Best sounding headphones?

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I'm in the market for a new pair. Any recommendations?

― Nigel (Nigel), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 00:53 (eighteen years ago) link

I got some Sennheisers this year that are really good. Do you have a specialty audiophile shop near where you live with high end stuff? If so, I'd recommend going there and trying some out and seeing what price range you want to go for. Some good stuff can be really affordable.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 01:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, that's probably what I should do. Thanks.

― Nigel (Nigel), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 01:16 (eighteen years ago) link

if you're looking for earbuds, i would say shure are the best.
http://www.shure.com/psm/earphones/default.asp

i have a pair of e4's which i love.

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 01:45 (eighteen years ago) link

Obviously, It really depends on the price range and what you're looking for - I have a pair of Sennheiser PX200s (around $65 US I think) which I love. If you're looking for small, closed, very portable, great sound, I'd really recommend them.

If you don't mind big heavy headphones and noise leakage, though, you can find even better quality with Grados, etc..

http://www.head-fi.org/ is a pretty good site for info on headphones.

― Jack L., Wednesday, 28 December 2005 04:32 (eighteen years ago) link

I've been using a pair of Koss Portapros for my discman/mp3 player for about four years now- they look ugly as hell, and have a tendency to get caught in my hair, but they sound unbelievably good. Really cheap too.

― telephone thing, Wednesday, 28 December 2005 05:01 (eighteen years ago) link

there have been threads on this before and the koss portapro came up. i bought a pair and i totally love them. sound great, look cheap, are cheap.

― geoff (gcannon), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 05:07 (eighteen years ago) link

The best I've ever used that are designed for portability are the 'plug earbud' types. They have a plastic tube that sort of shoots the sound right into your ear, and the tube is surrouned by an expanding foam cone that keeps eternal noise out and simultaneously prevents leakage. My former pair were Koss, but the ones I have now are Radio Shack and just as good. They're loud and don't bother people around you and tiny and cheap.

If you need headphones for home, the kind that look like earmuffs are probably going to be ultimately better, though.

http://www.fixup.net/tips/earbud/30db_sealed_earphone.htm

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 05:15 (eighteen years ago) link

sennheiser pcx-250 noise cancelling headphones are the best i have ever used. get them remanufactured for $99 from amazon.

― lf, Wednesday, 28 December 2005 05:20 (eighteen years ago) link

SONY MDR-7509

$219 well spent... just don't sit on them....err...twice

― UnionJax, Wednesday, 28 December 2005 07:32 (eighteen years ago) link

Keep in mind that if you're using these for DJing or recording, you might actually want noise leakage. Otherwise you have to wear them lopsided like a ponce to hear what's going on in the room.

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 18:57 (eighteen years ago) link

my silver sennheiser hd-280s have made me very, very happy

― marc h. (marc h.), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 19:00 (eighteen years ago) link

Keep in mind that if you're using these for DJing or recording, you might actually want noise leakage. Otherwise you have to wear them lopsided like a ponce to hear what's going on in the room.

Nah, I need them to listen to at work.

Although, I guess noise leakage might be good in case I'm being paged or something...

Thanks for all the recommendations.

― Nigel (Nigel), Thursday, 29 December 2005 02:45 (eighteen years ago) link

it's not just noise leaking in that you have to think about - with open headphones, the noise also leaks out, so those around you can hear (a tin can version of) what you're hearing. So maybe not the best option for work, travel, etc.

― Jack L., Thursday, 29 December 2005 16:46 (eighteen years ago) link

eight months pass...

My daughter is thinking about getting some noise-cancelling headphones because she has a roommate who has to have the tv on all the time to distract from the wheedling, whining, manipulating 4-hour phone calls she makes to her boyfriend. I suggested the Sennheisers listed upthread to her, but I also found these:

Plane Quiet NC6

Has anybody had any experience with Plane Quiet headphones? Recommendations yea or nay?

― Danny Aioli (Rock Hardy), Friday, 8 September 2006 18:44 (eighteen years ago) link

For the train, I'm totally happy with my Sennheiser PXC 250 noise cancellation headphones. You can get 'em for $70 (check Cnet).

For reference/reviewing/spacing/geeking out at home, I have AKG K701. They're pretty, comfy, and the best sounding cans I've personally experienced. You can find deals for as low as $260 if you look hard enough.

― Fastnbulbous (Fastnbulbous), Friday, 15 September 2006 17:29 (eighteen years ago) link

My daughter wound up getting the Plane Quiet NC6's. She's only had them for a few hours, but said that so far they're great, completely cancelling out the roomie's TV. I'll be checking in with her about them as far as long-term comfort.

― Danny Aioli (Rock Hardy), Friday, 15 September 2006 18:59 (eighteen years ago) link

three months pass...

Hey you guys,

How do we feel about wireless headphones? In an ideal world I'd love some for my ipod but I don't want to spend too much (sub £35) and I don't want an unreliable product. Is it even worth investigating?

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Saturday, 6 January 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

four months pass...

Just got myself a pair of the Koss PortaPros. A bit smaller than I'd imagined, but the sound's pretty great. They do look more 80s than shoulder-padded women though.

― AndyTheScot, Saturday, 12 May 2007 07:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Wireless headphones are meant to be generally pretty poor and just don't exist at that price point, Mark C (although this is probably way too late for you now!).

I still like Portpros a lot for iPod use. Nothing else beyond portable, mind.

You need something like this though, really...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/njsouthall/Headphones%20and%20hi-fi/IMG_6751.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/njsouthall/Headphones%20and%20hi-fi/IMG_6588.jpg

― Scik Mouthy, Saturday, 12 May 2007 08:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Loved the Grado SR-80. Lost them after 2 weeks ownership though.

― the Dirt, Saturday, 12 May 2007 10:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I still have a pair of AKG 240s which I bought at least 25 years ago. I still love them.
Never liked the Sennheisers for some reason.

― Jazzbo, Saturday, 12 May 2007 12:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Depends on what kind of music you are listening too. If you need a lot of bass and don't worry too much about detail, then don't ask me, as then you have completely different preferences from what I do.

― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 12 May 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

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