. In search of <$75 noise-blocking headphones.

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Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
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From what I've read online, it sounds like noise-cancelling headphones are prone to emit some odd noises in their efforts to cancel out noise, and I tend to easily hear odd noises, especially high frequencies up to at least 20KHz. So I don't really want to deal with that.

So I would like a set of headphones of the variety that covers the whole ear, and is able to block out some degree of external noise. I'm in a campus apartment, and no one here is capable of operating a stereo at less than 200dB. I've read that Sennheiser is a good brand to look for, but I'm not sure which model is the best one in terms of noise blocking.
I'd also like something that can be used for a few hours at a time without making my skull feel like it's going to implode from the pressure of the headphones pressing against its sides.


Update
They're here. First impressions: the bass is insanely weak. It's like what I'd expect from free headphones that come with a CD player. :(
Like, considerably weaker than my $13 Labtec Icon-750 headphones. And frankly, the sound quality is quite close too. They do block out a good bit of external noise though.

More listening and settings tweaking later, but right now I'm just hoping they'll work out.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
I had seen those suggested elsewhere, but they are kind of getting a bit pricey. I'll hold out to see if there are any other offerings slightly lower in price. If not I'll just have to go for the 280's.
Though I did just see this in the one user review at Newegg:
"up to 32 dB of noise attenuation"

32dB of noise reduction? Is that accurate? That's as good as the soft foam earplugs I've used in past semesters to drown out noise. Damn, if that's so, wouldn't these things double as ear protection in loud environments?




(And I just wanted to say, despite the occasional odd crashes, Firefox + Session Saver = :D
Adobe Acrobat apparently insisted on rebooting my system after I changed one damn setting, and then proceeded to type. Reboot confirmation window popped up just as I was hitting Space. Reboot initiated. Adobe Acrobat is doing to PDFs what Real Player did for video.)
 
P

PurdueRy

Lifer
Nov 12, 2004
13,837
4
0
Originally posted by: Jeff7
I had seen those suggested elsewhere, but they are kind of getting a bit pricey. I'll hold out to see if there are any other offerings slightly lower in price. If not I'll just have to go for the 280's.
Though I did just see this in the one user review at Newegg:
"up to 32 dB of noise attenuation"

32dB of noise reduction? Is that accurate? That's as good as the soft foam earplugs I've used in past semesters to drown out noise. Damn, if that's so, wouldn't these things double as ear protection in loud environments?




(And I just wanted to say, despite the occasional odd crashes, Firefox + Session Saver = :D
Adobe Acrobat apparently insisted on rebooting my system after I changed one damn setting, and then proceeded to type. Reboot confirmation window popped up just as I was hitting Space. Reboot initiated. Adobe Acrobat is doing to PDFs what Real Player did for video.)
Click to expand...

I haven't used them Jello has so he could tell you how isolating they are. But they are only what...like $10 above your budget. I would think that would be more than worth it(click to see final price at the Egg)
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
Walking to class with them on has been a test in being visually aware of my surroundings.

I think the 32dB figure is a bit optimistic though.

I haven't tried to do any testing for trying to put a dB reduction on how well they block sound, but I remember seeing an article in PC Magazine where they claimed to have measured a 15dB reduction?.

They are kind of tight on the head though... if you don't like the "clamp" feeling at all, they might not be for you. Mine took a couple weeks to feel right on me, but now they're pretty comfortable to me. You might want to see if a local store has some available to try out to see how they fit on you.

I'm ok wearing them for 6-8 hours or so before I feel like I need to get them off... not that I wear them that long often.

EDIT:
http://www.shipdog.com/product.asp?i=SENHD280PRO&ref=pricegrabber&sku=HD280PRO
$66 + shipping?
 
D

darkswordsman17

Lifer
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
5,852
146
The HD-280s are nice, but I quickly moved into the higher end stuff. I was, quite honestly, a little bummed about their noise-blocking capability, I could still very easily hear even low sounds through them (although much less audibly, a lot of things would sound like a whisper), although if you turn the music up to a decently healthy volume then you will miss phone calls quite easily.

I don't know if I would recommend my opinion, my ears are really weird, sometimes, I can hear a pin drop 3 blocks away (thats an exaggeration) and other times I'm deaf to the world.

You can find them for about $75 fairly easily. I think I got mine for $80 shipped from someone on eBay (who is an actual licensed Sennheiser seller, very important if you need any warranty work as they won't accept receipts from just anyone). They are very nice sounding especially if you haven't heard higher end stuff (and try your hardest to resist upgrading to something better, I couldn't :D ).

Now I'm using Audio-Technica ATH-A900s, and personally, I really like their sound over Sennheiser's (moved from HD-280s to HD-555s to HD-595s and then now to these). The noise cancelling capability is pretty much equal to the HD-280 but these sound oh so much better. Of course if you want them new you'd have to order them from Japan and pay about $200, so they had better be.

Something to note about the HD-280s is to check their ohm rating. There is a 250 ohm version and then there is I think a newer 80 ohm version. You will most likely want the latter if you don't have a headphone amp, as it is easier to drive them (get a nice sound level and quality) than the 250 ohm, which will still sound great, but you might be underwhelmed if you're hooking them up to something like a laptop that won't really give the signal much push.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
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Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
The HD-280s are nice, but I quickly moved into the higher end stuff. I was, quite honestly, a little bummed about their noise-blocking capability, I could still very easily hear even low sounds through them (although much less audibly, a lot of things would sound like a whisper), although if you turn the music up to a decently healthy volume then you will miss phone calls quite easily.

I don't know if I would recommend my opinion, my ears are really weird, sometimes, I can hear a pin drop 3 blocks away (thats an exaggeration) and other times I'm deaf to the world.

You can find them for about $75 fairly easily. I think I got mine for $80 shipped from someone on eBay (who is an actual licensed Sennheiser seller, very important if you need any warranty work as they won't accept receipts from just anyone). They are very nice sounding especially if you haven't heard higher end stuff (and try your hardest to resist upgrading to something better, I couldn't :D ).

Now I'm using Audio-Technica ATH-A900s, and personally, I really like their sound over Sennheiser's (moved from HD-280s to HD-555s to HD-595s and then now to these). The noise cancelling capability is pretty much equal to the HD-280 but these sound oh so much better. Of course if you want them new you'd have to order them from Japan and pay about $200, so they had better be.

Something to note about the HD-280s is to check their ohm rating. There is a 250 ohm version and then there is I think a newer 80 ohm version. You will most likely want the latter if you don't have a headphone amp, as it is easier to drive them (get a nice sound level and quality) than the 250 ohm, which will still sound great, but you might be underwhelmed if you're hooking them up to something like a laptop that won't really give the signal much push.
Click to expand...

I got my 280s a couple years ago and they are 64 ohms. I didn't know this varied.

EDIT: I just looked at Senn's site and they list 64 ohms for the black and silver versions of their 280s. Are you sure these were 280s that had these different impedences?
 
D

darkswordsman17

Lifer
Mar 11, 2004
23,444
5,852
146
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

I got my 280s a couple years ago and they are 64 ohms. I didn't know this varied.

EDIT: I just looked at Senn's site and they list 64 ohms for the black and silver versions of their 280s. Are you sure these were 280s that had these different impedences?
Click to expand...

You know, I think I probably am thinking of another model. Hmm, well I was way off on the ohms, but for some reason I'm thinking that whenever I was researching them about a year or so ago, that I got a couple of recommendations to make sure its the lower impedence ones unless I had an amp. Maybe it was just 120 ohms and it was the older version which isn't really sold anymore. I don't know, but thanks for pointing that out. Never good to spread incorrect info.
 
C

CSMR

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2004
1,376
2
81
Originally posted by: Jeff7
From what I've read online, it sounds like noise-cancelling headphones are prone to emit some odd noises in their efforts to cancel out noise, and I tend to easily hear odd noises, especially high frequencies up to at least 20KHz. So I don't really want to deal with that.

So I would like a set of headphones of the variety that covers the whole ear, and is able to block out some degree of external noise. I'm in a campus apartment, and no one here is capable of operating a stereo at less than 200dB. I've read that Sennheiser is a good brand to look for, but I'm not sure which model is the best one in terms of noise blocking.
I'd also like something that can be used for a few hours at a time without making my skull feel like it's going to implode from the pressure of the headphones pressing against its sides.
Click to expand...
Etymotic (ER6, ER4) headphones are effective, but not as comfortable as external headphones naturally.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: CSMR
Originally posted by: Jeff7
From what I've read online, it sounds like noise-cancelling headphones are prone to emit some odd noises in their efforts to cancel out noise, and I tend to easily hear odd noises, especially high frequencies up to at least 20KHz. So I don't really want to deal with that.

So I would like a set of headphones of the variety that covers the whole ear, and is able to block out some degree of external noise. I'm in a campus apartment, and no one here is capable of operating a stereo at less than 200dB. I've read that Sennheiser is a good brand to look for, but I'm not sure which model is the best one in terms of noise blocking.
I'd also like something that can be used for a few hours at a time without making my skull feel like it's going to implode from the pressure of the headphones pressing against its sides.
Click to expand...
Etymotic (ER6, ER4) headphones are effective, but not as comfortable as external headphones naturally.
Click to expand...

An alternative to the Etymotic headphones are the Altec Lansing iM716. Better sound (supposedly uses ER4 driver) at a much lower price. Last I checked, $70 at Amazon.

If you really need over the head headphones, though, nothing can beat the HD280 Pro.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
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Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Very well, Great Soundman. I shall order the HD-280 Pro's from Amazon.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
My main thought right now is I hope you like how they feel. Keep in mind that they will change a bit and form to your head after wearing them for a while, but they're pretty substantial for headphones as far as weight and force is concerned.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
If it means drowning out some of this noise while producing excellent sound quality, I'm sure my head and neck will adapt to deal with it.

Bodies are adaptable. I went from fairly sedentary college life (except for lots of walking) to working at a warehouse for the summer. My 70lb 21" monitor, more than half my weight, felt a whole lot lighter by the end of the summer, even though my own weight remained the same. :)



All I need now would be wireless ear buds that would act as earplugs to drown out sound, through which I could play an alarm clock sound to wake me up in the morning. If such a product exists, it'd probably be outside my price range.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you find some, let me know.

I'm living above a bar right now :(
Click to expand...

Sucks. I've never even heard of wireless earbuds, and wireless IEMs are still a few decades away...

The best thing I can think of for your situation is just some comfortable IEMs (etymotic ER6 or shure E4C seem to be the smallest and most comfortable ones) and use a DAP with a headphone out and an alarm clock function.
 
YOyoYOhowsDAjello

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,205
45
91
Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you find some, let me know.

I'm living above a bar right now :(
Click to expand...

Sucks. I've never even heard of wireless earbuds, and wireless IEMs are still a few decades away...

The best thing I can think of for your situation is just some comfortable IEMs (etymotic ER6 or shure E4C seem to be the smallest and most comfortable ones) and use a DAP with a headphone out and an alarm clock function.
Click to expand...

Well I'm pretty much getting used to it now (as the third firetruck today goes by on its way to the hospital... 2 ambulances today too) :p
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Originally posted by: Aflac
Sucks. I've never even heard of wireless earbuds, and wireless IEMs are still a few decades away...

The best thing I can think of for your situation is just some comfortable IEMs (etymotic ER6 or shure E4C seem to be the smallest and most comfortable ones) and use a DAP with a headphone out and an alarm clock function.
Click to expand...

Just a few problems I can immediately think of:
1) Circuitry and an internal antenna that actually works at more than 1m from the transmitter, and is small enough to fit in an ear plug
2) Power source that works for at least several hours and is easily rechargeable. I'm thinking one of those inducer things, like I've seen on some electric toothbrushes, where part of the transformer to power the battery charger is inside the brush assembly. That though would mean putting wiring and a charging circuit inside the earplug too.
Having a removable power cell would mean needing tiny tools to open the earplug up.

Maybe once nanotechnology goes mainstream we'll see that sort of product.:)
 
Funyuns101

Funyuns101

Platinum Member
Jun 15, 2002
2,849
0
0
are you gonna be using these on an airplane anytime soon?
i'm considering them for that reason (and of course normal use as well)
let me know!
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
No plane use, I'm afraid. It's been maybe like 10yrs since I've been on one. :)


Dammit, I want my headphones!:D
 
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