[cschmelz]

Can someone recommend a good reasonably priced pair of headphones for my Mac? I'm getting a roommate and don't want to bother them with my late night Unreal Tournament playing! I also may just start using them all the time for UT to get better sound localization (until I get my Soundblaster and we get an OpenAL version!)

I also would like them to be good enough for some music/television AND high enough quality to make Myst III rock!

[exa]

Visit www.headphone.com for much information...

I'd have to recommend the Grado SR80 headphones, audiophile quality, best headphones you can get <$100

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

The Sony ones that Apple shows in all the new iBook pictures and ads are great. Cheap also.

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[exa]

The Sony MDR-G52s? Hah, thats what they want you to think, those are only mediocre (heck ALL Sony headphones except the V6, CD1700, CD3000, R10, and earbuds are mediocre)... actually, no, they just plain suck. Don't state things you do not know, you are facing a headphone master here

[This message has been edited by exa (edited 05-15-2001).]

[wumeng]

Originally posted by cschmelz:
Can someone recommend a good reasonably priced pair of headphones for my Mac? I'm getting a roommate and don't want to bother them with my late night Unreal Tournament playing! I also may just start using them all the time for UT to get better sound localization (until I get my Soundblaster and we get an OpenAL version!)

I also would like them to be good enough for some music/television AND high enough quality to make Myst III rock!

Depending on how much of an audio purist you are, most mid-range headphone sets on the market will be more than adequate for your needs, especially if your main use for them will be playing games, which do not require particularly fine quality of sound to make their effects known. On the other hand, if you like your music, you might want to invest in something more expensive -- the key thing in either case would be to make sure that you have a pair with a sufficiently long cable so that you don't apply tension to the cord in ongoing use.

[cschmelz]

Originally posted by wumeng:
Depending on how much of an audio purist you are, most mid-range headphone sets on the market will be more than adequate for your needs, especially if your main use for them will be playing games, which do not require particularly fine quality of sound to make their effects known. On the other hand, if you like your music, you might want to invest in something more expensive -- the key thing in either case would be to make sure that you have a pair with a sufficiently long cable so that you don't apply tension to the cord in ongoing use.

I was intially just interested in doing computer stuff, but after my research online, I think I'd like something that does a decent job with music too...I'm between the Grado SR-80s and spending ALOT more and getting the Sennheiser 580s...

[exa]

Get the SR80s, why? The HD580s are much better BUT they require an amplifier to sound better than the SR80s (otherwise the SR80s probably sound better)... The HD580s have a high impedance so they need an amplifier to be driven properly whereas the Grado is simply a 32ohm headphone that will work off of almost any headphone jack... However, if you want a very awesome setup, get the HD580s, and get a tube amplifier for it (like the MG Head or X-Cans).. or a solid state amp (like the Creek OBH-11, but these Senns like tube amps better). Spring for the HD600s if you can if you want the epitome of reasonably priced headphones (which is a relative term).

Actually if you can spend the money for the HD580s, just go for the Grado SR225s and skip the amplifier, add one later when you want to...

There is also a sound preference... The Grados give an 'upfront' presentation, an all around attack at your ears, very impactful. You will feel that you are right next to the singers in the concert. The Sennheisers will give a more laid back sound, like you are in the audience. Not as impactful but the bass is deeper than Grados... I think the Grados are better for computer use, gaming especially too...

Few other things to consider...
The Grados can be uncomfortable as the pads are pretty coarse (I solved this by buying some radioshack pads and cutting a quarter shaped hole in it), but the Sennheisers are comfy... Also, both headphones will leak sound a lot (Grados more)... for example on the grados, if I swivel the earcup around so the outside is on my ear, it is of the same volume as it would be normally (minus the bass). You will also be able to hear everything around you without much volume loss...


[This message has been edited by exa (edited 05-15-2001).]

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

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[This message has been edited by Severed Hand of Skywalker (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Giles Booth]

I have to say that (as a BBC Radio Sound Engineer!) I'm very happy with my Sony MDR-G52s... I just need to get new foam pads for them as they have rotted. They may have been infected with some kind of virus caused by listening to too much Xfm. The other problem is that they aren't really compatible with wearing shades, causing tragic cool-outages.
Memo to self: stop posting messages on night shifts.

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http://www.othermachines.org

[Jorg Freiberg]

I am assuming that this discussion is all about analog headphones. What about a recommendation for digital headphones that work on the new digital audio Macs.

[exa]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no such thing as a digital headphone ... Its truly marketing, like when you see that "made for digital" crap... ALL sound is converted from digital into analog, thats how our ears percieve it... in analog... why are digital speakers sometimes preferred? Because their DAC (digital to analog converter, a very important component) is superior to the mac's soundcard (well maybe not my Audiophile 2496 =)... Of course if you somehow had some processor embedded into your brain that can read the digital signals and directly feed it to the brain bypassing the ear... thats another story...

Now what could be possible is an external DAC that runs off of the digital audio port, but that is utterly useless since the digital audio port is amplified and it is proprietary (you can get USB dacs though)

[This message has been edited by exa (edited 05-16-2001).]

[druber]

I was on a similar hunt not too long ago and heard similar advice. Ended up going with the AKG K-66 because of the price ($40) and the decent reviews. Amazing, crazy difference between these and the average crapola headphones that come with a walkman. I'm sure other cans are worlds better, but these are great for the price. Makes me jump when playing UT, too. They do bleed some sound. If you're really concerned, look for a pair of studio phones. Unless your roommate's bed is in the same room as the computer, I wouldn't worry about it..

[Timo]

On a related topic, can anyone recommend noise-cancelation headphones? I've tried a Sony, Maxell and Sennheiser, though not all "in the field" (i.e., on the plane). I found the Maxell more comfortable to wear on a long flight but the Sony doing a much better job...and I suspect the Sennheiser doing better still.

Anyone else have a good experience?

T

[exa]

If you want the ultimate noise cancelling earphones, take a gander at the Etymotic Research ER4s and ER4p (4s if you have an amplifier, sounds better than 4p but needs an amp), these are very very good earphones, considered better than many headphones (including sennheiser's top of the line dynamic headphone, the hd600). Don't bother with active noise cancelling systems as their sound, well, sucks...

http://www.headphone.com/ProductsHea...ymoticER4P.asp

And don't be fooled with their size, they are awesome... (yeah so the are $300 earbuds )

[Bugs Bunny]

Has anyone used these headphones? Or know anything about them?



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[BigMark]

Originally posted by Bugs Bunny:
Has anyone used these headphones? Or know anything about them?

Yes, they're made by Harmon Kardon (methinks) and everyone keeps bandying them around as a good companion to a G4 Powerbook.
I think they look tacky and would prove to be very fiddly.

[BigMark]

sorry about the above. Wasn't thinking.

[exa]

Bugs Bunny, those are Band and Ofulsen earphones.... they suck basically, total waste of money.

Sure they may look good (I don't even think that) but they sound awful, especially for what you have to pay (isn't it a few hundred?)...