Headphones - Senn H280, Sony 7506, Grado SR

Andy2 · #1 10-30-2008, 09:40 AM

Hi all:

Looking for a good pair of headphones on the $100 price range for practicing with my Tascam bass trainer to Trascribe Songs (and hearing both - the bass and the song with good notes articulation)

After reading a lot of reviews on forums, amazon, stores etcc I am between these 3 headphones

1)Senheiser H280 - Lot of greattt reviews but there are some comments of lack of bass ?

2) Sony MDR7506 - Lot of great reviews, comfy and good bass response (probably my first choice right now)

3) Grado SR 80 (or SR60) - after reading on a couple of forums I also found the Grado's (never heard of this brand before). A lot of comments of GOOD bass response and great price but a lot people said they are not comfy.

Any Suggestions?

I rencently tried the sennhesser RS120 Wireless ,, , ,and return them. The bass response was BADDDD and distorted (even with my Ipod choosing the EQ bass boost it distort)

dave_bass5 · #2 10-30-2008, 10:31 AM

I love my Grado SR60's. I find them very comfortable and they sound great to my ears.
perfect for using with my PC and Bass.
But, they are open backed and so i cant use them much as our PC is in the living room. I now use Sennheiser H215's and while they dont sound as nice they seem to keep the sound in and i dont annoy the family.

I wouldn't really recommend them over the Grado's but thought i would point out the difference.

flipper_gv · #3 10-30-2008, 10:37 AM

I wouldn't buy anything sony made. I once bought a really nice pair of headphones and they stopped working after 2 months for no apparent reason. Sony wouldn't want to replace them too.

My personal choice would be sennheiser. Been 4 and half years with my HD212pro and getting HD555 soon, they are really really good for the price. And don't worry, bass is there. It's just that most headphones have a little treble reducing problem. Sennheiser are habitually clear and bassy.

I never tried Grado but I'd really like to.

Brian D · #4 10-30-2008, 10:37 AM

I like the AKG K-240S headphones, great sound and very comfortable.

They look cool too!

EricF · #5 10-30-2008, 10:41 AM

I have Sony MDR7506s that I've been using at home (recording, listening, quiet practice, tune out the world...) for well over a year with no problems. They're comfortable, sound very good, and are priced reasonably.

That said, this thread needs to be moved.

basswave · #6 10-30-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

I have Sony MDR7506s that I've been using at home (recording, listening, quiet practice, tune out the world...) for well over a year with no problems. They're comfortable, sound very good, and are priced reasonably.

That said, this thread needs to be moved.

+100 Love the 7506

bassrebel · #7 10-30-2008, 10:45 AM

if only u had the budget, u could try the bose quietcomfort 3... i have it and absolutely luv it

One Drop · #8 10-30-2008, 12:32 PM

I own a pair of the Grado SR80s and the Sennheisers. I use the Senns for DJing as they are very tough and parts are easily replaced, and the closed design necessary to block out ambient sound. If anything they are bassier than the Grados, but the Grado's bass response is more natural, and more detailed.

For practising bass I prefer the Grados, and the bass is that much more detailed and thus helps me stay clean and aware of my attack.

As to comfort, the foam on the SR80s cups the ear, and isn't very comfy as the diaphragm can touch your ears, especially as the foam hardens. Replacing them with the flat foam cups from the SR60s, or a replacement foam set from Sennheiser (cheaper and fits perfectly, but I can't remember which replacement model they are) solves the problem. I find them much more comfortable (after the switch), as the Sennheisers are much heavier and you feel them on your head; the Grados are very light and you forget you are wearing headphones. I can easily watch a movie with them on without getting fatigued, physically or sonically.

The Grados are easily comparable to a top $1000 pair of speakers in sound quality, very balanced, detailed and natural. With my Café Walter headphone amp I can hear EVERYTHING my basses produce, scary at first but a great practice tool.

Well worth it to spend the bit more for the 80s over the '60s, IMO, but both are amazing pieces of kit.

Alcyon · #9 10-30-2008, 01:06 PM

surprised anything made by grado is $100... my record player's cartridge is a grado and it's got to be one of the best cartridges i've ever heard. i'd go for the grados if only because i have had such good experience with the company.

Andy2 · #10 10-30-2008, 01:25 PM

Thanksss for the Replys

Any more suggestions ???

Zooberwerx · #11 10-30-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basswave

+100 Love the 7506

That's what I'm using. IIRC, that's all that was in stock that particular day. Still, no complaints!

Riis

57pbass · #12 10-30-2008, 03:23 PM

Grado SR80's are great headphones...the foam does dry out over time but you can replacements from Grado. I have the 80's, the 325's and a cartridge.

Top notch customer service..they are a small boutique headphone and cartridge company located in Brooklyn NY USA...their products are recipients of great reviews throughout the industry...

www.gradolabs.com

meowmeow · #13 10-30-2008, 03:53 PM

Get the grado sr60s. The only difference between them and the 80s is that the 80s have a hard foam earpiece instead of the soft foam of the 60s, which makes it sound a bit better but it isnt nearly as comfortable. The 80s also come with a 1/4 plug stock and comes with a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter and the 60 has a 1/8 plug stock and has a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter. The soft foam on the sr60s makes it sound not quite as clear unless you do a mod to the foams. It is referred to in the headphone community as the quarter mod and all it involves is placing a quarter in the center of the foams (removed from the headphone of course) and taking an exacto knife and cutting around it. It really opens up the highs and makes it sound as good as the sr80s while still being comfier and about 20 bucks cheaper.

VroomVroom · #14 10-30-2008, 04:20 PM

Just wanted to say that I really appreciate the advice in this thread. I've been contemplating new headphones for over a month now. I just haven't made the time to go give a listen, and it doesn't seem like such a shopping trip is in the cards. Based on the info here I think I'm comfortable taking a chance on buying a Grado set over the internet.

lindseyp · #15 10-30-2008, 04:34 PM

I have owned the HD280Pros and the 5706s; I think the HD280Pro fits around the ear better. Mine complemented my 5706, which is still my main set. I haven't heard anything that sounds better than the Sony 5706 without something sounding hyped.

57pbass · #16 10-31-2008, 12:54 PM

My father first introduced me to the Seiheisser HD414's...they where the first headphones I saw with the open air design ..they had the large yellow foam earpads..they where great..its back in the 80's..

Good luck with your purchase...

iamlowsound · #17 10-31-2008, 01:46 PM

Get the Grados, don't consider anything else. I have a pair of SR-80s with replacement foam on them and they are amazing. Seriously, I didn't know music sounded this good. You can hear everything, I notice stuff in songs that I didn't know existed before I got them. My only complaint is that they are going to make me drop a bunch more money on audio stuff so everything sounds this good.

lowsound

Andy2 · #18 10-31-2008, 02:46 PM

Hmmmm

Im between the Grados SR 80 or the Sony's 5706 (ther is only like a 10 dollar diffenrece)

Have to decide this weekend.

Thanks for all the comments and advices

iamlowsound · #19 10-31-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy2

Hmmmm

Im between the Grados SR 80 or the Sony's 5706 (ther is only like a 10 dollar diffenrece)

Have to decide this weekend.

Thanks for all the comments and advices

Grados, seriously. I had one step lower Sony's and compared to the Grados, they sound like listening to music through a mattress. No midrange and overly bass heavy.

lowsound

chrisisnotevil · #20 10-31-2008, 03:12 PM

i'd say senny or grado. sennys are a pretty much flat response with bass roll-off to counter the proximity effect thing where bass sounds louder on the phones than it would thru speakers. great for monitoring, but hardly great for bass playing, so unless you're playing in a noisy environment or don't want sound leakage, i'd say grado all the way. i sell both these phones in the shop i work in, tbh you won't be disappointed with either.