Good headphone recommendations!!??

[andreimatorin]

Does anybody have recommendations for good headphones? Here's what i'm looking for. I really dont know anything about them. I am a musician (or aspiring one) and think i could probably hear the difference between good and bad, but i've never bothered to try. I'm looking for ones that are definately comfortable though (that i can wear without hurting my ears after an hour or more) and probably under $200.... any recommendations?

Thanks

[Claude]

Have a look at the Headroom buying guide (http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=2) It's a headphone shop, so not completely neutral, but the guide is very informative.

[tonym]

Again, another web page/forum devoted to audio equipment and headphones. They give good reviews of products.

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2

Personally, I am very happy with my Grados. The SR225.

Very open (they leak a lot of sound, so not for listening with easily distracted partners), but neutral, lightweight, comfortable and crisp. Some say they are too crisp and bright (a complaint levelled at most of the Grado range apparently).

The cheaper Grado's are also very good from what I've read.

Try a lot and don't be fooled by all the hypre surrounding certain brands/models. Let your ears and wallet decide.

cheers, tonym

[Spiman]

I prefer the Shure e-series http://www.shure.com/earphones/index.asp?id=store1

Spiman

[andreimatorin]

Well i pre-ordered the E3c from shure. Hope i'm not disappointed. But i can return them within 30 days so that should be cool.

thx for the link

;)

[ninetynine]

i'm planning on buying the sennheiser HD 490 headphones, does anyone have these? if so are they good?

[jfidel]

I have the 497's... they are great for the price.

[JackSpratts]

senheiser hd 414's. they haven't make them for over a decade but until recently (the last time i did it) you could still buy all the parts from the company and just assemble a pair yourself. the total was around $130.00.

- js.

[rhinozoot]

a swiss brand called floats sounds very good

[DWBass]

Sennheisers are great headphone manufacturers. They have a terrific sound but you have to careful not to pump too much bass into them.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

My Grado SR-80's sound great and I highly recommend them. During my search, I went and listened to quite a few of the better 'phones and while the Sennheisers sounded very good, they were about 2 to 3 times more expensive than the equivalent-sounding (to my ears) Grado model. I got my SR-80's for under $90 delivered to my door from Norther Audio (http://www.nax.com/products.asp?category_group_id=22).

Later,
Kevin

[Claude]

Originally posted by rhinozoot
a swiss brand called floats sounds very good

These were initially prduced under the name "Jecklin Float" (the inventor is Jörg Jecklin) and are now made under a new brand "Ergo"

http://www.precide.ch/pergo/CUERGO.JPG

http://www.precide.ch/eng/eergo/ergo.htm

[rhinozoot]

for something simple, more economic than floats but still with a good sound you might like to try koss headphones

I got a pair of their cheapest model to listen to a radio at the sport sounds great,also good for music

[wesbed]

The better-quality and higher-priced headphones aren't sold in the retail stores in my local area. I suppose they can't sell enough of the product to afford the shelf space.

As a result, I'm forced to base a headphone purchase decision solely on internet information and opinions. From what I've read, my pick, so far, is the Sony MDR-CD3000. >Sony link (http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/generic/accessories/cdseriesheadphones/index.shtml)<

Initially, I was planning to purchase the Sennheiser 650 because many sources say it's 'the best.' However, I'm scared of the Sennheiser line because I've read, too often, that Sennheisers are 'dark.' That many users wish they could remove the 'veil.' I prefer a brighter/crisper sound.

[vibes]

wesbed, I don't know if you've chosen a place to buy the CD3000's, but Best Buy has them for $499, with free shipping. If you buy certain types of hardware, then you can get an additional 10% off the headphones. Here's a link:

MDRCD3000 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1065168669096&skuId=6107125&type=product)

[vibes]

My current headphones of choice are the Sennheiser HD555's (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1077626721485&skuId=6420553&type=product). I went through a couple models of high-end Philips headphones and then the Sony MDRV700DJ's before sticking with the HD555's. They're very comfortable and reproduce both bass and treble very well.

[Zowie]

Sennheisers are great headphone manufacturers. They have a terrific sound but you have to careful not to pump too much bass into them.

Sennheiser has a big line. Some are among the very best headphones, some are not worth listening to even if you can get them for free, and some sound great but only if driven by high quality amplification (i.e., not the typical portable). Shop carefully.

Grado's are not that neutral but I think they're great for jazz.

[clave]

I've been using Grado SR 60s (with bowl-shaped pads) since January and love them. But you need the pads i mentioned for acoustic music. The new soft pads that come with the 'phones kill a lot of detail.

[wesbed]

I received my Sony CD3000s about two weeks ago ($379 from Etronics (http://www.etronics.com)). I didn't like the CD3000s at first but am beginning to really appreciate them now. I'm not sure I understand how they've begun to sound better recently. According to posts at http://www.head-fi.org/, the new 'phones may need to go through a period of burn-in to reach their potential.

Now, I've got to start investigating the purchase of a dedicated headphone amplifier.

[clave]

Now, I've got to start investigating the purchase of a dedicated headphone amplifier.

My guess is that your new headphones will sound much better once yous tart using one. I don't want to be partisan, but I like the folks at www.headphone.com They're really good at what they do, and their customer service is excellent.

[wesbed]

My guess is that your new headphones will sound much better once yous tart using one. I don't want to be partisan, but I like the folks at www.headphone.com They're really good at what they do, and their customer service is excellent.I'm considering one of the DIY headphone amplifiers such as the PPA offered at http://www.jmtaudio.com. From what I've read, the PPA offers more for the same amount of money.

[muzorewi's daughter]

Grado SR125

[jazzmind]

Hi

If you want to buy something decent, spend some time checking out the head-fi forum. You can get a good feel for what the strengths of each model and brand are, and many of the forum members have bought several different models and will comment and argue at length about the comparative sounds of each model.

Things to consider are how you will be listening, ie on your PC, ipod or through your hi-fi system. Higher impedance headphones will require more power to drive them at good volume, so using them on an ipod or PC will not give good results, you will need to use a separate headphone amp.

If you intend to use them in noisy environments, you may want to look at a "closed" headphone. The open-design headphones let more ambient noise in (and out) but are regarded as giving the listener a better quality sound also. Most of the better quality headphones are open design.

Also, the most important thing to be aware of is your own personal preference in listening. Each of the brands (sennheiser, grado, beyerdynamic etc) have a certain "presentation" of the music being played. Grado is more "forward" whereas Sennheiser is said to be generally more "veiled". So whereas some will prefer Grado for rock'n roll, others maybe find the Grado too fatuiging to listen to with classical or jazz, and rather go with Sennheiser's models. Your tastes might vary.

The Senn HD-555 is a great value for money headphone for around $120.
I have the HD-595 which is a bit better in detail, nicer built and is regarded as a quality audiophile headphone.
Comfortwise, the Senn HD-5x5 headphones are arguably the most comfortable headphones on the market.

re: the comment about being careful to not pump too much bass into sennheisers...I'm not sure what that is about. Some Senn models have more bass sound than others, but each gives more than enough bass sound to enjoy without damaging itself, if that is what you meant. My Senns can take all the bass that my music has and plays it back with great detail, so I'm very happy :)

[kevinc]

I highly recommend the Grado SR80. Based on my listening tests, it performs better than the more expensive Senheisser models.

[selim]

I guess no one thinks too highly of AKG. I've been using the K701's for about a year and love I em. They're truthful and they're quite comfortable over extented periods. So are Sennheisers. But the Sennheisers have a laid back sound. The AKG's are more comfortable than Grado and more truthful than both. But not quite as comfortable the Sennheisers. Musicians love em. Even their less expensive models like the 240's and the 601's. BTW, be prepared to spend at least 350.00 for these cans. If you can't or won't go over your budget, check out the 240's.