Sub £80 headphones

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NZB

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I'm after some recommendations for some cheap headphones under £80 ish. They'll just be used for the odd movie and boxset TV shows and a mic isn't necessary.

Are there any surround headsets worthwhile in this budget?

I also don't have a soundcard, just the ALC889 onboard sound which is ok but i don't know if it would be enough for a non USB set.

Edit - Oh and preferably with a decent length cord as the spare room couch is about 2.5-3m away from the screen.
 
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Been reading through a tonne of threads on here this evening and keep seeing the Denon AHD1100's being mentioned.

The Rainforest have them for £57 and comes with a 3.5meter extension. From the pics it looks like a 3.5mm jack so would the onboard ALC889 sound be enough for them or better off grabbing a Xonar DG to go with them? Or is there another set i'd be better putting the money to?
 
Sorry to keep pimping them, but Sony MDR-V6's (NOT V600). Currently £50 on Amazon. Check the reviews, don't take my word for it :)
Sound identical to MDR-7506's which have been one of the industry standard studio monitor headphones for over 20 years. The V6 is the consumer version.

I have a set of the AHD-1100's sitting here and the V6's poo on them from a great height imo. They're currently sat in their box awaiting their fate coz they're not staying in my house...
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/571005/the-panasonic-rp-htf600-s-headphones-more-fun-than-the-hd650

The best £30-£40 you'll ever spend. Search the forums, tons of people give them nothing but praise and I can vouch for them too. I use them exclusively at home for my desktop machine and the sound is very decent. They aren't surround though but again there are a lot of people that talk down the surround headphones. Plenty of reviews (122) of them on the rainforest. Decent cable length too I'd say 2 to 2 1/2 metres probably.
 
Been reading around on both those sets and liking what i'm reading about the MDR-V6's. I can find an E-S version of the Panasonics but a lot of the reviews are pretty bad.

I'll hold off buying until the morning but if no one else suggests anything by then i'll probably grab the Sony's :)
 
If you do go for them, remember to let them burn in for a bit. They really do open up after a little while.

ED: Not that they don't sound good out of the box or anything. It's just the highs may seem a little hard and the bass lacking a touch at first.
 
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Uncle Petey said:
Sorry to keep pimping them, but Sony MDR-V6's (NOT V600). Currently £50 on Amazon. Check the reviews, don't take my word for it :)
Sound identical to MDR-7506's which have been one of the industry standard studio monitor headphones for over 20 years. The V6 is the consumer version.

I have a set of the AHD-1100's sitting here and the V6's poo on them from a great height imo. They're currently sat in their box awaiting their fate coz they're not staying in my house...
Click to expand...

Second the MDR-V6. Fantastic for the price, nice and comfortable, foldable with leather carry pouch.

Great for mastering/mixing and of course, listening!

Thinking of getting a second pair.
 
If I had £80 I would get the Creative Aurvana Live headphones, a Xonar DG soundcard and an extension cord.

It is all within budget.

The Panasonics were a steal when they were £27, but the price has rocketed and I believe they are now overpriced. I have a pair as well.
 
Funny you should mention the creative aurvana live, i just ordered them after reading AVForum :p

I ended up ordering two sets, the CAL's and a pair of these LINDY Premium Hi-Fi Headphones. The reason for the second set is although a lot of people say the CAL's sound good they're meant to be built cheaply and i have a habit of breaking headphones. When they both arrive i'll see which i prefer and send the other set back.

Bought a Xonar DG to go with them and a 3m coiled extension cable.
 
Aye and meant to be dead comfy too.

Almost bought the sony ones instead but a few posts elsewhere mentioning them not being good for movies put me off, they all said the same thing.. that sounds like breaking glass etc were really harsh.

Edit - Is the driver on the Asus site the latest for the Xonar DG? It's dated "2011.10.31"
 
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They're very detailed and analytical given that they're aimed at studio monitoring purposes, so can sound a tiny bit harsh with poor sources or recordings.
They won't flatter anything, but will sound fantastic when provided with the good stuff and decent equipment.

I'd ask whether those reviewers are used to headphones that exaggerate bass and/or neuter high frequencies and whether they've let them burn in. Also, I'd ask what source they're using.

I find them great for movies, but then I've mainly used them with a xonar D2 and an Essence ST. Music on the phone (usually FLAC on a Blackberry Torch and Galaxy S2) sounds great too.
Using them with the headphone output on my TV is crap in comparison.

EDIT: May as well grab the unified drivers http://brainbit.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/

Also, I'm sure you'll be more than happy with either of the pairs you've ordered. They both look like very good choices.
 
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Cheers for the unified drivers.

Not sure whether i should thank you for the comments on the Sony though. You've got me planning on ordering them again once i've given the other two a try over the weekend. Sending back whichever one i prefer the least then keep it or the one i preferred from the first two. Hopefully the rainforest don't get too annoyed.

I thought buying headphones would be as simple as speakers but it's all a bit over my head, too used to various speakers really. Years ago i'd buy expensive gaming headsets and only use them for Ventrilo with sounds through the speakers but they always broke so ended up just buying cheap headsets for that, now i rarely game and have no clue about the sound through them. We moved to the east coast recently, this hospital has the missus working nights now and our room is above the one the main PC and spare TV is so i thought "oh i'll just grab some headphones".. but then the more i read on them the more it seemed i needed to read. Pain in the bum for what is effectively just a cheap headset for watching TV and movies while the kids are in the living room :p
 
NZB said:
Cheers for the unified drivers.

Not sure whether i should thank you for the comments on the Sony though. You've got me planning on ordering them again once i've given the other two a try over the weekend. Sending back whichever one i prefer the least then keep it or the one i preferred from the first two. Hopefully the rainforest don't get too annoyed.

I thought buying headphones would be as simple as speakers but it's all a bit over my head, too used to various speakers really. Years ago i'd buy expensive gaming headsets and only use them for Ventrilo with sounds through the speakers but they always broke so ended up just buying cheap headsets for that, now i rarely game and have no clue about the sound through them. We moved to the east coast recently, this hospital has the missus working nights now and our room is above the one the main PC and spare TV is so i thought "oh i'll just grab some headphones".. but then the more i read on them the more it seemed i needed to read. Pain in the bum for what is effectively just a cheap headset for watching TV and movies while the kids are in the living room :p
Click to expand...

No worries and er, apologies I guess :D

Tbh, I think you should just choose between either of the pairs that you've ordered. They'll be more than good enough for your intended usage and may well be more 'entertaining' for movies and stuff :)
Depending on your ears, they may also be little more comfy over long periods.
The V6's are comfy, but could maybe do with slightly more space around and away from the ear.
 
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