Replacement DR150's - keep or not?

fozzybear · 1 Dec 2010 at 20:22

I bought some Goldring DR150's about 3 or 4 months ago but they decided to snap around a month ago.

The place where I bought the DR150's have kindly decided to replace them free of charge and i should get them tomorrow. I wasn't expecting them to be replaced so I'm pleasantly surprised!

The thing is that I'm not sure I want to keep them as the build really worries me. My last pair were actually very well looked after.

The build weakness, in my view, is the plastic that is used for the 'extender' for the ear cups. Maybe I've got a big head and that put extra pressure on the plastics. :confused:

Anyway, I'm really considering selling the replacements and getting something else a little more robust. I have a Xonar DG coming this week so need something that performs well with that.

What would you do? Give them another chance?

Auraomega · 1 Dec 2010 at 20:35

I've had my 150s probably a tad longer than you, and while they do feel loose they feel sturdy (if you get what I mean). I guess you've probably had a bad pair as there seems to be a few going around but mine take a bit of abuse and I've had no issues with mine what so ever.

My honest opinion? Give them another shot, if you get the same issue in 4 months time then sell the replacements, but to me it's worth trying them again.

Monkeynut · 1 Dec 2010 at 21:20

Over a year and mine are still alright, no issues. Maybe a bad batch OP.

Marsman · 1 Dec 2010 at 22:35

I have 2nd hand DR150's, which I have had a year. Don't know how long the guy I bought them from had them. Mine have developed cracks in the under side of the headband extenders. They are only visible when the cups are pulled apart. I have only just noticed it really, few weeks ago. Couldn't say how long they have been there. Hoping they wont get worse to the point they break. Sounds like the same issue with yours Fozzy. I have seen other comments about this. It's a weakness, happens to some not others. I have a large bonce, and I fear that is the problem. Over stretching is causing the plastic to stress, then crack. IMO, there is a fair chance same will happen again.

Wonderful headphones, but that is their weakness. Shame really.

Not sure what I would do if mine went. I have considered the NS1000's, but for gaming I don't want closed phones.

fozzybear · 1 Dec 2010 at 23:06

Thanks for the replies.

The thing is, I'm going to be completely paranoid about them cracking again. I'm currently using a cheap £8 pair that I got from a supermarket and they're unbreakable yet a £50 pair has flaws in their build.

Tempted to give the JVC HARX 700 headphones a try but they've gone up in price recently. We'll see. I'm half hoping a pair of NS1000's appear by mistake instead of the DR150's!

Uriel · 2 Dec 2010 at 09:11

fozzybear said:
Tempted to give the JVC HARX 700 headphones a try but they've gone up in price recently. We'll see.

I've just bumped my thread for JVCs in MM. Never did get around to putting them on the bay...

Angel_Rex · 2 Dec 2010 at 12:24

fozzybear said:
Thanks for the replies.

The thing is, I'm going to be completely paranoid about them cracking again. I'm currently using a cheap £8 pair that I got from a supermarket and they're unbreakable yet a £50 pair has flaws in their build.

Tempted to give the JVC HARX 700 headphones a try but they've gone up in price recently. We'll see. I'm half hoping a pair of NS1000's appear by mistake instead of the DR150's!

I'm half hoping you'll sell me the DR150's for £20

fozzybear · 2 Dec 2010 at 12:50

Angel_Rex said:
I'm half hoping you'll sell me the DR150's for £20

Do you know what? That's highly unlikely to happen!

Not sure there are too many alternatives to the DR150's in the price range. I'll most likely end up keeping them and treating them with 'kid gloves'!

Angel_Rex · 2 Dec 2010 at 12:57

LOL yeah I know

I paid £19 for my DR50 and love them.... I have a daily battle on which to buy.... the DR150 or NS1000...... Noise cancellation or leakage doesnt bother me, I just want to know which will sound better for tv & games

& better is soooo subjective :S

Marsman · 2 Dec 2010 at 13:58

Angel_Rex said:
& better is soooo subjective :S

That is true. One person on these forums has both and prefers the DR150's, so it's not as case of NS1000's are better, end of story. Most people will probably prefer the NS1000's, but not everyone.

One way to look at it is, the NS1000's do have better build quality, so if that's a concern, they would be the better choice.

Uriel · 2 Dec 2010 at 15:13

Better is often subjective.

However, the NS1000s are objectively better than the DR150...

Objectively better build quality and materials, wider frequency response (DR150 = 18 - 20,000, NS1000 = 15Hz - 23kHz with NC on or 15-20hHz with NC off), more detailed, better separated, come with a carry-case and a bunch of accessories that you don't get with the DR150.

Subjectively, I find the NS1000s more comfortable.

The DR150s are easier to drive (so sound better out of a lot of sources despite the above) and have a longer cable though. In spite of all the above, I would rather use DR150s for multiplayer as I get shouty with NS1000s as I can't hear myself speak.

fozzybear · 2 Dec 2010 at 16:41

Just had my replacements delivered and they feel like 'old friends' on my ears.

The clamping is still there and that's where the initial stress goes on the plastics. I noticed the clamping at first last time but it slowly got 'better'. Now, I'd rather have the clamping feel as its a bit of reassurance that the plastics are holding up!

Auraomega · 3 Dec 2010 at 11:21

Marsman said:
One person on these forums has both and prefers the DR150's

Reporting in

On paper the 1000s are the better, but I just prefer the sound from my 150s. It probably has more to do with the open vs closed than anything else. One thing to bare in mind is the super short cable for the 1000s though.

Also, the frequency range for the 1000s is pretty big, but how many people actually get the benefit from it? I wager a large number of people can't hear above the 20KHz range anyway.

Uriel · 3 Dec 2010 at 11:38

Auraomega said:
Reporting in

On paper the 1000s are the better, but I just prefer the sound from my 150s. It probably has more to do with the open vs closed than anything else. One thing to bare in mind is the super short cable for the 1000s though.

Also, the frequency range for the 1000s is pretty big, but how many people actually get the benefit from it? I wager a large number of people can't hear above the 20KHz range anyway.

Just wondering - what source and amp (if any) are you using?

I prefer DR150s straight out of a soundcard or mp3 player for example.

Auraomega · 3 Dec 2010 at 13:44

I use the DG. I did try the E5 with the 1000s but it stopped working a while back and I decided I preferred noise cancelling as amplification anyway.

Uriel · 3 Dec 2010 at 13:59

Ok. I find that the NS1000s still benefit from an amp, even with noise cancelling. It seems to make treble less grainy and gives real weight and impact to the bass.

Let's not forget, they're 300 ohm with noise cancellation on so they need something that provides adequate voltage to get the best out of them.

MADEinSTOKE · 3 Dec 2010 at 20:29

Angel_Rex said:
LOL yeah I know I paid £19 for my DR50 and love them.... I have a daily battle on which to buy.... the DR150 or NS1000...... Noise cancellation or leakage doesnt bother me, I just want to know which will sound better for tv & games

& better is soooo subjective :S

i had some ns1000 for gaming but sold them due to not being able to hear my own voice and thus causing me to shout in to my microphone ....kept getting told off...so i use my dr 100's

Mr Krugga · 3 Dec 2010 at 21:04

Uriel said:
Ok. I find that the NS1000s still benefit from an amp, even with noise cancelling. It seems to make treble less grainy and gives real weight and impact to the bass.

Let's not forget, they're 300 ohm with noise cancellation on so they need something that provides adequate voltage to get the best out of them.

I'm thinking of getting FiiO E7 and trying it out with my Goldrings

Uriel · 3 Dec 2010 at 21:24

MADEinSTOKE said:
i had some ns1000 for gaming but sold them due to not being able to hear my own voice and thus causing me to shout in to my microphone ....kept getting told off...so i use my dr 100's

Yep - that is the main disadvantage for multiplayer. It wouldn't be so bad if you could get instantaneous monitoring of the mic using the headphones but mine lags a few milliseconds, which confuses me and makes me sound drunk to everyone else.

In practice, I generally use open headphones for multiplayer gaming (my DR150s or Sennheiser HD600s)

setter · 3 Dec 2010 at 21:33

Agree Uriel, due to the design of the NS1000's, the cups are fantastic for music, very rich enclosed sound, i tried them with a mic, bit shouty on my part, i had to gradually learn to tone my voice down, no fault of the headphones, (user tbh), i dont tend to use voice comms in game very much, mic is used for skype. The NS1000'S are amazing for gaming and general use, the noise cancelling is extremely good, i recently had to travel on a flight to birmingham, ended up with a seat close to the engine, sansa clip + 8gb with NS1000's totally drowned out the engine noise.