Budget headphone's selection -update-

Novalis wrote: What does anyone think about the AKG K 416?Also, I've been told that the Sennheiser EH 350s are great but not very comfortable. Thoughts?

Haven't tried the K 416.
The EH350 are not very confortable indeed. I warmly recommend the Beyerdynamic DT231 Pro over the EH350: very confortable and more musical, plus it's cheaper!

What does anyone think about the AKG K 416?

Also, I've been told that the Sennheiser EH 350s are great but not very comfortable. Thoughts?


Edited by Novalis - March 26 2008 at 01:16

MikeEnRegalia wrote: Bluesaga wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ in-ear headphones are *ideal* for that. Nearly all environmental noise is filtered out, and there is virtually no sound leakage. And because they are so small and so close to the ear membrane, they need very little power, so your batteries will last longer. And last but not least: You look less "nerdy" than someone walking around in a subway with big headphones. Personally, I find them less comfortable than big headphones and they're worse for your hearing apparently, which is something I don't want to wane any time soon.  Plus, I think a lot of Sennheisers look really neat; and the Grados, not as much, I usually wear them at home anyway, since they're open. Why should they be bad for your hearing? The danger for your hearing depends on the volume, not on the form of the headphones. And good in-ear headphones are actually better for the ear because they filter out environmental noise and thus allow you to listen at low volume without being distracted.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/20/electric_earbuds/

That's mostly just for the "earbud" type in-ears, not the "ear canal" ones which are more expensive and higher quality.  I've only used one pair of ear canal headphones, and I really didn't like it.  Sure, they sounded better than cheap iPod earbuds, but I found them more uncomfortable than big 'phones and didn't sound as good (my friend apparently spent $80 I believe on the pair, so they weren't that cheap) as my Grados or even the cheap Sennheiser HD 202s.  They reduced about as much noise as my closed big 'phones, I'm not sure how they'd compare with big headphones that are specifically noise cancelling.

So basically, it's preference, like many things.  And from what I heard, in-ears aren't my thing.

Bluesaga wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ in-ear headphones are *ideal* for that. Nearly all environmental noise is filtered out, and there is virtually no sound leakage. And because they are so small and so close to the ear membrane, they need very little power, so your batteries will last longer. And last but not least: You look less "nerdy" than someone walking around in a subway with big headphones. Personally, I find them less comfortable than big headphones and they're worse for your hearing apparently, which is something I don't want to wane any time soon.  Plus, I think a lot of Sennheisers look really neat; and the Grados, not as much, I usually wear them at home anyway, since they're open.

Why should they be bad for your hearing? The danger for your hearing depends on the volume, not on the form of the headphones. And good in-ear headphones are actually better for the ear because they filter out environmental noise and thus allow you to listen at low volume without being distracted.

MikeEnRegalia wrote: ^ in-ear headphones are *ideal* for that. Nearly all environmental noise is filtered out, and there is virtually no sound leakage. And because they are so small and so close to the ear membrane, they need very little power, so your batteries will last longer. And last but not least: You look less "nerdy" than someone walking around in a subway with big headphones.

Personally, I find them less comfortable than big headphones and they're worse for your hearing apparently, which is something I don't want to wane any time soon.  Plus, I think a lot of Sennheisers look really neat; and the Grados, not as much, I usually wear them at home anyway, since they're open.

Slartibartfast wrote: oliverstoned wrote: What do you mean? Do you find it great or too expensive? The price tag of course. Budget headphones if money is no object?

We're slightly off-topic. We're talking about HD600's which are not exactly budget headphones, but extremely cheap for what's the best electro-dynamic headphones on the market. But unfortunatly, it require a dedicated amp, and no headphone amp output, even on great electronics, is good enough to reveal their full capacities.

Edited by oliverstoned - January 27 2008 at 09:07

oliverstoned wrote: What do you mean? Do you find it great or too expensive?

The price tag of course.

Budget headphones if money is no object?


Edited by Slartibartfast - January 27 2008 at 06:16

The HD555s are open headphones right?  I'd prefer closed because I like filtering out some noise when I'm listening to music and I'm sure sound leakage is annoying for people around me as well.

What do you mean? Do you find it great or too expensive?

From my experience, i warmly recommend it. I've recently tried the Headroom Micro Amp with HD 600 & 650 (i've got both) and it's very good, though of course not as good as my Sugden Le Bijou (Class A also)home headphone amp (which costs around 1500 dollars new).
But i made a mistake when ordering, confusing the portable one with the
non-portable. So i sent it back, and the portable will not be available until late March.
Anyway, these little amps work wonderful, and this spring, i'll be in the meadows, listening to tapes through my Sony WM-D6 professional portable cassette deck, linked to the Portable micro amp, that will drive my HD 650!!

One thing that i don't know, is that if the Total bithead amp (see up), a smaller, and more basic amp, would be abble to drive properly a 600 or 650.

But for sure, the HD 555/Total bithead combo is awesome. Maybe the solution for you.

Glad to see you're an Agitation free fan.
No, the 600 or 650 is not worth without headphone amp, but Headroom does excellent pure class A portable (or not)amps (20 h autonomy)that will drive wonderfully a 600 or 650:

It costs 400 dollars:



http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-micro-line/2007-headroom-portable-micro-amp.php