Headphones

[REVENGE]

I'm in the market for a pair of headphones, primary focus is best audio quality for the money. Budget is around $70, anyone have recommendations?

[HeavyLancer]

Avoid like the plague:

• Beats
• Monster
• Bose
• Skullcandy

What to look for:

• Beyerdynamic DT231, $45-$60
• Sony MDR-V6, $55-$75.
• Sennheiser HD 448, $60-$90.

That's if you're looking for closed headphones. IEMs (canalphones) are another choice, but they become uncomfortable if you use them for too long unless you get a custom fit.

[REVENGE]

I was thinking of cans, but I'm not opposed to IEMs.

[PicassoCT]

Sennheiser ++

[oksnoop2]

I've got these:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... =355895611

I've had them for about a year maybe a bit longer. I use them every day. They are very rugged. I've dropped them, stepped on them, laid on them, threw them. The cables have been smashed by chair legs and chewed on by myself and they still work just as the day I got them.


They sound great to me but I'm not a super audio buff so I can't comment of anything too technical sound wise.

I've got big ears and a big head, but i can wear these for about 3 to 5 hours and not feel pain. They do a decent job at not crushing your ears.

Shure is a well known name is mics and I find these headphones perfectly adequate for video games, listening to music, and hobby level mixing.

[KaiserJ]

big fan of the sony MDR series; last ones i bought were MDR 300s for about 40 bucks (the silver ones)

was given "skullcandy" ones as a gift, the sound wasn't nearly as good IMO

if i were to want to spend more and get some really nice monitor headphones then sennheisers

[REVENGE]

Test driving MDR-V6s right now. So far, they seem comfy and sound good. I'm going to borrow a pair of Sennheisers for comparison. Thanks for the input.

[MidKnight]

Look at http://head-fi.org
They're experts at this kind of stuff.

What kind of music do you listen to? Do you need to be able to wear these outside? Do you need noise isolation? Do you want balanced, boring sound or colored, fun sound?


@oksnoop2: Shure also has the SRH440 and SRH840, which are like your headphones, only a whole lot better, for only like $40 more! You should save up for some!

[Cheesecan]

I've heard Grado makes good and affordable audiophile headphones. SR60/i and SR80/i might be worth a look, they are round $70 in the US I think. Would've bought a pair myself but here they cost much more.

[aGorm]

I've had some sennheiser 555 hd's for a few years now. They relly sound great. Only downside is there opened backed, so crap for when you want to not annoy people...

Basicly... just avoid the ones HeavyLancer said and you should be fine...

aGorm

[Lord_Hector]

I get a new set every year

[Cheesecan]

Bet you have to when you buy stuff like that.

[REVENGE]

MDR-V6s are great, but it turns out that my mobo's ALC883 is not outputting lower frequencies correctly (almost like the EQ has everything below 10kHz turned down, except the EQ is disabled). Using the headphones with any other device gives the correct bass response.

[rattle]

Skullcandy tear apart really fast, typical cheap china ware.. Lancers recommendations are good. I'd avoid Sennheiser as well, their consumer line of products isn't really good.

Speaking of which, anyone got experience with Shure in-ears (SE115)? I've ordered a pair for 40 quid (originally 99), hope their sound is good for the price range..