Best Headphone Recommendations

[andylawcc]

i just got the Monoprice HiFi DJ headphones. In short, not terribly impressed. I mean, for the price, it's not bad; but my budget can afford slightly better stuff. While sound quality is subjective, they are not that certainly comfortable as everyone seem to say.
(I am using a Sennheiser 535 as comparison) The headband on the Monoprice is too short and doesn't fit around my medium size head. I have to rotate them to find a smaller "circumference" around my head to fit. And with shorter headband means more pressure applied to the ears, i certainly prefer the fluffy-cloth style earpads on the Sennheisers.

i will probably shoot for another Sennheiser

 

[Gintaras]

have you ever tried http://www.head-fi.org/

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah the Monoprice are good but they're not the most comfortable. They're far from awful, especially considering the price, but I feel like they'll make you want to go for some more comfortable headphones.

To me, they make great audiophile starter headphones and if you can't stretch the budget then get them and be happy, but for comfortable long listening sessions I'd go for something else.

Im really digging these http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica...&keywords=ws55

Only issue I have at all is my left ear gets sore after a bit. If you have smaller ears then they are awesome for the price. I was able to find them for about 70$.

I'm an Audio-Technica fanboy, wish I could try out their newest ones. I wish Tyll would do a big A-T review/test. They have a bunch of headphones in the $50-250 range, and in some cases there's quite a bit of overlap.

At that price, I was really happy with the Sennheiser HD429/439/449 line.

The Monoprice headphones are surprisingly good too, if you don't mind a bass-heavy sound.

The Senn's seem to get the comfort right. Been forever since I heard any of their stuff.

I have these and love them. Creative Aurvana Live. $75

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-EF006...e+aurvana+live

I was going to mention these. And the JVC mentioned are good too.

 

[hans030390]

LOL, yeah, the Monoprice isn't that comfortable. They're great for modding, though. I changed the ear pads to Brainwavz HM5 pads and put some various internal damping mods in the cups. Also put aftermarket padding on the headband. Total cost me about $50 (including headphones), since I had most of these parts around the house, but they sounded and felt (comfort) much nicer than that.

 

[saad elie]

Check out these headphones:
http://www.macrotronics.net/index.p...8_181?osCsid=51e971bfdfcaddb2f88c88a5e510fae7

 

[gus6464]

Aurvana Live is basically a Denon 1100 which is a nice can. Grados on the low end side of things are just too damn screeching bright for me. There are so many cans to choose from I would suggest you go to head-fi and read some impressions. What sounds like heaven to one person will sound like crap to others. I have gone through my share of cans and IEM and this is what I currently own:

Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro
Audio Technica AD-700 (so good with gaming)
Monster Miles Davis Trumpets (best IEM I've ever owned)

Before the trumpets I had Turbine Pro Golds that I gave to my wife. She also has a pair of Klipsch Reference One cans that I got her last year for $75 on sale and was a great purchase.

If you want something portable though I really like the Reference One's for the price. They are plush comfy too.
http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Refere.../dp/B005ZNHDYS

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, I use to use www.goodcans.com for headphone reviews, but they really havn't been updated lately. That said, they really have a LOT of good information in general about headphones, the different types, the advantages of one type over another, etc...

head-fi.org is probably the place to go for modern info.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA22A1268262

you should be able to find these for less. best bang for the buck.

 

[Oyeve]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA22A1268262

you should be able to find these for less. best bang for the buck.

Um, no. IMO those cans are way overrated. They are like vicegrips on your head and do not sound nearly as good as all the reviews make them out to believe. You are better off getting the MDR-V6 for that $$$. They are a hell of a lot more comfy and sound much better. Plus they are built much better. Hell, im still using mine from 1986! My HD280 have been in the same spot collecting dust for 5 years now.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Um, no. IMO those cans are way overrated. They are like vicegrips on your head and do not sound nearly as good as all the reviews make them out to believe. You are better off getting the MDR-V6 for that $$$. They are a hell of a lot more comfy and sound much better. Plus they are built much better. Hell, im still using mine from 1986! My HD280 have been in the same spot collecting dust for 5 years now.

Sold my HD280s to upgrade to Audio Technica M50s. I regret it to this day. Granted I should amp the M50s.

My only compaint on the HD280s is their tightness on thehead but they sounded awesome. But my Grade SR-60s did sound better. OP wants sealed though so My HD280 recomendation.

We're all failing in the same way all threads do at Anandtech these days. Everyone has answers but no questions.

OP I think said it was for gaming and osme other things. Probably wants good bass response. And plugged into a PC, the cans are probably not amped. Given the impedence of the Sony's you point out, they are probably not a bad choice. I don't know much about them though.

 

[Muadib]

I just got the V-moda crossfade M-80 cans. The rat shack had them on sale for $80 last week. Call your local shack, and see if you can get them for $80, because they are a steal at that price. They are on ear which I'm still trying to get used to. I might upgrade to the M-100 model, as they are more conventional. They are way above you price range though.

 

[hans030390]

I have heard the M100 was disappointing compared to the M80. I have heard neither of them personally, though.

 

[Excelsior]

A/T Fanboy here. I've had my ATH-500s for....maybe 10 years now? I only had to put a new plug on the end after I tore up the original and get new ear pads, which weren't very expensive. So comfortable to wear, nice woven cable, and great neutral sound. If i had to replace them today, I'd go with Audio Technica again.

 

[andylawcc]

do not mean to necro at all, but here are some thoughts on a few headphones:

I was in a quest of searching of a competent replacement of my 14 years old Sennheiser HD 545 which I absolutely loved. The pads are finally worn out and the cable connectors (to the cans, not to the 3.5mm plug) are getting loose again (replaced them once).
First I got the famed monoprice ones, but was disappointed (well, it was only 40 bucks , didn't expect too much). Was going to keep them as spare but damn they are too small for my head.
Then jumped back on the Sennheiser bandwagon with the 558, but again was disappointed. I can't explain, the old 545 just sound "fuller."
After a while, a friend came over with the Audiotechnica M50, didn't like it; but opened my options up for other A/T offering.
At the end, thanks to the exchange rates, I got the AD700x cheap on Ebay ($130).
Finally, the searched has ended and in audio bliss again

 

[Jay Sinclair]

If you can consider stretching your budget then I would recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M50. Good value headphones with decent quality sound. I would recommend choosing the one with the coil lead though as the non-coiled lead is quite long and can get in the way if you are travelling.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...P25VSWNAD924CB

 

[MongGrel]

I like IEM's myself these days, but I guess that's a bit off topic.

 

[StrangerGuy]

I like IEM's myself these days, but I guess that's a bit off topic.

The $25 Xiaomi Piston 2 are shockingly good for the price assuming you can get the real authentic deal.

 

[SickBeast]

Bluevibe dlx gets my vote. They are $30 with free shipping when they go on sale at Amazon. Amazing sound quality.