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Headphone recommendation and advice thread

post #1 of 12
5/19/10 at 3:10pm
Thread Starter 
The left can on my old Sony headphones gave out last night, so I need to grab a new pair. My primary uses will be for nighttime movie/TV watching and gaming. Price ceiling of ~$150, though I'd prefer well under that. Over ear preferred. Comfort/breatheability are important, since I could be wearing them in 2-3 hour chunks. Recommendations?
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post #2 of 12
5/19/10 at 3:24pm
ElCapitan knows his headphones.
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post #3 of 12
5/19/10 at 5:20pm
Wireless, bluetooth specifically, an option?

The Motorola ROKR s9 HD are quite a nice pair.
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post #4 of 12
5/19/10 at 5:56pm
Audio Technica ATH M30s. I use them to do temp mixes and they work really well.
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post #5 of 12
5/19/10 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm View Post
Wireless, bluetooth specifically, an option?

The Motorola ROKR s9 HD are quite a nice pair.
I could go wireless as long as the hiss/static/cut out problems of the past have been solved. Does Bluetooth eliminate those?
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post #6 of 12
5/19/10 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyeball Kid View Post
I could go wireless as long as the hiss/static/cut out problems of the past have been solved. Does Bluetooth eliminate those?

I have had no hiss or static with my headphones which are actually the plain S9 and not the S9 HD.

As for cut out, I'm assuming you are talking about dropped portions of audio? If so then the only time I have had this problem is when I am using the headphones with my phone listening to music while jogging. And that would only happen if the phone was in my pocket vs. me not wearing the arm band that comes with them.

I use mine as well to watch movies on my laptop and experience no lost patches of audio.
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post #7 of 12
5/19/10 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan S~ View Post
Audio Technica ATH M30s. I use them to do temp mixes and they work really well.
I have a pair of M40fs and let me tell you, the sound clarity is worth the minor discomfort you'll feel after an hour and a half or so.

While listening to a live recording of Spain by Bobby Mcferrin and Chick Corea I almost jumped out of my seat when the recording picked up some ambient conversation. I literally thought there was an intruder in my house AND I'd never noticed that part of the recording before.

Biggest advantage is that they cost around 50 dollars or so on Amazon.

Biggest disadvantage is they are meant to be studio headphones and therefore don't have the bass enhancement/sound correction that a lot of phones do. I've read that a headphone amp will remedy that somewhat, but I've never tried it so I can't say from experience.
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post #8 of 12
5/19/10 at 7:16pm
Went through such a search a few years ago, eyeball. This pair of Grado cans is definitely the best I've come across.
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post #9 of 12
5/20/10 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
flyarz: those Grados look nice but this...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Amazon commenter
2. Too much sound leakage. Since it is an open design, it leaks so much sound to the outside world, so I am forced to listen at low volumes at work. But then physics places a limitation that sealed headphones cannot achieve the quality of open headphone (resonance issue ... you can easily find info. as to why on the net...)
...might be a deal breaker depending on how loud the sound leakage is. The main reason I'll be using headphones is so that I can watch Blu-Rays or play Xbox at night without waking anyone up. So will my kids in bed upstairs still hear something if I'm using these while Star Trek is blaring away in my ears?

And Tzu: Thanks, but I can't stand that style of headphone. I'm looking for something more along the lines of what everyone else has posted: traditional over-the-ear heaphones. Sometimes I even jam my Xbox live headset under one can so I can communicate online, so the bigger and cushier the better.
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post #10 of 12
5/20/10 at 9:39pm
Well, that commenter is talking about it in a work situation, which is a good way to think of it. When I worked in an open office/cubicle layout, I could not use them without others hearing what I'm listening to. But when I changed jobs and had my own office, I used them and no one could hear a thing.

But they're not much louder than the leakage you'd get from any open, over-ear headphone. My wife and I share very different hours, and she can't hear a thing when I'm using mine late at night. And we have a one-floor apartment. If your family is on a different floor, you'll be fine.

I really recommend them, but if you're concerned, I'd just try to find a place with a good return policy so you can try them for a day or two and see for yourself.
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post #11 of 12
5/21/10 at 3:54am
I'll second the love (and concerns) for the Grado's, as I have SR-80's for use in my apartment. I also use them to listen to music and watch videos when I go to hotels / my parents / etc...

They do leak, and I wouldn't recommend them for travel/work purposes, as noted above, but the amount wouldn't distrurb anyone who wasn't right next to you in a car or cubicle. For school / library travel use I rock Future Sonics Atrio M5

whatever you do, please stay away from Beats by Dr. Dre, they leak, and they sound (IMO) like shit, and give you a headache for all of the bass. For the money, pick up a pair of AKG k701s and be much happier with your purchase....
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post #12 of 12
6/11/10 at 2:19pm
Any recommendations for ear buds or head phones for use with an iPod? I had a nice pair of Philips ear buds that just went out and that model seems to be off the market.

I need something with great sound quality, rugged and not too pricey: I use these while jogging and hiking so they get the sweat...
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