Headphones - Whats your Pick?

[conchyjoe7]

Hi:
I used to have Senn 600s and AKG 701s, but I bought (about 6 weeks ago) a pair of Denon AH-D2000 cans, and I have to say IMHO they are the best all around I've owned. Color me extremely happy with them. One caveat: They are "closed ear" and as such can get a little warm to the ear after prolonged use. Having said that, it's not enough to bother me, and while these are VERY well balanced all around phones, their bass is phenomenal.
Cheers,
Konky.

[SQCherokee]

I've had a pair of grados (old 60 series from the late 90's) I like them alot...but they are open backs so people next to me on an air plane don't nessicarily want to hear my heavy metal.

They sound awsome.

[bdbuss]

DRB wrote:

Brad, I also own a pair of Etymotic 4P's. (Yes, I realize I have a problem...). I use them with a large classic Creative MP3 player and a HeadRoom portable amp for airline travel. Good isolation, good sound! I find the amp is a must.

BTW, I use them at home when my wife insists that the leakage from the regular cans is too much. Excellent. The original in-ear monitors.

Ray - I listen to mine with an iPod. I can get fairly high volume levels, so I never thought I needed an amp. I've seen them for sale though. What does it do for the sound? Because if you can convince me that I could get even "better" sound through them, I would be stunned.

[drf]

In my opinion headphone amps, accessories and headphones over $50 are a waste of time and money if you are playing compressed music.

[conchyjoe7]

I don't play any compressed music anywhere at anytime on anything. Oh, that is of course unless it's compressed in the studio...****, I forgot like 90% of all the music's compressed today. Couldn't believe Santana's "Supernatural" has a whopping 9db of dynamic range...PATHETIC!
Cheers,
Konky.

[DRB]

Ray - I listen to mine with an iPod. I can get fairly high volume levels, so I never thought I needed an amp. I've seen them for sale though. What does it do for the sound? Because if you can convince me that I could get even "better" sound through them, I would be stunned.

I don't download any music files. My compressed files are home-made with a high bitrate LAME VBR approach. (No iTunes 192's here, please). That said, like everything else in audio, you have to try it for yourself. I get a cleaner, fuller sound with the HeadRoom amp and it is helpful with both WAV files and MP3's. IMHO.

I should also mention that the old Creative player I have features a real honest-to-God line out. I believe this is much better than the impedance mismatch that you get when driving your amp with the headphone out jack. (That doesn't stop me from using the amp with my iPod, however, on those rare occasions when I remove it from my car). Take a look around HeadFi or other headphone sites with regards to portable CD players, amps and headphones. There is a group of fans who look far and wide for older players with line out jacks. Many of them swear by a rig consisting of their classic Sony CD player, a headphone amp (often with tubes), and a pair of Sennheiser, AKG, or other quality headphones.

[jliedeka]

My best headphones are Grado SR-60s. They are inexpensive (< $70) and sound light years better than any other inexpensive phones I've heard. I'm not a big can user so I wouldn't spend any more than that. I have compared them to the more expensive SR-225s. I did notice the difference but thought it was fairly subtle. Perhaps if I were using a good headphone amp, I would be more demanding. I got mine to use at the office and they are just plugged in to the headphone jack of my sound card.

Jim

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Thanks for the tip, Jim. I've been on the look out for some good-sounding, but economical 'phones. I've been a Sennheiser fan for years, but I've grown weary of their cheesy replacable cables. They don't last long at all, and after 2-3 replacements you've spent the price of the headphones once again.

Regards,
Wayne

[avaserfi]

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

Thanks for the tip, Jim. I've been on the look out for some good-sounding, but economical 'phones. I've been a Sennheiser fan for years, but I've grown weary of their cheesy replacable cables. They don't last long at all, and after 2-3 replacements you've spent the price of the headphones once again.

Regards,
Wayne

If you are interested in high quality low cost headphones I strongly suggest you look into the Sony MDR-7506/Sony MDR-V6. They can be had new for about $90 and refurbished for around $60. These headphones are extremely accurate with a good build quality to boot.

[Matt34]

avaserfi wrote:

If you are interested in high quality low cost headphones I strongly suggest you look into the Sony MDR-7506/Sony MDR-V6. They can be had new for about $90 and refurbished for around $60. These headphones are extremely accurate with a good build quality to boot.

I 2nd this advice. I've had about a dozen pairs of headphones under $175 and the Sony MDR-V6 are far and away my favorite.

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Thanks for the tip, Andrew (and to Matt for confirming). I saw you had previoiusly recommended the Sonys when I scanned the thread yesterday, but I wasn't aware they were so economical. One appears to be an over-ear studio type, the other a physically smaller on-ear model. Is there any difference between the two, sound-wise?

Regards,
Wayne

[avaserfi]

Wayne A. Pflughaupt wrote:

Thanks for the tip, Andrew (and to Matt for confirming). I saw you had previoiusly recommended the Sonys when I scanned the thread yesterday, but I wasn't aware they were so economical. One appears to be an over-ear studio type, the other a physically smaller on-ear model. Is there any difference between the two, sound-wise?

Regards,
Wayne

Both the MDR-7506 and the Sony MDR-V6 are closed over ear monitors that are almost exactly the same except for some minor cosmetic differences. I think you might have looked at a different Sony headphone that was smaller...

If you happen to be near or in College Station in August or after feel free to let me know and you can check out my pair. I will be moving down shortly.