Headphone suggestions?

[epj3]

I'm looking for a higher end pair of headphones between $100 - $150... I'm going to college, and have always been an audiophile. I have a home theater system ($500 a few years ago... before sony made their stuff silver and crappy... and before they started putting the dvd player into the reciever itself), and can't really take it along and listen to music the way I always have.

I've looked at the Bose Triport's, but I am not happy with the quality of the headphones themselves. The sound quality is impressive, but I feel like I will break them.

I've been pretty interested in sennheiser's, and they seem to be highly reccomended. Does anyone here have any reccomendations? Sony's headphones are not highly reccomended, and their higher end head phones are very uncomfortable.

 

[codex57]

Bose has a reputation for being more name than substance.

I'd stick with Sennheisers or Grados. Problem is, most good headphones are the open kind. Might disturb your roommate. If that's not a problem, I'd go with Grado 80s. Not the highest end (@$80), but it's a great value. Dunno if you wanna bring something too expensive to college. Always the risk of theft or damage.

 

[epj3]

I'm not in a dorm though... on campus apartments, but it's not a big campus either... I'll keep it in a locked box if i have to.

 

[xLibelle]

i had some Sennheisers... tha bomb. they'd be irritating after a long while tho (like all phones). i cant find the link to the ones i want now, cant remember the name.
its a mock-down of the most expensive head phones in the world, ending up in your upper price range

 

[epj3]

Alright - I bought a pair of Grado SR-60's which cost $70.

I read online that they rival even the $170 pair of Sennheisers, and I have to say the sound is absolutely AWESOME.

It doesn't have real loud or boomy bass like most people like - but it's so clear. You hear absolutely EVERYTHING, and it is so clear. Even at higher volumes they are extremely impressive. And they still havent had their burn in.

 

[codex57]

Congrats! But your complaints is why I mentioned the SR-80s. I have the 60s too and the lack of bass is the only main complaint which the 80s supposedly cover.

 

[epj3]

Congrats! But your complaints is why I mentioned the SR-80s. I have the 60s too and the lack of bass is the only main complaint which the 80s supposedly cover.

Well - these certaintly have a lot more bass than the sony's I once owned - but I have pretty much convinced myself to return these tomorrow - and spend the extra $$ for the SR-125's which are the step up from the 80's. Again, I am VERY impressed.

 

[codex57]

The 125's are awesome, but I think that's when you start to need a headphone amplifier to get it's full use like pretty much every decent Sennheiser. I'm not ready to go that far yet since I like the convenience. The 80's and 60's don't need amplifiers from what I remember which is why I like em.

If you do go to the 125's, try looking at comparably priced Sennheisers. The comfort/looks might be better even if they do cost a bit more. IMO, Grado's main advantage is quality comparable to Sennheiser for less money. This comes at the expense of very old looks and not as much comfort (although the new foam pads are much, much better than the old donuts).

 

[epj3]

The 125's are awesome, but I think that's when you start to need a headphone amplifier to get it's full use like pretty much every decent Sennheiser. I'm not ready to go that far yet since I like the convenience. The 80's and 60's don't need amplifiers from what I remember which is why I like em.

If you do go to the 125's, try looking at comparably priced Sennheisers. The comfort/looks might be better even if they do cost a bit more. IMO, Grado's main advantage is quality comparable to Sennheiser for less money. This comes at the expense of very old looks and not as much comfort (although the new foam pads are much, much better than the old donuts).

Yea I have to say these don't fatigue my ears as bad as I thought. I know after I wear them a lot - that the metal band will get stretched out a little.

I think I am going to keep these... They sound fine with the music I listen to (rock, classic, etc.)

I have to say, the fact that you can hear the performers take their first breaths is f'ing amazing...You can't even hear that on my friends harmankardon + higher end polks home theater system that he dumped about $3000 (retail price -- he got it for a lot cheaper) into. Thing is -- his system is set up correctly - he works for a company who does it professionally for most home theaters (upwards of $1 million) and had their sound engineer come in and help him set it up.


Again - I still can't tell you how impressed I am... I've always owned the mid - higher end sony's and they just get more bass as their price goes - the clairty stays the same.