Help picking out a good portable noise isolating headphone

[Shintsu]

Well, I listen to music on my iphone pretty much daily and I have been using the little ear pods it came with and while doable I hear too much noise from loud *** idiots on campus. So I want some headphones that will really shut all that noise up so I can listen in peace. Key point - NO noise CANCELLING. I hate that pressure it puts on your ears with that annoying cancelling frequency. Also, no Bose - they do well enough getting every other fools money, but they're not getting mine.

I see Newegg has the Sennheiser HD280PRO for $100 (Normally $200). Would these be any good? I love the audiophile Sennheisers but not for $500+. I need something I can take with me (these big ones I prefer but it will need a travel case or something). Not opposed to in ears, just prefer circumural (believe that's the term for the over ear type). $100 is pretty much my highest budget.

Any recommendations? These headphones can serve as home audio for very limited occasions but will mostly be with me on campus.

 

[Exit]

If you want to get informed on headphones quickly, I recommend you study the site at headroom.com as they provide good descriptions on how various headphones compare. I bought the Senheisser HD212 Pro headphones as they were rated fairly well and were about the lowest cost sealed headphones on the site. I bought one pair for about $79 and another pair through an internet search at about $39. My son liked them so well he wanted a pair too. They are a little bass heavy, which is fine for my tastes. The sealed design provides quite a bit of isolation of sound comming in or going out. They also work well with portable CD players and don't need an additional amp. Everybody has their own recommendation of what sounds good. I thought these sounded good.

 

[lsiberian]

I just ordered these from amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-ER-4P-Portable-In-Ear-Earphones/dp/B0007WZLDC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1234201998&sr=8-1

they have a very flat response and are supposed to be very good noise isolating phones. They have earplugs with a headphone in them basically. I'll let you know how they sound when I get them.

Strube has a pair and likes them a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Research-Isolator-Earphones-Black/dp/B000BQSGMM/ref=pd_cp_e_1?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0007WZLDC&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0HE5T8MMKSB1KSJSHGKG what strube uses. He likes them. They do take some adjustment time and you should follow the instructions on inserting them, but I bet you would like them. Bass complaints come from not properly sealing the ear.

 

[lsiberian]

If you want to get informed on headphones quickly, I recommend you study the site at headroom.com as they provide good descriptions on how various headphones compare. I bought the Senheisser HD212 Pro headphones as they were rated fairly well and were about the lowest cost sealed headphones on the site. I bought one pair for about $79 and another pair through an internet search at about $39. My son liked them so well he wanted a pair too. They are a little bass heavy, which is fine for my tastes. The sealed design provides quite a bit of isolation of sound comming in or going out. They also work well with portable CD players and don't need an additional amp. Everybody has their own recommendation of what sounds good. I thought these sounded good.

I looked up the site and got a real estate place.

 

[Shintsu]

A google search reveals a site called headphone.com that has HeadRoom at the title of the page. One thing I dislike though, they seem to think every damn headphone needs a friggin' headphone amp. And how convenient, they are the ones who make the cheapest ones. Ugh, I think not. I'm not paying all this money for a headphone then $100 or more on a stupid headphone AMP. As if I don't have enough stuff to carry around...

The only problem I need to beware of is the connector. The iPhone has a recessed jack so I'm thinking those angled plugs might not fit it too well. I wonder if they make an attachment to make the plug longer and narrower to fit down into the iPhone better? Really would've been nice if Apple had just made a normal headphone jack...

Those are nice headphones for $170 or so, but lord - I struggle to imagine spending all that money on ear pod speakers! They're so tiny, but I have heard they isolate amazingly well. I'm trying to also consider cost in the wear and tear the headphones I get will be put through. If they're the super big kind I'll just wear them around my neck, but small compacts will be put up in a case or something in my bag.

A question of curiosity, what makes a DJ headphone - a DJ headphone? I see some of those for like $50 that have reportedly good frequency response. Ugh, the brand that comes to mind is Skullcandy - of whom I don't think makes truly great headphones, just some niche market ones...

 

[lsiberian]

A google search reveals a site called headphone.com that has HeadRoom at the title of the page. One thing I dislike though, they seem to think every damn headphone needs a friggin' headphone amp. And how convenient, they are the ones who make the cheapest ones. Ugh, I think not. I'm not paying all this money for a headphone then $100 or more on a stupid headphone AMP. As if I don't have enough stuff to carry around...

The only problem I need to beware of is the connector. The iPhone has a recessed jack so I'm thinking those angled plugs might not fit it too well. I wonder if they make an attachment to make the plug longer and narrower to fit down into the iPhone better? Really would've been nice if Apple had just made a normal headphone jack...

Those are nice headphones for $170 or so, but lord - I struggle to imagine spending all that money on ear pod speakers! They're so tiny, but I have heard they isolate amazingly well. I'm trying to also consider cost in the wear and tear the headphones I get will be put through. If they're the super big kind I'll just wear them around my neck, but small compacts will be put up in a case or something in my bag.

A question of curiosity, what makes a DJ headphone - a DJ headphone? I see some of those for like $50 that have reportedly good frequency response. Ugh, the brand that comes to mind is Skullcandy - of whom I don't think makes truly great headphones, just some niche market ones...

Check the 2nd link Much cheaper cousin. Probably sufficient for you.

I am desperate my office mate is very loud and annoying and they are on a huge deal at amazon.

 

[mperfct]

I have the Sennheiser CX500's, and I love them. They are very detailed and enjoyable. They seal very well and have a variety of gaskets to fit your ear hole. The retail a little above $100 but I got them for $40 on eBay.

 

[dynfan]

I have used the Etymotic ER 4, Shure SE1 and 2 series as well as a few lower end Sennheiser products and over all of them I like the NuForce NE7M....

They are in ears but work with the iPhone and have a mic. and are only $50...

nuforce-icon.com/Product-earphone.htm

Since I'm a newb you'll have to fill in the rest of the URL.

 

[Prevtzer]

For your own good: stay away from Skullcandy, you can get so much more from other brands.

 

[yepimonfire]

i would also like to add stay away from bose anything

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I own Etymotic ER 4 and can't say enough of good stuff about it, one thing thou - check out for video on their web site on how to proper seal them - no seal - no noise isolation and bass will sound shallow.

 

[Chicagorep]

I use Shure 110 earbuds. They're design to be placed in the ear canal and they really work to shut out unwanted noise. I use them when I fly. Because of the tight fit I find I don't have to play my music as loud, plus they sound really good, good bass.

 

[WmAx]

Sony MDR-7506 is the best built (by far) and the most accurate phone in the $100 price range, by far. It is THE most popular standard for audio monitoring feeds in the professional audio and video/film industries by sound teams. Blocks sound good enough for most purposes. I used to use them when I cut the grass to cut the noise down and listen to some tunes.

-Chris

 

[sgtpepper9]

Sony MDR-7506 is the best built (by far) and the most accurate phone in the $100 price range, by far. It is THE most popular standard for audio monitoring feeds in the professional audio and video/film industries by sound teams. Blocks sound good enough for most purposes. I used to use them when I cut the grass to cut the noise down and listen to some tunes.

-Chris

I 2nd WmAx's suggestion. I ended up getting those based on the excellent recommendations from the forum members I trust most around here. I don't think I will ever get a different pair of headphones. They were everything I was looking for at an unbeatable price (got mine for $79 off Amazon). After getting them, I have noticed them many times during music tv shows and dvds when they show artists in the studio. I figure if they are good enough for the music I listen to to be mixed with, they are good enough for me