Shopping for headphones -- suggestions?

[Jesda]

I've been shopping diligently for headphones. I checked out the Bose Tri-Port. $150 at the Bose store -- sounded nice, and worth every penny at $60. A complete waste of money at $150.

Looked at Sennheiser but the plastics seemed cheap and prone to breaking, and I do break them. I also checked out a titanium set at Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/prod...-1182 and they were great, but at $50 they werent necessarily the best value.

I always liked the Grado SR60 and SR80, which were over $100 years ago but are now as low as $70.

Looking for deep bass, natural mids, and clean highs.

Here's what I have now:Radio Shack Pro-35 Titanium. The sound quality is excellent. Years ago I paid $50 plus more for the extended replacement warranty (which I used.) Unfortunately, theyre really uncomfortable. The strong metal band is durable but it feels like someone is smashing your head with two bricks. Ideal for portable use -- I loved using them on my CDs, MP3s, and laptops. But theyre painful for home use. They also seem to emphasize booming bass and bright highs (again, for portable applications for which theyre ideal). I'm looking for deeper and cleaner sound.

Any suggestions?

[nismofly]

why headphones instead of speakers? ive always just used the $20 generic sonys at school and whatnot, other than that the ones i use in the studio are too expensive for you it sounds like, but if ya want sound quality thats where id go, i use them even when not in the studio because i have them anyway...let me know if you decide to spend ~$200 on headphones, theyre worth it

[Rex]

Jesda - I assume you're looking (primarily) for home use, trying to be considerate of the "people" that live up-stairs . If you are looking for home use, I'd strongly recommend getting some wireless ones, if you can find some that meet your sound needs.

I picked up some at Target about 3 years ago (can't remember brand) and was very happy. They were "full cans" and completely covered my ears, but offered complete/full sound.

Once you use wireless ones, you'll never want the annoying wire again.

[Jesda]

Keith:

About how much did you pay? I saw a half dozen closed-ear 900MHz sets at Radio Shack tonight for $50.

The babies sleep directly above so I gave my speakers and sub to my brother (to harass his dormmates).

My two intended goals are clean, clear audio reproduction and long-term-use comfort. I'll settle for a long cord instead of wireless. But I guess wireless would be nice for moments where I'm in the garage or kitchen... or mowing the lawn.

Spending cap: $150

[Rex]

These were probably the cheapest ($40) name brand I could find, but they weren't 900MHz as they required line of site, but since I used them for at my desk, that wasn't much of an issue. It actually helped when I forgot to take them off before oging to the printer.

I'd say you can get good/decent 900MHz for $100, try a good high end home audio place, they should let you try some out, and then find them on ebay for cheap .

[Jesda]

Thanks for the input. But like my Carputer idea, I ended up doing something entirely different. Circuit City has this for 50% off and it got better reviews than the Sony:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...il.doI pick it up tomorrow morning.

[HashiriyaS14]

I've never found wireless headphones that sound good.

If you're not going to be using a seperate headphone amp, get Grado SR-60s.

If you will be using an amp, get SR-125s.

Sennheisers are fantastic too, but only the more expensive ones (i.e. $300+), and only with an amp.

[Jesda]

Circuit City pissed me off so I got a refund. Bunch of jerkoffs.

I finally found a local store that sold Grado, so I spent an hour or so trying the SR40, SR60, SR80, and SR125. The SR125 is simply beautiful! But the SR40 was more comfortable, and sounded close enough to the 60 that I couldnt justify the $30.

Unfortunately, my sound card has a POS headphone amp, so I'll be picking up a home stereo amp or a headphone amp (local guy makes them himself).

But oh man... the Grados are like an orgasm in my ears.

And what they say about the break-in period for headphones is absolutely true.

I also found a headphone forum (www.head-fi.org). They have meets. I cant imagine what headphone owners do at meets. Get together and not talk to each other?

[Rex]

It's called an eargasm, learn the lingo .

[DAEDALUS]

Thanks for the visual...both of you.

[Nismo_Freak]

I have Sony MDR-V600's and they are ok for the price.

If you want quality, get a full cup headphone. Sennheiser makes some really good units

[Jesda]

I tried out the Sennheiser 497 and some other more expensive models. But the plastics were crummy and I could see a spot on the frame where it would break easily within six months.

[Red coupe]

I have a pair of sony mdr v-700 and they are pretty good, They usualy sell for like 130 or something but I found them on the internet (123dj.com) for 100 and got a price match at guitar center, Id say worth the money

[madbouncy]

Klipsch 5.1, you can use the sub to rock the baby to sleep.

[HashiriyaS14]

Lol, I'm not sure what one would do at a headphone meet either.

They're probably big into DIY tweaks, which are popular with tubs amplifiers (upgrading tubes, etc...).

Congrats on the Grado purchase. Hook em up to something and let it play through them loud for a day or two for break-in.

Buying any kind iof audio gear is always a more pleasant experience at a local shop where the people know their stuff than at a major chain.

[Rex]

... Buying any kind iof audio gear is always a more pleasant experience at a local shop where the people know their stuff than at a major chain.

Absolutely .

You ever stop by a little shop on West St in Annapolis? I think it used to be called Hi-Tek?? I just knwo it's where my buddy Chuck worked .

[slow s13]

i got a sony mdr-780 they are super nice very comfortable the ear pads are that new super foam stuff its so soft.

http://www.electronicsoutfitte....html

I got em off ebay for 80 bucks

[HashiriyaS14]

Nope, never been there. I don't make it up to Annapolis very often.

I go to Soundworks and Myer Emco down here.

[Chingon]

koss portapro's or koss ksc-35. Both compfortable and very good sound reproduction. @ 30-40$, they rival others 3 times their price. I've seen the portapro's @ circuit city and the ksc's direct from koss.com

[Jesda]

Like cars, one purchase leads to another and another.

I bought a new sound card:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...28948Apparently it has a special two-channel high-quality sampling mode, perfect for headphones. Strongly recommended by head-fi for sounding like a $100 EMU 0404 for 75% less.

I'm also going to dig my very trusty old (1984) Technics receiver/amp and Teac EQ out of storage. I need a radio anyway.

A local guy makes a CMOY headphone amp that fits into a box of altoids for $50, so I'll be getting one of those too.

Problem now is that getting into the Q and cranking up the Bose system is painful. Its like audio poison.

[HashiriyaS14]

Well, i imagine that with a bit of ingenuity, you could cook up a headphone system for your Q.

Do head units have an unamplified line out? If so, you might be able to run it to a headphone amplifier mounted somewhere inside the car, somewhere slick, like in the center console so you'd have easy access to the volume controls.

Then just plug your cans in there. You could even do some kind of custom setup to keep the headphone cables out of your way when driving.

Of course, it'd be easier to just grab some MB Quart Q-series and call it a day. Very different sound from those Grados though...

[Jesda]

Isnt that illegal?

[Rex]

I don't think legally you're allowed to "cover" your ears while operating a motor vehicle.