Headphone Advice Please

[owasse]

I read the "Christmas gift preview" and decided to purchase my college age son a good set of headphones. Budget is under $100. I've been tring to decide between the Grado SR60 or the Sennheiser HD280 Pro. I read the reviews where both are great sounding "cans" for the price, but the Grado are uncomfortable. Anyone have experience with these - your 2 cents is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[no. 5]

I don't find my SR60s uncomfortable at all, the fome earpads can get a little itchy, but not uncomfortable. and with what you can hear through them a (very) little discomfort is worth it.

 

[nav]

I own a pair of Grado SR 80 headphones. They do become somewhat uncomfortable after prolonged hours of listening (the SR 60 model uses a different, "softer" earpad than the rest of Grado's line). The sound for the price is absolutely worth it.

The Sennheiser HD 280 model is a closed headphone. The Grado headphones are open-air. Something else to think about. You could spend a touch extra and jump up to the open-air, very well reviewed Sennheiser HD 555 (I've seen them around ~$115 at trustworthy retailers; I have not personally heard the HD 555 headphones).

 

[WmAx]

I will recommend the Sony MDR-7506. It has far superior build quality to either of the headphones you mentioned. The MDR-7506 is also a very good monitor/tracking tool; though this might not be suited to everyone for general purpose listening. The Sony MDR-V6(not MDR-V600) is the same headphone, but it is easier to deal with warranty issues and get parts when dealing with Sony Professional Division(the MDR-V6 is supported by Sony Consumer Division).

-Chris

 

[Wafflesomd]

Ok, I would drop all of thier suggestions. While those are good manufactuers, save yourself some money, and go for the pair that I currently own.

Sony MDR-V6's. - $65

These are extremely nice headphones, which deffinitly beat out the SR80's. I've used them both, I would know.

I could give you other reasons why, but I'm too tired and its midnight here, maybe if you ask again in a post, I'll help ya out.

Seriously, don't bother with the other suggestions, do yourself a favor and go for the MDR-v6's.



/edit

I see someone has suggested the 7506, while they are also great, they are just MDR-V6's, with a blue sticker, and a gold plug. Which honestly, I can't imagine it really does all that much, so it's really a gold plug + a blue sticker, for only around $50 more than the V6's.

 

[Nick250]

As you can see, headphones are like speakers where personal preference rules. One thing to keep in mind is what the source is. For example the Grado SR-80 sounds "ok" when connected to a portable device, but a fair amount better driven by a receiver. The SR-80 is an "in your face" headphone. There is no pretence of accurate sound reproduction with them. At this point I do not use portable gear and have been very happy with the Senns 580's over the past five years. They require some power so with a portable device they sound quite muddy. They do sound great using the headphone out of various receivers I have used.

Nick

 

[nav]

The SR-80 is an "in your face" headphone. There is no pretence of accurate sound reproduction with them.

Unforunately not the SR 80s, rather the SR 60 (err, actually, that's more relevant to the original post, I suppose ), but here's a helpful graph courtesy of headphone.com (say what one will about the rest of the site, the frequency response graphs are a wonderful resource). Agreed on the "in your face" bit, but they don't seem disappointingly inaccurate in comparison to the more expensive Sennheisers. Yes, Mr. Grado has said some negative things about taking measurements, but I can't argue with the results. Not to say your Sennheisers sound bad, I'm sure they're absolutely wonderful and I'd love to listen to a pair or one similar someday when I have an apparent minor surplus of money again .

 

[Sleestack]

Some measurements and helpful revies:

http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/all-headphones/

 

[emorphien]

I've come to prefer the Sennheiser sound over Grado I think. As such I am selling of the 325s I've had for a couple years.

I've heard the 60s and 80s, but that was a year or so ago.

I have a pair of the 280s I picked up a month ago to use in my office, and they have more bass than you can believe. They're a rather satisfying headphone to listen to, not the most detailed but not fatiguing at all and have a very fun sound IMO. I don't think you can go wrong with either, but they have a completely different sound.

 

[owasse]

Thank you to all who have responded. Yes, I knew when I started this topic that I would receive some very subjective responses - but all were appreciated. I have decided to purchase the Sennhseiser HD280 pro over the Grado 60. I have had Sennheisers for years and also own a pair of Sony's (can't remember the model # as my boys have hijacked most of my excess audio equipment).
These cans will not be used out of a portable device but powered by a Denon 1804.

I found the HD 280 Pro's from an online authorized Sennheiser retailer for $77. delivered and Fedex insured. Thanks to all again!!

 

[GreenJelly]

Grado SR60's...

Best Bang for the buck... Grado = Best Headphones Period.

Ive owned mine for around 4+ years... Im asking for new pads for XMAS... $15 for the replacement pads...

The small gold connector became loose (had to wiggle it to get it to go stereo), so I went down and got the Radioshack gold one, and put it on (uses screws), and then sodered it, then put shrink wrap on it... looks like it was made for it.

The only reason this connector failed was because I had used them for so long, and wasnt super kind to them.

The SR-80's are allot of money for a small amount of additional money. I also beleive they come with wood, which for me, who wants to listen to my portable CD player, would have been a problem... I needed them to be rugged.

We have 2 High end audio stores here in Rochester, that both sell Gredos. Thats not including the chain that carries high end equipment including paradigm (and others) and more important is that they are the only ones to carry Mcintosh. They had other high end audiophile headphones, which I wasnt impressed with.

 

[hemiram]

I sold my Grados soon after I bought them, they lacked bass, to say the least, and were uncomfortable. An hour and I was done. I really prefer the closed type phones, just for the bass alone, the isolation is a plus too. A friend of mine loves those Grados.

 

[GreenJelly]

I bought the SR-60's which has a closed pad. The SR-80 and higher has an open pad. I am not sure how the 80s feel, but I can wear the 60s all day long, and they are about as good as I can get.

Unfortunately real low end base is almost impossible for headphones to produce. I am happy with the base on mine, even when I listen to Techno or other dance music.

Mike

 

[WmAx]

Unfortunately real low end base is almost impossible for headphones to produce. I am happy with the base on mine, even when I listen to Techno or other dance music.

Mike

Impossible? Examples of some headphones that I have with no issues concerning extension into low bass(25-35hz range): Beyer DT880, Sony MDR-CD900ST, Sony ECR-500 and Sony MDR-V6.

-Chris

 

[GreenJelly]

ALMOST impossible... Please dont mis-quote me.

The statement I made is with the intention that your not going to get 60Hz out of it (extreme example).

The Sony ECR-500 is a Walt Brand device. Its also from 1970, and is reported to have a low efficency... However I am unable to pull up pics for this device, so I have no Idea if its a clam shell design or not... I have to do more research on this. It is a very good pair of headphones, though allot more money at the time then the gredo's Im talking about right now

MDR-V6 use more of a cup design, and nice pads... though I fear cup designs because they tend to echo a bit.


Thoose Beyer's look like the ones I would want to try, though look at the reveiw...
http://www.headphonereviews.org/headphone.php?action=view&headphoneId=17

Headphones can produce sub level sounds (bellow 100hz). Your ears just cant hear these tones, and you certainly wont FEEL them... maybe if they physically move a bit... then again, lets just put vibrators in our headphones.

Try getting a sub 150hz out of the bookshelf speakers bose makes... then tell me that the 1/2" driver in these will produce this low sub sound.

Mike

 

[emorphien]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on bass extension in headphones. My Shure E2cs reach under 100Hz quite handily, and my Sennheiser HD280 Pros not only go well under, but can vibrate slightly on my head.

 

[jaxvon]

ALMOST impossible... Please dont mis-quote me.

The statement I made is with the intention that your not going to get 60Hz out of it (extreme example).

The Sony ECR-500 is a Walt Brand device. Its also from 1970, and is reported to have a low efficency... However I am unable to pull up pics for this device, so I have no Idea if its a clam shell design or not... I have to do more research on this. It is a very good pair of headphones, though allot more money at the time then the gredo's Im talking about right now

MDR-V6 use more of a cup design, and nice pads... though I fear cup designs because they tend to echo a bit.


Thoose Beyer's look like the ones I would want to try, though look at the reveiw...
http://www.headphonereviews.org/headphone.php?action=view&headphoneId=17

Headphones can produce sub level sounds (bellow 100hz). Your ears just cant hear these tones, and you certainly wont FEEL them... maybe if they physically move a bit... then again, lets just put vibrators in our headphones.

Try getting a sub 150hz out of the bookshelf speakers bose makes... then tell me that the 1/2" driver in these will produce this low sub sound.

Mike

Mike,

Your ignorance is astounding. I don't usually make a habit of being terse with people in posts, but you have been throwing around a LOT of misinformation on the forums recently, this post included.

1. Cup headphones do not echo. Some have reflection/resonance problems that are detrimental to accuracy, but that is different than an echo, which implies reverberance. The Sony MDR-V6/MDR-7506 headphones are high quality designs that do not suffer from any reflection/resonance problems. If you are seeking accuracy, you should start with the V6 or 7506.

2. The lower threshold of audibility is 20Hz, not 100Hz. Frequencies below ~80Hz (lower, in my opinion) are not very localizable, but they are certainly audible. If your headphones are barely audible below 100Hz, then you need to invest in a new pair. My MDR-7506 headphones are flat from subsonic to ultrasonic frequencies, and can be made even flatter with the help of a convolution filter. A lot of musical information appears in this range. Most of the fundamental tones of lower piano notes, bass notes, and such are located between 20Hz and 100Hz.

3. You are comparing garbage Bose drivers to high quality Sony units. This is not a fair comparison. It is true that Bose drivers can't produce usable response blow ~150Hz, but remember that a. This driver is a cheap, paper cone that is made to fatten up profit margins, not sound. b. The drivers are being used to create sound in a room that is hundreds if not thousands of cubic feet. Headphone drivers are placed right next to your ear, thereby allowing for full, even frequency response. To claim that headphones offer a limited frequency response because in-room speakers that use a similar size driver have sub-par performance is a serious fallacy.

I only ask that before you post making wild accusations and claims that you do some research and fact checking beforehand to ensure that everyone is giving solid advice on the forum. Otherwise the helpfulness of the forum is hindered.

 

[Haoleb]

Thank you to all who have responded. Yes, I knew when I started this topic that I would receive some very subjective responses - but all were appreciated. I have decided to purchase the Sennhseiser HD280 pro over the Grado 60. I have had Sennheisers for years and also own a pair of Sony's (can't remember the model # as my boys have hijacked most of my excess audio equipment).
These cans will not be used out of a portable device but powered by a Denon 1804.

I found the HD 280 Pro's from an online authorized Sennheiser retailer for $77. delivered and Fedex insured. Thanks to all again!!

Good choice

I have both the HD280 and SR-125's and sound wise they both have their strengths, Ive had the Grado's for a few years and until a few months ago listened to them for hours everyday on the computer, they are really superb headphones with terrific quality. However the one gripe was that they did become very uncomfortable after lenghthy use, more than 3 or 4 hours and I just couldnt wear them anymore.

I got the HD280's for when I worked in an office and didnt want to be sharing my music with everyone else since the grado's are open, They are much more comfortable and more secure on your head, they also block out a significant amount of whatever is going on around you which makes them great for hearing things that were lost in the grass before. If your worried about how you look with the phones' on, then go for the grado's because even though they look like something out of a WWI movie, they arent as bulky and goofy looking as the senn's

Having had both of those headphones for stuff like listening on airplanes, around a dorm room,etc I would choose the Sennheisers. Overall the Grado's DO sound better, more natural and open. But the 280's also sound pretty good and are alot more comfortable. I think the faults of the senn's sound is due to the closed design, but closed headphones have alot of advantages too.

 

[emorphien]

I have to agree with you Haoleb. I had Grado SR325s for a few years and just got Sennheiser HD280 Pros a month or so ago to use in my graduate office so as not to disturb others and so that I don't have to listen to others while I work.

I just sold my SR325s a couple weeks ago. My next purchase (which is by no means in the near future) would be something along the lines of HD650s and a headphone amp. I'm not tied to the 650s of course, but I have limited local headphone auditioning options.

 

[hemiram]

I bought the SR-60's which has a closed pad. The SR-80 and higher has an open pad. I am not sure how the 80s feel, but I can wear the 60s all day long, and they are about as good as I can get.

Unfortunately real low end base is almost impossible for headphones to produce. I am happy with the base on mine, even when I listen to Techno or other dance music.

Mike

You haven't listened to the right headphones. Probably the cheapest ones with good bass are the Koss Pro4AA's or whatever they call them now. I used to play the old Mobile Fidelity LPS and they had a lot of bass. I used to have a record of a steam loco that had a 16hz rumble as it went by and I don't know if it went down that low, but you could feel them vibrate on your head and a lot of people, myself included, got a very odd feeling, like some kind of current shooting down your back when listening to that that I only got at the drag races when the Nitro cars would go by.


The higher end earbuds and most of the closed phones have at least decent bass, some really are great. I have a cheap pair of gaming phones that if you cut the bass going to them down, are actually not bad. Not the best on the high end, but for 50 bucks they aren't bad. When used in gaming, they are great. Very clear and the mike on them works very well, much better than another pair I had

My old Stax phones I had 20+ years ago were fantastic, the only thing was the bass got sloppy at high levels. I never should have sold them..the highs were so smooth.