An Overview of Practical Headphones

[h264]

 

So, I think a lot of you have seen these headphones in the above image posted in this forum numerous times.  Also, you might have seen my headphone guide image in the FAQ.  It was a response to a general outcry for an image with a list of headphones.  I thought this was silly at the time since /g/ usually puts these out, not to mention because they’re fraught with the Anon’s own opinions on different headphones that they own or would like to own.  In my frustration, I created an image with what in my opinion I thought were the definitive headphones at their respective price points in terms of sound quality and comfort.  I didn’t do much explaining though.  This is something I’d like to correct now.

 

So let’s take a look at that image again, and I’ll go over each of these headphones and try to explain why they stand out so much:

 

 

In step one, I just list a bunch of headphones with one of Microsoft Word’s fancy new process flow graphics to try to describe the general type of sound signature that each headphone produces.  The term “fun” basically describes a sound signature with both exaggerated high and low frequencies.  Most of the casual listeners love this style of headphone since it makes their music sound punchier and crisp, especially if it’s especially complex.  Chart nerds like me will call this headphone style “v shaped”, since the frequency response graphs will tend to rise in both the lower and higher frequencies with a bit of a sag in the midrange. 

 

The two Sennhseiser headphones in the middle have a signature known as “bass heavy biased”, “bass weighted”, or as is so often used “veiled”.  This means the bass response is somewhat louder than the treble response and higher frequencies roll-off.  Some people like this style, some people don’t.

 

The two AKG headphones on the right are known as “flat” or “analytical” headphones.  This does not mean they do not exaggerate any frequencies, but compared to very colored headphones, are designed specifically to reproduce all frequencies as equally as possible.  Thanks to the AKG K240s design, there is still very much a bass complement, but it is simply meant to reproduce a speaker in a private environment as accurately as possible.  Note that either open or closed headphones can have flat frequency responses, but it’s definitely easier to create a flat sounding open-backed headphone.

 

Beyerdynamic DT990pro

 

One of the sturdiest, most comfortable headphones I’ve ever purchased, this solid headphone has ridden in my luggage back and forth to work each week for over a year without a significant piece of damage to report.  Only the earpads have started to wear out, which are easily replacable.  This headphone is open-backed and produces some of the punchiest bass and the shrillest highs of any headphone I own, and I must say listening is a lot of fun.  At $150 in the US, you can’t beat the price either.  I’ve started to replace this headphone with the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro, so I’d recommend them interchangeably if you’d like a more portable, closed headphone.

 

Audio Technica ATH-M50

 

So much has been said about this headphone (all the reviews are listed on the FAQ) I really don’t need to repeat after everyone else.  Really wanted Beats by Dre but can’t afford them?  Get this headphone instead.  You may find the earpads uncomfortable, but they are replaceable with other sorts of pads.  Either way it’s a solid performer and has excellent isolation, perfect for a studio or an annoying sibling or roommate.  Most people won’t need all those degrees of freedom in the headband, though.

 

The Monoprice 8323 is a good replacement if you'd like to go even cheaper, but it doesn't sound quite as good.

 

Sennheiser HD558 and 600/650

 

These two headphones get a lot of mainstream spotlight due to Sennheiser’s post-WWII influence over the North American headphone market (along with the original US WWII producer, BOSE).  Sennheiser, despite their big corporate marketing wing, still features competent engineers who can put out mostly pragmatic designs (those $1500-$2000 amplifiers being a recent audiophile market exception).  The HD558 is a very comfortable headphone, with its only major issue being the long, ¼” terminated cord.  The sound is slightly less detailed than the HD600 and HD650, but then again it’s only $150 whereas the HD600 will cost you at least $250 on a very good day in the US.  Both feature removable cables, so replacing either’s cable is not a big deal, and you really can’t go wrong with either as your first nice headphone.  The HD600 and 650’s high impedance makes a lot of sense with the stable of modern soundcards out there that you might already have, so this is worth considering if you already have a Xonar or Soundblaster card you’d rather not part with yet.

 

AKG K240

 

This is pretty much THE headphone of the 20^th century right up there with the Sony MDR series (a possible replacement for this recommendation).  If you actually believe the notion you should hear your music the way the artist did, then this headphone is your answer since this and the closed-back K271 is way many artists originally monitored their own tracks in the studio.  Most of the most popular 70s Rock, 80s pop music, and everything produced by Quincy Jones was monitored on these headphones.  The Quincy Jones line of headphones was no doubt a rebuke from AKG “Hey! WE actually own a large chunk of the recording market.”  It’s for good reason, this is one of the most balanced headphones you can get for under $100.  Its “sextet vented” design has been copied and mimicked over and over, which such brands as Superlux making very similar designs.

 

This was actually my first expensive headphone.  One of the things about it as a first time headphone was that it didn’t get quite loud enough on my very old onboard audio chipset back then, which led to me looking at headphone amps in the first place.  It therefore, should come as a first warning to anyone considering either the K240 or the newer K242 is that it can take a bit more to drive than you think.  It features a detachable cable, but unfortunately the durability has suffered in recent years.  My pair started to crack after about a year of moderate use.  The newer K242 looks like a sturdier home-use styled model, but I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet, so I can’t tell you at this point.

 

AKG K701

 

 

This headphone’s claim to fame was not exactly alone borne of recommendations or a nice review on respectable audio magazine, but also because of a certain appearance in the popular anime “K-On” on the head of the show’s most popular character, the bass guitarist Akiyama Mio.  Nevermind that the anime “has as much to do with music as a chainsaw has to do with cooking”, the Mio fanboys bought this particular headphone in droves (along with that left-handed Fender).  If you ever happen across a /g/ headphone thread, you’ll probably see that the opening post probably is a picture of a scantily-clad Mio with the AKG K701 on her head. 

 

So, despite the taunting of “Miophones” I’d say this is one of the most detailed headphones at any price point for serious music analysis.  Also, if your thing is the cutesy sort of JPOP that I’m sure most K-On fans are into, you’ll actually find this sound signature complements the high pitched female vocals and electronic instruments present in many tracks very well.  Please do take note that this headphone has absolutely no punchiness in the bass, but this does not mean there is no bass response at all.  There are many versions of this headphone in the K7 category, all with the same drivers.  None of them look as nice as the K701 though.  Just saying.

 

Conclusion

 

OK, I think that pretty much does it.  Any questions? Post away!

[helping]

Put a skirt over that bed frame. Much uncultured. 

 

Very useful thread, you might want to include that the m50 perhaps isn't the best thing to buy at around 150$ since some retailers regularly sell them in that range. 

@h264, you're giving an opinion on what you own, correct? I can't tell, but if that's a pair of COPs in the top left, would you prefer them over the m50 for mobile use? 

[PillowSmoke]

Good thread.

[h264]

Put a skirt over that bed frame. Much uncultured. 

 

skirts are for girls

[Shd0w2]

I love this thread... its not too often you see people put this much time into a forum post.

[h264]

I love this thread... its not too often you see people put this much time into a forum post.

 

How much time do you think I put in?  I started about an hour ago...

[Shd0w2]

How much time do you think I put in?  I started about an hour ago...

I thought about 20-30 mins... but wow, 1 hour? Devoted people be devoted.

[LogicDeifying]

Thanks this was very helpful

[h264]

Put a skirt over that bed frame. Much uncultured. 

 

Very useful thread, you might want to include that the m50 perhaps isn't the best thing to buy at around 150$ since some retailers regularly sell them in that range. 

@h264, you're giving an opinion on what you own, correct? I can't tell, but if that's a pair of COPs in the top left, would you prefer them over the m50 for mobile use? 

 

Those are COPs and I actually prefer them for the short cable.  That's just my opinion, though.  The whole post is, really.

[boozerc]

Have you tried using velour pads on the COPs?

I've read somewhere, I think in head-fi.org, that using the velour pads on the COPs somewhat changes its sound signature, is that true? 

[ShearMe]

Have you tried using velour pads on the COPs?

I've read somewhere, I think in head-fi.org, that using the velour pads on the COPs somewhat changes its sound signature, is that true?

Different pads change the sound signature of all headphones, though it's more noticible on closed headphones.

[MayflowerElectronics]

What, LCD-2's aren't practical? 

[h264]

What, LCD-2's aren't practical? 

 

Only to Snobby McSnobberson

[dylandylandylan]

Could we possibly ask to have this pinned? It's a good resource for the majority of people on this board.

[ShearMe]

Could we possibly ask to have this pinned? It's a good resource for the majority of people on this board.

 

Gotta tag @Windspeed36  mayne

[Guest]

Could we possibly ask to have this pinned? It's a good resource for the majority of people on this board.

Won't be pinned

[dylandylandylan]

Won't be pinned

 

Really? Oh okay then, would it be considered rude if we just linked this thread to people looking for headphones? or the ones in this thread in particular, rather than filling up threads of the same question, considering the search function on this site is inherently broken.

[Lauen]

 

The two Sennhseiser headphones in the middle have a signature known as “bass heavy”, “bass weighted”, or as is so often used “veiled”.  This means the bass response is somewhat louder than the treble response and higher frequencies roll-off.  Some people like this style, some people don’t.

wait- are you defining HD558's as "bass heavy"? as far as I know, the 558 and PC360 use the same drivers, and very similar construction, and those aren't very bass heavy compared to my M50's at least. 

[Nerikk]

wait- are you defining HD558's as "bass heavy"? as far as I know, the 558 and PC360 use the same drivers, and very similar construction, and those aren't very bass heavy compared to my M50's at least. 

Well they be "bass heavy" for his taste. Or he compares them to other Sennheisers.

[ShearMe]

wait- are you defining HD558's as "bass heavy"? as far as I know, the 558 and PC360 use the same drivers, and very similar construction, and those aren't very bass heavy compared to my M50's at least. 

 

[Lauen]

I am confuse 

[ShearMe]

I am confuse 

 

You be the finger pointer(s), h264 be the white guy.

[Lauen]

You be the finger pointer(s), h264 be the white guy.

oh

okay.jpg

[Guest]

Really? Oh okay then, would it be considered rude if we just linked this thread to people looking for headphones? or the ones in this thread in particular, rather than filling up threads of the same question, considering the search function on this site is inherently broken.

This thread is far to biased to be pinned. 

[mr moose]

Really? Oh okay then, would it be considered rude if we just linked this thread to people looking for headphones? or the ones in this thread in particular, rather than filling up threads of the same question, considering the search function on this site is inherently broken.

I think even if it was sticky'd we still get lots of threads asking which headphone. It's just one of those products that people want to be explicitly told to buy headphone X because even though it was the one they chose from the FAQ or sticky or even from other sites, direct human confirmation is much more reassuring.  Starting a thread also provides avenue for people to point out a possible issue with your choice where as with a sticky or faq no one knows you are thinking about buying headphone X instead of Y.