Headphone Recomendations

Kevin!

Hello,

Basically, I'm looking to buy a set of headphones for approx 150 - 180 - maybe a little bit more (I can get them in the US if there cheaper also because I have a friend who regularly commutes)
I listen to many different types of music which include D&B, Metal, Pop and classical - so I'm mainly looking for clarity but a bit of oomph also.

What sort of headphones am I looking at in this price range?

thanks.

yimrsg

You didn't mention if you wanted to use them at home only or take them with you or if you wanted an open (sound leaks in and out) or closed (sound stays in) type or if you wanted them to rest on your ears or to go around them.

If it was my money, I'd look at either a Grado sr 225i (which are open and isn't very portable) or Sennheiser Hd 25-1 (which is closed and more portable). Others I'd look at are Shure Srh840, 440 and the Audio Technica Ath-M50 but neither of them are the best portable due to their long leads.

The Grado is $180-200 but it doesn't give that clarity you might be looking for, but it would have the ooomph.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/grado-prestige-series-sr225i-headphones

The Sennheiser can be got for €180 or less in the states. It's got good isolation but that might be due to a tight fit which some may find uncomfortable.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/sennheiser-hd-25-1-ii-professional-headphone

The Ath-M50 and the Shures are fairly similar but the first is cheaper by some degree ($110 vs $150+ for the 840) and can fold a little, they both are closed and are used in the studio. They'd have the clarity you want from your music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NItwaz0nLJA

http://www.head-fi.org/products/shure-srh840
here's a comparison of the two shures
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/527722/shure-srh440-vs-srh840
http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s-monitor-headphones

Kevin!

yimrsg wrote: »

You didn't mention if you wanted to use them at home only or take them with you or if you wanted an open (sound leaks in and out) or closed (sound stays in) type or if you wanted them to rest on your ears or to go around them.

If it was my money, I'd look at either a Grado sr 225i (which are open and isn't very portable) or Sennheiser Hd 25-1 (which is closed and more portable). Others I'd look at are Shure Srh840, 440 and the Audio Technica Ath-M50 but neither of them are the best portable due to their long leads.

The Grado is $180-200 but it doesn't give that clarity you might be looking for, but it would have the ooomph.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/grado-prestige-series-sr225i-headphones

The Sennheiser can be got for €180 or less in the states. It's got good isolation but that might be due to a tight fit which some may find uncomfortable.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/sennheiser-hd-25-1-ii-professional-headphone

The Ath-M50 and the Shures are fairly similar but the first is cheaper by some degree ($110 vs $150+ for the 840) and can fold a little, they both are closed and are used in the studio. They'd have the clarity you want from your music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NItwaz0nLJA

http://www.head-fi.org/products/shure-srh840
here's a comparison of the two shures
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/527722/shure-srh440-vs-srh840
http://www.head-fi.org/products/audio-technica-ath-m50s-monitor-headphones

Thank's a billion for that reply, it's extremely detailed and was totally unexpected - gives me a lot to think about.

I was speaking to a friend on the phone their a while ago, and he mentioned that the Beyerdynamic DT250 is a good pair of headphones - how does this compare to that?

And also, it would be nice if it was a bit portable for like maybe a flight now and again but mainly at home use so quality before portability

cnocbui

For good sound quality and portability you could look at the

Sony MDR-7509HD:



They fold.

yimrsg

Kevin! wrote: »

Thank's a billion for that reply, it's extremely detailed and was totally unexpected - gives me a lot to think about.

I was speaking to a friend on the phone their a while ago, and he mentioned that the Beyerdynamic DT250 is a good pair of headphones - how does this compare to that?

And also, it would be nice if it was a bit portable for like maybe a flight now and again but mainly at home use so quality before portability

I done a bit more reading up on the one's I mentioned so I feel I'd know a bit more on them than the Beyer or Sony. There isn't as much reviews or opinions for the Dt250 as Ath-M50 on head-fi but what is there is complementary.

The Beyer is more expensive than the Audio Technica but less so when in euros. Also the Beyer can come in 80 or 250 ohms variety (the 250 will need an amp). Also the Ath M50 fold up like the Sonys. Another one to maybe look at is the Fischer Audio FA-003.

The search system on head-fi isn't as good as on boards.ie
http://www.google.ie/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=+site:head-fi.org+beyerdynamic+dt250&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=7ef2cd3c3688edcb

Comparing the two
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/520077/audio-technica-ath-m50-or-beyerdynamic-dt-250-80

Think about your what your source is/will be also as some of the one's I've listed mightn't sound great from an ipod and if your music isn't 320kb/lossless/flac it could sound worse.

I was looking at a closed set of headphones (until I bought another IEM) and had given most thought to the one's I mentioned. I wanted a neutral sound with good isolation, performed well across a multitude of genres and something that could be portable, max €200 and would sound good coming from an ipod. It's tough to say which one you'd like most without trying them all side by side but just read up on them and try make as good a decision as you can.