Headphones: $100 v $300 v $500.

I have a set of Sennheiser's that I use for playing/recording/mixing music, can't remember the model number without going into the other room to check and I am lazy but they were about $250 if that helps. They have a really flat eq and superb transient response so they are great for that purpose. For just listening to music I use a pair of Shinola on-ears. They do not have a flat response and are very flattering to heavy rock so I love them for that. They are also built like a sh!thouse, with stainless steel cups and extruded aluminum hardware. They were something like $360, which is actually a pretty good bargain considering the quality. I have found that what you pay for headphones has a pretty dramatic effect on what you hear in your earholes.
 
For more "serious" stuff, I use AKG K-240mk2. After a bit of modifications they fit my huge head comfortably and you can get spare parts for them, which is very nice. For some reason my headphones don't usually last very long but I've had the same pair of these since 2009. Before that, a pair of cheap sony / philips closed backs usually lasted me a year or so...

My wife had an issue at work when she wore earbuds. Apparently people didn't notice that and would just blather on regardless, so I got her a pair of K-240 studio which are slightly cheaper than the mk2. That solved the problem, people can see those :) The studio don't sound as good in my opinion, but my MK2 are still made in Austria, I don't know how the chinese MK2's sound either... For my own office use I got a pair of closed-back K-271 Mk2. Those don't sound nearly as good as the K-240's.

For travel / otherwise listening to stuff from the phone I use Sony WH-1000xm3. Decent sound quality and the noise canceling and battery life are very impressive. You can get to Australia on a single charge, that's usually enough battery life... However after about two and a half years mine are in quite rough shape already. The Korg NC-Q1 (there's a Vox version too...) looks somewhat sturdier, maybe I'll look into those once the sonys disintegrate completely.
 
I just bought a pair of Shure SE846 in-ear buds at $1000... :hide:

IMG_0190.jpeg

^ the ones on the far right, gold colour. I use them as a bluetooth set when I'm out and about.

The problem is that they rather show up some poor quality recordings, so I'll probably pick up an equally expensive Sony player which can play hi-res audio files as well as upscaling tech for lower quality files.

Screenshot 2020-10-23 at 21.26.30.png

It quickly becomes a $2000 purchase (could buy a new SG/LP for that... :( )
 
I like them, but they are a tad underwhelming.

For the money, $79 Shure SE215s are so much better value. The fact remains that the Shure SE846s are really good, but not perfect - the soundstaging is limited, and the upper mids/treble is a tad weak.

Playing them back to back against other headphones, they do sound better, but on their own they don't reach the levels of excellence I expected. For example, I had a pair of Epos ES11 speakers, back in the UK, and along with a decent amp and source ($450 Naim amp and $450 Arcam CD player), but a total price similar(ish) to these headphones alone, the stand alone system sounded a lot lot better. I know, I know, what can you expect from in-ears...
(to be fair, I am using crap sources at the moment...)
 
My Advice on Headphones:

Always use "Over The Ear" headphones. These are like a cup that cover the entire ear.
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Do Not Buy: "On the Ear" headphones.
These press against the earlobes, and can become rather painful during long periods of usage.
This is the worst choice possible. The pads cut off blood circulation in your earlobes and can cause EXTREME pain.
I tried to warn you. If it presses against your ear lobes, don't use it.
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Oh man...

infrarot_kopfhorer_is450_hdi450_664729.jpg


Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser |Radiomuseum.org

Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser Electronic Labor W; Wennebostel, build 1994, 10 pictures, 3 schematics, Germany, tubes, semiconductors
www.radiomuseum.org www.radiomuseum.org

Had to use these in language classes in school. Can't remember half of the languages worth poop but I can remember the pain. Wearing eyeglasses made it a lot worse.
 
aon said:
Oh man...

infrarot_kopfhorer_is450_hdi450_664729.jpg


Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser |Radiomuseum.org

Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser Electronic Labor W; Wennebostel, build 1994, 10 pictures, 3 schematics, Germany, tubes, semiconductors
www.radiomuseum.org www.radiomuseum.org

Had to use these in language classes in school. Can't remember half of the languages worth :poo: but I can remember the pain. Wearing eyeglasses made it a lot worse.
Click to expand...

Wearing specs and headphones can become painful very quickly can't it?
 
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Reactions: aon
aon said:
Oh man...

infrarot_kopfhorer_is450_hdi450_664729.jpg


Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser |Radiomuseum.org

Infrarot-Kopfhörer IS450 HDI450 Speaker-P Sennheiser Electronic Labor W; Wennebostel, build 1994, 10 pictures, 3 schematics, Germany, tubes, semiconductors
www.radiomuseum.org www.radiomuseum.org

Had to use these in language classes in school. Can't remember half of the languages worth :poo: but I can remember the pain. Wearing eyeglasses made it a lot worse.
Click to expand...

I used to work in this studio where the headphones were torture.
I won't forget the suffering.
 
Beagle said:
Wearing specs and headphones can become painful very quickly can't it?
Click to expand...


I have no issues with my Technicas, that go over the ear. Like Amp Mad Scientist said, I agree. Over the ear is the way to go. And I do wear glasses.DSC00244.JPG
 
The only headphones I have at the moment are a couple hundred buck headphones musiciciansfriend had on sale for 20 bucks. One pair I got free with reward points. They are Tascam TH200X headphones - good enough for around the house and stinker'n around with home recordings etc.
 
The only headphones I have at the moment are a couple hundred buck headphones musiciciansfriend had on sale for 20 bucks. One pair I got free with reward points. They are Tascam TH200X headphones - good enough for around the house and stinker'n around with home recordings etc.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
I like them, but they are a tad underwhelming.

For the money, $79 Shure SE215s are so much better value. The fact remains that the Shure SE846s are really good, but not perfect - the soundstaging is limited, and the upper mids/treble is a tad weak.

Playing them back to back against other headphones, they do sound better, but on their own they don't reach the levels of excellence I expected. For example, I had a pair of Epos ES11 speakers, back in the UK, and along with a decent amp and source ($450 Naim amp and $450 Arcam CD player), but a total price similar(ish) to these headphones alone, the stand alone system sounded a lot lot better. I know, I know, what can you expect from in-ears...
(to be fair, I am using crap sources at the moment...)
Click to expand...
I have a set of SE215s as well, just use them for vox for stage use once in awhile. Totally fine for that. Custom ear molds help!
I have an old pair of Sennheiser 414s but they are so quiet, high impedance. Just got a set of AT 50s. Seem way better. I dont do heavy duty recoeding or such with them, we do that in a studio. So they will suffice!
 
Thank you Everyone for your comments and views.

A little update: I got a Sony NW-NW1A at £600 (nearly half price), and combined with the Shure SE846 I now have $2000 headphone/source and it sounds amazing. I go out of my way to only play hi-res files.

For the money, I doubt you could (or I could) find an equal combination.

I'm really happy with this solution (btw, the Shure BT-2 bluetooth solution in this setup is very close to a wired 4.4mm balanced - surprisingly close...).

(As I type this, I'm playing Stereo MCs Connected (MP3 :eek:), and it sounds fantastic.)
 
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