Good headphones for around €50? Possible?

another question

Hi,

My sister loves her music and I heard her saying she would love a set of headphones but that she would never pay the Dr. Dre prices and that there were loads out there for around €50.

I was thinking of getting her a set as a Christmas surprise but have no idea where to start.

Basically, is it worth buying a set for around €50 or will they be a waste of money if they are not the really good ones?

Brian

Consider the Creative Aurvana Live!, Panasonic RP-HTF600, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD661, JVC HA-M750

more options - http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/

Grian1

There's Urbanears from €30, Kitsound for €35, Bob Marley for €45. I love Urbanears. Kitsound aren't very popular. I hate the colour of Bob Marley headphones and I hate him. These are the ones in the Carphone Warehouse.

ra0044

You could look on amazon or Harvey Norman at the RHA ca200. I Have had a pair for a year or so and cant fault them. Great phones for the money

yimrsg

You mentioned Beats OP, so I don't know for sure if you want something that looks like them but don't want to pay that price.
There is a very affordable alternative:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noontec-Zoro-Professional-Headphones-Black/dp/B0071JT70C

and a review of them

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/inexpensive-and-terrific-noontec-zoro

marko93

another question wrote: »

Hi,

My sister loves her music and I heard her saying she would love a set of headphones but that she would never pay the Dr. Dre prices and that there were loads out there for around €50.

I was thinking of getting her a set as a Christmas surprise but have no idea where to start.

Basically, is it worth buying a set for around €50 or will they be a waste of money if they are not the really good ones?

Brian wrote: »

Consider the Creative Aurvana Live!, Panasonic RP-HTF600, Superlux HD668B, Superlux HD661, JVC HA-M750

more options - http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/

Hey OP, do you think she'll be using them on the go or just around the house?

In regards to Brian's suggestion I can vouch for the HTF600s and the HD668B's.
In that respect, I can say that the 668B's are not for portable use at all.
Very clunky and leak quite a bit, from my experience at least.
I found the HTF600s to be fantastic on the go cans and extremely easily driven.
Two solid options for a low cost. I'd also avoid the UrbanEars and the Marleys from my own personal experience.

My own suggestions would be:(no specific order)
Panasonic HTF600 - Superlux HD668B - Sennheiser HD201/202 - Koss PortaPros.

I'd also highly scanning through this thread for other stuff that hasn't mentioned or any of us may have tried. There's a lot of reading and phrases/terminology you may not understand, but we're all here to help.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-107-portable-headphones-reviewed-astrotec-as-100hd-as-200hd-added-12-02-12

Custardpi

Consider the AKG K450s if it's purely for portable use. I've had a pair for the past few months & been pretty happy with them.

TheUsual

marko93 wrote: »

Sennheiser HD201/202

You can't go wrong with Sennheiser.

Maybe a bit late for Christmas post though ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-202-Closed-Headphone/dp/B003LPTAYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355620903&sr=8-1

marko93

TheUsual wrote: »

You can't go wrong with Sennheiser.

Maybe a bit late for Christmas post though ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-202-Closed-Headphone/dp/B003LPTAYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355620903&sr=8-1

HMV have the 202s

With postage I think they work out the same!

nagirrac

Not sure what they cost in Ireland but if you could stretch a little for the Grado SR-60i they are superb value for money and truly audiophile quality.

PickledLime

another question wrote: »

Hi,

My sister loves her music and I heard her saying she would love a set of headphones but that she would never pay the Dr. Dre prices and that there were loads out there for around €50.

I was thinking of getting her a set as a Christmas surprise but have no idea where to start.

Basically, is it worth buying a set for around €50 or will they be a waste of money if they are not the really good ones?

Beats (and the Marley's, Skullcandys etc) are a marketing gimmick aimed a folk who don't know headphones. They should be sold for €50 tops for what you're getting.

Anyway, the Panasonic RP HTX7's are decent for that price range (and i recall HMV selling them for about €45 or so earlier in the year). Good sound isolation, little leakage and a nice, natural frequency response. Linky - http://www.whathifi.com/review/panasonic-rp-htx7

For an in ear set, you could do a lot worse than the Sennheiser CX 150's. I bought these for under €20 and have no worries about just leaving them in my coat pocket for whn i need them. Bit tricky to create a good seal and frist, and they can sound a touch shrill (for my tastes), but i'm delighted with them and wouldn't look for much more out of such a cheap set. http://www.testfreaks.co.uk/headphones-headsets/sennheiser-cx-150/

BostonB

TheUsual wrote: »

You can't go wrong with Sennheiser.

Maybe a bit late for Christmas post though ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD-202-Closed-Headphone/dp/B003LPTAYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355620903&sr=8-1

I have a set of HD202 don't think much of them tbh. Comfy though. I bought them for playing guitar.

RGDATA!

nagirrac wrote: »

Not sure what they cost in Ireland but if you could stretch a little for the Grado SR-60i they are superb value for money and truly audiophile quality.

i'm a grado fan, but i've never seen them in Ireland. great cans though

Brian

You can get Grados in Richer Sounds up north I believe, but they're not cheap.

@ OP -- http://en.store.creative.com/headphones-headsets/aurvana-live/437-17088.aspx

Jaggy

If you can stretch to about €60 these are a great pair, I got them during the year. Bit late for postage at this stage though, not sure how much they'd be in Ireland. I've compared them with beats and I rate them better to be honest.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MDR-V55-DJ-Stereo-Headphones/dp/B007I1QY5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356005851&sr=8-1

sweetie

the creative live are currently on special on creative website and the akg 450 are very good price on richersounds.

Kopy

good Deal here for Skull Candy Headphones

http://www.sportsdirect.com/accessories/headphones?dsearch=cat

marko93

Kopy wrote: »

good Deal here for Skull Candy Headphones

http://www.sportsdirect.com/accessories/headphones?dsearch=cat

Unless it's the Aviators, there is no such thing as a good deal on Skullcandys.

If you can stretch the budget, Grados are fantastic. Even those MDR-V55s sound decent!

another question

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, sorry I didn't get back sooner my internet has been down for over a week. In the end she asked me to get her something else for Christmas and after I had that got my budget was gone, even though I know they would have been a nice surprise, what she doesn't know won't bother her. I'll stretch a bit further than €50 and get her a good set for her birthday. Grados and the sony link from amazon seem to be good options but I will look into Skullcandy and Scheinniser (excuse spelling) too. Thanks guys.

marko93

another question wrote: »

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, sorry I didn't get back sooner my internet has been down for over a week. In the end she asked me to get her something else for Christmas and after I had that got my budget was gone, even though I know they would have been a nice surprise, what she doesn't know won't bother her. I'll stretch a bit further than €50 and get her a good set for her birthday. Grados and the sony link from amazon seem to be good options but I will look into Skullcandy and Scheinniser (excuse spelling) too. Thanks guys.

Only semi-decent Skull are the Aviators, and they're not in the budget range. So i'd avoid looking at the Skullcandy range.

Sennhieser are excellent and grado are superb.

Dats me

BostonB wrote: »

I have a set of HD202 don't think much of them tbh. Comfy though. I bought them for playing guitar.

I have them too, they certaintly do the job though, decent if not amazing.

Walnuts86

Go for the Marley headphones, they are the job!!