Headphones?

Talbot

Hey guys,

So I'm thinking about getting some new headphones. I've had the same ones for for 4 years...

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRNC60-CE7-MDRNC60-NOISE-CANCELING-HEADPHONES/dp/tech-data/B000OQ5OOM"]Amazon.com: SONY MDRNC60 NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES: Electronics[/ame]

But they are starting to fall apart.

What do you guys use? I'm sort of leaning towards noise cancelling because it helps when you are in a loud room full of computers everyday.

Kbrom12

Sennheiser baby, have these and they are the best $70 I ever spent on anything audio related.


Sennheiser HD 280 Pro - http://www.sennheiserusa.com/professional-dj-headphones-HD-280-PRO_004974

Snader

I really depends on what you're looking for of course, so maybe you should specify exactly what you want. Is mic quality important? Surround sound? I assume you want over-ear, over-head form factor?

glynnsmith

I got myself a pair of these 5 months ago:

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s-monitor-headphones

#4 on the Head Fi list. I love them. When I wear them, I can't hear much of anything else. They're quite tight, but I find them comfortable, even with my sizeable head :P Some people find them a bit too tight, though.

MadnessImport

I have a pair of these [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-NC7-Noise-Canceling-Headphone/dp/B002XJ8SRS"]Amazon.com: Sony MDR-NC7/BLK Noise Canceling Headphone: Everything Else[/ame] They were Outright awesome
Compact
Comfortable
Portable
And they put out sound VERY nicely
Unfortunately i had to put them to rest for a pair of buds because the left ear stopped responding

Now im getting these [ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FVDTAW/ref=asc_df_B005FVDTAW1838855?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B005FVDTAW"]Amazon.com: Sony MDR-NC200D Digital Noise-Canceling Headphones: Electronics[/ame]

Mainly for the blutooth feature

Even though there not sony [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD800-Over-Ear-Circum-Aural-Headphone/dp/B001OTZ8DA"]Amazon.com: Sennheiser HD800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Premiere Headphone: Electronics[/ame] Some day these will be mine

System

I've used these for years;

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDR-V300-Headphones-Neodymium-Magnet/dp/B00005QBU8"]Sony MDR-V300 Headphones with Neodymium Magnet: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics[/ame]

They were my all purpose headphones and they're probably some of the best value you can get, the sound is a bit muddy compared to my newer;

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD595-Open-Headphone-ohms/dp/B0001FTVE0"]Sennheiser HD595 Open Headphone 50 ohms: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics[/ame]

But when it comes to bass and allround performance they are more than worth it considering the price difference.

The sennheiser headphones are very clear and great for multidirectional things, not the best for thumping bass but thats not really the point with these.

neolith

I am using the Logitech G930 headset. It wasn't cheap, but I've never had better sound in games and I don't hear whatever happens around me IRL. :):)
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325113091&sr=8-4"]Amazon.com: Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 with 7.1 Surround Sound: Electronics[/ame]

EarthQuake

I know a lot of people like Sennheise's but IMO they're way too trebbely. I like me some bass.

Sony MDR-V700 is where its at. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V700DJ-DJ-Style-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00001W0DH"]Amazon.com: Sony MDR-V700DJ DJ-Style Monitor Series Headphones: Electronics[/ame]


Also I would avoid anything noise canceling unless you really need them, that said I used a pair when I was in a really cramped office building. NC are always a bit wierd and give me a claustraphobic sort of feeling, so I prefer something that just has a good seal like the V700 if ambient noise isnt too high.

System

I'll second Earthquake on the v700 > if youre going to buy once then buy those for some good solid as fuck headphones. When I next get some cash i'll be spending it on those I think!

Futzy

glynnsmith wrote: »

I got myself a pair of these 5 months ago:

http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s-monitor-headphones

#4 on the Head Fi list. I love them. When I wear them, I can't hear much of anything else. They're quite tight, but I find them comfortable, even with my sizeable head :P Some people find them a bit too tight, though.

Have had these for a year and can vouch for them. Pretty fantastic sound quality when they are sent enough power (though they don't really need much). Almost any device outputs enough to make them sound good, but sound amazing when amped. Its also tilted more towards bass then treble. The Bass is very rich but there is a rare song or two that can max out the treble ranges
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50-Studio-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B000ULAP4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1293202594&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones: Electronics[/ame]

Currently $150 on amazon but they usually go for around $100. I got mine for $90 on amazon.

Its isolation works better at getting rid of ambient sound than my sony active noise cancelling headphones that I had before.

System

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ZG9TMA/ref=mp_s_a_2?qid=1325115763&sr=8-2"]Audio-Technica ATHM50S Professional Monitor Headphones:Amazon:Electronics[/ame]

I bought some earlier this year. I bought them as reference phones for producing but I ended up just using them for everything. Seriously good headphones.

I'd also second the Sennheiser recommendations. I've had a few pairs and they've always been cheap and cheerful. Been a while since I had a listen to them though.

EDIT: LOL didn't even see the post above! So um.... +1 to the above

vik

Dt 770 Pro. yeah it's a bit pricey but you get what you pay for..

Kwramm

vik wrote: »

Dt 770 Pro. yeah it's a bit pricey but you get what you pay for..

comfty and great sound! love 'em.
They're also pretty sturdy. no flimsy crap that breaks when you toss 'em around or do extensive travelling.

oXYnary

Grado's

Small American Company dedicated to "true" sound.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige-Series-SR125i-Headphones/dp/B0006GCCWW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1325122877&sr=8-5"]Amazon.com: Grado Prestige Series SR125i Headphones: Electronics[/ame]

Note: They are open ear. So if your in a noisy environment. Look elsewhere.

P.S. Alot of your guys links aren't working.

Steve Schulze

I've always sworn by AKG's headphones. WHen I was first hunting down a good set of headphones, I spent an hour or so testing out different headphones on a mixing desk. The AKG ones had the best balance of treble, midrange and bass without being ludicrously expensive.

Entity

Great recommendation guys, I'd also like to add that it's VERY important that you check if the cans you're planning to buy require additional power from an amplifier.

Most of the higher range (starting from HD600 onwards for Sennheisers) need a lot of juice to power them, or else you'll end up with a fairly flat and uninspiring output. Volume will be low, and increasing it will result in clipping (or as EQ mentioned, too much treble)

You can then take this a bit further with a dedicated DAC. In layman's term this is like an external soundcard. You plug it through a USB port and any sound processing/output will be handled by that thing. The reason why people use them is because a desktop's internal soundcard can be very noisy due to the amount of stuff going on inside (it's noticeable with a good pair of headphones, you'll hear some weird "artificial" noise in the background)

If you've got the cash, I recommend a hybrid DAC/Amp. I've always been a fan of Ray Samuel's products, and I've been using his Predator DAC/Amp for quite a while now and they power my Sennheiser HD600 incredibly well. Another good one is the Pico DAC/Amp, which is cheaper.

RyanB

Talbot wrote: »

What do you guys use? I'm sort of leaning towards noise cancelling because it helps when you are in a loud room full of computers everyday.

Another option is a white noise generator or a recording of rain (seriously). You'd be surprised at how much better you focus when you don't have music giving you micro distractions all day long.

Fuse

I think you can still find mdr v6's refurbished online, basically any high end mdr's are a good choices. There is a reason radio stations and studios use them.

Lazerus Reborn

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-MK-II-Earbuds-Carrying/dp/B001EZYMF4/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325173864&sr=1-15"]Amazon.com: Sennheiser CX300B MK II Bass Earbuds with Carrying Case (Black): Electronics[/ame]

Cheap and cheerful, no complaints about them. I normally tear through a pair every month or so and these have lasted a year so far so happy days ;D

Zipfinator

Fuse wrote: »

I think you can still find mdr v6's refurbished online, basically any high end mdr's are a good choices. There is a reason radio stations and studios use them.

I was just about to post about MDR V6's (NOT V600).

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Headphones-Wired-Digital/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1325179091&sr=1-1-catcorr"]Amazon.com: Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil: Electronics[/ame]


I've been using them for about 2 years and I'm very happy with them. They had a bit of a break in period but after that it's hard to listen to the music on my old headset because it sounds so much worse. They don't cancel out louder noises like other music playing in the room or loud TV's that well but they easily cover up my computer and any other ambient noises. Whenever I am listening to something on them I can't hear other people talk in the room or hear my cats meow right in front of me either. Some people apparently have comfort issues with them but I've worn them for 8 hour periods and haven't had any discomfort. The pads are wearing out for me though and leave black flakes on my face when I take them off but they sell replacement pads.

R3D

I use cheap $2 ones I get from gachapons at my local Zellars.

Talbot

Jackablade wrote: »

I've always sworn by AKG's headphones. WHen I was first hunting down a good set of headphones, I spent an hour or so testing out different headphones on a mixing desk. The AKG ones had the best balance of treble, midrange and bass without being ludicrously expensive.

Which AKG's do you have? Are they semi open? Do they let in a lot of noise? Are they comfortable?

A lot of people seem to be recommending those silver sony monitoring ones. Are they comfortable and how much noise do they let in?

Thanks guys.

EarthQuake

My MDR-700's are very comfortable, and have a good seal so they don't let a lot of noise in or out. But they won't drown out loud co-workers that are very close to you. It sort of depends on how loud/annoying your work environment is. =P

You might be able to find an A/V store near you in LA that you can try them out? They're very common for DJ/Studio work etc so I would think you'd see them in stores there.

marks

Home - Steelseries Siberia v2, awesome quality headset:


Work - Sennheiser HD555, kinda expensive but really amazing, had them for so many years now:

AlecMoody

I have been using grados for the last five or six years and really enjoy them. I just replaced my old sr80s with Alessandro ms-1s and am really happy with the upgrade. Are you in an office particularly close to other people? Open back headphones like grados leak enough sound to annoy people sitting close by. Also, unless you have a decent headphone amp make sure you get something low impedance.

Also, there is a really good used market for audio gear. You can get really good deals on ebay or head-fi