Open Back Headphones

[DirkaFat]

I'm looking for open back headphones for $180 or less. Those 2 features are pretty much all the criteria I have, at this point. I'm looking at the dt990 pro 250ohm, but I've read a few reviews saying the treble is (painfully) exaggerated. Is that true?

 

 

 

However, the main question I raise is regarding the AKG 612 pro. The headphones only have 3 (short and not detailed) reviews on Amazon, so I'm not sure how they'll compare to the dt990. Anyone can enlighten me on how these would compare?

 

 

Other headphone suggestions are welcome, of course

 

 

 

 I need to sleep in a bit, so I might not respond for a while

[nixproducer]

i would recommend the Sennheiser HD 558's or the Dt990 pros i have heard very good things about both of them 

[ShearMe]

Pioneer SE-A1000 if open is literally your only concern. 

 

I've joined the Massdrop K 612 drop because I thought my previously owned K 701 was great despite the lack of bass. The treble was harsh for me on the DT 990's, but some people enjoy that aspect, so it all comes down to personal taste.

[peaking duck]

http://www.headphone.com/headphones/full-size.php

 

ear candy!

 

(open back FTW)

[DirkaFat]

Pioneer SE-A1000 if open is literally your only concern. 

 

I've joined the Massdrop K 612 drop because I thought my previously owned K 701 was great despite the lack of bass. The treble was harsh for me on the DT 990's, but some people enjoy that aspect, so it all comes down to personal taste.

Huh, while on the topic of headphones, what makes a headphone's sound quality better? I know it's very vague and subjective, but what I mean to ask specifically is:

 

Do the Pioneer's sound quality actually compare to a headphone that costs around 3 times as much? 

 

Again, I'm off to bed now, so I'll check tomorrow afternoon for further responses

[ShearMe]

Huh, while on the topic of headphones, what makes a headphone's sound quality better? I know it's very vague and subjective, but what I mean to ask specifically is:

 

Do the Pioneer's sound quality actually compare to a headphone that costs around 3 times as much? 

 

Again, I'm off to bed now, so I'll check tomorrow afternoon for further responses

 

There's actually a Head-Fi thread which claims they sound nearly the same as Sennheiser HD 650's, a $500 MSRP headphone. Having owned both, I can confirm they sound very close to the same. 

 

Sound quality IS a subjective attribute. One man's perfect punchy bass is another's muddy boomy slop fest.

[Feveredbike]

There's actually a Head-Fi thread which claims they sound nearly the same as Sennheiser HD 650's, a $500 MSRP headphone. Having owned both, I can confirm they sound very close to the same. 

 

Sound quality IS a subjective attribute. One man's perfect punchy bass is another's muddy boomy slop fest.

I'm pretty tempted to buy these now...

[anti]

I recently bought both the Pioneer SE-A1000's and DT 990's. Both are very light and comfortable.

The SE-A1000's are great at that price point no matter how I look at it. They don't fit my head quite as well as some of my other pairs of headphones/headsets in the past, but they aren't uncomfortable by any means. I'm using them primarily with my home theatre setup late at night or when the family is creating too much noise pollution. I would gladly use them as my primary PC pair if I didn't already have alternatives.

The DT 990's are great for what I was looking for in an open headphone and I am accustomed to the 'harsh treble' coming from my DT 770's. I don't mind it at all except on a few poorly recorded tracks become extra cringe worthy. That isn't the headphones fault though.

 

I definitely prefer my 990's over the SE-A1000's, but if you want to save a good chunk of change you aren't missing out on a ton imo. The real differences would be the fit on your head, sensitivity/impedance and price point. Subjectively the signature sound, sound stage and imaging are very different and I personally prefer the 990's in all of those areas.

-----

A few resources I used when picking out my 990's over other pairs was the head-fi winter gift guide which covers wayyy too much for the average user, but I took my time and went through a lot of the listed over-ear options. There is also the headphone data sheet tested by innerfidelity. You can also go through selection of tested headphones by headroom (swap the pairs to w/e you like and update the graph).

 

Those 3 links might be overkill for how much you care, but I thought I would include them because of how much they helped me in making my purchases. Good luck and have fun with your search!

[ShearMe]

snip

Did you try modding the tightness of the headband? For a lot of people, they're too lose stock, but tightening it up makes them perfect imo.

Mod instructions at that Head-Fi link above if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

[anti]

Did you try modding the tightness of the headband? For a lot of people, they're too lose stock, but tightening it up makes them perfect imo.

Mod instructions at that Head-Fi link above if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Not yet. I haven't made time to perform the mod. It's on my to do list. I was using my 30 day return window to make sure I really liked them (stock) before I went and ruined any opportunity to return them.

[Lauen]

Did you try modding the tightness of the headband? For a lot of people, they're too lose stock, but tightening it up makes them perfect imo.

Mod instructions at that Head-Fi link above if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

I actually found a way to mod the rubber band in the headband, instead of cutting a new hole, I just tied a small knot on the rubber band inside the headband, and just bent the two metal things that go over by a little (or a lot) of force. I forgot to take pics when I was doing it, so can't show you, but it was an alright way of doing it.

[ShearMe]

I actually found a way to mod the rubber band in the headband, instead of cutting a new hole, I just tied a small knot on the rubber band inside the headband, and just bent the two metal things that go over by a little (or a lot) of force. I forgot to take pics when I was doing it, so can't show you, but it was an alright way of doing it.

 

Melting holes in the straps is less permanent, and arguably easier.

[Lauen]

Melting holes in the straps is less permanent, and arguably easier.

[DirkaFat]

There's actually a Head-Fi thread which claims they sound nearly the same as Sennheiser HD 650's, a $500 MSRP headphone. Having owned both, I can confirm they sound very close to the same. 

 

Sound quality IS a subjective attribute. One man's perfect punchy bass is another's muddy boomy slop fest.

Interesting find, but something doesn't seem right with me.

 

I mean, seeing that there is talk about how the Pioneer's can almost match headphones that cost much more, why don't other headphone companies adjust their prices? Especially since audio quality is subjective, to stay competitive in the audio market, shouldn't headphone companies be a bit... wary of these $60 cans? 

 

 

Perhaps, it's the build quality that makes them cost many times more? Or consumers are paying more for the brand name? I'm probably missing something or over thinking this...

[Lauen]

Interesting find, but something doesn't seem right with me.

 

I mean, seeing that there is talk about how the Pioneer's can almost match headphones that cost much more, why don't other headphone companies adjust their prices? Especially since audio quality is subjective, to stay competitive in the audio market, shouldn't headphone companies be a bit... wary of these $60 cans? 

 

 

Perhaps, it's the build quality that makes them cost many times more? Or consumers are paying more for the brand name? I'm probably missing something or over thinking this...

build quality and comfort, and Sennheiser pretty much do what they want..

[ShearMe]

Interesting find, but something doesn't seem right with me.

 

I mean, seeing that there is talk about how the Pioneer's can almost match headphones that cost much more, why don't other headphone companies adjust their prices? Especially since audio quality is subjective, to stay competitive in the audio market, shouldn't headphone companies be a bit... wary of these $60 cans? 

 

 

Perhaps, it's the build quality that makes them cost many times more? Or consumers are paying more for the brand name? I'm probably missing something or over thinking this...

 

It's that logic ("Well it's more expensive, so it MUST be better!") which makes expensive headphones sell at the price the manufacturers ask for them. There are things which make the HD 650 a better headphone, but sound quality isn't one of them unless you subjectively prefer the slight lack of treble by comparison to the SE-A1000. Companies like Sennheiser put a lot more R&D into their headphones than companies like Pioneer, but it's not unlikely that Pioneer could have stumbled upon a driver design which just happens to sound very similar to the HD 650 on accident. Plenty of good cheap headphones just happen to sound good with very little effort put into them by the designers.

[DirkaFat]

It's that logic ("Well it's more expensive, so it MUST be better!") which makes expensive headphones sell at the price the manufacturers ask for them. There are things which make the HD 650 a better headphone, but sound quality isn't one of them unless you subjectively prefer the slight lack of treble by comparison to the SE-A1000. Companies like Sennheiser put a lot more R&D into their headphones than companies like Pioneer, but it's not unlikely that Pioneer could have stumbled upon a driver design which just happens to sound very similar to the HD 650 on accident. Plenty of good cheap headphones just happen to sound good with very little effort put into them by the designers.

Oh, I see. Makes sense.

 

 

 

Also, one more question. How does the soundstage of the dt990 compare to that of the Pioneer SE A1000?