Decent headphones

[DangerousMike]

Hi all,

I'm after a decent pair of headphones for listening to music (around the house). My main priority is sound quality as I am going to have to use them in place of a nice hi-fi. I'm not too fussed about wireless ones (surely there is quite a big effect on the sound quality?). Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent pair of big, over-the-ear headphones, then? Thanks in advance.

[wiffmaster]

I've had a set of these for a few years and highly recommend them. Sound fantastic and build quality is very good - backed up by a lifetime warranty. Get played every night, nice and loud, for a couple of hours and they seem to get better with age.

[-Ad-]

Avoid wireless.

Check out the likes of Grado, Sennheiser, Goldring, Beyer etc etc.

What's your price as I could suggest you hunt down the £5k+ sennheiser Orpheus system But I'm sure some Senn HD600 will do you perfectly well.

[JustinP1]

I would check out Beyer.

I have used them professionally for a decade, and also for personal enjoyment.

I have the DT990s which are beautifully balanced and as the speakers are suspended a bit away from your ears they sound remarkably open as if the music is coming from around you.

[threesixty]

Grados get my vote for pure sound quality.

They're open backed though so they're good at annoying other people.

Also, if like me you like pretending to be a 1940s radio operator, they really complete the look.

[clonmult]

-Ad- said:

Avoid wireless.

Check out the likes of Grado, Sennheiser, Goldring, Beyer etc etc.

What's your price as I could suggest you hunt down the £5k+ sennheiser Orpheus system But I'm sure some Senn HD600 will do you perfectly well.

And even if you did have £5k burning a hole in your pocket, it would be a total waste of money buying the Orpheus. I had a listen to a set several years back, and was comprehensively underwhelmed. They were okay, but nothing close to what Stax were capable of producing. For my ears at least Stax have set *the* standard for headphones.

[DangerousMike]

£150 max, I'd say!

[andy_s]

I can second the Marine boy / Stingray looks - and they do 'wear' on my ears, but the SR325s sound amazing.

[Dracoro]

I'd certainly recommend a good set of Sennheisers. Had two pairs in my lifetime (they last!), one that was my parents (they bought in the 70s and had finally had it about 5/10 years ago and the pair that I have now that are about 7 years ago and they sound excellent (I have decent Arcam separates so they get a good testing) and still in excellent condition, sound great, light, comfortable (felt-like ear surround rather than plastic so no sweaty ears! and can wear for prolonged amount of time) and well built.

I had one problem after 6 years with the cable. Cable was detachable so got a replacement cable and it just plugs in (so didn't have to buy a new set of headphones).

The model I had was HD 570, I doubt they make them anymore so someone might know the replacement model. I paid about £70 back in 2002. The nearest I can see online would be the HD595 I think: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001FTVE0/ref=...

Edited by Dracoro on Saturday 19th September 08:42

[JeremyH]

I find on-ear headphones often become uncomfortable after about forty minutes, so comfort is something probably worth bearing in mind when deciding.

Edited by JeremyH on Monday 21st September 02:13

[telecat]

If you can try STAX Electrostatic Headphones. They do need an "energiser" and most use the "tape out" facility or you plug them directly into your source. They are the ultimate "Ear Speakers".

[RizzoTheRat]

As an alternative to big over ear jobbies, you might want to consider in ear ones. My Shure E2c's are the bottom end of Shure's range and sound fantastic, get a bit uncomfortable after an hour or two if you're not waring them regularly though.

[Tea of Teabaggin]

New set of Shure's are good and their in-ear noise issolation buds are brilliant.

[jml5169]

Grado SR60i or SR80i

[Toffer]

Doubt if you will better Sennheiser headphones at any price break?

I use the great value HD477 with the PC in the office and also occasionally with my iPod Nano.

At home I use the lovely HD650 (over your budget?)

On the move with the Nano, I use ambient sound reducing Sony headphones...not perfect, but they work well on aeroplanes...

Hope this helps?

[clonmult]

telecat said:

If you can try STAX Electrostatic Headphones. They do need an "energiser" and most use the "tape out" facility or you plug them directly into your source. They are the ultimate "Ear Speakers".

I really do miss mine, but I figured I'd barely used them in probably ten years. Still worked absolutely perfectly though.

Sound quality is utterly incredible, probably the best transient response of any headset, although they're generally relatively lacking in bass. The combo I had (Lambda Pro, SRD-X energiser) was able to go deafening volumes without distortion.

[gingerp]

I have Sennheiser HD555, think they were £100. I had these for ages and loved them to death. One day I got fed up with What Hifi saying how good Grados are, so bought some SR80s. They are deffinitely better, but took ages to wear in. More detail, much tauter bass. The Sennheisers are a much more relaxing listen. Grados and other top end headphones really need a headphone amp, esp if your listening at home. Budget £200 for that. Thats next on my list.