Tech Buying quality headphones

Buying quality headphones

Anyone here an audiophile? I'm in the market for a fair priced pair of headphones. I have 3 in mind, but I'm open to more opinions.

1) Sennheiser HD-555 ~$100 http://www.headphone.com/products/sennheiser-hd-595.php
I would prefer the HD-595, but it's $200-300.

2) Grado SR60i ~$80 http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headphone-type/ear-pad-type/grado-sr-60i.php

3) Grado SR80i ~$100 http://www.headphone.com/products/grado-sr-80i.php

Grados I hear are poorly manufactured, but have amazing sound quality for a very low price. They outclass higher priced cans while sacrificing build quality. Eventually I want to get a headphone amp as well. Any recommendations for any?

I actually brought some sennheiser earphones a few weeks back. Honestly their build quality isn't that great either. Most of their products are manufactured in china and build quality probably isn't much worst than grado.

What's the model number and sound quality? Have you used them over 100 hours to break them in yet? Have you had a chance to compare them to others? I guess build quality I'll just have to put up with.

I think the Total Bithead is the choice amp for me. I wonder if I'll need an adapter to adjust the impedance for best pairing with an amp?

They're actually in-ear headphone model # CX400-II. Had them for about a month and been using them during my commute which is about 2hrs a day/5days a week. So I'm nowhere close to 100hrs. They're definately the best set of headphones I've ever owned but I've been using only cheap shit up till now so that's not saying much.

haha understandable. I've been going through different pairs of in ear headphones for the longest time. This is the second time I'm going full out with a pair of real headphones. So atm I'm trying to do as much research on them so I don't get my ass burned again. LOL I'm really wary of Grados, more so than Sennheisers. I've read so many complaints of the cords snapping in half or coming out of the headpieces on those. Sennheisers haven't had many of those same complaints other than those who are rough handling them. I might consider Denons as well... hmmm

My next set of in ears will be Shures.

rolla....

ive been professionally gaming for 4+ years now...ive owned hd555s for 4+ years....get hd555s


end of story

Perfect. I was leaning toward them too. Lots of great reviews. Once I pair the HD555s with an amp, I'll be golden.

I have a set of Turtle Beach Ear Force. They are surround sound headphones with 4 speakers in each ear. Its awesome for FPS games because you can tell in what directions your enemies are. Not sure if you're looking for a set for gaming or music, but I love the surround sound.

icemat siberias are also pretty nice..but the hd555's are crisp as hell.

well the stuff I've heard about sennheiser is that the rubber parts where the cords attatched to the ear pieces start coming apart after a while.. but nothing as dramatic as cords snapping in half. I've been really gentle with mines so I have no problems what-so-ever. And so far i've been happy with them.

Yeah, I don't need a set for gaming. It's strictly for listening and motion pictures. My friend happened to have a pair of HD-555s and let me try them out. I love them. They really are crisp. Thanks for the referral Moviestar. As for the durability, I'll take very good care of them. No rough handling.

yeah like you said...just take care of them and they will last you forever.

I really can't buy anymore cheap headphones anymore. I need something that sounds crisp and that won't distort. I'm bidding on some HD-555s right now.

I'll stick with my 15 buck skull candy's, they sound ass good as I like, have great bass response for an in ear bud, and for my computer $30 logitechs are good enough... they have a mic, are incredibly sturdy, and are open over ears so they never get too hot.. but for flying.. your never going to beat a pair of David Clark H10-30's the mic is clear even over engine noise, they are vented so you don't get a headache, but still there is no outside noise to harm your hearing... after I get my certs that's what I'm getting... as a congrats present to my self

I'm using my portable v-moda earbuds atm, but I'm craving for some really quality open ear sound.

My Sennheiser HD555's came in and I've been spending most of the day listening to them for burn in. Trying to log 100 hours or so to get more of a warm sound to it. It's really crisp and just what I expect from audiophile Senn's.




Next is an impedance adapter and a DAC amp. I might mod the 555's as well.

nice desk. pic?

It's all cluttered right now and I'm too lazy to clean it up. haha

I got the Bose on the ear headphones. I know they are a little more expensive then the ones you posted but I think they are absolutely worth it. The sound clarity is amazing and if you like rap, the bass is great.

Wow, just realized you got the Sennheisers...dis-regard the above comment lol

hehe I burned them in already using a shortcut method. They sound even better than they were out of the box.

@Unique: You planning on getting an amp for your set of cans?

well...is it a corner desk? pretty wide and deep?

No. It's not a corner desk. It's just a normal one. It's pretty deep. Wide not so much.

Lossless makes such a difference that that I can distinguish between all the encodes now.

Is this to me? Little confused by the question...lol

yes... its the twitter generations way of talking to somebody

Sorry. Let met rephrase it. Are you going to get a headphone amp for your headphones?

haha, my bad, I'm not too up on technology and the lingo lol but no rollatuner, no amp, I'm satsfied with how they are for now. :grinyes:

The sound is so crisp and clear, but I'm still not close to satisfied just yet. I've been spoiled by my audiophile friend.

My dream set is the discontinued $27k Sennheiser Orpheus headphones.



Someday.

not headphones but the best earphones i've bought (and most expensive) were Shure, the $500 model lol

bought em in 2002 and still have em. my uncle uses them now lol

Shures are some of the best in ear headphones. Very very good choice.