Please Recommend Good Headphones

[riccof]

As the titles states, I'm looking to pick up a new set of headphones to listen to my iPhone/Macbook.

Been listening to a lot of electronic music lately, mostly house, progressive house, some trance and HipHop/Pop/Top 40's.

Was thinking of picking up some Beats Studios as I like a lot of deep bass but I've heard there's some comparable/better sets out there for around the same price and/or cheaper.

As mentioned above mostly listening to my iPhone/Macbook so I would prefer something that doesn't have a super long chord and if possible, have a mic built into the chord so I can answer calls.

So if I can get some opinions on what you would recommend I would really appreciate it.

Looking to spend around $300-$400

Thanks.

[Manic!]

Go to Tom Lee and long and mcquade and go listen. Bring your MP3 player. The beats are way overpriced just like every monster product.

[sonick]

Please don't buy beats. High end headphones won't have a built-in mic unfortunately.

Look at AKG or Beyerdynamic from Long & McQuade. Sennheiser too but I think their sound signature is better suited for more mid-rangey rock/classical rather than bass-heavy music.

[Culverin]

sonick is right, GOOD headphones won't have an integrated mic.
You sound like you're from head-fi, normal people don't throw around brands like akg and beyerdyamic.


If you're doing home listening,
Get a pair of full-sizers like these...

http://www.long-mcquade.com/products...Headphones.htm

and this


http://ncix.com/products/?sku=13863
The cord has clips to attach to the headphone line, then you can just add on a couple zap straps for good measure.
It's the exact some one I use and the voice comes out crystal clear.


However, I'm not sure if the amp on the ipod is up to the task of driving a really good pair of cans.
Good cans are also open, meaning you don't want to use them on transit. They will bleed noise and annoy your fellow commuters, and let in all the sound making you crank up the volume until you're deaf.


If it's for on-the-go with your ipod, I swear by in-ear-monitors. They sit in the ear canal and block out all external noise.
This will save your hearing and give you a nice quiet commute to work. No screaming babies, no idiots on their cellphones. You won't hear any of it.
Example of IEMs
http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/...7&ProductTab=3



Apologies, but I've got some Shameless plugs...

Spoiler!

My 702's are in great condition, I wasn't going to sell them off but I'm kind of broke at the moment. But do yourself a favor, shop around first.

I've also go a pair of Westone UM2.
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/bn...466328201.html

Anyways, to sum up.
- Nice cans won't have mics.
- Home = cans
- Away = IEM
- Try them on first. Just cause they are very nice and I like them, you might not like the sound signature.


Be careful. This is a very slippery slope you are walking my friend.

[ddr]

if you're willing to spend that amount of money, you should consider getting an entry level dac/lod/amp

mind as well read and ask on head-fi

[riccof]

Thanks for the replies so far. Yeah I think I'll definitely go to Tom lees and take a listen to some. Thanks for the recommendations as well.

As I'm going to be listening to my iPhone alot of the time are there any sets that are a little smaller or possibly a little more low key then some of the mentioned above? Like do people wear these when they're out walking around/travelling or mostly for just at home use? One of the reasons I was considering the beats is they're not really too big and don't have a super long chord. Is that somehing I'd be able to find in a good set of over ear headphones or again should I more look to getting a set for home and a separate set for when I'm out and about.

Thanks again.
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[Manic!]

Look at some IEM's. For $30 I love the JVC Marshmallows. You can get them at FS. There is no need to spend $400 to get good sound.

[ScizzMoney]

I have the Bose QC15's. I'm not really educated on audio quality, but I listened to them and I really liked them. I'm sure there are better ones out there, but they are definitely worth taking a look at.

[StylinRed]

beats is just garbage..... dont fall for the Monster bs (OMG is anyone else surprised by how Monster gets away with all this crap -_-)


as ppl have said go and test some @ the stores have a budget in mind because you can really go overboard very quickly

you can look here too for their Top 10 http://www.headphone.com/selection-g...headphones.php

[Culverin]

Originally Posted by riccof

As I'm going to be listening to my iPhone alot of the time are there any sets that are a little smaller or possibly a little more low key then some of the mentioned above? Like do people wear these when they're out walking around/travelling or mostly for just at home use? One of the reasons I was considering the beats is they're not really too big and don't have a super long chord. Is that somehing I'd be able to find in a good set of over ear headphones or again should I more look to getting a set for home and a separate set for when I'm out and about.

I think it really depends how seriously you're going to take it. It's really up to you how far you want to take this hobby.


Here's a taste of my setups.

Mobile
If I'm taking transit, walking to the store or even out jogging, I'll have my Earsonic SM3 triple-driver IEMs being pumped out of a Cowon mp3 player. It's got a really good amp, a super clean signal and of course, dedicated controls for audio. My audio files are almost all 320kbps or FLAC (lossless) files.
The IEMs cost me about about $450 after shipping from germany, then i think another chunk for taxes from customs. All said, that's $500ish. I use the IEMs with custom molded silicone tips ($100), it required a trip to the audiologist and getting impressions made. The mp3 player was around $300 new. That's a $900 setup for being out and about.


At home
I rent and play a lot of first person shooters. So headphones are a must. I wanted a bit more kick so I've got an Auzentech X-Fi Prelude, it's good for both games and headphones. That was a $250 card. I'll alternate between my beyerdynamic DT-990 and AKG K702 depending on gaming or whatever music i feel like zoning out to. It probably works out to be a $600-650 for the audio parts.


At work
I use a pair of Koss KSC-75 clip-on headphones that I ripped apart and jury-rigged a headband out of a coat hanger (cause the clips hurt my ears). It's one of those amazing bang-for-buck headphones. $25
It looks ridiculous and tacky, but it's also low profile.

Originally Posted by Manic!

Look at some IEM's. For $30 I love the JVC Marshmallows. You can get them at FS. There is no need to spend $400 to get good sound.

+1 Agreed. The marshmallows also fall under the good audio bang-for-buck

[StylinRed]

Oh forgot to mention


if you're looking for Cans i'd grab the Sennheiser HD 25-1 ii

they're not too pretty but rather good



you can blend in outside too

they're only $250 if you get the regular version (bit more for the addidas colouring)
http://www.long-mcquade.com/products...Headphones.htm


in ear then the price goes up :/ $340


http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-IE-Audiophile-Isolating-Headphones/dp/B0012XFDWE
yeah im a Sennheiser fan

[Ronin]

Beats are terrible. They're more fashion than audio.

Go to Head Fi and check reviews.

[BrRsn]

I ordered off of audiocubes (ships from japan)

I got a pair of audio technica ath-a900's, my cousin got the ath-a500's and they're both really, really good. They're excellent to run off of a built in soundcard (something you should look into! There's lots of expensive nice headphones, but how many of 'em require a pre-amp, and which do not.) as they have a fairly low resistance.

BTW, I got them about 3 or 4 years ago, still work flawlessly and I abuse them everyday.

http://www.audiocubes.com/index.php?cPath=23_36

[VK79]

Just a heads up. Tons of klipsch iem and senn cans on sale at FS for 50% off.

Note: make sure you test with what YOU listen to and decide what works for YOU. I've personally tried/bought a few of the "recommended" cans/iem but they were not to my liking.
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[StylinRed]

HD558s for $125

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...f10e7df538en02

that's cheaper than amazon has it for (by $25 )

[FOREVER]

Get some fanny wangs, they're just like "Beats" just without the expensive price



http://www.fannywang.com/on-ear-wang-headphones.html

[StylinRed]

fanny wangs rofl

they look pretty cool though