Closed full-ear headphones for the iPod

[am3822]

Hi people,

I've managed to check AKG's K271 Studio and K171 - and I still feel that too much external sound is leaking in --

Am I aiming for an impossible seal/noise reduction with non ear-canal phones? If that is not the case - what headphones should I check?

Many thanks,

Am.

[camson]

I would say to have a listen to a range of Sennheisers. A few stores have listening stations to sample a range of them.

I think that you are searching for the impossible in regards to noise reduction. Maybe you should investigate noise cancelling pairs?

[am3822]

Thanks Camson,

I think I'll try the HD280 and HD25 (the affordable variety) before giving up hope.

As for active noise control - as I understand, such headphones require an external power source and their reduction ability is somewhat limited (unless you want to carry along a small box of DSP gadgetry). Still, I'll have a look/listen.

Am.

[breakaway1029]

check out the bose quietcomfort/quietcomfort2. They sound pretty good, and they cancel noise very well. The $200-$300 price is a little steep, but either one accompanies the iPod very well. Good Luck!

[SkippyMcHaggis]

check the forums at http://www.head-fi.org/ or http://headwize2.powerpill.org/index.htm and see if the guys there have anything to suggest.

Skip

[am3822]

Well.. I went out and bought the HD280 (also tried the HD-25 for a laugh - too pricey - and they don't block as much).

They're big, somewhat cumbersome and not a lovely sight (the head-fi.org definition of 'dork factor 10' is apt) but they block the outside world just fine, and to my untrained ears they sound ok.

Am.