Jump to content

Wired Over-ear Headphones purchasing advice needed [< $230 USD]

Decon
By Decon
in Audio
 Share
Posted

As some of you may know form my status updates, my trusty Bose AE2 headphones broke today after 2.5+ years of daily use.  As the title suggests, I am in search of some headphones to replace my AE2's.  Here are some of the features I am looking for:

 

1. very robust and with a detachable/replaceable cable

 

2. minimal to no sound bleed

 

3. leatherette cushions as opposed to felt foam (drives my skin nuts :/ )

 

4. These headphones will not be used for gaming, so accurate sound quality would be preferred

 

5. I will be using these mostly for mobile listening, so no amp required please

 

6. over ear design

 

7. wired

 

8. preferably deep(er) cans, as I have big ears (AE2's fit fine BTW; might not be an issue)

 

8. $230 max

 

No brand preference, although I have had good experiences with both sennheiser and bose.  Thanks for your help :)

Want a good game to play?  Check out Shadowrun: http://store.steampowered.com/app/300550/ (runs on literally any hardware)

 

another 12 core / 24 thread senpai...     (/. _ .)/     \(. _ .\)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I'll suggest you look at either Sony mdr 1r for a warm-fun sound or for a more bright-analytical sound look at the audio technica ath msr7.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

@Lays
@MyInnerFred
@wolfgang
 

|King Of The Lost|
Project Dark: i7 7820x 5.1GHz | X299 Dark | Trident Z 32GB 3200MHz | GTX 1080Ti Hybrid | Corsair 760t | 1TB Samsung 860 Pro | EVGA Supernova G2 850w | H110i GTX
Lava: i9 12900k 5.1GHz (Undervolted to 1.26v)| MSI z690 Pro DDR4| Dominator Platnium 32GB 3800MHz| Power Color Red Devil RX 6950 XT| Seasonic Focus Platnium 850w| NZXT Kraken Z53
Unholy Rampage: i7 5930k 4.7GHz 4.4 Ring| X99 Rampage|Ripjaws IV 16GB 2800 CL13| GTX 1080 Strix(Custom XOC Signed BIOS) | Seasonic Focus Platinum 850w |H100i v2 
Revenge of 775: Pentium 641 | Biostar TPower i45| Crucial Tracer 1066 DDR2 | GTX 580 Classified Ultra | EVGA 650 BQ | Noctua NH D14

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I use steel series headset. Works fine for me, but I have tinnitus so sound quality is just "is it loud?"

Ketchup is better than mustard.

GUI is better than Command Line Interface.

Dubs are better than subs

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

AKG K550 $156.50

Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 $230

 

I personally own the ATH-MSR7 and can vouch for the sturdy build and audio quality. It's got a surprisingly good sound stage for a closed back headphone.

Like watching Anime? Consider joining the unofficial LTT Anime Club Heaven Society~ ^.^

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I dunno, maybe the Massdrop AKG K7XX's? Do they fit every requirement?

I'm wearing one of those on my head right now. They are Open Back so they do leak sound, OP wanted minimal sound leakage.

Like watching Anime? Consider joining the unofficial LTT Anime Club Heaven Society~ ^.^

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I'm wearing one of those on my head right now. They are Open Back so they do leak sound, OP wanted minimal sound leakage.

Oh yeah...

50Cent sweg.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

AKG K550 $156.50

Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 $230

 

I personally own the ATH-MSR7 and can vouch for the sturdy build and audio quality. It's got a surprisingly good sound stage for a closed back headphone.

those msr7's look awesome...  Also dem leatherette pads...

Want a good game to play?  Check out Shadowrun: http://store.steampowered.com/app/300550/ (runs on literally any hardware)

 

another 12 core / 24 thread senpai...     (/. _ .)/     \(. _ .\)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

those msr7's look awesome...  Also dem leatherette pads...

The AKG K553's are a nice pair too though I don't think their "officially" being sold yet.

 

Got my pair off of massdrop and they've got a pretty flat sound signature from my experience so far.

Like watching Anime? Consider joining the unofficial LTT Anime Club Heaven Society~ ^.^

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Vmoda m100 would be my suggestion if you want something robust. I can use my vmoda lp's as nunchuks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

As much as I'd like to recommend the AKG 550/553 they do not have detachable cables...  why I passed myself on them.  I'd like to say M50X but the ear cup really isn't exactly huge...  the ATH-MSR7 looks more similar than different to them too.  Maybe some of the larger Sony's or Sennheiser Momentems but I'm not sure those are any larger than the ATH.

Also note that "mobile listening" means you want to plug them into...  what?  Most mobile devices are designed to power cheap earbuds that come with them.  While a lot of phones, etc. MAY be powerful enough to drive full sized headphones to suitable levels (suitable for most people, not necessarily YOU), there is no guarantee!  Mobile devices can be as varied as the headphones themselves.  YMMV.

System: i5 6600K@3.6 GHz, Gigabyte Z170XP SLI, 2x8 Corsair DDR 3000, Corsair Hydro H60i cooler, Rosewill CAPSTONE 750w Gold PSU, 1x 512GB SSD, 1x 2TB 7200RPM, Windows 10 Pro x64
Display: XFX R9 390 DD, triple 1920x1200 24" HP monitors (5760x1200 @ 60Hz)   Sound: Audio-gd NFB-11 -> AKG K7XX or 2.1 speaker system

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

How does one identify a set of headphones as being closed vs open back?

Want a good game to play?  Check out Shadowrun: http://store.steampowered.com/app/300550/ (runs on literally any hardware)

 

another 12 core / 24 thread senpai...     (/. _ .)/     \(. _ .\)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

How does one identify a set of headphones as being closed vs open back?

Usually easy just by looking.  If the back of the cup has holes or vents in it, it is open or possibly semi-open (Fostex T50RP, etc.)  If the outside of the earcup is solid, it's likely "closed".

System: i5 6600K@3.6 GHz, Gigabyte Z170XP SLI, 2x8 Corsair DDR 3000, Corsair Hydro H60i cooler, Rosewill CAPSTONE 750w Gold PSU, 1x 512GB SSD, 1x 2TB 7200RPM, Windows 10 Pro x64
Display: XFX R9 390 DD, triple 1920x1200 24" HP monitors (5760x1200 @ 60Hz)   Sound: Audio-gd NFB-11 -> AKG K7XX or 2.1 speaker system

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Usually easy just by looking.  If the back of the cup has holes or vents in it, it is open or possibly semi-open (Fostex T50RP, etc.)  If the outside of the earcup is solid, it's likely "closed".

https://youtu.be/oqsyaHlZ6ro

I assume the ATH M50x's would fall in the closed category?

Want a good game to play?  Check out Shadowrun: http://store.steampowered.com/app/300550/ (runs on literally any hardware)

 

another 12 core / 24 thread senpai...     (/. _ .)/     \(. _ .\)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I assume the ATH M50x's would fall in the closed category?

 

Quite.

Audio Reference • Cutting the Crap • 7.1 Headphones? • Audio Interference Troubleshooting Guide
REVIEWS • HiFiMan HE-560 • Beyerdynamic T1 2. Generation • Schiit Bifrost 4490 • Schiit Valhalla 2
RECOMMENDATIONS • The Audio Board's Recommended Gear

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

@dr_deconstruct

Harman Kardon NCs might be a good option. They fit most, if not all of your requirements.

Sound quality is better than most suggestions in this thread. It will just depend on your ear size and weather you find them comfortable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

@dr_deconstruct Harman Kardon NCs might be a good option. They fit most, if not all of your requirements.

Sound quality is better than most suggestions in this thread. It will just depend on your ear size and weather you find them comfortable.

3.5/5 stars on amazon?  I've never even heard of them before...

System: i5 6600K@3.6 GHz, Gigabyte Z170XP SLI, 2x8 Corsair DDR 3000, Corsair Hydro H60i cooler, Rosewill CAPSTONE 750w Gold PSU, 1x 512GB SSD, 1x 2TB 7200RPM, Windows 10 Pro x64
Display: XFX R9 390 DD, triple 1920x1200 24" HP monitors (5760x1200 @ 60Hz)   Sound: Audio-gd NFB-11 -> AKG K7XX or 2.1 speaker system

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

3.5/5 stars on amazon? I've never even heard of them before...

Harman Kardon are a very well known audio brand - they know their shit. But most people know them only for their speakers and HiFi, their headphones get very little credit.

The NCs cost $500 here, you are lucky to be able to get them for that price in the US. Their sound signature is all about "clarity" - clear highs, very decent mids and an exceptionally clean bass that accentuates whatever music the headphones are playing.

The biggest problem is comfort - they comfortable for me, but they only have two fixed size headbands, small and large. For long sessions the small headband creates too much pressure on my ears, so I wear the large - it doesn't fit as snugly but is comfortable for long sessions.

They are clear enough to use as monitors, but also tweaked up enough to work for any music or games, and the soundstage is very, very good for closed back headphones.

They have a swappable cable, high build quality and active noise cancellation (that can be turned off if you want to de-emphasise the bass a tad, or if the battery is flat) and they are designed for travel so can be easily driven by mobile phones and include a decent carry case in which the fold flat.

Their in-ears (AEs) are also great for the price.

So yea, they sound better than most, at the right price bracket, it just depends on how comfortable they are for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I've heard of the company.  They are a division of Harman International which owns a bunch of audio manufacturers including my beloved AKG.

"They sound better than most" is a pretty big assessment, especially since you haven't qualified it.  What have you compared them to?  Ever seen a response graph on them?

System: i5 6600K@3.6 GHz, Gigabyte Z170XP SLI, 2x8 Corsair DDR 3000, Corsair Hydro H60i cooler, Rosewill CAPSTONE 750w Gold PSU, 1x 512GB SSD, 1x 2TB 7200RPM, Windows 10 Pro x64
Display: XFX R9 390 DD, triple 1920x1200 24" HP monitors (5760x1200 @ 60Hz)   Sound: Audio-gd NFB-11 -> AKG K7XX or 2.1 speaker system

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Audio

×