Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Rubens · May 9, 2003, 08:10 AM

What are the best headphones to get for my new 15gb iPod?

arnette · May 9, 2003, 08:42 AM

Sennheiser PX200. Because they're cheaper than the big boy headphones, they fold up and are more portable, they don't need an adapter, they're closed-back to block out the outside noise, and they sound phenomenal.

maxintosh · May 9, 2003, 08:53 AM

For ear buds, Sony Fontopia MDR-EX51LP, they sound AMAZING.

Rubens · May 9, 2003, 09:57 AM

Thanks guys, I like the look of the Sennheiser PX200, They seem quite cheap though...is the sound quality all that ?

arnette · May 9, 2003, 10:04 AM

"..is the sound quality all that ?"

Sometimes I prefer them to my Grados just because they're a lot lighter and have a sealed back. It gives everything a rich quality that I really like. Everything is separate and there are some low bass tones in some of my Bjork CDs that I didn't even know were there until I heard them on the PX200.
For a portable audio player (aka iPod) I think they're perfect. I love my Grados, too, but they really need a bigger amp to push the sound. And they're a pain in the ass to haul around when the PX200's are so compact in comparison. And it's Sennheiser.. how can you go wrong?!

jhunt5247 · 10:18 AM

Originally posted by maxintosh:
For ear buds, Sony Fontopia MDR-EX51LP, they sound AMAZING.

Anyone know the difference between the ones listed vs the Sony MDR-EX70LP? Trying to determine why the later are more expnesive.

AJ · May 9, 2003, 11:19 AM

Use search. There must be about 1400 threads on headphones for the iPod in this forum

crazyjohnson · May 9, 2003, 11:22 AM

I would also head over to ipodlounge.com, they have a huge thread on this stuff.

Originally posted by AJ:
Use search. There must be about 1400 threads on headphones for the iPod in this forum

Silencer · May 9, 2003, 07:46 PM

Get a pair of Etymonics ER-4P, truely excellent headphones, that are easily driven by the ipod.

hui · May 9, 2003, 08:00 PM

if you want headphones with bass, I recommend getting the Bose Triport speakers, they have a fair amount of bass. However, if you are after noise cancelling headphones, I recommend getting the Sony noise cancelling headphones MDR-NC11. Main reason I bought this noise cancelling headphones instead of the bose ones is that they are fairly small and portable, plus I don't look silly walking down the streets or going on the tube with these huge large headphones attached to my head. The Noise cancelling works extremely well

arnette · May 9, 2003, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by hui:
The Noise cancelling works extremely well

bah! I disagree.. every 'noise-cancelling' headphone I've ever listened to has not met my expectations. It's like the music is sub-par as well as the outside noise. As if there's a black void of sound somewhere between my ears and the headphones. If you are looking for containment in your headphones, get some sealed-style headphones where there is no open backing.
It's too lengthy to explain, but noise-cancelling headphones raise and lower the spectrum of the music to compensate for outside distractions that it picks up with a tiny microphone. It will lower the outside stuff by maybe 15dB. Sealed headphones will naturally close out around 10dB of sound but won't alter the incoming music... and maybe when you're in the tube or on the street you can't notice, but when you're in a quiet place with them on you definitely can.

My name is Brent, and I'm an acoustical engineer. (ok, that's not true).

ryanbrown345 · May 9, 2003, 11:47 PM

I have the bose triport headphones and love them! They are sealed of like the previous guy said. I tried out about 25 diffrent headphones with my ipod! And the bose triport sounded the best, great bass and great sound! not over powering. The sealed off seems to make the sound a lot beter! i recieved my 30gb and triport headphones and they sound great! But they are 150, but well worth it!

OreoCookie · May 10, 2003, 04:29 AM

Koss PortaPro. Period.
They are small, you can fold them, look cheap, but I have never ever seen headphones of that size with such a bass. But they are ugly as night and look kinda cheap (they aren't, trust me).

I thought about buying closed/half-closed headphones, but I mainly use my iPod in public transportation, so having headphones much larger than my iPod wouldn't make sense.

zacharie · May 10, 2003, 05:20 AM

I would go for Koss Portapro. Good bass, Good price.

mc786030 · May 10, 2003, 05:53 AM

B&O A8 Earphones.
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/sw711.asp

Producer · May 10, 2003, 09:34 PM

OK just came back from the B&O store to check out those headphones... they fit great! perfect for sportswear!

They sound like Poo! Perfect to poop on... They sound worse than the ones that come with the iPod...actually the guy who worked at the store said that apple (or so he heard) was trying to get the B&O headphones to come standard with the iPod... if there is any truth to that rumor it is was that Apple might have been wanting to use the same design but couldnt because of some B&O patent... they do fit nice...

Anyway I have 2 great pairs of headphones...Seinheiser 600's Excellent... and Sony MDR-f1s pretty damn good and extremely comfortable... but I need one to workout with and those won't work and the iPod ones fall out of my ear to easy when I sweat... So on with the search...

mrgaskell · May 11, 2003, 12:44 AM

Has anyone tried the "DJ" Sony headphones htat they sell at the AppleStore? They retail for around $120. I don't know the model number.

jg

fourstarcltv · May 11, 2003, 02:42 AM

i can highly recommend the sony mdr-ex70lp earphones, they sound great, although take a while to 'break in'.

if you're not worried about being discreet, go for a pair of sennheiser hd580 cans. you can't go wrong with those. amazing sound and comfort to boot !

rm199 · May 11, 2003, 05:09 AM

On the plane go for Bose Noise Reduction ones, but for general I use Bang Olufsen and they are sensational (and look like they come with the IPOD).

RM