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DrStrad
Audio
Lets start with some basic audio terms. The general range of human hearing is from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Bass - The lowest part of the spectrum and is separated into 2 parts: Sub-bass at the range of 5 Hz to 20 Hz, which you generally feel instead of hear, and Mid-bass at 20 Hz to 320 Hz, where it becomes audible. Many people regard bass as the most important part of the spectrum (Beats lovers) but fail to realize the difference between muddy bass and tight, clear bass.
Midrange - Ranging from 320 Hz to 5120 Hz, it is also blended into 2 parts: Basic Midrange and High Midrange/Low Treble. Basic Midrange is where most of the instruments and many male voices are centered, and at High Midrange and the next level that will be mentioned ( High Treble) is where female voices and other higher pitch instruments are situated. This range is most important in coffee house style music (not too many instruments, more focused on voice).
Treble (Highs) - Ranging from 5120 Hz to 20840 Hz, this is where too much is a terrible thing, and too little is not the worst thing that could happen. It really affects the "brilliance" of the music and is where most of the texture will come from. It can sometimes become too harsh and fatiguing, and at other times can be underwhelming and unexciting to the listener.
Headphones, IEMs, and Headsets
The Audio world is filled with greatness, and disappointments. There are so many companies and whether they're German, Japanese, Russian, or American, they all have their pros and cons.
Open vs. Closed
Open headphones will have a wider sound stage, giving the music more room and a more natural feel. The downside to open headphones is that they leak sound and let sound in.
Closed headphones generally have a more direct sound. Closed headphones usually isolate well, this means that tend to keep the sound between the headphones and the listener. The downside to closed, is that they sound sound as good objectively, and don't generally come with as much bang per buck.
Headphones
Dynamic Headphone
Headphones can be known for different things - comfort, sound quality, and appearance. Some can have a pass with all categories, but they are generally rare/extremely expensive.
As of now, there are 3 types of headphones on the market.
Dynamic - Uses the traditional vibrating diaphragm to produce sound.
Dynamic Headphone and Drivers
Planar Magnetic (or Orthodynamic) - Uses an array of magnets and a thin film which vibrates when acted upon by the magnetic force. These generally have a tighter sound and an overall improvement over dynamic.
Planar Magnetic Headphones and Driver
Finally, there is the holy grail - Electrostatic. Electrostatic systems work by placing a static (non-moving) electric charge on a film that floats between two perforated metal plates. When audio voltages are applied across the plates, static cling and repulsion causes the entire film to move all by itself. This film is so thin that it weighs less than the air around it, and has no resonances or energy storage which leads to the coloration inherent in moving coil speakers.
Electrostatic Headphones and Driver
Manufacturers I Recommend Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Grado, Audio-Technica, Audeze, HiFiMan, Sony, Denon, Fostex, Shure, Stax
Musical Preferences
Note - These are very general
Bright, Airy - Beyerdynamic, Grado
Great All-around - Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Stax, HiFiMan
Great Mids - Audeze, Sony
Great Bass - Denon, Fostex, Shure
________________________________________________________
Headphone buying guide
I've taken most of this information from a link on Head-Fi in hopes that more will see it.
When considering a headphone it's always best to find a place to demo them and try your own music to see if they suit you. Sound is subjective and the headphone I or someone else enjoy may not be what you are looking for. Remember that price is not necessarily a factor in quality.
More Terms
V-Shape - Recessed Mids, Strong Lows and Highs
Treble Extension - A feeling that your ears are opened up, an airy feeling.
Fatiguing - Often harsh to the ears or uncomfortable.
KEY
(1) Denotes amp is not required and the headphone will probably not see any change with one.
(2) Denotes amp is not required, but one is recommended.
(3) Denotes amp is required. Using these without an amp will leave much to be desired.
Any headphone with a B next to the number, IE:
(2-B) indicates that it's a bass heavy headphone.
Any headphone with an m next to it denotes that a mic/remote option is available.
Budget Headphones - $0-$75
Open Headphones
(1) Koss KSC75, $10-$20. Mid-bass heavy, sub-bass roll-off and sparkly highs. *These are clip-ons*.
(1-B) Sony MA-300, $30. Warm, bassy, good soundstage, decent comfort.
(1) Superlux HD681 Evo, $30-$40. Leans bright without sacrificing mids or lows. Great price ratio.
(2) Samson SR850, $50. Neutral, slight emphasis on treble. Removable cable.
(1-B) Koss PortaPro, $30-$40. Strong but slightly muddy bass, recessed mids, slightly rolled off highs.
Closed Headphones
(2)Monoprice 8323, $23. Removable cable, good portability, comfort, folds up for travel, and isolation. Good sound to price ratio, good balance.
(1-B) JVC HAS400B, $24-$28. Very bassy and moddable though uncomfortable with stock pads.
(1) Tascam TH-02, $30. Slightly cheapish build. Highly moddable. Clean, extended bass, slightly elevated top octave, but is a tad recessed from 2-5kHz . No amp needed, but sounds different from high-impedance outputs.
(1) Panasonic RP-HTF600-S, $30-$45. Deep punchy lows with a good soundstage. Durability is a concern.
(1-B) Philips Downtown, $30-$40. Isolate well, great bass quality and quantity, refined for the sound. On-ear.
(1) JVC HARX700, $30-$40. "A poor mans A700." Thumpy/muddy bass, decent mids, decent highs.
(2) Koss PRODJ 100, $40-60. Solid build quality, coiled cable, and folds for portability. Natural, clean, sound.
(1) JVC HARX900, $55-$100. "A poor mans A900." Decent soundstage. Tight/deep bass, recessed mids, bright/fatiguing highs.
(1) Sony MDR-V6/7506, $60-$90. Folds for portability. Clear sound with a rather flat response.
Entry Level Headphones - $75-$150
Open Headphones
(1) Grado SR-60i, $79. Bright forward headphones. Bass is punchy but overshadowed by the forward mids, bright, potentially fatiguing highs. Great value headphones with good potential for modding.
(2) AKG K240, $80-$100. Good build quality, detachable cable. Tight natural highs, slightly forward mids and highs.
(1) Audio Technica ATH-AD700x, $120-$160. Great comfort and decent build quality. Weak bass though it has some impact, detailed mids and highs with no fatigue. One of the best soundstages in the price range.
(1) Alessandro MS-1, $99. Decent natural sounding bass, good warm mids, good detail in the highs with decent extension.
(1) Grado SR80i, $99. Decent lows, though the aggressively forward mids overshadow them. Shrill highs, very bright headphone. Highly regarded for the price. Comfort and fatigue are potential concerns.
(2-B) Fischer Audio FA-011, $118. Comfortable with a good sound stage. Deep tight bass, smooth clear mids, somewhat bright highs.
Closed Headphones
(1) Creative Aurvana Live!, $55-$99. Better Denon D1001. Average build quality, decent comfort. Strong bass, lively highs, and overall good balance.
(1-m) House of Marley Exodus, $70-$150. Decent isolation, easy to drive, and a nice carrying pouch. Slightly recessed highs, natural sounding mids, strong bass, warm sound.
(2) Fostex t50rp, $75-$130. Great build quality and cheap orthos, huge modding community behind it and a removable cable. Neutral sound with excellent clarity.
(2) NVX XPT100, $80. Laid-back/neutral clean sound. Soundstage is perhaps the best in this price range for closed headphones, giving a very open feel to them. Great accessory list.
(1) KRK KNS-6400, $80-$100. Accurate, detailed and comfortable. Accurate bass, good mids and smooth treble. Great soundstage for a closed headphone. Detachable cables.
(1-B) Denon D1100, $100. Good build quality, comfort, and isolation. Strong, punchy and powerful bass with decent mids and highs. #1
(1-B) Audio Technica M50(x), $100-$150. Punchy deep bass, with slightly recessed mids. Good passive isolation.
(1-B) Creative Aurvana Live 2!, $105-$130. Decent build quality, sub-optimal isolation, removable cable and comfy. Bass heavy sound with clean mids and highs.
(2) KRK KNS 8400, $115-$150. Accurate and detailed. Good lows, good mids, good highs. Detachable cable and accurate.
(1-B) Ultrasone HFI-580, $120-$190. Folds for portability, good build quality, and decent isolation. Fun, clean, V shaped sound. Deep punchy clean bass, slightly recessed mids, bright, sometimes fatiguing, highs. Some sibilance.
(2) AKG K271 MK II, $125-$180. Neutral headphones makes them good for studio monitoring. Detailed, but lacking in bass. Detachable cable.
(2) KAM HP-1, $130. Great balance, bright leaning neutral. Good isolation, detachable cable, good comfort. Excellent imaging and good soundstage.
(1) Shure SRH840, $140-$200. Isolates well, folds for portability, and good build quality. Accurate/punchy bass, great mids, highs are somewhat lacking.
Mid-Range Headphones - $150-$300
Open Headphones
(2) Sennheiser HD558, $130-$180. Warm bass, though not much impact, slightly recessed mids, and rolled off highs. Very relaxed sounding.
(3-B) Beyerdynamic Dt990, $150-$340. Be wary there are 4 models of the Dt990: 32ohm, 250ohm, 600ohm. Each has it's own differences but the general sound of the Dt990s are rather bass heavy with a lot of treble, most recessed mids of any of the Dt series.
(2) Sennheiser HD598, $175-$250. Looks fantastic, good comfort. Warm laid back sound signature. Decent bass impact and extension, smooth mids, slightly rolled off highs.
(1) Grado SR225i, $199. Bright headphones with great mids and highs. These are considered to be the least fatiguing of the SR line while maintaining the Grado "house" sound. Potential comfort issues.
(3) Beyerdynamic Dt880, $200-$350. Be wary there are 4 models of the Dt880: 32ohm, 250ohm, 600ohm. Each has it's own differences but the general sound of these are rather neutral with an emphasis on the treble, more so than the Dt770. *These are semi-open.*
(1) Audio Technica ATH-AD900x, $200-$300. Good clarity, lush balanced mids and highs, punchy accurate bass. Very comfortable, great soundstage.
(3) AKG Q701, $225-$250. Slightly more bass impact than the K701, very clear detailed sound. Comes in many colors.
(1-B) Philips Fidelio X1, $230-$300. Non-replaceable pads, fit may be poor. Sound is bassy and fun to listen to. Slightly loose bass and slightly artificial treble. #1, #2, #3
(2) HiFiMan HE-300, $250. Great all-rounder headphones. Warm clear sound.
(3) AKG K701/702, $250-$270. Amazing detail and clarity, bass is adequate and precise. Largely considered the most detailed headphones in the price range, though also considered the hardest to amp. The K702 offers a detachable cable.
(2) Grado SR325i, $295. Considered the brightest and most aggressive of the SR line, but also very detailed.
Closed Headphones
(1) Sennheiser HD 25-1 II, $130-$200. Durable with good isolation. Well defined lows, neutral mids, and smooth highs.
(1-B) Audio Technica ATH-Pro700MK2, $140-$180. Dual removable cables, good build quality, strong clamp. Huge bass, mostly a fun basshead headphone.
(1-B) Ultrasone HFI-780, $155-$250. Good isolation, iffy build quality, easy to drive. Strong clear bass, slightly forward mids, bright highs.
(3) Beyerdynamic Dt770, $170-$250. Bassy with a v-shape. Very comfortable.
(2) Beyerdynamic DT1350, $175-$300. Excellent build quality. Very neutral, detailed, sound. Tight accurate bass with great clarity throughout.
(1) V-Moda M-80, $179-$220. Amazing build quality. Removable Cables. Decent Isolation. Deep bass with forward mids. Highs lack sparkle but extended. Very smooth sound.
(1) Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9A, $190-$230. Very smooth, warm, sound. Good bass, slightly recessed mids, decent highs. Wooden cups.
(2) Beyerdynamic T50p, $200-$300. Excellent build quality. Balanced, accurate, and a good soundstage. Tight accurate lows, smooth mids, sparkly highs.
(1) Audio Technica A900x, $220-$250. Great lively sound, punchy bass, engaging mids, clean highs. Fit is very loose.
(2) Shure SRH940, $220-$300. Removable cable and good isolation. Warm clean sound great for all sorts of music.
(2) Ultrasone Pro 750, $240-$390. Good bass not overbearing but with plenty of slam. Good comfort. Great with trance and bass heavy music.
(1) Thinksound On1, $250-$300. Neutral, clean, and detailed. Wooden cups, removable cable. Lightweight and good isolation.
(2-B) Focal Spirit One, $280. Warm to dark leaning, but not exactly for bassheads. Suits many forms of electronic music. Great aesthetics.
Upper Mid-Range Headphones - $300-$500
Open Headphones
(2) Alessandro MS2, $299. Good balance throughout. Good clarity, rather congested sound. Easy to drive.
(3) Sennheiser HD600, $255-$400. Very neutral balanced, quick and clear headphones.
(3) Sony MDR-SA5000, $315-$420. Very detailed. Fantastic highs with excellent extension, clear analytical mids, light detailed bass. Fast headphones with excellent sound imaging.
(3) Sennheiser HD650, $330-$500. Well built and comfortable, but slight clamping. Warm relaxed sound signature. Great bass and lows, mids and highs can be veiled without proper amping.
(3) HiFiMan HE-400, $300-$400. Dark sound signature, clean sound, and decent level of detail.
Closed Headphones
(1-m) Bowers & Wilkins P5, $295-$300.Good build quality, removable cable, great isolation and in-line mic. Warm sounding signature with focus on mid-bass.
(2) Mr. Speakers Mad Dogs, $299. Comfortable, excellent detail retrieval, forgiving of poor recordings, neutral. DIY approach means consistency issues could occur.
(1-B) Audio Technica ATH-ES10, $380-$430. Warm balanced sound overall with decent isolation. Strong hard hitting bass, neutral mids, smooth sparkling highs.
Audiophile Headphones - $500
Open Headphones
(2) Audio Technica Ad2000 (or x), $450-$845. Light, well built, comfortable. Tight, punchy, fast, detailed bass, not much sub-bass though. Mids are forward and slightly aggressive though said to be one of the best for any headphone, very natural sounding detailed highs. These are said to be "fast" headphones. Some even go as far as calling these the best dynamic headphone out there with the right amp/dac.
(2) Grado RS1i, $695. Incredibly detailed and smooth. More of a neutral sound signature. The lows are textured and punchy, the mids and highs have excellent resolution.
(3) HiFi Man HE-500, $599. Comfortable and beautiful. Natural sounding slightly warm sound with well articulated bass with good impact, very neutral and natural mid-range, and excellent treble that shines. Slightly slow but great imaging. These were considered fantastic at the price of $899, they've since been reduced to $699 making them and excellent value.
(2) Alessandro MS-Pro, $699. Neutral, very detailed with great clarity. Aimed at classical music listeners.
(3) Audeze LCD2, $945-$1,145. Amazing soundstage and imaging, Balanced highs, slightly heavy, but detailed bass, very natural mid-range.
(2) Grado GS1000i, $995. Very detailed and accurate. Deep quality bass (possibly best in Grado line), rather bright sound. Great soundstage. Very analytical.
(2) Oppo PM-1, $1,099. Easy to drive, comfortable and well built. Deep extended and textured bass, slightly recessed mid-bass, forward vocals, slightly rolled off highs. #1
(3) Beyerdynamic Tesla T1, $1,210-$1,400. Rather neutral with amazing clarity and detail. Very natural sounding.
(3) Sennheiser HD800, $1,499. Well defined bass with amazing clarity, fantastic mid-range, slightly artificial highs with some pronounced sibilance. Excellent soundstage and imaging.
(2) Grado PS1000, $1,695. Strong quality bass, fantastic mids and highs.
(3) Stax SR-007 "Omega II", $2,199. Requires a special electrostatic amp. Open-Back Electrostatic Earspeaker.
Closed Headphones
(2) Audio Technica ATH-W1000X, $430-$600. Detailed slightly bright highs (sibilance), great mid separation and detail, smooth detailed punchy bass. Amazing soundstage. Wooden cups.
(2-B) Ultrasone Pro 900, $550. Deep bass that's slightly uncontrolled without an amp, slightly recessed mids, bright highs. Recommended to have an amp and to do the Kees Mod.
(1) Mr. Speakers Alpha Dog, $600. Slightly more bassy than neutral with great imaging. Good sound quality and comfort. #1
(3) Audio Technica ATH-W5000, $680-$840. Notoriously picky with amps. Fantastic clarity and balance through the mids and highs. Lows are punchy and accurate without overextending. Spacious soundstage similar to open headphones with a lot of detail. Great for classical. Wooden cups
(3) Stax 4070, $1,824. Requires a special electrostatic amp. Electrostatic headphone. Designed for monitoring, very detailed and unforgiving. A bit heavy but good comfort.
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74
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Review the Razer Kraken 7.1s
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Listened to them briefly, would not recommend.
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Very useful! This improved my knowledge on how this stuff works.
I own a pair of $99 dollar audio technica ATH-ANC29 noise cancelling headphones and for my use they work pretty nicely. They're kind of cheaply manufactured and rattle a little bit when moved to harshly, and are very lightweight, but the overall sound function is great for a normal casual user like me. One dissapointment however is when noise cancelling is turned on, there is a slight buzzing noise in the background, which can get a little annoying but i tend to tune it out. They are great though because they work as both analog without noise cancelling and also with noise cancelling, which uses its battery.
My dad also has some Bose quiet comfort 15's which are quite nice, and have a great noise cancelling feature, but unlike the ATH-ANC29, they do not work without usage of battery or the noise cancelling feature - a little bit of a dissapointment for some 300 dollar headphones. Overall though, they are nicely manufactured and work great.
I own a pair of $99 dollar audio technica ATH-ANC29 noise cancelling headphones and for my use they work pretty nicely. They're kind of cheaply manufactured and rattle a little bit when moved to harshly, and are very lightweight, but the overall sound function is great for a normal casual user like me. One dissapointment however is when noise cancelling is turned on, there is a slight buzzing noise in the background, which can get a little annoying but i tend to tune it out. They are great though because they work as both analog without noise cancelling and also with noise cancelling, which uses its battery.
My dad also has some Bose quiet comfort 15's which are quite nice, and have a great noise cancelling feature, but unlike the ATH-ANC29, they do not work without usage of battery or the noise cancelling feature - a little bit of a dissapointment for some 300 dollar headphones. Overall though, they are nicely manufactured and work great.
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tl;dr please.
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TL;DR: Research what you're buying and know what kind of sound signature you like before buying. I can't consolidate the buying guide into a TL;DR.
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Bump.
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VeryMadCrafter
I think you could better make a blog out of that.
Already done, I hit the text limit for a blog.
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This guy.
This guy, has done his research.
This guy, has done his research.
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Nah, he's just an audiophile.
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57r4dClick to reveal
Audio
Lets start with some basic audio terms. The general range of human hearing is from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Bass - The lowest part of the spectrum and is separated into 2 parts: Sub-bass at the range of 5 Hz to 20 Hz, which you generally feel instead of hear, and Mid-bass at 20 Hz to 320 Hz, where it becomes audible. Many people regard bass as the most important part of the spectrum (Beats lovers) but fail to realize the difference between muddy bass and tight, clear bass.
Midrange - Ranging from 320 Hz to 5120 Hz, it is also blended into 2 parts: Basic Midrange and High Midrange/Low Treble. Basic Midrange is where most of the instruments and many male voices are centered, and at High Midrange and the next level that will be mentioned ( High Treble) is where female voices and other higher pitch instruments are situated. This range is most important in coffee house style music (not too many instruments, more focused on voice).
Treble (Highs) - Ranging from 5120 Hz to 20840 Hz, this is where too much is a terrible thing, and too little is not the worst thing that could happen. It really affects the "brilliance" of the music and is where most of the texture will come from. It can sometimes become too harsh and fatiguing, and at other times can be underwhelming and unexciting to the listener.
Headphones, IEMs, and Headsets
The Audio world is filled with greatness, and disappointments. There are so many companies and whether they're German, Japanese, Russian, or American, they all have their pros and cons.
Open vs. Closed
Open headphones will have a wider sound stage, giving the music more room and a more natural feel. The downside to open headphones is that they leak sound and let sound in.
Closed headphones generally have a more direct sound. Closed headphones usually isolate well, this means that tend to keep the sound between the headphones and the listener. The downside to closed, is that they sound sound as good objectively, and don't generally come with as much bang per buck.
Headphones
Dynamic Headphone
Headphones can be known for different things - comfort, sound quality, and appearance. Some can have a pass with all categories, but they are generally rare/extremely expensive.
As of now, there are 3 types of headphones on the market.
Dynamic - Uses the traditional vibrating diaphragm to produce sound.
Dynamic Headphone and Drivers
Planar Magnetic (or Orthodynamic) - Uses an array of magnets and a thin film which vibrates when acted upon by the magnetic force. These generally have a tighter sound and an overall improvement over dynamic.
Planar Magnetic Headphones and Driver
Finally, there is the holy grail - Electrostatic. Electrostatic systems work by placing a static (non-moving) electric charge on a film that floats between two perforated metal plates. When audio voltages are applied across the plates, static cling and repulsion causes the entire film to move all by itself. This film is so thin that it weighs less than the air around it, and has no resonances or energy storage which leads to the coloration inherent in moving coil speakers.
Electrostatic Headphones and Driver
Manufacturers I Recommend Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Grado, Audio-Technica, Audeze, HiFiMan, Sony, Denon, Fostex, Shure, Stax
Musical Preferences
Note - These are very general
Bright, Airy - Beyerdynamic, Grado
Great All-around - Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, Stax, HiFiMan
Great Mids - Audeze, Sony
Great Bass - Denon, Fostex, Shure
________________________________________________________
Headphone buying guide
I've taken most of this information from a link on Head-Fi in hopes that more will see it.
When considering a headphone it's always best to find a place to demo them and try your own music to see if they suit you. Sound is subjective and the headphone I or someone else enjoy may not be what you are looking for. Remember that price is not necessarily a factor in quality.
More Terms
V-Shape - Recessed Mids, Strong Lows and Highs
Treble Extension - A feeling that your ears are opened up, an airy feeling.
Fatiguing - Often harsh to the ears or uncomfortable.
KEY(1) Denotes amp is not required and the headphone will probably not see any change with one.
(2) Denotes amp is not required, but one is recommended.
(3) Denotes amp is required. Using these without an amp will leave much to be desired.
Any headphone with a B next to the number, IE:
(2-B) indicates that it's a bass heavy headphone.
Any headphone with an m next to it denotes that a mic/remote option is available.
Budget Headphones - $0-$75
Open Headphones
(1) Koss KSC75, $10-$20. Mid-bass heavy, sub-bass roll-off and sparkly highs. *These are clip-ons*.
(1-B) Sony MA-300, $30. Warm, bassy, good soundstage, decent comfort.
(1) Superlux HD681 Evo, $30-$40. Leans bright without sacrificing mids or lows. Great price ratio.
(2) Samson SR850, $50. Neutral, slight emphasis on treble. Removable cable.
(1-B) Koss PortaPro, $30-$40. Strong but slightly muddy bass, recessed mids, slightly rolled off highs.
Closed Headphones
(2)Monoprice 8323, $23. Removable cable, good portability, comfort, folds up for travel, and isolation. Good sound to price ratio, good balance.
(1-B) JVC HAS400B, $24-$28. Very bassy and moddable though uncomfortable with stock pads.
(1) Tascam TH-02, $30. Slightly cheapish build. Highly moddable. Clean, extended bass, slightly elevated top octave, but is a tad recessed from 2-5kHz . No amp needed, but sounds different from high-impedance outputs.
(1) Panasonic RP-HTF600-S, $30-$45. Deep punchy lows with a good soundstage. Durability is a concern.
(1-B) Philips Downtown, $30-$40. Isolate well, great bass quality and quantity, refined for the sound. On-ear.
(1) JVC HARX700, $30-$40. "A poor mans A700." Thumpy/muddy bass, decent mids, decent highs.
(2) Koss PRODJ 100, $40-60. Solid build quality, coiled cable, and folds for portability. Natural, clean, sound.
(1) JVC HARX900, $55-$100. "A poor mans A900." Decent soundstage. Tight/deep bass, recessed mids, bright/fatiguing highs.
(1) Sony MDR-V6/7506, $60-$90. Folds for portability. Clear sound with a rather flat response.
Entry Level Headphones - $75-$150
Open Headphones
(1) Grado SR-60i, $79. Bright forward headphones. Bass is punchy but overshadowed by the forward mids, bright, potentially fatiguing highs. Great value headphones with good potential for modding.
(2) AKG K240, $80-$100. Good build quality, detachable cable. Tight natural highs, slightly forward mids and highs.
(1) Audio Technica ATH-AD700x, $120-$160. Great comfort and decent build quality. Weak bass though it has some impact, detailed mids and highs with no fatigue. One of the best soundstages in the price range.
(1) Alessandro MS-1, $99. Decent natural sounding bass, good warm mids, good detail in the highs with decent extension.
(1) Grado SR80i, $99. Decent lows, though the aggressively forward mids overshadow them. Shrill highs, very bright headphone. Highly regarded for the price. Comfort and fatigue are potential concerns.
(2-B) Fischer Audio FA-011, $118. Comfortable with a good sound stage. Deep tight bass, smooth clear mids, somewhat bright highs.
Closed Headphones
(1) Creative Aurvana Live!, $55-$99. Better Denon D1001. Average build quality, decent comfort. Strong bass, lively highs, and overall good balance.
(1-m) House of Marley Exodus, $70-$150. Decent isolation, easy to drive, and a nice carrying pouch. Slightly recessed highs, natural sounding mids, strong bass, warm sound.
(2) Fostex t50rp, $75-$130. Great build quality and cheap orthos, huge modding community behind it and a removable cable. Neutral sound with excellent clarity.
(2) NVX XPT100, $80. Laid-back/neutral clean sound. Soundstage is perhaps the best in this price range for closed headphones, giving a very open feel to them. Great accessory list.
(1) KRK KNS-6400, $80-$100. Accurate, detailed and comfortable. Accurate bass, good mids and smooth treble. Great soundstage for a closed headphone. Detachable cables.
(1-B) Denon D1100, $100. Good build quality, comfort, and isolation. Strong, punchy and powerful bass with decent mids and highs. #1
(1-B) Audio Technica M50(x), $100-$150. Punchy deep bass, with slightly recessed mids. Good passive isolation.
(1-B) Creative Aurvana Live 2!, $105-$130. Decent build quality, sub-optimal isolation, removable cable and comfy. Bass heavy sound with clean mids and highs.
(2) KRK KNS 8400, $115-$150. Accurate and detailed. Good lows, good mids, good highs. Detachable cable and accurate.
(1-B) Ultrasone HFI-580, $120-$190. Folds for portability, good build quality, and decent isolation. Fun, clean, V shaped sound. Deep punchy clean bass, slightly recessed mids, bright, sometimes fatiguing, highs. Some sibilance.
(2) AKG K271 MK II, $125-$180. Neutral headphones makes them good for studio monitoring. Detailed, but lacking in bass. Detachable cable.
(2) KAM HP-1, $130. Great balance, bright leaning neutral. Good isolation, detachable cable, good comfort. Excellent imaging and good soundstage.
(1) Shure SRH840, $140-$200. Isolates well, folds for portability, and good build quality. Accurate/punchy bass, great mids, highs are somewhat lacking.
Mid-Range Headphones - $150-$300
Open Headphones
(2) Sennheiser HD558, $130-$180. Warm bass, though not much impact, slightly recessed mids, and rolled off highs. Very relaxed sounding.
(3-B) Beyerdynamic Dt990, $150-$340. Be wary there are 4 models of the Dt990: 32ohm, 250ohm, 600ohm. Each has it's own differences but the general sound of the Dt990s are rather bass heavy with a lot of treble, most recessed mids of any of the Dt series.
(2) Sennheiser HD598, $175-$250. Looks fantastic, good comfort. Warm laid back sound signature. Decent bass impact and extension, smooth mids, slightly rolled off highs.
(1) Grado SR225i, $199. Bright headphones with great mids and highs. These are considered to be the least fatiguing of the SR line while maintaining the Grado "house" sound. Potential comfort issues.
(3) Beyerdynamic Dt880, $200-$350. Be wary there are 4 models of the Dt880: 32ohm, 250ohm, 600ohm. Each has it's own differences but the general sound of these are rather neutral with an emphasis on the treble, more so than the Dt770. *These are semi-open.*
(1) Audio Technica ATH-AD900x, $200-$300. Good clarity, lush balanced mids and highs, punchy accurate bass. Very comfortable, great soundstage.
(3) AKG Q701, $225-$250. Slightly more bass impact than the K701, very clear detailed sound. Comes in many colors.
(1-B) Philips Fidelio X1, $230-$300. Non-replaceable pads, fit may be poor. Sound is bassy and fun to listen to. Slightly loose bass and slightly artificial treble. #1, #2, #3
(2) HiFiMan HE-300, $250. Great all-rounder headphones. Warm clear sound.
(3) AKG K701/702, $250-$270. Amazing detail and clarity, bass is adequate and precise. Largely considered the most detailed headphones in the price range, though also considered the hardest to amp. The K702 offers a detachable cable.
(2) Grado SR325i, $295. Considered the brightest and most aggressive of the SR line, but also very detailed.
Closed Headphones
(1) Sennheiser HD 25-1 II, $130-$200. Durable with good isolation. Well defined lows, neutral mids, and smooth highs.
(1-B) Audio Technica ATH-Pro700MK2, $140-$180. Dual removable cables, good build quality, strong clamp. Huge bass, mostly a fun basshead headphone.
(1-B) Ultrasone HFI-780, $155-$250. Good isolation, iffy build quality, easy to drive. Strong clear bass, slightly forward mids, bright highs.
(3) Beyerdynamic Dt770, $170-$250. Bassy with a v-shape. Very comfortable.
(2) Beyerdynamic DT1350, $175-$300. Excellent build quality. Very neutral, detailed, sound. Tight accurate bass with great clarity throughout.
(1) V-Moda M-80, $179-$220. Amazing build quality. Removable Cables. Decent Isolation. Deep bass with forward mids. Highs lack sparkle but extended. Very smooth sound.
(1) Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9A, $190-$230. Very smooth, warm, sound. Good bass, slightly recessed mids, decent highs. Wooden cups.
(2) Beyerdynamic T50p, $200-$300. Excellent build quality. Balanced, accurate, and a good soundstage. Tight accurate lows, smooth mids, sparkly highs.
(1) Audio Technica A900x, $220-$250. Great lively sound, punchy bass, engaging mids, clean highs. Fit is very loose.
(2) Shure SRH940, $220-$300. Removable cable and good isolation. Warm clean sound great for all sorts of music.
(2) Ultrasone Pro 750, $240-$390. Good bass not overbearing but with plenty of slam. Good comfort. Great with trance and bass heavy music.
(1) Thinksound On1, $250-$300. Neutral, clean, and detailed. Wooden cups, removable cable. Lightweight and good isolation.
(2-B) Focal Spirit One, $280. Warm to dark leaning, but not exactly for bassheads. Suits many forms of electronic music. Great aesthetics.
Upper Mid-Range Headphones - $300-$500
Open Headphones
(2) Alessandro MS2, $299. Good balance throughout. Good clarity, rather congested sound. Easy to drive.
(3) Sennheiser HD600, $255-$400. Very neutral balanced, quick and clear headphones.
(3) Sony MDR-SA5000, $315-$420. Very detailed. Fantastic highs with excellent extension, clear analytical mids, light detailed bass. Fast headphones with excellent sound imaging.
(3) Sennheiser HD650, $330-$500. Well built and comfortable, but slight clamping. Warm relaxed sound signature. Great bass and lows, mids and highs can be veiled without proper amping.
(3) HiFiMan HE-400, $300-$400. Dark sound signature, clean sound, and decent level of detail.
Closed Headphones
(1-m) Bowers & Wilkins P5, $295-$300.Good build quality, removable cable, great isolation and in-line mic. Warm sounding signature with focus on mid-bass.
(2) Mr. Speakers Mad Dogs, $299. Comfortable, excellent detail retrieval, forgiving of poor recordings, neutral. DIY approach means consistency issues could occur.
(1-B) Audio Technica ATH-ES10, $380-$430. Warm balanced sound overall with decent isolation. Strong hard hitting bass, neutral mids, smooth sparkling highs.
Audiophile Headphones - $500
Open Headphones
(2) Audio Technica Ad2000 (or x), $450-$845. Light, well built, comfortable. Tight, punchy, fast, detailed bass, not much sub-bass though. Mids are forward and slightly aggressive though said to be one of the best for any headphone, very natural sounding detailed highs. These are said to be "fast" headphones. Some even go as far as calling these the best dynamic headphone out there with the right amp/dac.
(2) Grado RS1i, $695. Incredibly detailed and smooth. More of a neutral sound signature. The lows are textured and punchy, the mids and highs have excellent resolution.
(3) HiFi Man HE-500, $599. Comfortable and beautiful. Natural sounding slightly warm sound with well articulated bass with good impact, very neutral and natural mid-range, and excellent treble that shines. Slightly slow but great imaging. These were considered fantastic at the price of $899, they've since been reduced to $699 making them and excellent value.
(2) Alessandro MS-Pro, $699. Neutral, very detailed with great clarity. Aimed at classical music listeners.
(3) Audeze LCD2, $945-$1,145. Amazing soundstage and imaging, Balanced highs, slightly heavy, but detailed bass, very natural mid-range.
(2) Grado GS1000i, $995. Very detailed and accurate. Deep quality bass (possibly best in Grado line), rather bright sound. Great soundstage. Very analytical.
(2) Oppo PM-1, $1,099. Easy to drive, comfortable and well built. Deep extended and textured bass, slightly recessed mid-bass, forward vocals, slightly rolled off highs. #1
(3) Beyerdynamic Tesla T1, $1,210-$1,400. Rather neutral with amazing clarity and detail. Very natural sounding.
(3) Sennheiser HD800, $1,499. Well defined bass with amazing clarity, fantastic mid-range, slightly artificial highs with some pronounced sibilance. Excellent soundstage and imaging.
(2) Grado PS1000, $1,695. Strong quality bass, fantastic mids and highs.
(3) Stax SR-007 "Omega II", $2,199. Requires a special electrostatic amp. Open-Back Electrostatic Earspeaker.
Closed Headphones
(2) Audio Technica ATH-W1000X, $430-$600. Detailed slightly bright highs (sibilance), great mid separation and detail, smooth detailed punchy bass. Amazing soundstage. Wooden cups.
(2-B) Ultrasone Pro 900, $550. Deep bass that's slightly uncontrolled without an amp, slightly recessed mids, bright highs. Recommended to have an amp and to do the Kees Mod.
(1) Mr. Speakers Alpha Dog, $600. Slightly more bassy than neutral with great imaging. Good sound quality and comfort. #1
(3) Audio Technica ATH-W5000, $680-$840. Notoriously picky with amps. Fantastic clarity and balance through the mids and highs. Lows are punchy and accurate without overextending. Spacious soundstage similar to open headphones with a lot of detail. Great for classical. Wooden cups
(3) Stax 4070, $1,824. Requires a special electrostatic amp. Electrostatic headphone. Designed for monitoring, very detailed and unforgiving. A bit heavy but good comfort.
I think you could better make a blog out of that.
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Bump.
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I've read this before on a journey, forgot to say thanks for this !
It helps alot.
It helps alot.
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What journey? And you're welcome.
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Bump.
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Yey, finally I won't make a bad decision next time I buy better headphones (I had a pair of turtle beaches that snapped at the earpiece a week later). Are you going to do one for gaming, though? I'm not into open like my brother is, more closed, that can give me a better sound quality.
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Yeah, sorry, I only glanced over this while tired, thought I saw gaming, but may have thought it was something else entirely.
EDIT: You might want to update your post a bit, I just looked up koss ksc35 and it seems they were discontinued by the manufacturer.
EDIT: You might want to update your post a bit, I just looked up koss ksc35 and it seems they were discontinued by the manufacturer.
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Will do, it seems you can still buy it from the manufacturers website for a while.
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Bump.
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Think this is a useful thread, will add it to the list of guides
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Might I ask where this list of guides is?
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Just thought I'd say that the thread you linked in your 2nd post was what I used to help me decide what headphones to buy. I had a large budget and wanted something high quality for gaming so I chose Sennheiser PC360's. They are truly beautiful.
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Yeah, I couldn't come up with all of the information on my own, so I used Head-Fi. They know what they're talking about most of the time
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Bump
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Finally got the recable along with my portable Amp/DAC that I slip my phone into.
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Ultra useful guide, rather disappointed that you didn't put anything up there on Sony's wireless headsets such as the Pulse. However I've played Battlefield with my friend's headset so I know I like it.
+1 To you 57r4d
+1 To you 57r4d
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Wireless headsets are kind of frowned upon in the audiophile community & It's because you pay more for the wireless part and get less sound quality as a result. Sound always sounds better coming through a conductive cable and using different material makes it sound different.
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Bump.
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Bump.
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Bump.
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Just got some HD 25-1 II's ordered from Amazon and a Midnight Cable from BTG Audio
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Those headphones I was bidding on Ebay above until $300 sold for $926...
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Working on getting some of these
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...And I use a $20 pair of headphones that work perfectly, sound fine and have everything I need. Why some people pay $300+ for headphones is beyond me
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Many have different qualities, different styles, different sound stages, different music types they excel in... and you'd be surprised how Headphones made by the proper companies sound. In the audiophile world, $300 is quite cheap.
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300 isn't really cheap, but it's not extremely expensive, the most expensive pair I've owned and still own were 200 (50 off), which are my srh840s.
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I'll be bumping every few days to increase awareness of proper audio.
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I have the Klipsch Status headphones, they're really a breath of fresh air.
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Bump
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Updated with another section of gaming headsets.
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Bumpy.
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For Low-to-Mid range surround gaming headphones, I'd propose Logitech's G430. I like mine: good sound, comfortable and has a good build quality. And it's only 70$, so great bang for the buck!
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I'll find some information about them.
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