Headphones $20 vs. $110

[Bassist4Life]

Are the $110 headphones really worth the extra $90?

I have Sony MDR-V150 that I got ages ago. They're literally falling apart. The plastic has broken where it adjusts. The cushion for my ears is beginning to disintegrate. It's not a product quality issue, I'm just addicted to listening to music through headphones. I use them to create demos in garage band using my bass and a midi controller. I also use them to record bass tracks in my Fostex multitrack recorder.

I see some $110 headphone on the Guitar Center website (it just happens that I'm looking there, I could buy them anywhere). They have the Sony MDR-V6. Are they worth all the extra money... really worth it?

With all that extra money I could get something else I really need/want.

Peace,
Joe

[jmattbassplaya]

It really depends on what your needs and wants are. Do you necessarily need a pair of headphones that won`t allow you to hear any outside noise? Likewise, do you need a pair of headphones that won`t release any noise? Do you need headphones that will give you amazing sound quality up and down the sound spectrum, or do you just need a pair that`ll get the job done and nothing else? Do you need a pair that will be soft and cushioned, or will ear buds suffice? Can you justify spending the money, or does it just feel like a waste?

If you said yes to most of those questions then an expensive pair of headphones might be just what you 'need'. If not, then just go out and buy a simple pair of ear buds and call it a day. You said you like to listen to music through headphones a lot so you might need to spend at least a good amount of money on them. I, however, am perfectly content with my little Sony ear buds.

Just some food for thought.

[iamlowsound]

Grado SR80, or SR125 if you can afford them. Sony's don't have a flat response that you will need for mixing. I like that better for listening to music as well.

lowsound

[xgator4u]

Me personally, I can't STAND ear buds. I don't like the way they feel, and I think they sound like @$$. I like a GOOD set of headphones. Look at it like this. What they are is speakers, small speakers for listening to music at close proximity. GOOD speakers can make a crappy stereo sound pretty darn good. While an excellent stereo sounds like @$$ with ear buds. Spend the $$$ and get quality speakers/headphones. Maybe not $110.00, but not El-Cheapo's either.

[Jazzdogg]

I look at headphones as tools of the trade, and select them the same way I buy the other tools I use.

My approach to tools requires me to establish a budget and finiancial guidelines for the equipment I buy, but other decisions have to be made before a budget can even be considered. Namely, what does the job require, what are my standards, and what are my expectations.

For a weekend woodworker, spending more than $2,000 on a bandsaw might be an extravagance, but that's how much a reliable bandsaw cost that has the capabilities I require. I could not complete my work using a 14" Delta.

My music gear is also a collection of tools. In 2009 I happily spent $250 on a pair of GK Ultraphones after I decided that no amount of money is worth more to me than my hearing; I need sound attenuating headphones to protect my ears from ambient noise while monitoring my band's live mix while I'm playing onstage. GK Ultraphones provided the best balance of sound quality and hearing protection that I was willing to pay for.

I'm not trying to tell you what to buy; I'm just trying to share how the decision-making process works for me. Only you can assess your needs and priorities, and only you can assure that the gear you buy is congruent with your needs and values.

Good luck!

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by xgator4u

Me personally, I can't STAND ear buds. I don't like the way they feel, and I think they sound like @$$. I like a GOOD set of headphones. Look at it like this. What they are is speakers, small speakers for listening to music at close proximity. GOOD speakers can make a crappy stereo sound pretty darn good. While an excellent stereo sounds like @$$ with ear buds. Spend the $$$ and get quality speakers/headphones. Maybe not $110.00, but not El-Cheapo's either.

Not always. The Sony ear buds I got in the box with my HP laptop have some of the cleanest, yet fattest lows I have ever heard come out of any speaker. Though I will grant you that most ear buds are $4!7.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

It really depends on what your needs and wants are. Do you necessarily need a pair of headphones that won`t allow you to hear any outside noise? Likewise, do you need a pair of headphones that won`t release any noise? Do you need headphones that will give you amazing sound quality up and down the sound spectrum, or do you just need a pair that`ll get the job done and nothing else? Do you need a pair that will be soft and cushioned, or will ear buds suffice? Can you justify spending the money, or does it just feel like a waste?

If you said yes to most of those questions then an expensive pair of headphones might be just what you 'need'. If not, then just go out and buy a simple pair of ear buds and call it a day. You said you like to listen to music through headphones a lot so you might need to spend at least a good amount of money on them. I, however, am perfectly content with my little Sony ear buds.

Just some food for thought.

thank you for your thoughtful response. i know ear buds will not work for me. i need them to be over the ear. i tend to listen when there isn't a lot of noise, so i don't need to worry about noise canceling. i do need detail and clarity. not booming bass, but clear detailed bass. i like the full-spectrum experience.

[Bassist4Life]

great responses guys. i appreciate your time and effort. lots of things to consider here.

i was looking at those grado headphones... i'm gonna' check those out. there's a place in amherst, ny where i can go. the sr80's look to be $100 and the sr125's are $150. they make a set that go for $1695... the ps1000. dang.

i know that i don't want ear buds. i just don't like how they feel. maybe i got me some weird shaped ears, but they are out.

peace & music,
joe

[theory028]

Originally Posted by xgator4u

Me personally, I can't STAND ear buds. I don't like the way they feel, and I think they sound like @$$. I like a GOOD set of headphones. Look at it like this. What they are is speakers, small speakers for listening to music at close proximity. GOOD speakers can make a crappy stereo sound pretty darn good. While an excellent stereo sounds like @$$ with ear buds. Spend the $$$ and get quality speakers/headphones. Maybe not $110.00, but not El-Cheapo's either.

I have found that some good earbuds sound much nicer than most headphones that I've tried. I compared my Sennheiser buds (can't recall the model; I'll touch on that in a second) to a set of Bose headphones that my brother had. It was no contest; the Sennheiser buds had much more clarity, clean lows, and overall better sound. The price difference was considerable but not drastically different (the Bose being more expensive).

I got my Dell XPS M1530 and it came with a set of Creative buds that look and sound remarkably similar to the Sennheiser earbuds that I love. They even have the added benefit of having symmetrical cord! I looked them up on eBay to find some replacements to find that they are going for incredibly cheap! Right now I see two sets for about $10 (2 for $10, not two listings each selling a pair for $10). You can get a lot of 10 for $40! These are not the crumby iPod quality buds that fall out and sound thin. These form a nice seal and sound incredible. I'm going to order some right now because they're so nice to have on hand. They're called Creative EP-360s for anyone curious about them.

I wouldn't do mixing with them (but I did record using them as monitors last night) but they're perfect for enjoying music and movies. I have a set of Creative cans that are horrible in comparison and cost a lot more. They're Aurvana DJs and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

That is simply my preference, though. I'm bidding to win on a set of Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones because I don't want to practice bass with the earbuds. I'll also be using them to help with mixing our recordings.

To each his own, though!

[Pilgrim]

I've used Sony MDR-7506, MDR-V6 and MDR-V600 headphones for professional audio and video production for years.

They are all similar in that they have fully enclosed, acoustic isolation ear cups which are very comfortable and fit around the ears rather then sitting on them. The 7506 models are the "pro" models and run $93 at Amazon. Some prefer them to the other two, but I find the MDR-V6 and V600 models to sound as good to me, and they run about $75.

I really like the ear cup design which gives me good acoustic separation from the environment, and which does NOT sit on the ears. When I wear them on and off for hours, this is a big comfort factor.

Ear buds are one thing, but real headphones are another. For the price of $75 to $93 you can have great phones which will last for years.

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I've used Sony MDR-7506, MDR-V6 and MDR-V600 headphones for professional audio and video production for years.

They are all similar in that they have fully enclosed, acoustic isolation ear cups which are very comfortable and fit around the ears rather then sitting on them. The 7506 models are the "pro" models and run $93 at Amazon. Some prefer them to the other two, but I find the MDR-V6 and V600 models to sound as good to me, and they run about $75.

I really like the ear cup design which gives me good acoustic separation from the environment, and which does NOT sit on the ears. When I wear them on and off for hours, this is a big comfort factor.

Ear buds are one thing, but real headphones are another. For the price of $75 to $93 you can have great phones which will last for years.

You make a good point about comfort. I like how my current sony headphones feel... over the ear vs. on the ear. I wear those things for hours. Like I said, I've had them so long and used them so much that they're starting to fall apart.

However, someone made the point that Sony does not have a flat response. I was listening to a Medeski, Martin & Wood track through an amazing system that has a flat response and I sweat that I heard things I haven't heard before! That was an ear opening experience.

Joe

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Grado SR80, or SR125 if you can afford them. Sony's don't have a flat response that you will need for mixing. I like that better for listening to music as well.

lowsound

Made in Brooklyn, USA. My next pair of headphones will be from Grado.

[Mr wiggl3s]

There are differences in prices and quality, of course. And it does depend on what you want.

If you just want something that will play music, no questions, then no, there probably isn't a difference between a $110 pair and a $20 pair.

If you want something to deaden outside sound, then, there will be a difference. If you want higher quality, as you posted about, there will be a difference.

Check this site out, they have lots o info:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=89

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

However, someone made the point that Sony does not have a flat response. I was listening to a Medeski, Martin & Wood track through an amazing system that has a flat response and I sweat that I heard things I haven't heard before! That was an ear opening experience.

Joe

To me, the goal in headphones is like that in amps and cabs - not to have flat response, but to have a frequency response that's pleasing to MY ears. I agree that the Sonys are not quite flat, but to my ear they have a slight, pleasing emphasis on bass frequencies. It's not enough to detract from listening, but it's JUST enough that I can detect it if I listen for it. That pleases my ear.

I suspect most of us buy for about the same reason - some combination of (1) comfort and (2) sound reproduction qualities that we happen to like.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

To me, the goal in headphones is like that in amps and cabs - not to have flat response, but to have a frequency response that's pleasing to MY ears. I agree that the Sonys are not quite flat, but to my ear they have a slight, pleasing emphasis on bass frequencies. It's not enough to detract from listening, but it's JUST enough that I can detect it if I listen for it. That pleases my ear.

I suspect most of us buy for about the same reason - some combination of (1) comfort and (2) sound reproduction qualities that we happen to like.

I buy for a flat response. You hear things you wouldn't otherwise. I used to have a pair of Sony's and compared to my Grados, they sound like listening to music through a pillow.

lowsound

[castleshade13]

Isolation Extreme ex-25 =D

best for I-pod to recording to live personal monitoring =D