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Good pair of headphones for listening music.

Tonato17 16 April 2006

Hello! I am a musician and I am looking for a pair of really good headphones to listen music with the most quality posible, I like to listen all the details, all the instruments, all voices clearly, all the efects, how where the digitations done, etc...
My budget is around $200. I was told the Sony mdr 7509 are good in that price. What do you recommend me?

Thanks a lot from now, and forgive my fair english, i am from Bs. As. Argentina =)

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Comments

RemyRAD Sun, 04/16/2006 - 20:21

Headphones are as personal as underwear. Of all of the brands of headphones I have used throughout my career, Sony, KOSS, AKG, Sennheiser and others, I have never particularly cared for the Sony's or the AKG's much. Although they do seem to be quite popular with other folks? I have always enjoyed my KOSS when I needed sealed headphones but I have found that my open-air Sennheiser's offer me the best translation between headphone and speakers. I have a couple of their better models for my personal use and cheaper models for use by the musicians in the studio since they are used and abused and destroyed more frequently.

I think I will blow my brains out (with my Sennheiser's)?
Ms. Remy Ann David

anonymous Mon, 04/17/2006 - 07:30

I have Sennheiser HD25 SP's. I used to have the more expensive HD25's (stolen). I've loved them both. The SP's annoy me tho'- massively longer wire and double wires round your neck, choke choke choke. The 1/4" jack connector on the SP's is unhelpful with the iPod, as is carrying 3 miles of cable around the place. I wish i had spent the extra but at the time i didn't have it. Also one of my connections is loose in one of the ears which is a bit annoying but no one else seems to have this problem so maybe don't let that put you off. Finally there is a hybrid version of the the headphones called the British Airways addition, sometimes availiable on ebay, which is worth checking out. I think they are like the SP's but with a short wire and a 3.5mm connector.

Have you thought about Grado? (boutique-tastic)

anonymous Mon, 04/17/2006 - 12:19

Grado's are okay, but they have open backs, so you are going to hear everything around you through the phones too. This also means that everyone else will also hear what you're listening to!
For solidly-built headphones that have a reasonable sound, I like my Audio-Technica's ATH-M40fs. Great isolation, very comfy, reasonably flat. The earpieces also do the 180 flip, so you can use them for dj-ing. They're just a bit bulky, so...
I also have Sennheiser's PX-200. These are very comfortable, have reasonable isolation, decent sound, and come with a very handy carrying case that they are packed into. The cable is apparently made with Kevlar, so should be reasonably sturdy for some time, but Sennheiser says it's replaceable anyway, along with the ear-pads.
SO
For real good sound, real good isolation, not so great portability, the Audio-Technica. For reasonable sound, reasonable isolation, great portability, Sennheisers.
Just my two ownership cents (Canadian $).
Pero tambien vivi en Villa General Belgrano en la provincia de Cordoba de 80-84. Asi que, esos son mis 2 centavos (?).

TeddyG Mon, 04/17/2006 - 14:41

If isolation is NOT a problem, any of the better "open" or "semi-open" phones should be lovely -- specifically those models recommended for "music listening" would be where I'd start? I've never been an AKG or Sony fan either... Are you single Remy? Scracth that, I'm not, just remembered... The "closed" phones "start" with a built-in disadvantage. They are forever "closed" for reasons of isolation(Great for tracking at the microphone though!), which do not allow using a design which might be "better", such as the more "open" models... For many years the auiophile types, the more open types, have been greatly preferred for music listening(Or for mixing/editing when needed.).

Do not speak to me of Koss! My wonderful Koss Pro4AA's..! Waaahhhhh! I miss them so!!! 3 pair over the years, including one pair of Pro 600AA's... One pair still hangs here in the studio, their fantastic "liquid-filled" cushions still leak-free and pretty squishy! I bought the last two pair and immediately sent them back to Koss for "re-build", as the wires in each "failed" in about a week! I enclosed a note that I was "in broadcasting" and was very disappointed in them. They came back with a wonderful "heavy-duty" wiring harness that lasted for years of daily use... After that I sent them back every couple of years and they always came back looking/sounding just like new(Always no charge!)! It is said that I could send them all back NOW(UP TO 30 YEARS LATER!) for FREE re-build??? I don't know? I guess their time is past - I like my Beyer's...... But, I loved my Koss's! I would've married them but I got my girlfriend pregnant first(Now wife. 332 years... I mean 32 years...)... Sad...(For her! heheheh.)......

TG

RemyRAD Mon, 04/17/2006 - 17:18

Teddy, great minds think alike! (so, when do you want to leave your wife for a reel audio girl? Forgot..... I have a boyfriend of 13 years....... the relationship duration, not his age!) I still have one pair of Pro 4AA's, with the liquid filled ear cushions, still operational but quite beaten up. Never thought to send them in?

Head phone (don't answer the phone man....)
Ms. Remy Ann David

anonymous Tue, 04/18/2006 - 07:34

I'm not familiar with those headphones. Any "consumer" Sony stuff I've bought seems to be way overpriced for what you get, but hey, that's just my opinion. "Pro" stuff is okay, but in the little experience I've had recording, there's not much "pro" Sony stuff that's used; they're more in the video end of things with pros, as far as I know.
Anyway, we have Sony CD480 headphones here. They are easier to drive than our Fostex headphones (go louder with same amount on "volume knob"), but leak a whole lot more; plus I find my ears get tired listening at loud volumes on the Sonys a lot faster. Both my Sennheisers and Audio-Technicas (especially the A-T's) are VERY easy to listen to, even at louder volumes, for whatever time I've wanted to crank up the headphones.
One other thing to keep in mind is that if you are going to be using them with a battery-powered something-or-other (Discman, iPod, etc.), check the Ohm rating. Lower Ohm (resistance) ratings, which are usually listed on the container, mean they will "generally" be louder than headphones with the same Ohm rating at the same "volume knob" level. Some even have sensitivity ratings, which is "supposed" to give an idea on how much efficiency the headphones have. Assuming the ratings are accurate, higher-"sensitivity" headphones (probably with lower Ohm ratings) should be more efficient. The point of this paragraph is to say that these more "efficient" headphones will help your batteries last longer, as they will need less energy to go loud. This is not to say they will SOUND better, they just may work better in your scenario.
As others have mentioned, there are compromises to make here. Headphones have difficulty with true bass extension, so some have ports or bass-boost circuits that (in my experience) just sound crappy and boomy. The main thing I like about my A-T's is their bass response: solid, too loose to mix with, but at least they don't sound like what I've heard with Sony's old Turbo Boost circuit or stuff like that. Closed-back headphones tend to have this problem. Open-backed headphones "sound" better, but have even more problems with bass extension (my Grado's are like that).

anonymous Tue, 04/18/2006 - 12:07

[quote=Nealer]I'm not familiar with those headphones. Any "consumer" Sony stuff I've bought seems to be way overpriced for what you get, but hey, that's just my opinion. "Pro" stuff is okay, but in the little experience I've had recording, there's not much "pro" Sony stuff that's used; they're more in the video end of things with pros, as far as I know.
Anyway, we have Sony CD480 headphones here. quote]
Sony pro headphones are good and used world wide pretty much
Regards Tamas Dragon

TVPostSound Tue, 04/18/2006 - 16:05

Tonato

The 7509s have a weird hyped unatural bottom end. As opposed to the 7506s which have a hyped top end.
I need to watch out here!!! :roll:

For under $100.00 each I purchased a bag full of Sennheiser HD280PROs
Great isolation, very accurate (As far as headphones go) VO guys and gals really like them. A little tight on the head at first, but I have a big head.

My thoughts agree with Remy, about the AKGs also, I dont see the hype, but everyone uses them, I personally cant stand listening to them.
Although the 7506s are great for editing.

Tonato17 Thu, 04/20/2006 - 09:19

Hi, i have been thinking and looking for a lot in inet and magazines, and for the price and qualiti, I am seriously thinking in buy the Alessandro MS-1s. I know they are open, but i would only use the headphones at home, in moments to listen music as detailed as possible. Finally, i have 2 more questions:
1) Do you think the would be a good buy?
2) Where can i Buy them via Internet, and send them to Bs. As, Argentina.

Well, THANKS A LOT, really!!!

TeddyG Sat, 04/22/2006 - 04:11

It is unlikely that any of us have had all 3 pairs of those you suggest in one place, at one time, to A/B/C test them? Pick a pair and "love them"... Though I have never even heard of any but the Senn's, if they are all of similar spec and price, I'm just so darned sure that any would be lovely... If the other two pair you don't buy are better? You will be blissfully ignorant of this fact...... A good thing......

TG

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