Budget headphone's selection -update-

                             Budget headphone's selection -update-


PA people often ask me some headphone's advices. As i've tried many models recently, here's a little selection of budget headphones, of good musical value of course and at very attractive price (i especially think of our youngest members, but not only). All the models presented here doesn't require a dedicated headphone's amplifier, and so can be drive directly from any portable source such as an Ipod.
I don't present "earbud" type cause i don't like it too much, because most of them lack low (even if some of them has some of the most beautiful highs and extreme highs). So, i've selected "earpads" models which have the other advantage to be much more confortable than the earbuds ones, which doesn't let the ear "breathes" much. If some of you are interested in earbuds models anyway, i can provide some advices as well.


The selection:


Sennheiser PX100

The smallest quality headphone on the market. In the same league as the
Koss "Porta Pro" but slightly better, and with excellent ergonomics. Sennheiser's sound aesthetic: soft and musical, perfect to soften sub-digital quality MP3. Not a real hifi headphone, but a great value for the price. There's nothing below. Musically better than bigger (isolated) models.






Beyerdynamic DT 231

A winner in the earpad category: extremely musical, a tight and quick low end for such budget headphone, a warm midrange that will soften a lot your harsh MP3. It's limited in extreme highs but so musical that it's not a problem. Extremely confortable and features only one cable, which is convenient.





Sennheiser EH 350

Great performance for the price: highly efficient, well balanced, well extended on both ends of the spectrum, neutral, it also features
a good soundstage.




                                 






To feed your headphones with a cheap quality analog portable source: Sangean pocket tuners

DT 110


DT 120







Edited by oliverstoned - January 25 2008 at 07:23

I don't know that one...are you sure about the reference?

OK, indeed the HD515 lack some resolution in the mids/highs and has a slightly nasal coloration. For the same price, the HD485 is better, and for some extra bucks, the HD555 is much better.

A killer combo is the HD 555 drived by a Headroom "Total Bithead" amp:



Edited by oliverstoned - January 25 2008 at 08:33

Sorry i did a mistake, i mean the 555 ( i just corrected my post) drived by this portable amp. No, there's nothing to do about your 515, except to sell it back, on Ebay for example.

Edited by oliverstoned - January 25 2008 at 08:35

I stick by Consumer Reports recommendations, I've bought a set of the Sony portable ear buds and the home model (Grado) and have been really happy with them.  I haven't had much experience with home models but lots of experience with ear bud types particularly those that come with digital music players and they've all been crappy.  Really impressed with the Sony ones.  The best I've heard of that type.  Haven't tried the airplane types.

Best for airplanes:

Sennheiser PXC 250 $150
Bose QuietComfort 2 $300

 

Best for use with portable audio players:

Sony MDR-ED21LP $20 CR Best Buy
Sennheiser CX 300 $50

oliverstoned wrote: The two Grado's are good.

I have a problem with my set that is more physical in nature rather than perfomance.  The phones come off the little poles that mount them to the band too easily.  I can rescrew them on but still...

But hey, a good set of headphones is a great way to enjoy prog without annoying your loved ones too much.


Edited by Slartibartfast - January 25 2008 at 14:23

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

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.

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.

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