Yet another headphone thread

Thin_J wrote:
obirano wrote:

I was even looking at a pair of Beats today!

Stop. You can get the same sound quality (and often better) for less money than Beats across their entire lineup of headphones.

You say "without breaking the bank" but then say you were looking at Beats. What's your price ceiling?

My first thought went to the V-Moda Crossfade at about $100.

69 inch audio cable!? Who needs that much?

obirano wrote:

69 inch audio cable!? Who needs that much?

I have a 30 footer that I use with headphones all the time.

The V-Moda M-100 (over the ear) is probably closest to their travel model as it can fold - but that's $300+. Next closest thing that's within your budget would be the M-80 as they've got smaller cups (on the ear). The LP models are more aimed at DJ's, from what I recall.

I've had my M-80's for a bit over a year, and they have held up very well - the headband is quite impressive as it can flex quite a bit and is at the same time fairly durable.

Thin_J wrote:
obirano wrote:

I was even looking at a pair of Beats today!

Stop. You can get the same sound quality (and often better) for less money than Beats across their entire lineup of headphones.

+1 this. x1000 this.

What about those Harmon Kardon's for $200 I mentioned up thread when I saw them on sale?

Looks like they fold relatively flat for portability.

Thin_J wrote:
obirano wrote:

69 inch audio cable!? Who needs that much?

I have a 30 footer that I use with headphones all the time.

Because a 70 inch cable would be a lost opportunity.

I highly recommend the Skullcandy Aviators. I use them everyday and they are wonderful.

I'm looking for something less than $100 that will let my wife not hear my son and I playing Minecraft while she tries to write.
Is there any such headset/headphones that will sufficiently mask/muffle/hide two goobers in the same room such that a writer can concentrate on her writing?
With only a double-digit price?

I ordered a pair of JVC HARX900 a few days ago, so I'll be able to report back on them soon. From the look of things they have a very similar model with cheaper nylon padding if you want to fit two pairs under $100.

Before I got a basically disposable set of in-ear monitors I used iPod buds with a pair of good ear muffs while mowing. If she's not too worried about the silliness of it you can do that for around $20. Otherwise the Sennheiser HD280s are very isolating.

duckilama wrote:

I'm looking for something less than $100 that will let my wife not hear my son and I playing Minecraft while she tries to write.
Is there any such headset/headphones that will sufficiently mask/muffle/hide two goobers in the same room such that a writer can concentrate on her writing?
With only a double-digit price?

Your looking for either earbuds or closed headphones. Open headphones tend to be lighter and more comfortable but will leak sound out. Closed headphones will keep most sound from coming out and vice versa. Earbuds are also a good choice because they can make a tight seal around your ears and you don't have to blast the volume either.

Gamescom headsets are decent if you just need something for your PC (USB) and are the most comfortable closed ear headsets I've used in tandem with my glasses. For earbuds, I personally like Griffin (dirt cheap, surprisingly good) and if your willing to spend $30+, grab a set of either Klispch Image S4 or some Sony earbuds.

I got a set of these and I use them for everything. Very comfortable with great sound quality, no sound leakage and surprisingly good at noise cancellation for on ear headphones so you don't have to blast them or anything silly like that.

Also, opposite question here, looking for a set of open air headphones for double digits. Been looking at Grados a bit.

Kind of funny that some of the brands that used to be crappy to decent (Skullcandy and V-Moda) are now getting to be reasonably respectable.

MannishBoy wrote:

Kind of funny that some of the brands that used to be crappy to decent (Skullcandy and V-Moda) are now getting to be reasonably respectable.

All it takes is one good product to get things rolling and then one or two more and people will change their minds

MannishBoy wrote:

Kind of funny that some of the brands that used to be crappy to decent (Skullcandy and V-Moda) are now getting to be reasonably respectable.

I'm actually really surprised about the Skullcandy's. I really wanna try a pair of the Aviators for myself, I bought a set of standard 30 dollar cans from them a while back and was pretty disappointed.

Skullcandy is the one that bought Astro, too, right?

Thats what wikipedia tells me, apparently to help make their own gaming set of headphones better. I had no idea those existed.

thinkklinck wrote:

I'm actually really surprised about the Skullcandy's. I really wanna try a pair of the Aviators for myself, I bought a set of standard 30 dollar cans from them a while back and was pretty disappointed.

The important thing to remember is that plenty of companies that make some great products also produce a wide variety of turds. Skullcandy has a bit of everything in their lineup. There's a few great options, and also a lot of colossal garbage.

Like with anything else, just do your research beforehand

I can't recommend the Sennheiser HD 439 headphones enough. They are sort of not making them anymore, it seems. They are amazing closed headphones. The other great thing about them is the easily replaceable cord. The cord tends to be the thing that goes out on headphones used while traveling.

thinkklinck wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

Kind of funny that some of the brands that used to be crappy to decent (Skullcandy and V-Moda) are now getting to be reasonably respectable.

I'm actually really surprised about the Skullcandy's. I really wanna try a pair of the Aviators for myself, I bought a set of standard 30 dollar cans from them a while back and was pretty disappointed.

I'm curious about those aviators as well. Lifetime warranty.

thinkklinck wrote:

Also, opposite question here, looking for a set of open air headphones for double digits. Been looking at Grados a bit.

I love the Grado SR-60s. I think they are better than the more expensive models in the line (SR-80; SR-125). If you go Grado, I highly recommend them. They are not very portable friendly, but the cord is six feet long, as opposed to the typical ten feet, so it is doable.

So, I'm gonna take a shot on the Aviators after listening to them in a store last night. I do have a question about "burning" them in. I've seen people claim 100 hours, 24, etc. Any thoughts on how long you should go? Full blast volume?

obirano wrote:

So, I'm gonna take a shot on the Aviators after listening to them in a store last night. I do have a question about "burning" them in. I've seen people claim 100 hours, 24, etc. Any thoughts on how long you should go? Full blast volume?

Meh.

Just listen to them. "Burn-in" is, at least IMO, not worth thinking about. The headphones aren't changing. It's you adjusting to the sound signature of the headphones. It's your ears.

I've done way too much A/B/C ing of wildly different sounding headphones to agree with anyone that says any of them changed after 100 hours of use. They sound the way they always have. But if I listen to one pair consistently for a few weeks, it will seemingly start to sound different after a while.

But then if I switch to a very different pair for a bit and then go back? Sound the same as they ever did.

It's just silly.

psoplayer wrote:

I ordered a pair of JVC HARX900 a few days ago, so I'll be able to report back on them soon. From the look of things they have a very similar model with cheaper nylon padding if you want to fit two pairs under $100.

These came in last night. First impressions after about an hour of use have them as a decent pair of headphones. They clamp pretty snugly, but are quite comfortable. Noise isolation seems very good, and they don't seem to be leaking sound at all either. The one critique I have at the moment is that the bass response is bordering on absurd. Might just be how big of a difference they are from my usual, but there were a few specific moments where it was really distracting when the bass kicked in.

Thin_J wrote:
obirano wrote:

So, I'm gonna take a shot on the Aviators after listening to them in a store last night. I do have a question about "burning" them in. I've seen people claim 100 hours, 24, etc. Any thoughts on how long you should go? Full blast volume?

Meh.

Just listen to them. "Burn-in" is, at least IMO, not worth thinking about. The headphones aren't changing. It's you adjusting to the sound signature of the headphones. It's your ears.

I've done way too much A/B/C ing of wildly different sounding headphones to agree with anyone that says any of them changed after 100 hours of use. They sound the way they always have. But if I listen to one pair consistently for a few weeks, it will seemingly start to sound different after a while.

But then if I switch to a very different pair for a bit and then go back? Sound the same as they ever did.

It's just silly.

Yup. Don't worry about it.

Thoughts on these sennheiser's?

I'm confused, they look like the 558, they say 558 once in the description, but everywhere else says 518.

I know the 558 are the upgrade from the 555, which were very popular.

The 558's are, by all accounts, really great and a solid value.

I know nothing about the 518's.

The reviews seem good on the 518s. Probably great bang for the buck open headphones. It's fairly hard to go wrong with something Sennheiser makes. Since they are $50 less than the 558s, it would definitely be something to consider if you are on a budget.

Edit: That being said, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 are $100 on Amazon right now. I'd probably go with those.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

The reviews seem good on the 518s. Probably great bang for the buck open headphones. It's fairly hard to go wrong with something Sennheiser makes. Since they are $50 less than the 558s, it would definitely be something to consider if you are on a budget.

Edit: That being said, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 are $100 on Amazon right now. I'd probably go with those.

That's about the going rate on the ATH-AD700's, I don't think I've seen them cheaper