Headphone Recommendations?

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

August 19 2009 00:15 GMT

Hi I'm looking for a new pair of headphones for both my computer and ipod. I'd prefer earbuds since they're smaller and harder to break, but any kind is fine. Price range around or under $100. I did some research and found these

Sony MDR-EX75 Stereo Headphones
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/sony-mdr-ex75-stereo-headphones/

which seem to be of good value. Main reason I don't like the original ipod headphones is they don't have any bass at all. Thanks for suggestions.

edit: also something durable

Diggity

United States806 Posts

August 19 2009 00:17 GMT

I usually trust anything Koss produces.

Zoler

Sweden6339 Posts

August 19 2009 00:25 GMT

Sennheiser is better imo

Last Romantic

United States20661 Posts

August 19 2009 00:34 GMT

The ubiquitous Grado SR60s

http://www.amazon.com/Grado-60-SR-60-Padded-Headphones/dp/B0006DPMU4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1250642016&sr=8-2

Price got raised recently from $65, but they're still better than most headphones even up to the $100 range.

Jibba

United States22883 Posts

August 19 2009 00:35 GMT

Those Sony earbuds are good for budget buds, but they will break. In fact, most earbuds will break in a stupidly short amount of time (less than 3 years) because they all make terrible design decisions.

V-moda Vibes (first generation) probably have the best sound/price, but they've only got a 1 year warranty. I think Shure has been making some cheaper earbuds, but they look thinner than their previous models.

My Sennheiser CX300s are cheap and have a lot of bass (maybe too much) but I think I prefer the sound of my original Sony EX71 to them.

So I guess I'm saying those are a good choice, depending on how much you can get for them. I've basically decided to never spend more than $50 on earbuds again because every $90 pair I've had have died from exposed wire or one of the buds randomly dying, and I treat them fairly well. The budget buds I've had (Sony & Sennheiser) have lasted longer, and I don't mind replacing them. The sound is obviously worse, but sound quality is one of those things where ignorance is bliss.

If you're getting headphones, then Grado SR60/80 are fantastic, as are Sennheiser HD280s. I've got the 280s right now and these things are built like a rock. Not good for a portable device, but excellent on a computer.

CharlieMurphy

United States22895 Posts

August 19 2009 00:52 GMT

yea like i said in IRC the 280pros are hero. Not sure about travel phones though, but I assume sennhieser is the way to go.

Dr. Tran

United States125 Posts

August 19 2009 01:00 GMT

I would agree, with Last Romantic, and that the best sound quality you'll get in the 100- sub 100 range would be from the Grado sr-60s. But be warned, those headphones are open back and will leak sound (and let sound in, it's all up to preference and application). If you were looking for sealed phones you should consider the sennheiser hd228. If you wanted buds, I'd look at products from iHarmonix, Ultimate Ears, and perhaps even Shure.

Dr. Tran

United States125 Posts

August 19 2009 01:01 GMT

A good site for headphone reference and buying: www.headphone.com (aka Headroom)

.Ix

Philippines266 Posts

August 19 2009 01:01 GMT

The SR-60 is pretty awesome for the price, but worthless for portable purposes IMO. It doesn't block out noise at all, so you will be put in situations where noise will drown out, or at least seriously mess with your listening. Airplanes, for example, will do that every time.

edit:

If you want isolation, this is the best deal i've found.
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f38/99-re0-iem-summer-sale-head-direct-431735/

I've already ordered one but it hasn't made it here yet.

caelym

United States6421 Posts

August 19 2009 01:04 GMT

#10

earbuds are probably easier to break, but they're cheap and easily replaceable. if you want something portable and convenient get the budget earbud like the one you posted. I have the ex75, and they're functioning great after one year. I actually dropped them in the ocean, and they still worked lol (the ipod on the other hand had to be repaired >.< ). They're a great value. I also heard these were good (Seenheiser cx-400): http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-CX-Ear-Headphone-Black/dp/B000WOIG8C/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1248926142&sr=8-3
I'll probably buy them when my ex75 breaks.

If you want high sound quality/ audophile stuff, you should look into real headphones (the ones that cover your ear). Grados, Sennheiser, and Audio Technica all have good headphones for under 100. I currently have a ATH-AD700. I like it a lot, but it's too hot in the summer

check out Head-fi: head-fi.org

Knickknack

United States1187 Posts

August 19 2009 01:11 GMT

#11

if you are looking for "earbuds" then yuin pk2:
http://head-direct.amazonwebstore.com/Yuin-Pk2-Earphones/M/B001B484D4.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

but perhaps you actually want something in-ear.
Look around headfi forums for an hour and then just pick something and be satisfied:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/

caelym

United States6421 Posts

August 19 2009 01:19 GMT

#12

i dunno if it's just me, but getting expensive earbuds just seem wrong to me. they seem so fragile... like they seem more prone to get broken or lost.

StorrZerg

United States13919 Posts

August 19 2009 01:21 GMT

#13

what about the razor buds. are they any good?

FragKrag

United States11552 Posts

August 19 2009 01:33 GMT

#14

razor buds are for gaming nig

Hiphopapotamus

United States121 Posts

August 19 2009 01:51 GMT

#15

On August 19 2009 10:11 Knickknack wrote:
if you are looking for "earbuds" then yuin pk2:
http://head-direct.amazonwebstore.com/Yuin-Pk2-Earphones/M/B001B484D4.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

but perhaps you actually want something in-ear.
Look around headfi forums for an hour and then just pick something and be satisfied:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/

yeah yuin rocks.

IntoTheWow

is awesome32277 Posts

August 19 2009 01:58 GMT

#16

Grados sr60 are really clear and have awesome mids. They might need some equalizing (so that depends on your player, i never owned an ipod so i don't know how good the eq is).

I would stay away from sony, usually their build quality is not good for the lower price range, and for more money there's usually way better options.

Shure is tempting cause of the "oh im an audiophile" effect, but the cheaper models don't seem to have the same build quality as the rest of their line as I have read from experiences.

Senn's cx300 have good bass, maybe too loud for some people and they have a very good price/quality ratio, but there's a million chinese copies luring around, specially on sites like ebay. So try to find them closed in blister, never oem and check fake checking guides for them if you are going to buy them.

Creative's ep 630 are good too, nice bass, nice isolations, affordable.

Yuin Pk2 i only tried them once, and they sounded good. They get a lot of good reviews, dunno what price they are currently sitting at.

AKG is a very good brand. Their headphones are really comfy (at least the ones i tried) and they have great build quality. They also look good :3

Etymotic er6, super fi 3, etc.

Imo with audio it's about trial an error. Get to try them, see which ones are comfortable for you. People have different head sizes, ears. Some love in-ear, some feel like they are getting raped when they put them on. Street usually requires in-ears to listen to music at a safe level, unless you are fine with walking in the street with big headphones, some people are.

Don't buy gaming headphones for music. Never.

Klapdout

United States282 Posts

August 19 2009 02:02 GMT

#17

If you want a headphone with good bass,that's very comfortable and doesn't leak sound(nice if your in public) go with the Denon AH-D1001.

they can be had at around ~$100
some reviews/impressions you can read
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/gtsearch.php?cx=005274520625664720466:pai3rdbiuu8&cof=FORID:10&q=d1001 review&sa=Search Head-Fi#1233

hideo

Canada1641 Posts

August 19 2009 02:29 GMT

#18

etymotic er-6i

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

August 19 2009 02:32 GMT

#19

ok yea after looking at some stuff I think i'm gonna get the

Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones

Jayme

United States5866 Posts

August 19 2009 02:47 GMT

#20

On August 19 2009 11:32 zulu_nation8 wrote:
ok yea after looking at some stuff I think i'm gonna get the

Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones

I have them and they are amazing.

Bit on the expensive side though so protect them

caldo149

United States469 Posts

August 19 2009 02:57 GMT

#21

Earbuds don't really have good bass. Ipod buds actually have decent bass for buds, but that's not saying much. I'd recommend you get real headphones. They are actually more durable than buds and you'll get your bass frequencies (>100Hz) too. I have Senheiser eH150. They're about $40 i think and they have pretty good sound quality. I use them for music production as well as listening.

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

August 19 2009 03:06 GMT

#22

actually yea you're right, I think i'm gonna get earbuds for ipod and earphones for computer

lac29

United States1485 Posts

August 19 2009 03:15 GMT

#23

Yuin PK2 are very good even for very normal looking earbuds. They were my favorite and most used until I gave them to my bro. Shure is overrated imo. I have their top-line E530 and it is not worth the $250 I paid for them. Super nice details but a more than annoying cutoff of high freqs. Creative EP630s are a good cheap ear canal choice and I've gone through 2 pairs already ... $25 I think. Koss KSC75 are also supergood cheap choice and a must-have imo ... the sound on this thing is amazing and is considered the best in terms of sound-quality to $ I think of any 'phone. There are lots of reviews and discussions on head-fi.org if you're interested.

decafchicken

United States20069 Posts

August 19 2009 04:17 GMT

#24

I have v-moda vibes and they're pretty awesome, not very durable though.
Some other good companies to look at for IEMs are audeo, denon, ultimate ears. read reviews and try them out.

GreEny K

Germany7312 Posts

August 19 2009 04:22 GMT

#25

They have some rather nice ones in Best Buy, they are usually small and only 20-30 dollars but are quite good. I forgot the name now but I will update this when I remember/look it up.

geno

United States1404 Posts

August 19 2009 04:36 GMT

#26

I just got the Etymotic er-6is recently as well (lot of reviews have them priced around $150, but I think I found them for $75 which is part of the reason I got them). Love them so far when I've gotten to use them, but I wouldn't even consider using them for my computer over my sennheiser headset.

udgnim

United States8024 Posts

August 20 2009 07:27 GMT

#27

On August 19 2009 12:15 lac29 wrote:
Yuin PK2 are very good even for very normal looking earbuds. They were my favorite and most used until I gave them to my bro. Shure is overrated imo. I have their top-line E530 and it is not worth the $250 I paid for them. Super nice details but a more than annoying cutoff of high freqs. Creative EP630s are a good cheap ear canal choice and I've gone through 2 pairs already ... $25 I think. Koss KSC75 are also supergood cheap choice and a must-have imo ... the sound on this thing is amazing and is considered the best in terms of sound-quality to $ I think of any 'phone. There are lots of reviews and discussions on head-fi.org if you're interested.

+1 on the Koss KSC-75s

for their price, they're a great a value and worth more than the cost

http://www.amazon.com/Koss-KSC75-Portable-Stereophone-Headphones/dp/B0006B486K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1250752460&sr=8-1

they lack oomph in bass, but they're just so fun and lively to listen to. they're not perfect. they'll distort with some songs, but for headphones under $20, they're pretty amazing.

please note though that the KSC-75s have a 60 ohm impedance while the Sony MDR-EX75s have a 16 ohm impedance. what this means is that when plugging into a MP3 player, the MDR-EX75s will have a higher max volume than the KSC-75s. read link below for explanation on impedance.

http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/headphones.html

Sigh

Canada2433 Posts

August 20 2009 07:44 GMT

#28

Im currently using Bose in ear headphones. Pretty good , imo. Heavy on the bass side. I think they are 89$ USD
http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/audio_headphones/in_ear_headphones/index.jsp
Worth checking out. I've only been using them for a week though.
Shure is a pain in the ass. Seriously. I bought the SE210's, and i've had to send them in for repair 2 times now.

SpiritoftheTunA

United States20903 Posts

August 20 2009 08:33 GMT

#29

v-moda vibes (in ear monitors) have amazing midrange and bass

they're pretty fragile though

ghermination

United States2851 Posts

August 20 2009 08:34 GMT

#30

Smart money is on the Sennheiser PC350's, the sound quality is amazing, as is the bass if you have a good sound card.

BroOd

Austin10833 Posts

August 20 2009 09:37 GMT

#31

the Grado SR60's were the best ~$60 I ever spent. As said, they're quite impractical for travel, and the open can means everyone can hear your headphones, but the quality is really impressive.

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