Need headphone advice for ipod

[i_wolf]

Hi guys,
I have my new 30 gig ipod headin my way in two days time, and i want to go out and get a decent set of headphones.
I dont like earbuds .... they tend to sound cheap and tinny. Except for ERS4 (i think thats what they are called) which are incredible but technically they aren't earbuds more like headphones inyour inner canal.... but at 350 dollars way too expensive.
For 125 ->150 dollars .... what will give me the best sound quality, comfort etc...
I will use them walking to and from work, on the train every friday and for long journeys down the country, and while i walk my dog.
Any suggestions. I was listening to some sennheiser, sony md 700's and bose triport .... any other suggestions guys or what do you recommend

[Bob]

You could start by reading the pages of comments on earphones/headphones on the old forum (http://www.xsorbit1.com/users/dennx/index.cgi?board=ipodgear&action=display&num=1030233203) - there are a lot of useful pointers there.

[i_wolf]

Thanks yeh i had already looked at that. Thats where i discovered the E4 s or whatever they are called. But they are way too expensive 250 dollars plus! Also i dont really like earbuds, i was looking for a forum that discussed dj headphones, close cup, open cup etc... headphones.... like grado etc.....
Any opinions on close cup phones.... i was looking at bose triport and i was impressed... also noticed the bose quiet comfort but that was on the web so i don't know what they are like. ANyone with either of these ??

[casdavies]

see HeadFi (http://www.headfi.org)

[buzzbat]

For sound quality go with the Grado's (this comming from other peoples comments, I havn't actually listened to them) but if you, like me want to look cool while you are wearing them go for Sony (http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=23_26&products_id=41) D66 Eggos (http://gear.ign.com/articles/356/356911p1.html) . I bought a pair about a month ago and they are by far my favorite headphones... go look on headfi for other people's opinions because i am far from being an audiophile :)

[casdavies]

yep I have the sony eggos too and although they look nice, they are very bass light.

[Bob]

i_wolf,
I'm quite impressed with the sound of the Bose - just been giving the new Quietcomfort 2's a listen actually. They are a lot more compact than the originals and if you remove the cord (its connected by a plug) you can use them as just noise suppressors.
I am not sure if they are as effective as the Quietcomfort 1's, as they don't have the 2 stage filter so it's not as noticable, but there is no doubting the richness of the sound of the Bose.
They are up there on my wishlist ;)

[sammermpc]

sony v700's look about as good as headphones can, and have awesome bass response for a reasonable price. Sound fidelity is not up to par with some of the other comparable models though, and for some reason they are only comfortable when worn with the channels switched. Just a mini-review to help you out on your decison.

[i_wolf]

yeh i listened to those sony v700's they are awesome. THey are the dj ones.Only thing is, could you like go out on the street wearing them, if you know what i mean without getting weird stares from everyone!

[dmt1]

Well you know the mantra on Bose: No highs, no lows, that's Bose...

I have a pair of Grado SR60's, and they are fantastic--like them better than the triports--and they were only $69.00...

[i_wolf]

what about the technics range of earphones.... the specs on some of them are phenominal.... 5Hz-30kHz etc...
Anyone like any of these. DO technics have any particular model around the same price as the sony V700's that are worth taking a look at ?
I checked out the grado's.... they are nice sound but something about them seamed "unnatural" to me maybe too bright?!?!
Then again it could easily have been the recording.
My new ipod wants a decent set of headphones.......

[bhauke]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Koss KSC-50. They sound great, have excellent bass, and cost a mere $20. What a deal they are and they're highly recommended on the HeadFi forums. I use them for at work and the Grado SR60 at home.

Butch

[bkafrick]

I know you said you are NOT looking for Earbuds because of their price, but I own a pair of SONY MDR EX-71s, and I think they are great (they fit in your ear canal, but just hang on your ear), and they are only $50.

Brett

[i_wolf]

maybe i am after an elusive goal. See i want excellent sound, and i want it on the go with a certain amount of portability, and i also want good sound when i hook up to my sterio at home.... Is this possible for 150 there in abouts???? I like the sound i get from over ear closed phones. but a lot of them i would look like a a guy coming from a building site wearing massive earmuffs .... I dont mind big ear cups just dont like bit fat wide ear cups.

[bhauke]

I think you should take your $150 and buy 2 sets of headphones: one set for on the go and one for at home. That's what I ended up doing and still spent under $100.

Butch

[mattwardfh]

I recommend the Grado SR60 all the way. I've been wonderfully happy with them. They're a terrific value, and reasonably comfortable. The bass is adequate and very clean, but if you want more, you might look to the SR80.

I bought a pair of SR60s, and they put my stereo system to shame and were the impetus to my buying new gear in a quest to find something that sounded as good as my headphones. Anyway, I recommend them highly. Very clean, accurate, natural sound, nice even response. Feel free to ask further questions.

[SandMan]

I highly recommend the Koss KSC-35 ($29 from www.koss.com). They blow away the KSC-50.

They are extremely portable and sound better than anything else under $100. They are open and don't isolate sound (in or out) so if that is what you are after look elsewhere. You just can't go wrong with these headphones so I'd recommend buying them even if you also plan to buy full sized headphones too. I own them as well as koss portapros and beyerdynamic DT25-80 - all are nice and easily driven by iPod.

good luck!

[sammermpc]

yeh i listened to those sony v700's they are awesome. THey are the dj ones.Only thing is, could you like go out on the street wearing them, if you know what i mean without getting weird stares from everyone!

Eh, just as much as you'd get from wearing any other full-size headphone walking around. Put on a beanie and you look like the little napster guy

[Kenny]

It really depends on what you want to use them for and how much you want to spend.

If portability is an issue, I dont think any headphone out there can compete with the Eggos (maybe the porta pros).
But if you want $100+ headphones and dont need portability, you have a whole range of options.

go to the review section at headphone.com for a better look at things.

[columbo]

I second bhauke... 2 phones. One open and very portable, the other closed and reasonably portable.

The open and portable: Sennheiser PX100, Koss KSC-35 or Portapro. I would go for the PX100. Pretty slick, not bad sound, very portable.
The closed and reasonably portable: Ultrasone HFI-650, Sony MDR-7506 or Sennheiser HD25-1. I would pick the Ultrasone.

My choices will work around to somewhere like $200. The 7506 (AKA the V6, not the V600) is not as good but still very good and more importantly much cheaper (<$100).

If you have to have one phone for everything, I say Eggo D66 if you're not a bass freak and don't mind sounds from outside intruding on your listening experience (or if you need to hear what's going on outside), and the Sennheiser HD25-1 if you are a bass freak and want to close off outside noise. Grados are fine for home listening, but pretty useless on your daily commute.

[SamHain]

I got a pair of Sennheiser PX200's for 59.99 and I love them, they have good sound and I like them, they have some isolation characteristics which helps block out some noise without that pesky black box that most noise canceling headphones have, they also have lower impedence than a lot of phones (same as Grado's 32 OHMs) These are a sealed design that fit very comfortably whish makes them perfect for listening while doing outdoor activities, ( I use 'em when cutting the grass 'n stuff) I would recommend going to this site http://headroom.headphone.com/layout.php and click on the buying guide. They have good recommendations that you can read up on, depending on what you want to do while listening. For example, I use Sony studio monitors when indoors and hooked up to my stereo amp and the Sennheisers when directly hooked to my 'pod.

[rice mac]

Originally posted by mattwardfh
I recommend the Grado SR60 all the way. I've been wonderfully happy with them. They're a terrific value, and reasonably comfortable. The bass is adequate and very clean, but if you want more, you might look to the SR80.

I bought a pair of SR60s, and they put my stereo system to shame and were the impetus to my buying new gear in a quest to find something that sounded as good as my headphones. Anyway, I recommend them highly. Very clean, accurate, natural sound, nice even response. Feel free to ask further questions.

I also reccomend Grado headphones. I gave a set of SR60's to my young cousin last year and they are a fantastic headphone. All Grados have very low impedance , so dont require alot of power from the player to drive them. This places lesses strain on your iPod battery and increases battery life. Not to mention that Grados sound so sweet. They are considered by most people to be butt ugly.
My comments are a bit biased since I have previously owned the SR225 and currently the RS2. A good set of headphones can match speakers that are 5-10 times their cost.

[dmt1]

The Grado SR60's. for $69.00 (this included shipping; some people have even found them for less), outperform most sets of headphones under $200.00--they are an absolute bargain. They are considered lower end true audiophile headphones, and are considered by many the best set of cans you can get for the ipod without and external amplifier. Strongly recommended.

These are NOT portable headphones--you won't be going out in public with these suckers, but the sound is incredible for the price.

[JohnnyDingus]

If you want the best iPod experience you can get, then GET the ultimate setup for your iPod. I am using a "Headroom Airhead" headphone amp chained to my iPod with the Etymotic ER-6 earbuds. These earbuds give 15-20 db of isolation from outside sounds and it really seems like the music is literally inside your head. IMHO the Ec2's are thin in comparison to the ER-6's. I tried them and took them back 30 min. after I bought them. They are way to thin for me, which is my own personal opinion for what that is worth. The Headroom carries the largest selection of headphones for audiophiles I have seen yet. Here is a link to The HeadRoom site:

http://headroom.headphone.com/

I also use their iPod gearbag which holds the amp and iPod as one unit. This bag is available for the older or the new iPod and it works beautifully.

Peace!

[Bob]

Johnny
Your post above is a duplicate of the one here (http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=16010#post16010) - please do not cross post.

[JohnnyDingus]

Sorry man, I didn't think about that. Won't happen again.

Peace:)

[rice mac]

The Etymotic range of headphones sound incredible with an iPod especially the 4P's. One caveat. If you cannot stand having the little plugs in your ears they would be unsuitable as was the case for me.