Headphones:

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

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Hi all, I've had a rubbish pair of PC speakers for ages, and now I'm moving in with my other half, I could do with a pair of emersive headphones, full cans not in ear ones.

I'm thinking of a <£100 budget, ideally around 50-60 if possible.

I've heard good things about the sennheiser range.

They will be mostly used for high quality audio from the PC, as well as some gaming and with the ipod. They need to be comfortable and have good audio quality.

What would you recommend? I'm not really in the know with audio equipment.

Any advice appreciated
 
Whats the advantage of open vs closed? I don't want to hear people, and I guess I don't want them to hear my music. Is that what happens with open ones? That sort of defeats the purpose?
 
But if someone is watching tele in the same room or i'm sat next to someone I feel open ones would be an issue?

So I'm guessing closed would be better for me?
 
I have had a pair of Sennheiser HD205 headphones for several years now and have been extremely satisfied with them. They are relatively inexpensive...around 20 quid I think, and perform VERY well for their pricerange.
 
n30_mkii said:
But if someone is watching tele in the same room or i'm sat next to someone I feel open ones would be an issue?

So I'm guessing closed would be better for me?
Click to expand...

Yep, if you don't want other people to hear what you're listening to then you have to go for closed cups. Open cups sound better in some circumstances and more natural, but will leak sound.
 
Could I have some closed cans suggestions £50-100 mark? Which sens would be best? Don't mind getting second hand if the quality is better
 
The 555's are lovely but you can go one better than them and get 595's.

Can be had for a fair chunk under £100 and sound really nice.

gt
 
2 choices, 2 very different sound signatures.

1.) Alessandro MS-1 $99 direct from USA.
2.) Sennheiser 595 (don't know price but under £100)

Alessandros are based on grado headphones and if you want that sound are hte only ones worth considering as grados are stupidlu overpriced over here and the MS1s blow the netry level grados away and are cheaper.

Grados have an in your face, lively sound signature, wheras the senns are more laid back. Also look at manufacturers like Beyer dynamic and Goldring.
 
-Ad- said:
2 choices, 2 very different sound signatures.

1.) Alessandro MS-1 $99 direct from USA.
2.) Sennheiser 595 (don't know price but under £100)

Alessandros are based on grado headphones and if you want that sound are hte only ones worth considering as grados are stupidlu overpriced over here and the MS1s blow the netry level grados away and are cheaper.

Grados have an in your face, lively sound signature, wheras the senns are more laid back. Also look at manufacturers like Beyer dynamic and Goldring.
Click to expand...

Both are open.
 
Audio Technica A700 on your budget. Do not buy them from the Uk though, AT phones are overpriced massively here.

I own the A900s and they are stunning closed phones which are easy to drive and very, very comfortable.

A900s are £190 over here, £120 after tax and the like from the USA, A700 probably have a large saving as well.
 
This might help a bit...taken from head-fi.org:

jgonino said:
Suggestion for amping:
"0" denotes amp usually included/bundled
"1" denotes amp not needed.
"2" denotes amp recommended.
"3" denotes amp required.


Under $70

IEM/Earbud
1-JVC Marshmallow (FX33, 34) ($15) Bassy, recessed mids and highs. I love them with rock. Great value. Kramer mod helps these a lot.
1-Creative ep630 ($23)
1-JVC Air Cushion ($30) These sound similar to the marshmallows, but with better detail and no recessed mids/highs.
1-Sennheiser cx300 ($30) Lovely midrange, and very strong bass (although uncontrolled) Highs are the weakness of this phone.
1-Yuin pk3 ($39)
1-Jays j-jays ($50)
1-Shure e2c ($60)
1-Crossroads Mylarone x3i/xbi ($57 and $65)
1-Yuin pk2 ($69)
1-Etymotic er6 ($70) Very detailed. Good mids/highs. Slightly lacking the bass department
1-Ultimate Ears Super.Fi.3 ($70)
1-V-moda Vibe($70) Very muddy, not a lot of detail. no highs to speak off.
2-Altec Lansing im716 ($100) Currently on sale @buy.com for $49

Open Headphone
1-Koss KSC75/35 (Clip-on) ($13) Very good value. Some bass bloat, good mids and sparkly highs.
1-Sennheiser px100 ($33)
1-Koss Portapro ($35)
1-Sennheiser HD515 ($60)
1-Grado sr-60 ($69) Wonderful liquid mids! Amazing with guitars. Not harsh to me, but to some. Lacking in bass.

Closed Headphone
1-Sennheiser HD201 ($22)
1-AKG k81dj ($54) Bassy dj headphone. Better with some damping. Good for rap and Hip-Hop

$70 to $150

IEM/Earbud
1-Sony ex90 ($95)
1-Jays D-jays ($99)
1-Westone UM1 ($109)
1-Shure e3c ($119)
1-Super.Fi.5 Pro/EB ($130-$150)
2-Yuin pk1 ($139)
1-Sennheiser CX95 ($140)

Open Headphone
1-Audio Technica ad500/700 ($100 and $130)
1-AKG 240S ($85)
1.5-Sennheiser hd555 ($95) Availalbe in 50 and 120 ohm versions.
1-Grado Sr80/sr125 ($95 and $149)
1-Alessandro MS-1
2-Goldring DR150 ($135)
2-Sennheiser hd580 ($160)

Closed Headphone
1-Sony Mdr-v6 ($71) A very neutral headphone. Good mids, highs. No bass bloat IMO.
1-Sennheiser HD280 ($80) Extreme isolation in a closed Headphone. Slightly anemic bass.
1-Audio Technica a500/700 ($98 and $140) Very balanced overall sound. Good for rock and metal. Speedy, controlled bass. Cheap pleather pads.
1-Equation rp21/rp22x ($85-$90) Plenty of awesome bass. Slightly recessed mids, good highs
1-Audio Technica ES7 ($110)
2-Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO ($150) Bass monsters! Also a good gaming/movie watching 'phone.
1-Denon d1000 ($130)

$150 to ~$200

IEM/Earbud
1-Shure e4c (~160)
1-Jays q-jays ($170)
1-Atrio M5/M8 ($180)
2-Etymotic ER4p ($180) Very detailed, awesome highs and Mids. Bass is lacking to some. Sound is wonderful with a Mini-box E amp (Bass boost)

Open Headphone
2-Sennheiser hd595 ($180) Available in 50 and 120 ohm versions
1-Grado Sr225 ($180)
2-AKG k501 ($190)
3-Beyerdynamic DT880 PRO/2005 (~$200)

Closed Headphone
2-Sennheiser HD25-II ($175)
1-Audio Technica a900 ($200) Massive soundstage, strong bass, and comfort are its strong points. Great for movies and jazz. Slight weakness in the low-midrange. Crappy pleather Pads.
2-Beyerdynamic Dt250 ($200)
2-AKG 271s ($185)

$200 to $300

IEM/Earbud
0-Stax SR001/003 ($230)
1-Shure SE530PTH ($280)
1-Earpiece Livewires ($250 plus impressions)
1-Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi.10 ($299)
1-Westone UM2 ($299)

Open Headphone
2-Sony Mdr-F1 ($240)
3-Sennheiser HD600 ($240)
2-Grado SR-325i ($249) Most aggressive Grado. Sharp metallic sound with fast attack + decay. Great pair for electric guitars.
3-Beyerdynamic dt990-2005 ($250)
3-AKG k701 ($250) Detailed phones with wide sound stage. Amp dependent for good bass. Often compared against HD650.
1-Ultrasone PROLine 2500 ($263)
2-Audio Technica ad1000 ($330)
2-Alessandro MS-2i ($299)

Closed Headphone
2-Denon D2000 ($260)
2-Ultrasone PROLine 750 ($263)
?-Audio Technica ESW9 ($280)

$300 to $500

2-Headphile Darth Beyer ($370 to Whatever you can imagine!)

IEM/Earbud
2-APureSound Etymotic Er4p
?-Klipsch Image ($350)

Open Headphone
3-Sennhesier HD650 ($325) Dark headphone with ample bass. Very amp/source dependent. A whole new level of awesome when balanced.
0-Stax SR303 ($350)
2-Sony SA5000 ($350)
2-Grado Hf-1 ($350 to $400)
0-Stax SR404 ($450)
2-Grado Rs2 ($495) Liquid mid-range and if used with flat pads, slammy bass. If 325i is too sharp, this is the 'phone to go for.
2-Audio Technica AD2000 ($499)
0-Sony Pfr-V1 ($499)

Closed Headphone
3-Audio Technica w1000 ($399)
3-Denon D5000 ($559)

More Than $500

IEM/Earbud
Westone ES-2
Ultimate Ears UE-10 pro ($900 + Impressions)
Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pro ($1,150 +Impressions)
Sensaphonics 2X-S


Open Headphone
2-Grado Rs1 ($695)
2-Alessandro MS-Pro ($699)
2-Grado GS1000 ($995)
2-Grado Hp-2 (~$1400)
3-Grado Ps-1 (~$1400)
0-Stax Omega 2 ($1850)
Closed Headphone
3-Audio Technica w5000 ($699) Woody headphone which is known for troublesome fit and being picky about amplification. If used successfully - very worth the trouble.
3-JVC/Victor DX1000 ($889)
2-Ultrasone Edition 9 ($1,499)
Click to expand...
 
gt_junkie said:
The 555's are lovely but you can go one better than them and get 595's.

Can be had for a fair chunk under £100 and sound really nice.

gt
Click to expand...

595's are double the price though :p

My HD555's now are a year old and to this day they still sound better every 2-3 months it's astonishing.
 
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