Quest for best iPod headphones

[Scott549]

I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me. I've got the Sennheiser PX200's. I think they are pretty good, but I'm wondering if there's something better for my purposes. I have thought about the Etymotic ER-4p's, but I'm not sure I like the canalphone style. I have tried the Apple in-ears and did not like them.

I'm wondering if anyone has made the jump from something like a PX200 to the Etymotics, or whether there's something else out there similar to the PX200's (small-sized headphones) that sounds significantly better if I'm willing to spend, say, $200.

Thanks.

[Drew Stevens]

There are certainly headphones better than the PX200s (including the cheaper PX100s many would say!). What kind of music do you listen to? Do you like lots of bass? Do you have a headphone amp? Do you need portability? Do you need them to be silent to others in the room while you're listening? These questions can narrow down your choices.... I can comment on any of the following (I recently sold the Bose and Etymotics though):

Shure E4C, Grado SR60, Sony V6, Sennheiser HD595, Sony EX81, Beyerdynamic DT250/80,Bose QuietComfort,Etymotic ER4P

[Scott549]

"What kind of music do you listen to? Do you like lots of bass? Do you have a headphone amp? Do you need portability? Do you need them to be silent to others in the room while you're listening?"

I listen to mostly rock. Bass does not need to be exaggerated, but adequately reproduced. I don't want to use a headphone amp, and I would like portability. Silence to others in the room is not important.

Thanks!

[dstevens]

The Grado SR60s ($70) are the obvious choice, even though your budget allows for more expensive phones. You could try listening the Sennheiser HD595 ($180), which are more versatile and also more comfortable, but for rock music from an unamped iPod, the Grados are tough to beat.

Drew

[Scott549]

Thanks for the advice. I got a pair of the Grado SR60's, and I like them. If I decide to try a canalphone style, I'll probably try the Shure E4C or the Etymotic ER-4P.

[c.you]

The grado's sr60's are great for rock. I have the shure e2c's and I find them fine at the moment as my temporary canal phones. They're quite fun with rock and bassheavy music. But if your going for portability, I don't recommend the sr60's. They leak alot since they're open. For portability I recommend going for a canal phone or a closed headphone. I've heard the er4's suffer much from microphonics, but I haven't heard them. I recommend going for the shure e2c's or e4c's. If you love bass I also recommend checking out the superfi 5 eb or pro's.

[warpdrive]

The Grado SR60's absolutely clean up for rock music. Going from SR60's to E4 or ER4's would be actually a step backwards in terms of excitement for rockin' out. If you want a genuine improvement, it's worth it to continue going up the Grado ladder (the SR225's would the next stop)

[thedodgyguy]

The problem would be that since the Grados provide no isolation (in fact, almost an anti-isolation) they would be a retrograde listening step in many environments when compared to the PX200.


The PX200 is good for the money and it's a handy little phone. The only other phone which I think is a step up and still portable for under $200 is the Sennheiser HD25-1. It sounds somewhere in the Grado SR125 area I would imagine, but it's significantly more usable outside. Add to that it's impedance of 70 ohms means that you're getting a 'free' subtle low bass boost, as well as less distortion.

[thedodgyguy]

Advice so good I had to post it twice :p
Slow site + impatient clicks does not mix...

[fantomas]

i am thinking about buying the px200's. I compared the px100 and px200, and the 200's had a warmer sound to me, as well as nicer comfy ear lining. I mostly listen to reggae, dub, etc so I guess its the subtle bass boost people have mentioned that i am liking. Can anyone explain more fully the difference between these two phones?