Need suggestions for a set of good headphones

Knucklehead

If I had some idea of what to look for in headphones I'd feel better about buying some rather than just giving myself a budget and buying any old set that might be a rip off.

Thanks

TheMARPATNinja7

As much as I hate Bose for speakers, the headphones are legit. They aren't cheap and your basically paying more for the name than the sound but the only headphones I've personally listened to that sounded better than the Bose Quietcomfort set was the Dr. Dre Monsterbeats but in that case you're paying an arm and a leg.

cnh

Get some higher end Sennheisers...they can be pricey but they're worth it!

cnh

Fongolio

AKG's are a good choice too. What you need to decide is whether or not to get a closed or open design. Closed can give much bigger bass but open tend to have better SQ. However open lets more outside noise in and can be intrusive to those nearby your listening area. That said, the highest rated sounding headphones in the world are almost all open design. Also consider Grado.

sambani

you might try the Audio Technica ATH-A700. i bought a pair a few months ago and i love them.

TNRabbit

AKG-K701.

They need to burn in for about a week constant, but after that they are MAGIC. Can't beat 'em for the $$$. I bought a new pair on ebay for $238 delivered.

george daniel

senn HD 600's,, what are you gonna' power them with?

CRESCENDOPOWER

- How much do you want to spend?
- What type of electronics do you plan on plugging them into? AM/FM portable radio, mp3 player, audio receiver, or integrated amp, portable, or dedicated CD player, portable, or home headphone amplifier etc.
- What type of sound are you looking for? I know Polk Audio doesn’t make headphones.:(
- Check out headphone.com for all the different types of headphones that are out there.

Knucklehead

thanks guys ill check out all mentioned, I will be plugging them into my AVR and an IPOD.

PoweredBySoy

There's an infinite source of headphone knowledge over at www.head-fi.org/forums

renowilliams

I agree with cnh on this. I have Sennheizer HD215, which are a fairly inexpensive model and they are great.

randyhart420

Sennheisers are quite stunning just need to get the right match for you and your set up

Dennis Gardner

The best bang for the buck pair I've run acrossed are Equation Audio RP-21. I've sold a ton of them this past year and have owned Sennheisers, AKGs and Grados that cost alot more, but deliver less. Less than $100 on the street.

http://www.equationaudio.com/Professional/pro-eartools.htm

be83663

DEFINITELY SENNHEISER HD650.


Original manufacturer's price is $599.95.
JR's listed price is $499.99.
But they actually sell it at $319.99.
It sounds awesome for a headphone, and at a good price.


Here is the link to JR Music Store:

http://www.jr.com/sennheiser/pe/SEN_HD650/

Motzart

I love my Sennheiser HD280 Pro's!
Got excellent reviews everywhere I looked.

MSRP is $200 but can be had for as little as $75 with a lil hunting.



Helpful info on them below.

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/productdetail.asp?transid=004974

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_143HD280P/Sennheiser-HD-280-Pro.html?tp=1263

skrol

Have a look at Grado. I really like my SR80 headphones which are about 15 years old now. Grado is releasing a update the their line (ie. SR80 is replaced by the SR80i). Right now you can find great deals on the previous model.

Knucklehead

thanks for all of the info! are any of these noise cancelling as well?

leroyjr1

Knucklehead wrote: »

thanks for all of the info! are any of these noise cancelling as well?

Bose

skrol

Scratch the Grados. They are a very open design and definitely NOT noise canceling.

Sami

Knucklehead wrote: »

thanks guys ill check out all mentioned, I will be plugging them into my AVR and an IPOD.

An Ipod unfortunately will not have adequate power to drive a good set of headphones. That, or my Sennheiser HD580's are power hungry.

AndyGwis

Yeah, do your research before you buy. A lot of Senns and others sound PHENOMENAL, but if you are looking for noise-cancelling or something to use for travel, in public, etc., you want to get a closed design.

My Senn HD580s sound great, but I had no idea how much noise they let in and out. Definitely not something you'd want for travel or in any public places. You'll hear everything around you, and everyone around will hear your music.

thsmith

Don't know anything about them but JRs is have a 50% off sell on altec lansing

http://www.jr.com/promotions/altec-lansing-earphones/?JRSource=chemail.altec.03042009

Motzart

The HD280's are definately noise cancelling!
If you have em on with no audio you can't hear a thing.
Could use them at a firing range for ear protection!

KrazyMofo24

be83663 wrote: »

DEFINITELY SENNHEISER HD650.


Original manufacturer's price is $599.95.
JR's listed price is $499.99.
But they actually sell it at $319.99.
It sounds awesome for a headphone, and at a good price.


Here is the link to JR Music Store:

http://www.jr.com/sennheiser/pe/SEN_HD650/

They e-mailed me $350 but still very good deal. Very tempted to buy a pair.

Ender

For closed headphones that don't require good amplification, check out the Denon D2000 or higher or the ATH A500 or above. You could also opt to go the orthodynamic headphones and grab the Yamaha HP-2 or really any of their ortho. Pretty sweet deals on those because they are cheap due to being discontinued like SDA or HD DVD, but still awesome like SDA or HD DVD.

The aforementioned Equation RP-21 and above are solid as well as JVC HARX700 or above.

Also, you can check out the Sony MDR-V6 or 7506 (same thing, basically).

fast1

is this a good headset?

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-350-Gaming-Headset/dp/B0012XFDWO/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1239623467&sr=8-16

polkapolka

fast1 wrote: »

is this a good headset?

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-350-Gaming-Headset/dp/B0012XFDWO/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1239623467&sr=8-16

Hi Fast1, I actually have owned these for about 9 mos now. I like them. They are passive noise cancelling. I use them for gaming, skype, and music. I really like them. I would say they are gaming headset first, & music second. I have worn them everyday for hours on end, with no discomfort at all. I often forget that I am waring them.

I would recommend: IF you want passive noise cancelling-I can hear my wife and kids talking to me when they are near me, but more than a few feet away, and it is hard to hear them. Also, the mike swivels up, but is not removable. Speaking of the mike, it is excellent. I haven't had any problem with people hearing me either in games, or on skype.

I have owned about 5-6 sets of gaming headsets, and these are by far the best. They are also rated high by the critics, and owners alike. However, these are not audiophile grade. SQ is good, but not audiophile.

Hope this helps,
Matt

zx_toth

I own a pair of Senn HD650s and love them. They are however the first good quality pair that I have owned so I cant compare them to anything else. I power them with only my AVR and to my ear they sound great, though the agreement on Head-fi forum was that they require a head phone amplifier. This may be true to get the full potential out of them for critical music listening however I find they are quite sufficient.

Some might shoot me for saying that I only use them for watching movies loud when my wife has gone to bed

Zsolt

rayslifecycle

When i was looking for headphones - I had a budget of 100 bucks
I use them at work plugged into a computer.
These are closed construction but sound open and airy......
I have heard a lot of the headphones listed and they are good.......but I would recommend these if you are looking for something cheaper then the suggested options.
They are efficient enough to use with an I-pod, but sound way better when run off something with a little meat behind it.

Denon AH-D1001
http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3785.asp