Anyone know of some good around-ear headphones?

My noise cancelling headphones have more or less died so I am in the market again. I admit I am not looking for a gaming headset but I know the users of this forum know their electronics.

I really like Klipsch Image ONE but they are on ear. I am looking for Noise Cancelling headphones that are around ear. I tend to wear them for significant periods of time studying. So noise leakage and transporting (folding/case, etc.) is important.

I am open to all suggestions. I am hoping to spend less than $100 but I understand you get what you pay for in this market.

 

I have noticed with most active noise canceling headphones that they do best blocking out consistent noises, such as motors or vacuums and such. For blocking out people talking then a normal set of closed headphones would do just fine. The reason I mention this is because you have many more options with a normal set of headphones rather than a set with active noise canceling.

And one thing that is important for us to suggest you a set of headphones is what kind of music you generally listen to. Some headphones do one genre better than another. For instance if you like alot of bass then the suggestions will be different than if you like very accurate precise treble with less bass. There is no right or wrong, just simply personal preference.

 

Take a look at the Sennheiser HD280 pro headphones. They are not active, but are closed circumaural headphones and block out a lot of high frequency noise. They do an especially good job with fan noise as well. Apparently the HD448 headphones are pretty good also, and they can be bought for a little bit less money. However, I don't have any firsthand experience with them.

 

I know some people will deride me for this... but I can really recommend the Bose AE2. They're not active NC capable, but they block out a LOT of ambient noise, they are around ear, they seal nice and comfortably, and most importantly the cord is removable. They actually block more noise than ANY active NC headsets I've tried under $150... around ear anyway. IEM's block out pretty much the world with the right tips, though, and some for less than $150.

 

Audio Technica M50

Fits all your requirements
> Over Ear
> Sound Good
> Fold Up
> Comfortable


If you wear them for a LONG time you may want to look into open air headphones though, for me much more comfortable since head and ears can breath and the sound is more natural as well. In a busy area in public not so much a good idea but for home its great. In public I go with earbuds for size/portability and max isolation.

 

I also recommend a good pair of regular non-NC closed headphones. The Audio Technica A700 is a good place to start. Very slightly over your budget, but worth every penny:

Amazon.com: Audio Technica ATH-A700 Headphones: Electronics

 

I also recommend the ATH-M50 for the things Vicious describes. However, if you are on a budget, the M50's little brother, the M30 does just a stellar job as a closed-ear set of cans for under $50. (There is also the M35's which is the folding version of the M30).

The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro and the HD 428's are also not bad, but they are often marred a bit by their cheap materials and assembly for the money vs. the Audio-Technicas.

 

Excuse me, but cheap materials? I have had my HD280s for over 4 and a half years and the ONLY thing I have had to replace was the headband pad a few months ago after it started coming apart at the seam. It cost me something like $8. The ear cushions are also user replaceable should they need to be replaced. The non repaceable portion of my HD280s (everything but those pads) is still rock solid after 4.5 years and I have used these headphones pretty heavily. They are meant to be abused and are very sturdy. Most of the complaints are about the headband cracking, but I believe that issue has been fixed and mine have never shown any sign of cracking or weakness.

I haven't used the HD448s, so I am not sure of their build quality.

 

I'll put in a vote for the Sony MDR-ZX700. Slightly better sound quality than the overrated M50, better tone (IMO) in a less 'boom-tizz' way, less fatiguing sound for long periods of monitoring, better comfort, doesn't fold though. $90 typical.

The Bose AE2 is a decent choice if you want something very portable and comfortable. I still haven't found anything else which is a) very lightweight b) sounds good enough to use generally c) very comfy and d) doesn't make you look like a dork. $130 typical.

Otherwise I'd also look into in-ear monitors. Etymotics get a lot of love among the fauxdiophiles. I can't stand them myself, but hey, it takes all sorts.

 

I had a pair of HD428's and I have to tell you that they felt so plasticky that the headband adjuster became loose after a few uses and furthermore got all scratched up from just being in my backpack.

My Audio Technica ATH-M30's are so impervious to damage that they didn't even show any signs of structural damage that was noticeable when I sat on them accidentally a few times. Furthermore the cord on the M30's aren't as fragile as the one in 428's and they just feel more sturdy and rock solid.

I don't know but I don't think the 428's give Sennheiser a good mark. If I accidentally sat on the 428's myself, They would of snapped.

 

The models I was referring to are the HD280s and HD448s, which are a bit more expensive (street price) than the HD428s, which I have honestly never heard of, but then again I haven't been paying attention to all of their new models. I can tell you though that the HD280s have none of the issues you described; they are specifically designed to be very durable (which is why they are marketed as DJ or telecommunications headphones, although they are also used as studio monitors when a closed ear solution is necessary).
I have a friend with M50s and they seem about the same in build quality.
The only issues with the HD280s is that they don't have a lot of bass in the ~70 hz range, but they do have quite a lot of power at frequencies lower than that (which most other headphones don't have, even "bass heavy" ones), so drums in music and explosions/gunshots in video games have quite a punch to them.
Also, they are pretty tight on your head when you first get them, but since I have had mine for years they are just perfect now and I can wear them for hours on end without any discomfort.

 

I will admit that the 280 Pro's are not shabby at all and I think that one isn't badly built. I think Sennheiser started to cheapen out a bit when the released the HD 555.

However, I am still more pro-Audio Technica if you want the bass factor and no burn-in quality sound right out of the box. Either one is good nevertheless and the M30 is great if you want a budgeted M50.

 

This, in the context of the above and later posts, is not entirely unlike saying "I had a Ford Fiesta and it had no space for my stuff, so the F-150 has no space for my stuff."

 

Well if you only count the cab as storage space, a fiesta MIGHT have more...

I wouldn't be surprised if the cheaper sennheisers now were of poorer build quality, but I am sure their more expensive models are still well built.

 

Audio Technica M50's go on sale for around $110-$120 sometimes, so that's a great deal if u could find one. i absolutely love mine.

 

grado225's oh so nice, oh wait those are earpad?? i think

 

I'll say one thing: once you go "open-back" headphones, you'll never want to go back to closed-back headphones.

As many here have suggested the ATH-M50's to you (a closed-back headphone), I won't say that it's bad, but compared to open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD595, it's a world's difference. With open-back headphones, everything sounds very natural and open, as if you were there in person. As opposed to closed-back headphones, which make you sound like you're in a tiny room -- sometimes even making it sound like everything's in your head.

Yes, even very expensive closed-back headphones can't break the barrier of feeling "closed" and constricted. I own the Ultrasone HFI-780's (closed-back), which I paid a pretty penny for, and even though the sound is indeed awesome, it still feels completely different than my HD595's.

My close friend researched for a long time and ended up buying the ATH-M50 due to all of the hype on the internet. When he got it, I went over to try it out, and although the sound was nice, it was still nothing compared to my HD595. I let him try the HD595, and after about a month, he decided to sell his M50's and purchase a new set of HD595, and he never looked back.

If you can afford it ( lowest I've seen on Amazon is $120, now $250 surprisingly), the HD595 is a superb headphone for everything (games, music, movies).

The only con I'll mention about open-back headphones is that you will be able to hear everything around you, and others will also be able to hear what you're listening to, kind of like speakers. But that's how open-back headphones are built -- to sound as natural as possible.

Though, having said all that, if you are limited to closed-back headphones, I would suggest the HFI-780's whole-heartedly over the ATH-M50's. I've researched both extensively and also tested them both in person, and the HFI-780's come out on top every time. In comparison with the M50's, the HFI-780's provide a wider soundstage (more open), a more exciting sound signature, and a better overall sound that is crystal clear.

Good luck choosing!