Buying headphones - suggestions wanted

Respenus · 10-17-10, 02:19 PM

Well, time to turn to those with more experience on the subject. Until recently, I've been able to use external speakers for my PC, yet going abroad and with a laptop, together with the fact that disturbing my neighbours with brass blazing in the middle of the night isn't something socially acceptable (or even allowed according to house rules), I've been thinking about investing into a quality set of headphone. I'm getting sick and tired of the iPhone ones, which are defective to start with.

Now, I don't wish to give away a fortune, but I'm not ready to buy some 5$ waste of a product. So some middle ground is sought for.

So those of you, who would kindly share their knowledge with me, what would you recommend? Now, my only requirement at this time, apart from the price, is that it must be adapt at playing classical music. I'll be damned if I have to hear another symphony through the speakers I have right now. So sound quality is an important issue, like with any audio product, giving you nothing but the most simple, or the most impossible mission concerning the subject.

So, any takers? I would be grateful for any advice.

Sailor Steve · 10-17-10, 02:55 PM

I've got a talk-and-listen headset I bought at BestBuy for $20, and it does a great job.

I also paid about the same at a nearby office suppy store for a fat pair of headphones I use for practicing with my guitars, and they also do very well.

CCIP · 10-17-10, 03:00 PM

How much are you looking to spend? What are your preferences in terms of, let's say, size, style, open vs. closed, mic included or not?

Personally, for music I lean towards larger, robust, open-air monitors. These are favourites http://www.sennheiser.ca/live/senn/produit/en/103/14 (you can find them for about $100), and in general I can't recommend Sennheisers enough. This is my current pair: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/he...56f/index.html and I also like them a lot. I tend to steer off cheaper headphones and headphones of other styles (closed, behind the head, portable, in-ear...), mainly because of comfort (even assuming sound quality is the same).

These are rather um... mid-range as far as price goes. If you're looking for something simpler, do let know. However if you do listen to a lot of music in headphones, I honestly can't stress enough how a solid pair of headphones is a good investment for somewhere in the $100-200 neighbourhood.

FIREWALL · 10-17-10, 03:09 PM

Price or Sound expectations ?

Respenus · 10-17-10, 03:36 PM

Thank you CCIP, I've just looked over the specs and price range of the Sennheiser headphones. Since I do use them in a closed space, with little outside noise and quite nice thick walls, meaning it will be hard to disturb anyone, I don't think that open headphones will be much of a problem. Since I do consider myself to be a sort of an audiophile, these certainly are the item to look at.

Right now, I'm only deciding between the HD 555 and the HD 595 (there is the 55 euros difference). Anything higher is way beyond what I can afford right now and reading the reviews, it seems that I won't be too disappointed.

antikristuseke · 10-17-10, 03:38 PM

Koss products are difficult to go wrong with and their warranty terms are great.

CCIP · 10-17-10, 08:10 PM

I think both of those are really good, I'd even be inclined to go with the cheaper option so that you could also consider a couple of other things I'd personally recommend...

Not sure what harware you've got in the pc/laptop, but I also suggest you consider a good sound card - that makes a huge difference for sound, and they're not massively expensive either. There are USB sound cards that hugely improve listening, even if you get a fairly simple one (I had a creative X-Fi with my laptop when I used it for music, which isn't the most brilliant sound card but was miles above on-board, and that was less than $60). I'm not actually a huge expert in this, and I plan to upgrade my own sometime soon, but I can vouch for it being a very good idea.

Another thing I got was a simple headphone amp. That's really optional, and mine is actually home-made (not by me), but you can find lots of cool options for these for $20-30. They don't make a massive difference, but especially on so-so hardware they really do help.

10-17-10, 02:19 PM	#1
Respenus Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,169 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Buying headphones - suggestions wanted Well, time to turn to those with more experience on the subject. Until recently, I've been able to use external speakers for my PC, yet going abroad and with a laptop, together with the fact that disturbing my neighbours with brass blazing in the middle of the night isn't something socially acceptable (or even allowed according to house rules), I've been thinking about investing into a quality set of headphone. I'm getting sick and tired of the iPhone ones, which are defective to start with. Now, I don't wish to give away a fortune, but I'm not ready to buy some 5$ waste of a product. So some middle ground is sought for. So those of you, who would kindly share their knowledge with me, what would you recommend? Now, my only requirement at this time, apart from the price, is that it must be adapt at playing classical music. I'll be damned if I have to hear another symphony through the speakers I have right now. So sound quality is an important issue, like with any audio product, giving you nothing but the most simple, or the most impossible mission concerning the subject. So, any takers? I would be grateful for any advice. __________________

10-17-10, 02:55 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I've got a talk-and-listen headset I bought at BestBuy for $20, and it does a great job. I also paid about the same at a nearby office suppy store for a fat pair of headphones I use for practicing with my guitars, and they also do very well. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

10-17-10, 03:00 PM	#3
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	How much are you looking to spend? What are your preferences in terms of, let's say, size, style, open vs. closed, mic included or not? Personally, for music I lean towards larger, robust, open-air monitors. These are favourites http://www.sennheiser.ca/live/senn/produit/en/103/14 (you can find them for about $100), and in general I can't recommend Sennheisers enough. This is my current pair: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/he...56f/index.html and I also like them a lot. I tend to steer off cheaper headphones and headphones of other styles (closed, behind the head, portable, in-ear...), mainly because of comfort (even assuming sound quality is the same). These are rather um... mid-range as far as price goes. If you're looking for something simpler, do let know. However if you do listen to a lot of music in headphones, I honestly can't stress enough how a solid pair of headphones is a good investment for somewhere in the $100-200 neighbourhood. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

10-17-10, 03:09 PM	#4
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Price or Sound expectations ? __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

10-17-10, 03:36 PM	#5
Respenus Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,169 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thank you CCIP, I've just looked over the specs and price range of the Sennheiser headphones. Since I do use them in a closed space, with little outside noise and quite nice thick walls, meaning it will be hard to disturb anyone, I don't think that open headphones will be much of a problem. Since I do consider myself to be a sort of an audiophile, these certainly are the item to look at. Right now, I'm only deciding between the HD 555 and the HD 595 (there is the 55 euros difference). Anything higher is way beyond what I can afford right now and reading the reviews, it seems that I won't be too disappointed. __________________

10-17-10, 03:38 PM	#6
antikristuseke Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Estland Posts: 4,330 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Koss products are difficult to go wrong with and their warranty terms are great.

10-17-10, 08:10 PM	#7
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	I think both of those are really good, I'd even be inclined to go with the cheaper option so that you could also consider a couple of other things I'd personally recommend... Not sure what harware you've got in the pc/laptop, but I also suggest you consider a good sound card - that makes a huge difference for sound, and they're not massively expensive either. There are USB sound cards that hugely improve listening, even if you get a fairly simple one (I had a creative X-Fi with my laptop when I used it for music, which isn't the most brilliant sound card but was miles above on-board, and that was less than $60). I'm not actually a huge expert in this, and I plan to upgrade my own sometime soon, but I can vouch for it being a very good idea. Another thing I got was a simple headphone amp. That's really optional, and mine is actually home-made (not by me), but you can find lots of cool options for these for $20-30. They don't make a massive difference, but especially on so-so hardware they really do help. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)