Headphone help

[Reign316]

I'm looking to buy a new pair of headphones as my bose ie2 earbuds have broken twice in the past 4 months another problem is all headphones I seem to buy suck since my beats broke (yes I now beats suck now). I mainly listen to metal music like Death, Machine Head, and Avanstasia however I also occasionally listen to classical, rap, and country. I live in the city so I'll be walking while wearing them everyday. My budget is around $200. I've been looking at Sennheiser, Audio Technica, V-Moda, and Grado but there are just so many I don't know what to do. I'd prefer on-ear but I'll settle for open-ear if necessary

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm looking to buy a new pair of headphones as my bose ie2 earbuds have broken twice in the past 4 months another problem is all headphones I seem to buy suck since my beats broke (yes I now beats suck now). I mainly listen to metal music like Death, Machine Head, and Avanstasia however I also occasionally listen to classical, rap, and country. I live in the city so I'll be walking while wearing them everyday. My budget is around $200. I've been looking at Sennheiser, Audio Technica, V-Moda, and Grado but there are just so many I don't know what to do. I'd prefer on-ear but I'll settle for open-ear if necessary

If it's any help to you, I have never heard a pair of dreadful Sennheiser headphones. They have managed to keep a professional standard thought out their range year after year. Most other brands are very hit and miss. A lot of Grado phones are really dreadful.

Personally I think Sen give the best bang for the buck in any price range and they are always a solid recommendation. Any Sen phone will be a big step up from anything you have owned so far.

 

[Lordhumungus]

A lot of Grado phones are really dreadful.

I feel like that was squarely aimed in my direction

But seriously, as much as I love the sound of my Grado's I likely don't know any better since they are the highest end phones I've owned. Also, they are the most uncomfortable contraptions ever devised by man and I would avoid them just based on that.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Shure SRH 840
AKG 240 MKII
AKG 271 MKII
Senn HD 518

I agree with the others about Grado. I don't know how people refer to them as "accurate" or "linear". They must have some form of hearing loss. Grado are the type of headphones that don't scale very well with increasing volume. Excessive upper midrange colorations make them bright and fatiguing. There are certain frequencies with Grados that make the inside of my ears "tickle". Grado are the only ones that do that.

 

[Boerd]

ATH M50 are pretty good in this price range. They're also easy to drive (ipod/iphone).
Measurements look very good:
Audio Technica ATH-M50 with straight cable - Full Size Headphones | HeadRoom Audio

 

[TLS Guy]

I feel like that was squarely aimed in my direction

But seriously, as much as I love the sound of my Grado's I likely don't know any better since they are the highest end phones I've owned. Also, they are the most uncomfortable contraptions ever devised by man and I would avoid them just based on that.

I was afraid you might see that post. I did give your phones a good listen after the mod you requested.

Quite honestly, I thought the sound was perfectly dreadful. Those phones really fizzed with a very nasty 4 to 6k peak. Not phones I could live with at all.

That is the problem with gear today. I know I will get a lot of push back on this, but most gear out there is not very good and would not keep me happy. Only about one nth of the product out there is really any good.

 

[Lordhumungus]

I was afraid you might see that post. I did give your phones a good listen after the mod you requested.

Quite honestly, I thought the sound was perfectly dreadful. Those phones really fizzed with a very nasty 4 to 6k peak. Not phones I could live with at all.

That is the problem with gear today. I know I will get a lot of push back on this, but most gear out there is not very good and would not keep me happy. Only about one nth of the product out there is really any good.

Nothing to be afraid of, everyone is entitled to their opinions and you are likely correct that they suck as far as accuracy. At the time I bought them, I heard they were great phones for rock and metal, which is squarely in my court, so I decided to give them a try. Sound quality wise, I've had no real complaints, but they are awfully uncomfortable, which is why I requested the mod. Now that I'm in a better financial position, I may try to go after some Sennheiser HD650s, or something comparable (I've heard bad things about their build quality for that specific model)

One thing I would point out about your standards is they likely exceed most peoples budgets. Speaking personally, it's rarely ever about what the absolute best is, but more about what the best is for my limited budget. But, if you have the resources, absolutely shoot for the moon!

 

[TLS Guy]

At the time I bought them, I heard they were great phones for rock and metal, which is squarely in my court, so I decided to give them a try.

Here we go again. The corroding finger of the pop culture. I was afraid that was the reason. This really is having a dreadful effect on the world of classical music. I hear that type of balance also, in speaker after speaker. That really makes massed strings, choirs and especially soprano soloists sound like nothing on earth. So if someone does venture into the classical realm, the verdict is so often negative. Complaints of screechy singers and viloins being frequent. Well they don't screech, but reproducers unfortunately frequently do.

As to expense, I would bet my yearly budget is less than the majority on these forums. I pick good gear, keep it a long time, service it when necessary. I DIY speakers and other gear, buy some equipment used and restore it. I modify quite a lot to better suit my purposes. I spend a lot less than you might imagine. My first splurge in nearly three years, has been my HTPC, another DIY project. The real trick is being able to spot the junk and POS and steer well clear. Then look after it, and learn to maintain it. Then the hobby is fun and costs a lot less then you think. Buying with an eye to real quality makes for the most budget conscious purchases. Its the junk that eats up the cash.

 

[MinusTheBear]

I think Grado are awful headphones for metal music since the majority of metal is poorly mixed and Grado accentuate the sensitive areas of our hearing. It is a fatiguing mess on a Grado. Ringing in the upper mid, colorations in the presence and a hot treble. Screaming vocals, distorted guitars, double bass all presented in a narrow up front soundstage. Ekkk!

 

[Lordhumungus]

@TLS Guy - I doubt my suddenly deciding to listen to classical music is going to be a problem anytime in the foreseeable future I do listen to a lot more than "just" metal/rock, but I don't have a refined taste for classical and jazz like many do. More than finding them boring, I don't feel any sort of connection with the music, which is the most important thing for me. Whether that's my fault or the music I suppose is debatable.

As for your yearly budget, I'm sure you are as frugal a decision maker as any within your means, but it's still a matter of perspective. Just for fun I looked up the cost of your Marantz AV 8003 on Amazon.com and it costs more than every piece of audio equipment I own combined. Hell, at the time I bought the Grados, they were my yearly budget. While I know that's not an accurate barometer for much of anything, my point here is simply that we all have different needs and means and try the best we can to fulfill both requirements. Also, sometimes it's just a matter of learning experience. I certainly won't ever buy Grado phones again. Not because I don't like their sound (right or wrong), but because they are so damned uncomfortable.

@MinusTheBear - Interesting that you should point this out in your previous post, but I do have a fairly significant amount of hearing damage due to a large number of ear infections when I was younger with complications on top of complications. A lot of what people talk about with headphones and speakers I simply can't hear in that level of detail. I'm sure I haven't helped matters any with the genre/volume I listen to, but I guess that is what it is.

I'm actually curious why this doesn't get talked about more when people are discussing audio. We know how well a computer can hear something and determine its linearity, but what about people who have deficiencies and defects in hearing. How much of what they are hear is colored by what they can't hear.

In any case, I'm going to start looking at new headphones soon. I know everyone says Sennheiser, but for some inexplicable reason I feel like I want something else, but not sure what yet. Much research to do!

 

[TLS Guy]

@TLS Guy - I doubt my suddenly deciding to listen to classical music is going to be a problem anytime in the foreseeable future I do listen to a lot more than "just" metal/rock, but I don't have a refined taste for classical and jazz like many do. More than finding them boring, I don't feel any sort of connection with the music, which is the most important thing for me. Whether that's my fault or the music I suppose is debatable.

As for your yearly budget, I'm sure you are as frugal a decision maker as any within your means, but it's still a matter of perspective. Just for fun I looked up the cost of your Marantz AV 8003 on Amazon.com and it costs more than every piece of audio equipment I own combined. Hell, at the time I bought the Grados, they were my yearly budget. While I know that's not an accurate barometer for much of anything, my point here is simply that we all have different needs and means and try the best we can to fulfill both requirements. Also, sometimes it's just a matter of learning experience. I certainly won't ever buy Grado phones again. Not because I don't like their sound (right or wrong), but because they are so damned uncomfortable.

@MinusTheBear - Interesting that you should point this out in your previous post, but I do have a fairly significant amount of hearing damage due to a large number of ear infections when I was younger with complications on top of complications. A lot of what people talk about with headphones and speakers I simply can't hear in that level of detail. I'm sure I haven't helped matters any with the genre/volume I listen to, but I guess that is what it is.

I'm actually curious why this doesn't get talked about more when people are discussing audio. We know how well a computer can hear something and determine its linearity, but what about people who have deficiencies and defects in hearing. How much of what they are hear is colored by what they can't hear.

In any case, I'm going to start looking at new headphones soon. I know everyone says Sennheiser, but for some inexplicable reason I feel like I want something else, but not sure what yet. Much research to do!

If its fizz and tizzle you want, then Sens probably are not for you, as they are a little reserved and laid back. Beyer are a little more forward.

 

[Lordhumungus]

If its fizz and tizzle you want, then Sens probably are not for you, as they are a little reserved and laid back. Beyer are a little more forward.

I suppose the problem is that I don't know what I want, i just know what I have heard, which isn't much. Anyone have any ideas how I can demo various high-end headphones in a side-by-side environment without buying all of them to compare? I'm also curious what the actual net gain is when jumping up in price. How much better is a $1000 pair of phones than a $500 and $200 pair for example? I know better, but what does that even mean when quantified?

 

[MinusTheBear]

Nasty waterfalls of the RS1 left/right transducers

 

[TLS Guy]

I suppose the problem is that I don't know what I want, i just know what I have heard, which isn't much. Anyone have any ideas how I can demo various high-end headphones in a side-by-side environment without buying all of them to compare? I'm also curious what the actual net gain is when jumping up in price. How much better is a $1000 pair of phones than a $500 and $200 pair for example? I know better, but what does that even mean when quantified?

Best Buy have a selection of headphones, so you might visit them.

Within a brand quality does improve as the price rises. However, unless the application is critical $500 should get you a really good set of phones.

I personally like high impedance phones (25-300 ohms). The reason is that it cuts out a lot of the variation in headphone amps. You get variability from amp loading with lower impedance models. Unfortunately these units tend to be at the upper end of the price range.

What is your budget?

I would not rule out Sens. Headphones manufacture has a lot in common with microphone manufacture.

Sennheiser/Neumann are widely considered to make the best microphones in the world. I notice that far more often than not professional engineers use Sens.

This is their current model aimed at the Pro market.

There nearest competitor is Beyer, but I think Sen deliver better value for money.

 

[Boerd]

Try Beyerdynamics next...
But I have to say Senn 650 is better than comparable Beyer.

 

[Lordhumungus]

Try Beyerdynamics next...
But I have to say Senn 650 is better than comparable Beyer.

@TLS Guy My budget is pretty flexible because whatever phones I get I can probably get at cost, but ~$500 is probably the breaking point for me.

I'll most likely end-up with the Senn 650 at some point, but I'm still open to other ideas if anyone has any.

 

[Boerd]

@TLS Guy My budget is pretty flexible because whatever phones I get I can probably get at cost, but ~$500 is probably the breaking point for me.

I'll most likely end-up with the Senn 650 at some point, but I'm still open to other ideas if anyone has any.

I am selling my Beyer - look in the classifieds if interested.