Closed Back Headphone Recommendation
Discussion
I have a set of HiFiMan HE400S headphones which I use at home with an Explorer 2 DAC, only really use it with streaming media but it sounds great to my ears.
I fancy some decent headphones for work, the only issue is the chap who sits next to me has the hearing of a dog and picks up everything.
I'm fairly kind so think some closed back headphones should be the simplest solution to this.
Given I don't have the luxury of anywhere local that's likely to have a decent range available to try, am I likely to find anything better than the BeyerDynamic DT770s?
I fancy some decent headphones for work, the only issue is the chap who sits next to me has the hearing of a dog and picks up everything.
I'm fairly kind so think some closed back headphones should be the simplest solution to this.
Given I don't have the luxury of anywhere local that's likely to have a decent range available to try, am I likely to find anything better than the BeyerDynamic DT770s?
You don't mention budget.
I've had a pair of Utrasone Signature Pros for just over 7 years and they get used regularly (pretty much daily). Looks like they are at a good price at the moment. They are in great condition and have lasted really well. They even survived 3 years of commuting an hour each way on the underground. I did stick a circle of black electrical tape over the backs of the earpieces so you can't tell what they are to avoid any unwanted attention!
I use them with a HifiMan HM-801 portable player if mobile, and the sound is brilliant. You can drive them with an iPhone or iPod, and they sound pretty good (although won't go very loud), but they definitely benefit from an amp, or source with reasonable power (which the HM-801 has). Sound isolation is really good (as one would expect with closed back designs).
If those are above your budget, there are some cheaper options here
There's a list of more expensive ones here.
I've had a pair of Utrasone Signature Pros for just over 7 years and they get used regularly (pretty much daily). Looks like they are at a good price at the moment. They are in great condition and have lasted really well. They even survived 3 years of commuting an hour each way on the underground. I did stick a circle of black electrical tape over the backs of the earpieces so you can't tell what they are to avoid any unwanted attention!
I use them with a HifiMan HM-801 portable player if mobile, and the sound is brilliant. You can drive them with an iPhone or iPod, and they sound pretty good (although won't go very loud), but they definitely benefit from an amp, or source with reasonable power (which the HM-801 has). Sound isolation is really good (as one would expect with closed back designs).
If those are above your budget, there are some cheaper options here
There's a list of more expensive ones here.
dmsims said:
Closed back headphones can still be heard esp in your scenario
I'd say that it depends - some leak sound more than others, but you're right in that many will be heard.I do know that when Mrs C&C has tried mine with a reasonable level of volume in a quiet room, I couldn't tell whether the music was playing or not when stood less than a metre away.
Unfortunately, this type of characteristic is not generally reported on in tests, so actually trying different headphones, or more accurately, getting someone else to try them while you listen for sound leakage is probably the only way to determine how little sound they leak.
May be worth going to your local hifi shop - they should let you try a range of different ones.
Even RicherSounds seem to have a fair range of headphones, so again there is the possibility of trying a few.
Professional-type monitoring headphones often have pretty good isolation - anything that isolates the wearer well from outside noise will also seal the noise in well.
They tend to have accurate, detailed sound signatures which isn't everyone's cup of tea though - suits my taste but some prefer more of a 'consumer' sound which is more forgiving of lower quality music.
They tend to have accurate, detailed sound signatures which isn't everyone's cup of tea though - suits my taste but some prefer more of a 'consumer' sound which is more forgiving of lower quality music.
As a studio guy, the DTs are very good.
Depends on your budget though tbh. In the same vein, you could look at the Bose QC range: not exactly accurate (in any way!) but they both cancel out complaints and can’t be heard from outside.
But that can also be said for the many other noise-cancelling cans in the same price range.
The other great cans from £500+ are the Focal ones. Very nice. Fantastic sound too.
But headphone opinions are like a$$holes......everybody’s got one
Depends on your budget though tbh. In the same vein, you could look at the Bose QC range: not exactly accurate (in any way!) but they both cancel out complaints and can’t be heard from outside.
But that can also be said for the many other noise-cancelling cans in the same price range.
The other great cans from £500+ are the Focal ones. Very nice. Fantastic sound too.
But headphone opinions are like a$$holes......everybody’s got one
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