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Headphone Recommendation

tothemax

tothemax

Nov 1, 2013
1,464
1,701
Annapolis Area
#1
I'm looking for a new second set of affordable of enclosed ear headphones, for my office system (basically listening and some mixing). I currently have an older set of Tascam TH-2000's, the sound is OK but the height adjustment is not sufficient, the width is fine but I have to use a bit of foam under the top to keep them from sliding down. A pair that is a little lighter with better adjustment would an improvement. I'd like to keep it to $100 or less.

Thanks
 
#3
bholder said:
AKG K240
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OP: these are the best, cheap headphones for mixing and critical listening: nothing else compares for quality/price. they are a long-time, world-class/standard. good luck with your headphone search! :thumbsup:
 
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#4
AKGK240. Only pair I’ve used consistently over the years that has decent clarity for recording, personal listening and bass guitar practice. Unlike some of the Phil brands the frame doesn’t break.

You’d have to triple the cost to get any improvement.
 
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#5
JRA said:
View attachment 4128928

OP: these are the best, cheap headphones for mixing and critical listening: nothing else compares for quality/price. they are a long-time, world-class/standard. good luck with your headphone search! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

They are not a long-time world-class standard. They were decades ago. The K240 that are sold by Samsung today have nearly nothing in common with the old ones besides the name. Completely different neodymium drivers. They were in nearly every studio alongside with the K140s in the 70s. But headphone technology has come a long way since then.
They were my first pair of serious headphones in the 80s and I loved them, they were nearly indestructable. Still have a pair of the neodymium ones but with the higher impedance lying around somewhere, but didn't use them since decades. Or just for a few minutes and knew the reason, I prefer other headphones these days.
In all honesty: you can buy - if you want AKG - buy the K701 for a little above 100,- (128,-). These are worlds better headphones than the K240. I paid more than 200,- when they were still austrian made. These are in one class with the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650.
Sometimes old is just old.
 
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#6
DirkP said:
They are not a long-time world-class standard. They were decades ago. The K240 that are sold by Samsung today have nearly nothing in common with the old ones besides the name. Completely different neodymium drivers. They were in nearly every studio alongside with the K140s in the 70s. But headphone technology has come a long way since then.
They were my first pair of serious headphones in the 80s and I loved them, they were nearly indestructable. Still have a pair of the neodymium ones but with the higher impedance lying around somewhere, but didn't use them since decades. Or just for a few minutes and knew the reason, I prefer other headphones these days.
In all honesty: you can buy - if you want AKG - buy the K701 for a little above 100,- (128,-). These are worlds better headphones than the K240. I paid more than 200,- when they were still austrian made. These are in one class with the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650. Sometimes old is just old.
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i appreciate your effort/response, but: specs are specs --- doesn't make a bit of difference what the parts are or how they may have changed, overtime, to 'keep up with jonses'. technology changes but reliable specs don't --- they still deliver! more importantly: you can do serious work with these affordable headphones because 'they work as advertised'! ;)
 
#7
Audio Technica ATH-Mxx series. Xx is either 20, 30, 40, or 50. Price and quality go up with number. I own the 30, 40, and 50. They are all great. Evenness of response and high/low extension improves as you move up the series, but even the cheaper end of the series are great for the money.
 
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#8
Sony MDR 7506, Sennheiser HD280, and AKG K240 MkII have massive followings. I have a pair of Audio Technica ATH M50 and love them. Direct Sound EX29 Plus are also worth considering. The Sony and Sennheiser headphones are under $100.

The Austrian Audio Hi-X55 are made by the people who used to work for AKG.
 
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#16
#17
I'm a 30-year Sony MDR-7506 headphone fan. Not the lightest, but one of the most comfortable, and if you really want to shut out external audio they do a remarkable job. Well under $100 and proven by thousands of users. BTW, the ear cups are replaceable when they start to flake after long use.

I can't stand headphones that sit ON the ear. My ears get sore fast and the phones don't shut out external sound. I prefer over-the-ear headphones.
 
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#18
buffalobillh said:
After lots of research, I just ordered these. Looking forward to hearing them. Thanks for everyone's suggestions in this thread.
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I've had several sets of supposedly "good" headphones. The only ones that matched the hype was my Beyerdynamic DT-770's. I've changed the earpads after several years, but they are still going strong. If they died I'd get another set.
 
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#19
I ended up ordering a pair of the AKG K240, Amazon had a package deal extension cable and case for $71, it was hard to pass up. Should be here tomorrow. I did look at the MKII and a review said that for the extra $80 you can upgrade the earpads for $10 and basically get the same sound quality. Not sure if this is true or not, but looking forward to the new headset.
 
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