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11011001 · Mar 9, 2002, 02:29 AM

US funds

I finally realized that I another pair of speakers won't be of much use to me (I gave my speakers to my mother), seeing as I spend most of my time on the computer from 7:00 PM to 4:00 or so in the morning, about 12:00 on school nights. Any ways, during these late hours I use headphones any how so as not to wake anyone up, and let me just say that my headphones suck. I listen to a lot of classical music.

So the QUESTION is...

Which headphones should I get for $300, or so?

G-mac · Mar 9, 2002, 02:46 AM

Good mornin' fellow late-nighter!

I wish I had $300 to spend on headphones! If I had that kind of dough, I'd first check out Sennheiser and Bose before making any purchase. They make some really nice headphones that are wireless, noise-cancelling, etc. Sony and Panasonic are probably great choices too. Great headphones would really bring out that classical music. Personally, I'm a Vivaldi fan. :-)

jetta_gt · Mar 9, 2002, 04:43 PM

You MUST check out http://headphone.com/

these people have the most info on headphones of anyone on the web, they have in depth reviews and comparisons between brands... $300 will can you some good cans, be sure to check that site out...

i don't work for them, but i've bought from them (Grado SR-80's) and they are a great company...

Good luck...

scaught · Mar 9, 2002, 08:59 PM

thats a crazy ass site. theres some nice $12,000 headphones that come with its own tube amplification.

[ 03-09-2002: Message edited by: scaught ]

Max8319 · Mar 9, 2002, 09:02 PM

i inherited a pair of GRADO SR-325s and they are awesome. if you can do it, go for the RS-2s that are $500 but i've used my dads are they are PERFECT. but that's a lot of money.

you should go for the GRADO SR-325s. you won't be dissappointed. also look at sennheisers if you want other options. they are good also, but i HIGHLY RECOMMEND the GRADOs

phantomdragonz · Mar 9, 2002, 11:19 PM

hey, I have been a headphone fan recently and you need not spend $300, go to mysimon.com to find good prices and go for the sennheisers hd-50's or some grados but the $100 ones are damn good, i think they are open tho, that makes it so everyone can hear it ( i could be wrong) the sony MDR-v900 are awesome but the MDR-600's are good also (dont get the 700Djs mine broke and so have my friends) i highly reccomend the MDR-7506's they are professional so you will have to look in different places but there good. I am using them now. So what i reccomend is to go and look at the reviews on the products and find what you want. then go to mysimon.com and find a good price. My next pair are probably going to be a pair of sennheisers.

P.D.

3R1C · Mar 9, 2002, 11:31 PM

im an audio engineer.

sennheiser
best value and as ubiquitous as a shure beta microphone

whatever you do dont get any of that cordless or noise cancelling crap. unless of course you prefer the coloring these shenanegans impart to your music.

raferx · Mar 10, 2002, 02:08 AM

MDR-V700 by Sony... just wicked, and they are super efficient. You do not need to crank the volume with them to get a good response. And they don't drain a portable's batteries much more than buds either. (amazing but true!)

dav · Mar 11, 2002, 06:40 AM

another recommendation for Grado

Mar 11, 2002, 09:36 AM

I have been using Grado's SR-80 for the past month or so and it has been the best $90 I've ever spent. I use it to listen to everything from rock to jazz. After an initial break-in period, I find the Grados to be very detailed and the bass to be very precise. While the Grado can be driven by any portable, it does sound much better with a headphone amp (I use a Creek OBH-11).

phantomdragonz · Mar 11, 2002, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by raferx:
MDR-V700 by Sony... just wicked, and they are super efficient. You do not need to crank the volume with them to get a good response. And they don't drain a portable's batteries much more than buds either. (amazing but true!)

I Agree 100% but they will brake on the left ear phone sooner or later.

P.D.

ed phelan · Mar 12, 2002, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by 11011001:
US funds

So the QUESTION is...

Which headphones should I get for $300, or so?

I'm very happy with the Bose headphones that I purchased about two months ago.

All the best.
E

11011001 · Mar 12, 2002, 06:51 PM

Ok, I think I have it narrowed down to four:

the Grado SR-80's, Grado RS2, Grado RS325 or the Sennheiser HD600.

I think I would go for the Sennheiser HD 600's over the RS2's as per 3R1C's advice.

A bit more than what I imagined this might cost, but I have the cash. For now, until I get a girl friend

lol

Umm, or I could go with the less expensive RS325 and SR-80's and combine em with an amp. This I could do right away, if I went with the other solution, RS2's vs Sennheiser, I would probably wait a couple of months till I have some income again. (I only have about an $800 stash right now, the movie store I worked at went under)

Ooo, and would a nice soundcard get rid of the annoying "processor" static that comes out of my comp? You know the one, like when you scroll a window, render something, or unhide the dock, the background noise changes pitch. Would a midi man card do the trick?

Doowop410 · Mar 13, 2002, 01:09 PM

Check out the Head-Fi site for compaisons amongst your final headphone selections. There's alot of good information available there.

While I did promote the Grado SR-80 a few posts back, I do want to add a footnote. While the Grado is a great headphone...it's not what I consider to be very portable or suitable for using outside. Since it is an open can, it both leaks out and lets in a lot of sound. i.e. the person sitting next to you on the bus might not be all too pleased.

Also, while I find the Grados to be fairly comfortable, many have noted their discomfort. I would suggest you trying it out before making a purchase.

Mar 13, 2002, 02:00 PM

i would like the recomend the grado rs-2's again. it sounds like you're right in the room. they are the best headphones i have heard. i have the sr-325's and they are very good in their own right, but the rs-2's are CLEARLY better. i would go with those. but the only down side is the price. if that's too much, then i would go with the sr-325's with an amp. they sound a lot better than earbuds or plain $10 headphones

IEEE1394 · Mar 13, 2002, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by 11011001:
Ooo, and would a nice soundcard get rid of the annoying "processor" static that comes out of my comp? You know the one, like when you scroll a window, render something, or unhide the dock, the background noise changes pitch. Would a midi man card do the trick?

That depends. Are you running OS 9? If so, change the sound input from "Modem" to something else. That gets rid of the noise.

11011001 · Mar 14, 2002, 06:41 PM

^ last post...

nope, mostly in OS X. The static is always on...

really distracting, sometimes, especially cus I am using a temporary pair of crappy headphones from my CD player...

Are the Etymotic ER4S's any good. The look like they would have a really clean sound, and the short length on the cord would not matter for me, cus I am usually in front of my comp. Price is not too bad, and headphone.com seems to have given them so rather good praise.

Another option... really, really love the iPod, could opt for one, and get a set of headphones without an amp... hmmm. Though I think it would be wise to wait before getting an iPod cus rumor seems to be leaning towards new higher capacity drives. I have surpassed the iPod 5 gig barrier...

And to totally confuse what is already a distracted post, the RS2s are my favorite ones right now. I agree with someones advise that I should try these out, I will try and head down to a spcialty store... but arg I hate going shopping!!! NNNNOOOO, anything is better than these headphones... Muustt... gooo... shooppiinnnggg....ssshhhooopppiiiinngg!!