Yet another headphones recommendation thread

After selling my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1, I'm getting back to headphones.
I still have the FiiO E17 that I used with the Klipsch speakers.
It will be mainly for gaming. and maybe some movies.
Also, I'm looking for headphones and not a headset.
The budget is around $200 but it's flexible if it's worth it.
Thanks!

 

Closed or open headphones? Any relatively well known headphones that you tried in the past that you did/didn't like and for what reason?

 

I think I want the open headphones.
My room is rather quiet too so shouldn't be a problem.
I had gaming USB headsets like Logitech G35 and Razer Megalodon.
The g35 was too uncomfortable and the surround sound quality on both is just average.
So, I'm looking for quality stereo headphones.
I also own Bose QC 15 because of a friend's recommendation.
Although they do a good job with noise cancelling, I don't think they're wroth their price tag
and I hate the fact that I have to carry an extra battery on long trips since they don't work without a battery

 

I'm rather fond of my JVC HA-RX700 headphones. Good balance of price vs. bass/sound quality. Maybe something like that might do you?
$35.67 @Amazon. Amazon.com: JVC HARX700 Precision Sound Full Size Headphones - Black: Electronics

 

Superaural or circumaural regarding open headphones? Just so we know which you feel is more comfortable. As a reminder, open headphones have lighter bass than closed headphones.

For circumaural, I really like the ATH-AD700. Haven't gotten the chance to try out that many Sennheiser models, so can't really comment on them. The DT990 are also a decent pair from what I hear.

For superaural I've only really liked Grados. Currently own a pair of SR80. Ask around more if you need help on the higher models e.g. SR125.

 

I did listen to the SR125 and they do sound great. I can't really comment on the other as i haven't tried them. I feel that the SR125 are more suited to music than gaming though.

 

Best open headphones in the $100-200 range are SR60/80/125

The sonic differences between the lower sets are fairly subtle until you move up to SR225 but the premium you pay for those might not be worth it unless you buy them used.

Best closed headphone under $200 are Shure SRH940. Believe me, I've heard them all Check out head-fi for veeeery in-depth reviews and discussions. But don't drink the cool-aid and stick to your budget.

 

Thanks for the recommendations.
Does the fact that open headphones having lighter bass mean closed headphones are better for gaming?
Also, what's a good place to try these out around NYC?

 

B&H over on 9th ave between 33rd and 34th.

 

^ there. Also J&R - 23 Park Row (by City Hall). They have Denon, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, and some other brands that B&H doesn't have. Also alot on display.

Open vs. closed is a tough one- yes, closed generally have more bass (which helps with gaming imo), but the SRH940 are very neutral and not made for bassheads, they're more for musicians and audiophiles. SRH840, the predecessor has more bass but lack in soundstage compared to SRH940. That is the sense of space and 3d directionality of sound that helps with gaming. Open headphones generally have better soundstage, but Grados have less than most open phones and not as much as SRH940. Grados in general are notorious for lacking bass until you get to really high-end like RS-1. Open headphones with great soundstage and everything else are Sennheiser HD600- the very very best headphone under $300 imo, but they need an amp to shine.

 

For the less than $100-200 range, you could also look into the AKG 240's. Look them up on Head-Fi and Headroom.

Summary: They're fantastic, and extremely comfortable. But they need to be driven by a decent amp (which you already have). In case you are worried about sound leakage, I find that they are literally "people around you can hear you as much as you can hear them".

I'm far from a bass-head, but I think the 240 mk2's have great bass on their own.

 

Astro Gaming A40
A40 Headsets - Headsets

 

So I will be heading over to B&H and J&R to test everything that are recommended so far.
These are what I'm interested after reading around a bit.
Listed by price (low to high)

- JVC HA-RX700
- Audio Technica ATH-AD700 (why is it purple!)
- Grado SR225
- Sennheiser HD600
- Sennheiser HD650 (how much better are they than the HD600. I'll save the $100 if I can)

 

The Grados have excellent first-impression appeal, because they put the drivers so close to the ear and as a result they 'attack' better. Shame about the actual quality of the drivers though, but a lot of people clearly can't tell the difference which explains their popularity (allied to the unique old-school looks, which isn't so much designed as a result of Grado's previously limited manufacturing capabilities). You can probably tell I'm not a fan. I've had practically every Grado until a couple of years ago though, right up to the PS-1 and the GS1000. The SR60 is the only Grado I can even think about recommending as drivers don't really get commensurately better as you move up.

The Audio-Technicas ain't bad. Outstanding wear comfort is their primary advantage, soundwise - well, not bad. The lilac (it's not even really purple)... yeah.

I have always kept a pair of HD650's around though regardless of what else I have. Not an 'exciting' sound, not a particularly sharp sound at first listen, but very accurate nevertheless allied to a more pleasing (to me) tone than the HD600.

Beyer DT880 Pro's might be worth a try. Sound rather "boring" (to me), but top resolving capability for the money. If for some reason I couldn't have the HD650 as my second-string phones, these are probably what I'd get.

Depends ultimately on what sort of signature you're looking for.

 

Is the Fiio E17 enough to drive the HD650?
How is the bass on them?

 

Not particularly prominent in a consumer sense, but definitely there and not 'flat'. No problems with the E17.

 

does a DAC really make that big of a difference when listening through your laptop/desktop? i've actually never tried one of those with any of my headphones.

 

depends on your ears and what headphones you are using. For me personally, it's like night and day.

 

right now, my main headphones are Audio-Technica M50's. i would like to believe i have at least a decent ear when it comes to audio. been around alot of audio, mostly home audio and big speakers. i've never really dove into the "high-end" headphone market before because i don't really use them very often. i actually prefer IEM's.

i might be purchasing some better computer speakers and supposedly they can benefit from the DAC as well.

@Vogel: the last couple of days, i tried giving the Beats another try. they just don't do it for me. they've actually made me dislike them a bit more after the last few days. coming back to the M50's, the difference between audio quality was pretty evident. the M50's are just so much clearer throughout the whole range. highs and mids are much more clear and present. the bass is so much tighter and not low or muddy at all. i remember u and another member telling me that the M50's had "bad" bass. compared to the Beats, the Beats had weak highs and mids and the bass was actually very annoying to me. it was very low and just didn't have much definition or tightness to it. also, i don't know if they did this on purpose or not, but the bass kept making the headphones kind of vibrate/rattle and it annoyed the heck out of me.

 

I can second this, my AKGs are awesome

 

If you have one hell of a crappy dac in your laptop it will make a difference. I've experienced this on a friend's older HP laptop, his E7 really did a better job as a dac. I know some here aren't fans of the E7, but i think that for it's price it does the job of replacing a rater crappy soundcard and serves as a decent amp. I'm sure there are better dacs to be had though. I too have the M50 and i quite like them, considering how much i paid for them in Canada it wasn't a bad deal at all. As i said before prices in Canada sometimes suck.

I'm interested to know what the OP will choose as i might get a pair of open headphones in a couple of months for when i have no need for isolation, but i'm still in a situation where i need to use headphones.

 

Take a look at beyerdynamic DT770, or Denon AHD2000.

 

Er... I'm not sure when, or if ever, I drew parallel to the Beats. Assuming we're comparing like for like in terms of the M50 - the Solo's / Solo HD's, they're like listening through a curtain made of excrement. Studios? I'd suggest a comparison with the ATH-ANC's if you love A-T.

DACwise, what tijo said. Some notebooks have relatively crappy analog stages which can be improved by a DAC. The (ironically) Apples for example. Others are just fine. Unfortunately it's not a simple 'x uses this codec so it'll be fine' thing, so it's something you have to be the judge of.

 

The Denons are very nice for gaming and music but DT700-80 are among the worst headphones I've owned owing to their shrill treble and wobbly, excessive bass. The 600 ohm are much more neutral.

 

Minor correction to your statement:
prices in Canada always suck

That is all

 

Lol, i've seen tech cheaper in Ca than in the US on occasion, but yeah we're still used to the time our currency was low compared to the US$ and as a result we're used to seeing higher prices and not complain about it. Businesses know this and you can guess the rest.

Anyways, enough thread derailing, i wonder if the OP ordered his headphones yet.

 

Still busy with the finals to go test those out.
I'm really leaning towards the HD650 though.
They're just more than what I was looking to spend.
They seem to be regarded as one of the best open headphones at this price.
I'll know for sure after I try everything out I guess.

 

You can try the Arctic P321. It doesn't look really cool but it is very comfortable and great sound.

 

As I said, take a listen to the 880 Pro (showing as $280 on B&H). It's not as agreeable (to me) but it is technically up there.

 

Audio Techinca ATH-700 they are the best thing I've owned and you can get them for around $100 on eBay.

 

Just remember you'll need to get proper amping for the HD650's, as long as you keep that in mind, they are Great headphones, have you had a chance to listen to the HD700's or HD800's(out of your price range, but take a listen if ya get a chance)?

 

What is proper amping to you? Something suitable Head-Fi BS infused? Looks shiny and plausible?

Proper amping means the signal has to be strong enough to operate the driver within operational parameters and the signal quality cannot be crap.

Many pieces of gear - including a fair number of PC-use codecs - do this just fine.

 

Normally I'm the one making the smartassed reply you just did. However we are talking headphones with an impedance of 300 ohm here, you show me "many" pieces of gear that will properly drive such headphones and I will be impressed, I just don't see that being the case here... FYI I run my Sennheiser IE80's out of an iPod so I'm not some head-fi snob. Thing is they are 16 ohm not 300...

 

I "showed" you. Many regular PC codecs will drive the HD650 fine.

 

I'd add the Audio Technica ATH-A900's to the list. I went through a search a few years ago in the $150-250 range and ended up getting the A900's. They're very good. There's tons of reviews around you can read.

Amazon.com: Audio Technica ATH-A900 Audiophile Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones: Electronics

Good luck with your headphone hunting!

 

HD650 needs a good amp for it to please your ears. I had it for ~4 months but got tired of it since it was really picky when it comes to amps. If you need an amp that's comparable to $500~$1000 amps then get the Objective2 Amp(~$120).

 

Klipsh Image Ones for $150.00. I've been very happy with them. Decided on these after reading the all reviews on the net. Great sound for the price.

 

In case people are looking for noise-cancelling headphones, I tried out one from Bose and it is the best I've ever had. This is the new QC-25 model just released earlier this year.

I've written a review at the link below in case someone here is seriously checking it out, since there few of them online at the moment: Bose QC25 Review - Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

I bought mine from the Bose store in Bangalore.