Looking for headphones (over ear).

Hey everyone. So I'll go right to the point.
I'm looking for some pretty good over the ear headphones at a reasonably price.
I don't really want to spend more than 150$ for them.

So please give me some suggestions. They'll be used mostly at home or work to listen to music. A travel via airplanes about 4 to 6 times a year, so I'd be using them there too. So having noise cancellation might be nice but it's not really that important (don't really know if that's reasonable with my price limit - I really am not up to date with headphone technology).

So any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Check out this thread. It may not seem like what your asking for but I kinda hijacked it towards the end and asked a similar question to yours.

 

I'm sure many people will throw around specific suggestions, so I'll write in broader terms to help you select a type.

If you're travelling at all, strongly consider in-ear monitors. You can get a fairly decent one for $150 from various manufacturers. The isolation really does come in handy when you're out and about. And for phones in that price range, the audio quality is definitely good enough for everyday use.

There are practicalities though: Many IEM's boost audio interference on cheap computer audio due to their very low power requirement so you get this 'fzzzz' noise on many laptops / desktop headphone sockets - which may be extremely annoying, and is not a problem you'll come across with a less efficient headphone. If you come across it, you may need to invest in a separate soundcard.

And while IEM's are very good for plane and other travelling duties, closed headphones aren't much use on planes - as what happens is that the low-frequency drone rattles around the inside of many phones and can actually be made more apparent - and this will fatigue you. If sticking to full-size phones on a plane you'll need electronic noise cancelling or pick one of the few which isn't affected by this problem, such as the Sennheiser HD25 (which just happens to be an excellent portable phone, if a little uncomfortable).

The only major 'gotcha's with IEM's is that single-driver models (your price range is the borderline point for single and dual driver models) can sound 'reedy' due to the frequency limitations of the drivers. Pick a dual-driver model for a much fuller, more 'headphone-like' sound. That, and you have to be careful not to listen too loud. While IEM's can protect your hearing against damage from outside sources by isolating noise, they can still damage your hearing if you listen too loudly - the isolation should however work hand in hand with allowing you to listen clearly at lower volumes.

 

Like Vogelbung said, it really depends on your situation. But, if you don't have anyone to bother and don't mind some of the sound leaking from the headphones, an open back pair, such as Sennheiser HD-555, are superior to closed back headphones.

 

I agree with Vogelbung, I've been using IEMs on the plane for a few years now, sound isolation has been great. Different IEMs might be more comfortable than another. Personally I prefer foam tips over silicon ones in terms of comfort and noise isolation.

Oh and LOL Vogel, Tibault is not banned, his name colour is not red.

Tibo that old trick still works eyy? hehe. I am now in Ottawa!

 

IEM's are good, but to me they're uncomfortable, I've used alot of different models, and they're all somewhat uncomfortable to me. And as a general rule, the more isolation they have the more uncomfortable they are. Unless you go with customs(custom fitted like a hearing aid), which you can actually get in your price range, but they wont sound as nice as universals of the same price. And for the money, you will always get better sound out of a pair of cans instead of IEM's. I personally use Ultrasone HFI-780's which can be found for about 180$ shipped to the usa. They are a closed headphone, so sound doesn't leak out of them, and they isolate fairly well, I haven't been on an airplane since I was a small child so I don't know how loud they are, but I doubt it would fully isolate that much noise out. They are also 35 ohms, which is fairly low for cans so they can easily be powered by all sources.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I do have in ear ones. I got the Bose in ear headphones and some Sony in ear ones too (forget which ones). They're nothing spectacular but they do the trick.
So from what I gather, I'm better off using IEM for the plane. So I'll remember that, however I am still looking for a good over ear pair. Are the Sennheiser HD25 over or on ear headphones? They seem a little small to be over ears? That and they're a little expensive for what I'd like.

Pandadeist, how much of the sound leaks from those open-back headphones? In an office setting with lots of people around, would they hear the music? Those look like some pretty decent headphones, though I don't think I've ever seen open back headphones (or never noticed).

I came across some JVC HANC100 Noise Cancelling Headphones on amazon.com for 40$. Noise canceling headphones for only 40$, there must be some sort of catch?
And to be honest I'm not sure I want to deal with the battery and all the other stuff that comes with noise canceling headphones, so I might just stick with the regular kind.

And like Johnny said, I'm not really banned. It's just my user title.

It's been awhile Johnny, how are you? What are you doing in Ottawa?
I'm in Houston until the end of April.

 

Thats true syndrome, IEMs aren't a perfect fit for everyone. The UM1s I own fits me small ears quite well which is good. Noise cancelling aren't all that effect with their extra cost, and their sound quality arent always fantastic either.

I am at Carleton U doing Civ eng! you're still down in Texas? Hows that going?

 

Oh cool. I didn't know Carleton had an engineering program to be honest.
How's it going down there? My brother and sister both live in Ottawa (my sister has my car right now actually haha).

Well I just got back to Houston. I was back in School from September to December. On another work term now working for a different company in Houston. So far it's been good.

 

Isn't this PM material? I'd just ignore the thread but I'm curious to see how your search goes as I just went through it myself.

 

Oh, yeah, if you're in an office environment, then you'll want closed back headphones.

 

Yup, hence I PM'd him after that.

 

Fooled! You shouldn't do that to a n00b

The HD25's are over ear - they perch not that spectacularly comfortably, but their design is what makes them one of the closed phones as I said which avoid the on-airplane drone passthrough, as there's little space in the cups or between the cups and the inside of the ear for the resonances to build.

Both the cheaper 25SP and the 'real one' 25-1 sound good, although the SP is rougher (but better than the Head-Fi peer-recommended - without much merit, IMHO - K81DJ) They've just received a minor update (Mark II). They're well isolated, light, probably the lightest full-sizes on the market and almost indestructible.

But I wouldn't call them multi-hour phones, although your results may vary as I know people who can wear these for hours at a time. My limit with them is about 2 hours without undue discomfort. For extended wear and even for most commutes when I'm not using the in-ear monitors I prefer the (somewhat worse sounding and not as isolating, but hugely better in comfort) Bose Triport Around-Ears.

Avoid cheap noise cancellers. They be crud.

 

Alright thanks for the input so far everyone. Sorry this topic has been dead for a little while, but here's the update. I haven't purchased anything yet but I will in the next couple of days if I can finally make up my mind.

So far I'm looking at these two:
Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones

Denon AHD1001K On-Ear Headphones

Here's an update: I'm more interested in around the ear (circum-aural) and not over ear (supra-aural). With that being said, are the Denon's around or over? They look pretty big to be over ear headphones (but that's what the amazon descriptions says).
I've been told that they're both great, the Denon's have better bass than the Sennheiser's, but clearer sound on the Sennheiser's.
I've never tried open headphones but I'm really considering the Sennheiser's to give them a try. I will pretty much only use these at home, so the fact that they will leak a lot of sound doesn't bother me all that much - as long as it's reasonable.

So anyone have any inputs on those two? Help me decide or I'm still taking suggestions for good headphones!

 

If you're using them at home, with no one around to bother, the Senn HD-555's are absolutely amazing. I use them, and let me tell you, I'm never going back to other headphones. The sound is clear, the bass is just punchy enough, not to overwhelming, not to soft, and all types of music sounds fantastic. Definitely recommend them if you're in a situation where sound leakage is not a problem.

 

^ u cant say they are better...

they are just different.

HD555: They are laid back..highs arent crystal clear..but they improve slightly after burn in (burn in is basically running sound through headphones so their diaphragm loosens up), their bass improves a lot after burn in with pink noise..but its not as good as D1001.


IF u want headphones for great midrange..i.e all the instruments like piano, guitar, violin etc and vocals then HD555 are great.

but if u want headphones for Bassy music..i.e if u r a basshead..then D1001 will be better.
the mids on D1001 are also good but they aint as smooth as HD555 ..also they are little grainy on upper mids i.e High notes on piano and guitar.


Now speaking of comfort.
D1001 are very comfortable Closed headphones. ..they JUST manage to qualify as circum aural..not very big but just big enuff to cover ears..u ll feel the inner cloth touch your ear.

.but HD555 are far more comfortable...they are huge inside..so your ears will not touch anything..

Soundstage of HD555 is expansive..your music will sound very spread out..not congested



Conclusion: if u r basshead and want closed headphones..D1001 are better.

if u dont give a about sound leaking....and want cleaner and more Balanced sound...also a huge soundstage...then HD555 are better.

i have owned and used both