I have a gear question for you. Is there a brand or model of headphones that you guys would particularly recommend? I am looking for quality.
We've moved out of our house, because we are remodeling. We're basically living in a loft, now, and my wife's need for sleep is not compatible with my need to watch T.V. I will eventually use them for music and am looking for something that will fit a quarter-inch jack. Unless there is something better.
Headphones
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Knucklehead
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The Sennheiser HD 280's have some pretty damn good sound but won't break the bank at all. I've been using my pair on and off for about 4 years now with no issues at all. You can probably find a pretty solid deal somewhere out there.
How long are you going to be out of the house? That's gotta be kind of a nuisance.
How long are you going to be out of the house? That's gotta be kind of a nuisance.
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Knucklehead
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We've been out since the end of May and hope to be back in by Halloween. We're definitely couch-surfing this summer -- this loft is the second place that we have moved to. It is truly amazing how much crap you can accumulate (once you become settled) and how little you actually need.
I'm looking at some websites and those Sennheiser's seem to be pretty highly recommended. Are they comfortable?
I'm looking at some websites and those Sennheiser's seem to be pretty highly recommended. Are they comfortable?
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CAlexanderParra
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Earbuds are great. If youre looking for something at the home you should check out skullcandy(they also make earbuds). They have skullcrusher but thats only good if you want more bass than high pitch. Seeing as you love dubstep and rap so much i would go with skullcrusher
BlackRoija wrote:Cut your hair and worship Jesus
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egg yolkeo
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Ive got the Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones very affordable 21 bucks on amazon,not to big or small with good sound
but if you dont mind looking like a jackass spend a little more and get these
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-High- ... 616&sr=1-4
best bang for the buck but I sent mine back because they just looked to big.
both come with 1/4 adapter
but if you dont mind looking like a jackass spend a little more and get these
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-High- ... 616&sr=1-4
best bang for the buck but I sent mine back because they just looked to big.
both come with 1/4 adapter
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badcarburetor
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Most headphones nowadays are 1/8" jacks so that they can fit iPods, etc, but come with 1/4" adaptors that work perfectly fine.
Personal Experience:
I own a many pairs of over ear headphones. Most were from back when I had a pretty decent analog 8 track studio set up and were far from high end. They were used just so that everyone could hear the playback. I have no recollection of their model names and no opinion on their quality.
I do own a couple decent pairs that are for my enjoyment of pre-recorded music, but they were packed up when we moved in April because – like you said - they are one of those things that I don't really need, but did accumulate. Keep in mind that I have used these headphones only for listening to music. If you are concerned with sound imaging for film viewing, you might want to look into headphones that are designed for gaming because, as I understand it, they are intended to have more of a 3D sound reproduction. I’m really not sure if there are any headphones on the market that are intended for TV/film specific use.
The first pair of mine is a set of “supraural†Grado SR80s that I got for about $60 by shopping around a bit. Supraural basically means "open ear.†The earpiece is made of open foam (I don’t know how else to put that) so there is a good bit of sound bleed. Still, it's nothing like trying to watch Saving Private Ryan with the TV sound up while your wife is trying to snooze, however it would be rude to wear them on a plane while surrounded by strangers. All that said, they sound fantastic, but for me, really only fit situations where I might as well listen to my stereo speakers. http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige-SR ... B000G3LCQC
The second set that I use with any regularity are “Circumaural†Sennheiser HD280s. They are closed ear and sound fantastic, but really aren’t comfortable for the long haul. I have pretty small melon and these still crush my skull after a couple hours. Because of that factor I haven't gotten as much use out of them as I would have expected. http://www.magnoliaav.com/Products/Prod ... fault.aspx
If you lean to either of the above, let me know and I'll see if I can dig mine up and maybe we can strike a deal. I just don't get enough use out of these to justify owning them.
The pair that get far and away the most use are my Shure EC3 earbuds. They are tiny and are completely noise cancelling. They come with a variety of in ear pieces so that you can find the right fit for you. When I put them on and close my eyes I’m literally inside Sons of Northern Darkness. They are about 4 years old now. I paid at least $200 for them and they were worth every penny. I once had to have them “repaired†by Shure, but instead they replaced them for about $70. (That was after the warranty was expired. I know some tough sonsuvbitches who have had theirs replaced under warranty numerous times for completely free.) I would do it all again. They are super comfortable and sound A. May. Zing. Just get an extension jack and a 1/8†to 1/4†adaptor at Radio Shack so they will reach your outlet and you’ll have a set of buds that you can use in every situation (dentist, planes, exercising, TV, whatever) and that will last for years. Seriously, I can't recommend these enough. Mine are discontinued now, but here’s the current Shure line-up:
http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_U ... D.12165500
Anecdotal:
I don’t own AKG 701s, but have always heard that they are unbeatable at their price point - but coming in at nearly $300, they aren’t short money. Personally, I don’t really enjoy the ear can experience much and wouldn’t get enough use out of cans to really justify that level of cash outlay, but I definitely get enough use out of those earbuds to be comfortable with what I spent on them.
http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/806akg (seriously, could these badboys look any cooler?)
For short money and decent style while providing acceptable sound reproduction, I’ve heard good things about Panasonic RP-HTX7s, but supposedly they require some significant break in time*. They come in a variety of qualities and colors.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=19&y=22
Further Reading:
Consider the variety of can options by reviewing the dummy sheet at Wikipedia. It ain’t the greatest, but it’s a solid starting point.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones ... headphones
Here’s one other starting point:
http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/type.php
It’s been a while since I’ve researched this stuff, but you might want to give these sites a look over:
http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/
http://www.head-fi.org/
If you find that you really enjoy the headphone experience and use them frequently when you are not on the go, look into headphone amps. I’ve zero experience with these, as I pretty much only use my headphones when I’m mobile.
Lastly, price hunt like a motherfucker. Prices on headphones seem to vary significantly, so take your time and make Google your bitch.
* I’m not sure if this true for earbuds, but I know that cans require a period of up to 100 hours of “breaking in†time. Whenever I get a pair, I just hook them up to the stereo and let it play for a few days straight before I actually start listening to them.
Good luck. I hope you get something you love. Report back on who gets your dollars.
*edited for clarity*
Personal Experience:
I own a many pairs of over ear headphones. Most were from back when I had a pretty decent analog 8 track studio set up and were far from high end. They were used just so that everyone could hear the playback. I have no recollection of their model names and no opinion on their quality.
I do own a couple decent pairs that are for my enjoyment of pre-recorded music, but they were packed up when we moved in April because – like you said - they are one of those things that I don't really need, but did accumulate. Keep in mind that I have used these headphones only for listening to music. If you are concerned with sound imaging for film viewing, you might want to look into headphones that are designed for gaming because, as I understand it, they are intended to have more of a 3D sound reproduction. I’m really not sure if there are any headphones on the market that are intended for TV/film specific use.
The first pair of mine is a set of “supraural†Grado SR80s that I got for about $60 by shopping around a bit. Supraural basically means "open ear.†The earpiece is made of open foam (I don’t know how else to put that) so there is a good bit of sound bleed. Still, it's nothing like trying to watch Saving Private Ryan with the TV sound up while your wife is trying to snooze, however it would be rude to wear them on a plane while surrounded by strangers. All that said, they sound fantastic, but for me, really only fit situations where I might as well listen to my stereo speakers. http://www.amazon.com/Grado-Prestige-SR ... B000G3LCQC
The second set that I use with any regularity are “Circumaural†Sennheiser HD280s. They are closed ear and sound fantastic, but really aren’t comfortable for the long haul. I have pretty small melon and these still crush my skull after a couple hours. Because of that factor I haven't gotten as much use out of them as I would have expected. http://www.magnoliaav.com/Products/Prod ... fault.aspx
If you lean to either of the above, let me know and I'll see if I can dig mine up and maybe we can strike a deal. I just don't get enough use out of these to justify owning them.
The pair that get far and away the most use are my Shure EC3 earbuds. They are tiny and are completely noise cancelling. They come with a variety of in ear pieces so that you can find the right fit for you. When I put them on and close my eyes I’m literally inside Sons of Northern Darkness. They are about 4 years old now. I paid at least $200 for them and they were worth every penny. I once had to have them “repaired†by Shure, but instead they replaced them for about $70. (That was after the warranty was expired. I know some tough sonsuvbitches who have had theirs replaced under warranty numerous times for completely free.) I would do it all again. They are super comfortable and sound A. May. Zing. Just get an extension jack and a 1/8†to 1/4†adaptor at Radio Shack so they will reach your outlet and you’ll have a set of buds that you can use in every situation (dentist, planes, exercising, TV, whatever) and that will last for years. Seriously, I can't recommend these enough. Mine are discontinued now, but here’s the current Shure line-up:
http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_U ... D.12165500
Anecdotal:
I don’t own AKG 701s, but have always heard that they are unbeatable at their price point - but coming in at nearly $300, they aren’t short money. Personally, I don’t really enjoy the ear can experience much and wouldn’t get enough use out of cans to really justify that level of cash outlay, but I definitely get enough use out of those earbuds to be comfortable with what I spent on them.
http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/806akg (seriously, could these badboys look any cooler?)
For short money and decent style while providing acceptable sound reproduction, I’ve heard good things about Panasonic RP-HTX7s, but supposedly they require some significant break in time*. They come in a variety of qualities and colors.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=19&y=22
Further Reading:
Consider the variety of can options by reviewing the dummy sheet at Wikipedia. It ain’t the greatest, but it’s a solid starting point.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headphones ... headphones
Here’s one other starting point:
http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/type.php
It’s been a while since I’ve researched this stuff, but you might want to give these sites a look over:
http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/
http://www.head-fi.org/
If you find that you really enjoy the headphone experience and use them frequently when you are not on the go, look into headphone amps. I’ve zero experience with these, as I pretty much only use my headphones when I’m mobile.
Lastly, price hunt like a motherfucker. Prices on headphones seem to vary significantly, so take your time and make Google your bitch.
* I’m not sure if this true for earbuds, but I know that cans require a period of up to 100 hours of “breaking in†time. Whenever I get a pair, I just hook them up to the stereo and let it play for a few days straight before I actually start listening to them.
Good luck. I hope you get something you love. Report back on who gets your dollars.
*edited for clarity*
"God created the devil? At least he did *something* cool." Homer J. Simpson
I don't actually own a pair of headphones headphones (only "earphones") but head-fi is a really good resource and your choice of headphone should depend on how you prefer your sound, for example balanced and accurate? Bassy? Analytical? Colored? You can read up on all these terms you'll see in the reviews:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
And now here's a resource with reviews of 88 headphones, you ought to find one you like:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
For you I wouldn't base my choice on portability much since you're going to be using those at home; I would however take leakage (not isolation at all since that room's going to be quiet) into account because you don't want the sound leaking and waking her up.
If I were in your situation with $120 I'd take a good look at the Audio-Technica ATH-M50's
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
And now here's a resource with reviews of 88 headphones, you ought to find one you like:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
For you I wouldn't base my choice on portability much since you're going to be using those at home; I would however take leakage (not isolation at all since that room's going to be quiet) into account because you don't want the sound leaking and waking her up.
If I were in your situation with $120 I'd take a good look at the Audio-Technica ATH-M50's
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badcarburetor
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- Joined: Mon March 23rd, 2009, 9:12 pm
- Location: ATL
Very good points at the top.aaron wrote:I don't actually own a pair of headphones headphones (only "earphones") but head-fi is a really good resource and your choice of headphone should depend on how you prefer your sound, for example balanced and accurate? Bassy? Analytical? Colored? You can read up on all these terms you'll see in the reviews:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
And now here's a resource with reviews of 88 headphones, you ought to find one you like:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/220 ... a-glossary
For you I wouldn't base my choice on portability much since you're going to be using those at home; I would however take leakage (not isolation at all since that room's going to be quiet) into account because you don't want the sound leaking and waking her up.
If I were in your situation with $120 I'd take a good look at the Audio-Technica ATH-M50's
Knuck, since this is a short term living situation, what do you expect to do with this purchase when you move back home? I would take that into consideration, too.
"God created the devil? At least he did *something* cool." Homer J. Simpson
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Knucklehead
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- Joined: Sat August 26th, 2006, 5:06 pm
- Location: Decatur
I knew I could count on you guys.
I've been looking at some of the sites you pointed out, K. But there's so much information to process: closed v. open; supra-aural v. circum-aural; headphone amps; separate digital to analog converters; etc. Some of those reviews suggest that separate equipment is necessary to really get the best performance out of the headphones.
I had completely disregarded earbuds, but it sounds like the (what we used to call) imaging (now called soundstage?) on the buds you have is spectacular. I am intrigued.
I am still figuring out what is I even freaking want, sonically speaking. But I intend to use these only at home, listening primarily to music and perhaps for watching movies, once we're back in our house.
I'm definitely going to take a look at all of the suggestions made here.
I've been looking at some of the sites you pointed out, K. But there's so much information to process: closed v. open; supra-aural v. circum-aural; headphone amps; separate digital to analog converters; etc. Some of those reviews suggest that separate equipment is necessary to really get the best performance out of the headphones.
I had completely disregarded earbuds, but it sounds like the (what we used to call) imaging (now called soundstage?) on the buds you have is spectacular. I am intrigued.
I am still figuring out what is I even freaking want, sonically speaking. But I intend to use these only at home, listening primarily to music and perhaps for watching movies, once we're back in our house.
I'm definitely going to take a look at all of the suggestions made here.
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badcarburetor
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- Location: ATL
Audio appreciation is nebulous, inspecific, pendantic and insane world. The road to hell is paved in thousands of dollars. Enjoy learning. It's fun, if overwhelming. Just think in terms of the long haul as your current living/situation is short term. You might even consider going wireless, but that's an are in which I have no knowledge.Knucklehead wrote:I knew I could count on you guys.
I've been looking at some of the sites you pointed out, K. But there's so much information to process: closed v. open; supra-aural v. circum-aural; headphone amps; separate digital to analog converters; etc. Some of those reviews suggest that separate equipment is necessary to really get the best performance out of the headphones.
I had completely disregarded earbuds, but it sounds like the (what we used to call) imaging (now called soundstage?) on the buds you have is spectacular. I am intrigued.
I am still figuring out what is I even freaking want, sonically speaking. But I intend to use these only at home, listening primarily to music and perhaps for watching movies, once we're back in our house.
I'm definitely going to take a look at all of the suggestions made here.
"God created the devil? At least he did *something* cool." Homer J. Simpson
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