Metal Reviews

I know there have been a few headphones threads, but let's make this the "2012 edition". What headphones do you use (exact model name if possible)? Are you satisfied with them?

I'm looking for something to replace my dying Koss PortaPro, which probably is among the best headphones below 30 euros (40 dollars). I wouldn't mind going up to 80 dollars if there's a real quality difference with the PortaPro. Higher than that would be a complete waste of money (for me) however. If you have ideas, please share

My roommate bought an $800 pair of headphones a few weeks back. I wanted to hit him so hard.

What brand are they?

As I mentioned in the other thread Sennheiser is a very good brand. But seriously if you want to feel a difference in sound (including in all departments) you have to pay a little more than 80 bucks. Also, it depends what kind of headphones you're looking for: on-ears or in in-ears? And yes it does make a noticeable difference in sound quality.

@Dev: Didn't even know there were headphones that pricey.

@Nima: yeah I checked your suggestion, that's expensive. Well if they're not fragile I might get them or another model in that vein. They seem great.
And, I prefer on-ears, in-ears hurt after a while.

I've this (Bose OE2). Been blasting 'em for two years. Love 'em, zero complains. $150.

I also have a pair. Maybe a bit over priced but still quite good. It can, however, improve in the treble department.

Sennheiser HD477

I've had these for like 10 years and bought about 4-5 replacement chords for them. They are wonderful, wonderful things with beautiful bass that makes metal riffs sound like bliss. Only downside is they're not for bus or library listening; they block no noise, so you can hear everything that's going on around you and everyone around you can hear what you're listening to.

Audio Technica ATH-ANC25

Bought these because I wanted over ear, noise cancelling headphones, with a replacement chord. They feel/look kind of cheap, especially on the inside of the ear cup where the plastic runs right into the foam. They don't sound so good for louder, bassier rock music but they sound great for the high pitches of jazz and classical. And they stop most exterior noise so I can listen to them on the bus/train, which is what I wanted. I'll probably shell out the extra for Sennheiser's next time around.

Sleek Audio - SA-1

Bought these two years ago because I wanted in-ear headphones with a replaceable chord. They sound great and seem high quality, construction-wise. Although the first headphone chord I had died suspiciously quickly, the second lasted 8 months before my dog ate them. I've been thinking of replacing them, but I have a feeling that in-ear headphones aggravate my ears. They have a very pretty wood exterior which is a nice touch.

Equation RP-21

Huge, heavy-duty orange monstrosities. These were my first attempts to replace the Sennheisers with something that blocked outside noise. But after a year I felt like a goof walking around with huge ole headphones. They're studio monitors and sound wise they're good. They give a very flat sound: ultra clear, but the highs don't sing and the lows don't pulse.

There's worse.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I googled them all. I think I'm first going to try the SONY MDR-XB700 (50 euros, seems to be unbeatable for that price). I'm told bass are (too) punchy, but nothing not "equalizable".
I also like the Sennheiser - HD 598, but 160 euros... not going to happen soon. Probably next time.

Don't be too judgemental. If you pay that much money for good headphones (having done some good research) you can get the equivalent sound quality as a $20,000 pair of stand up speakers.

I have headphones in every price range, from entry level to extreme high-end, as I like different sound qualities for different occasions.

My most expensive pair is a Westone ES5, which cost me $999. They are in-ear headphones which have been custom moulded to my inner ear by an audiologist (that was a weird experience). But as I said, don't be too quick to judge - if you like sound, it's worth the money. Besides the fact that being moulded to my inner means they provide -26Db of silence with no active noise canecelling necessary, these Westones have 5 drivers...in EACH ear!! Which means in each ear, I have got 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range drivers, and a dedicated sub-woofer. Let me just repeat: IN EACH EAR!! When I listen to music on these things, it's like the band is doing a rehearsal inside my head, I've never heard anything so amazing. The first thing I ever listened to on them was Animals by Pink Floyd, and when Roger Waters' voice came in on Pigs on the Wing Part 1, I almost fainted. It was that amazing. Sounded like he was in the room with me.

Anyway, as I said, I have several other pairs, but my every day pair that I do my most listening on is a pair of Audio-Technica's. The particular model I have has gone out of production now, I think, but they were in the $300 range (ATH-A900 I believe they are). They sound much more expensive though. I can't recommend Audio-Technica enough....it's the best compromise between high-end performance and price.

Sony's exclusively. Everything is junk that colors the sound. I want flat flat flat response out of headphones because I do not want to lose part of my hearing.

I use Sony MDR-7506's and Sony MDR-XD200's. Both are sonically the same as far as I'm concerned and likely use the exact same dynamic driver. Naturally you can run over the 7506's with a truck and the XD200's will break if you are even a little bit abusive.

Sony only has one problem and that is the kind of wire they use requires a lot of trial and error to splice back together if the cord gets severed. There's a process to it, but most will not be able to repair this kind of wire since it is metal mixed with fiber of some kind.

Basically you have to twist each colored end together tight and in the right direction, cut off the end so that you have a tight end of both pieces coming together and then burn the end with a lighter to strip the fiber off the end of the wire, then you have to isolate the end from each other so the never touch. When you open up the cable there are three wires all touching each other and running in a twisted set of three. the fibre prevents it from shorting.

I totally agree with Bar here. I just bought an ear Sony headphones. Retail price 365 bought in black market, brand new, unopened for 150. Pretty great deal! These have as Bar has mentioned boosters for all sound departments and double sub-woofer in each ear. I purchased these for my commutes or when I study at school as it has zero sound leakage and also blocks out sound completely. I have nothing to complain about other than the fact that you have to adjust them once in a while for full capacity which I think for in-ear headphones is quite natural, right Bar?

My Sennheiser headphones are also the most excellent headphones which I paid around 400 bucks for them (on-ear). It sounds so organic and natural it is hard to believe it comes out of such a small device.

So if you want an outstanding sound quality it does have a price.

Addy, this is one topic I know quite well, and I can't stress how wrong I think you are.

There are benefits to many brands of headphones. Flat response can be extremely beneficial for many reasons, but most everyday people find a flat response boring. And that's not because they're uneducated, it's because that's how the human ear works. We're drawn to treble, we're drawn to bass.

If the sound becomes overly coloured, to the point where the bass or treble, or even the mid-range drowns out everything else, that's obviously bad. But a person who listen to mostly electronic music will inevitably find a bassy response much better, just as a person who listens mostly to folk-music will like a response that is a little biased towards the mid-range and which highlights vocal performance.

My point is that no two ears are alike, and despite what many audiophiles say, there is no "right" sound for anything. It's true that a flat response will give you a better insight into how the music sounded when it was being mastered, but even so, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a pair of headphones that adds some kick one way or the other. If it makes the music more exciting to you, go for it. All the different responses are exactly why I have so many headphones.

My advice is: experiment as much as you can within the realm of what you can afford!

Hehe, yeah, why do I think I went custom moulded!

Although if you want custom moulding you don't have spend as much money as me. There are companies that take whatever in-ears you have, take out the drivers, and can put them in a custom moulded shell. It's not too expensive this way. All you have to do is get a mould taken by an audiologist (which costs about $30) and then send it in, along with your earphones.

Whole thing will cost under $200 including the moulds.

Or you could just dish out the $999 and join me in aural heaven.

I mentioned it in another thread TTD, but I choose to add DSPs to my audio playback setup and as a consequence choose to keep the audio equipment as neutral and flat as possible. It isn't an issue of coloration of sound per se, but I absolutely want no part of the acoustical equipment doing that job in a one-size-fits-all way.

The best headphones I have ever had the pleasure of listening to are the Beats Pro. I love 'em.

I have a pair of beats and I rather dig 'em. For the the price, though, you could probably just get bose.

Those things cost an eye.
I'm eyeing on the Jays V-Jays, an excellent low-priced pair of headphones (45 euros). If I'm not satisfied, I'll go for something pricey next. Someday.

Maybe.

Be careful, it's addictive. Once you find out what $200 can sound like you start wondering what $300 can sound like....and so on. Of course, you have to do research to make sure you're spending the money on something that's specifically suited to your ear, but if you make the right choices, you start to wonder just how much money you can throw at it before it stops improving your music....

And I don't use that phrase arbitrarily....getting the right headphones really will improve your music listening experience.

I will one day spend a lot of money on headphones. Because of the very reasons Bar has mentioned. It's simply worth it given the right decisions.