Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
If 29dB of isolation is important to you, it's hard to beat GK Ultraphones:
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Which headphones should i buy?
- Thread starter suedehead
- Start date
I have the DT770 Pro 250 ohm version on my bedside system. Considering they cost me less than $200, they're amazing!
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I just bought a pair of AKG K240. They have 55ohm resistance so you can use even use them with an ipod or your PC's onboard soundcard. They are generally classified as 'studio monitors' with 'flat response'. I think they should be good enough.
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
+1 to these. Paid a fortune for my DT880, the ear cushions dont have hardly a thread on it anymore, but they are worth it- they have 1) immense, uncolored detail and 2) non-compressed sound.
This means I can wear them for hours and hours on end, without tiring my ears. Any other, cheaper set i've tried does not come close.
Sony MDR-V6 or the Sony MDR-7506. I've had both; they're the same headphones. You can probably get the V6 a little cheaper.
My wife bought me a pair for Xmas. I lover them, but what do I know?
Is there a reason that no one has mentioned the Bose brand?
Is there a reason that no one has mentioned the Bose brand?
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
There are some positive attributes around Bose, but for the most part they are more hype than actual high fidelity. They've got a great marketing thing going, but usually better quality can be had for cheaper. Not that you shouldn't enjoy what they do, as they do have a certain amount of reproductive ability and from what I hear, the noise canceling works OK. Their headphones are a step up from the speakers (the old phrases in the pro audio and hi fi world were "If it blows, it's Bose" or "No highs, no lows, must be Bose" which referred to the 901 type speakers.).
I bought a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 15s from a Denver airport kiosk years ago when I was flying a lot. You know what I wanted them for -- to shut out much of the engine noise. They work pretty well for that.
I've been trying to use them lately as I get into recording my bass with an AudioBox USB at home. I have to say that the sound quality is pretty poor. When I play over a master track, like an iTunes song, I have to just assume that the instruments I'm familiar with are really there. (In the intro to With a Little Help from My Friends, I simply did not hear the words "Billy Shears" -- they're just not there at all.)
The 15s are good for helping me find the beat, and I can usually make out the notes of the bass line, so they suffice for that basic purpose, not much more. Ugh. Edwin, you were diplomatic in your reply to Gerry. I hope I've been so, too. I own them. I'd use them in a plane, but I'm craving some real monitor headphones for recording. But see my next post.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
Again, I've used dozens of headphones and for closed cans, the ATH M50s are hard to beat (I first heard about these when visiting Grace Design, and they know headphones) and for open, either Sennheiser HD600s (NOT the 650s. They are bloated in the low mids in comparison) or the better Grado cans and for in ears, Future Sonics. While there are other cans that are also really good, none will put the above to shame.
I've wanted to do this once and only once, but sadly, it's not worked out this way, so I have lots of cans lying around. I also like the AKG702s for open cans.
Again, it's important to define your purposes for cans. Unless you need isolation, I highly recommend open cans. The good ones are more accurate and easier to listen to over long periods of time. Also, check out head-fi.org for way more opinions than should be legal.
Kind of unorthodox, but I have 2 pairs of BOSE QC2's for my home studio. The bass is REALLY heavy in these, but if that's what you're looking for, they might be the ones for you. They're also superior in noise cancellation, as they actually take a AAA battery (which can be a pain sometimes). I can literally be recording tracks and my girlfriend is on the couch watching TV or listening to MP3's through computer speakers.
When I first heard music through them, I listened to ALL my music on iTunes over again. It was an incredible experience.
They're expensive, like $300, but if you know what you're buying, you can get them for about half of what they cost new. Honestly, the recording purists will probably flame me for liking these- they're not "monitors" for mixing or anything (unless maybe you record electronic music). But I've recorded dozens of songs with these headphones.
I also would NOT recommend the Shure SRH240's. People love them, but maybe I got a bum pair...HORRIBLE BASS RESPONSE, but some noise cancellation. Maybe you'd like them for tracking guitar or something trebley, but I was severely disappointed when I bought them new for almost $70.
When I first heard music through them, I listened to ALL my music on iTunes over again. It was an incredible experience.
They're expensive, like $300, but if you know what you're buying, you can get them for about half of what they cost new. Honestly, the recording purists will probably flame me for liking these- they're not "monitors" for mixing or anything (unless maybe you record electronic music). But I've recorded dozens of songs with these headphones.
I also would NOT recommend the Shure SRH240's. People love them, but maybe I got a bum pair...HORRIBLE BASS RESPONSE, but some noise cancellation. Maybe you'd like them for tracking guitar or something trebley, but I was severely disappointed when I bought them new for almost $70.
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DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
+1. I ran the warehouse in an electronics store for years, that pretty much defines Bose to a T in the industry... right down to the quotes.
I don't know about the QC 15s, but my wife bought me QuietComfort 2s (around the ear headphones). They did cost about $300. I like them and think they are great, but then maybe I haven't heard really great phones. The battery is not a problem. The red light blinks when it gets low, and I always have an extra near by. My biggest problem is forgetting to turn off the switch when I'm through listening and running down the batteries.
My main reason for posting in the first place was that I found it hard to believe that better phones actually existed, and if they did, how much would they cost!
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I'm quite sure you will see as many, and probably more, Sonys in studios, and are also considered "the standard". AKG 240s are open backed. The Sonys are a closed ear design.
So incredibly subjective regarding definition, frequency curve, bass extension, soundstage, ergonomics, etc. -- hence the many different recommendations and options (just like cabinets). Recently, I compared AKG K240 against BeyerDynamic DT-770 and went with the Beyer. To my ear, they offered considerably greater definition with strong bass extension.
Since your application includes recording, closed headphones are a must. Beyer and Sony would be two good options. If you have the luxury of A/B testing at a nearby GC, it's worth the time.
Since your application includes recording, closed headphones are a must. Beyer and Sony would be two good options. If you have the luxury of A/B testing at a nearby GC, it's worth the time.
