Need new headphones.

[Beskamir]

So my corsair 1500's broke and unless I manage to fix them I need new headphones. Also I'd like to step up to something better so basically what are the best headphones in the 150-250 (maybe 300) Canadian dollar range?

[STRMfrmXMN]

Open or closed back headphones?

[STRMfrmXMN]

Eh whatever.

 

Open backs (better soundstage and sound generally better but lack noise isolation): Sennheiser HD558 and Audio Technica AD500X

Closed backs: worse soundstage but isolate noise from the outside world. Not recommended if you want the most immersive gaming experience. HyperX Clouds and Shure SRH840

[Benergy]

11 minutes ago, ElfFriend said:

So my corsair 1500's broke and unless I manage to fix them I need new headphones. Also I'd like to step up to something better so basically what are the best headphones in the 150-250 (maybe 300) Canadian dollar range?

ATH-M50 all day bro

[Octavialicious]

4 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Eh whatever.

 

Open backs (better soundstage and sound generally better but lack noise isolation): Sennheiser HD558 and Audio Technica AD500X

Closed backs: worse soundstage but isolate noise from the outside world. Not recommended if you want the most immersive gaming experience. HyperX Clouds and Shure SRH840

Make sure if you go open that your computer is semi quiet  especially depending on the model of open headphone

[STRMfrmXMN]

1 minute ago, Benergy said:

ATH-M50 all day bro

No no no no no

If you want REALLY forward bass and treble (like to the point of fatigue) and have no care in the world for soundstage or long term comfort then the M50s are great for you. But otherwise there are much, much better options.

[Benergy]

4 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

No no no no no

If you want REALLY forward bass and treble (like to the point of fatigue) and have no care in the world for soundstage or long term comfort then the M50s are great for you. But otherwise there are much, much better options.

I've had no problems with them and wear them for many hours at a time, got one pair stolen and bought a second I missed them so much. I had AKG K701s before and hated them, didn't like open ear at all and the sound leakage is awful.

Basically what I'm implying is that headphone choice is largely personal preference.

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, Benergy said:

I've had no problems with them, got one pair stolen and bought a second I missed them so much. I had AKG K701s before and hated them, didn't like open ear at all and the sound leakage is awful.

Basically what I'm implying is that headphone choice is largely personal preference.

Yes, but if you noticed the sound leakage then you were likely using them for the wrong reason. You should use them in a silent area to get the experience of feeling instruments around you. The K701s are also incredibly hard to drive so you probably didn't have the oomph from your system to get them to their full potential. If you like a forward feeling of bass and treble then that's fine. They do have good instrument separation but that's honestly about it. 

I'd assume the OP is looking for a gaming headset judging by his past pair and a pair of M50s is just not a good option for gaming.

[Benergy]

Just now, STRMfrmXMN said:

Yes, but if you noticed the sound leakage then you were likely using them for the wrong reason. You should use them in a silent area to get the experience of feeling instruments around you. The K701s are also incredibly hard to drive so you probably didn't have the oomph from your system to get them to their full potential. If you like a forward feeling of bass and treble then that's fine. They do have good instrument separation but that's honestly about it. 

I'd assume the OP is looking for a gaming headset judging by his past pair and a pair of M50s is just not a good option for gaming.

Was using a Fiio E10, still am using it mainly as a DAC as M50s don't need amplified. It was mainly so the people I lived with couldn't hear my chinese cartoon songs blaring at 3am (open ears are literally as loud as laptop speakers). I think I'll agree to disagree

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, Benergy said:

Was using a Fiio E10, still am using it mainly as a DAC as M50s don't need amplified. It was mainly so the people I lived with couldn't hear my chinese cartoon songs blaring at 3am (open ears are literally as loud as laptop speakers). I think I'll agree to disagree

Ah, well if you ever want to venture out into some better sounding closed backs with good noise isolation I'd definitely look into the Shure SRH840s for maximum noise isolation or NVX XPT100 if you can lack just a tad less but want a better soundstage. M50Xs aren't terrible, just wildly overrated and used for the wrong things often.

[Beskamir]

28 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Open or closed back headphones?

 

18 minutes ago, Octavialicious said:

Make sure if you go open that your computer is semi quiet  especially depending on the model of open headphone

I'm considering going with open headphones by my system isn't whisper quite so maybe semi open or completely closed would be better?

 

Also I wear glasses so I'd like something really conformable even with glasses.

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, ElfFriend said:

 

I'm considering going with open headphones by my system isn't whisper quite so maybe semi open or something would be better?

Well, hmm.

I have a system that I have intended to make silent from the get-go. Currently I need a quiet CPU and you won't be able to hear the thing at all.

I'd say that the noise of my PC with one Noctua fan, an Arctic Freezer 7 and occasional HDD spin up isn't the thing that beats open-backs most by any stretch but more so the sound of occasional footsteps in my house. If you have 4 siblings then I'd highly suggest closed-backs. If you have a PC that makes enough fan noise to hear when you leave your room then closed backs are also the go-to there.

[Beskamir]

1 minute ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Well, hmm.

I have a system that I have intended to make silent from the get-go. Currently I need a quiet CPU and you won't be able to hear the thing at all.

I'd say that the noise of my PC with one Noctua fan, an Arctic Freezer 7 and occasional HDD spin up isn't the thing that beats open-backs most by any stretch but more so the sound of occasional footsteps in my house. If you have 4 siblings then I'd highly suggest closed-backs. If you have a PC that makes enough fan noise to hear when you leave your room then closed backs are also the go-to there.

I don't think my system can be audible when I leave the room, even at full load. As for the noise level of my house I always have my doors closed and most of the time it's pretty quite.

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, ElfFriend said:

I don't think my system can be audible when I leave the room, even at full load. As for the noise level of my house I always have my doors closed and most of the time it's pretty quite.

Nice, OK, then I vote open-backs.

If you have a large head then I would most definitely recommend the AD500X but if you have anything smaller than a Large baseball cap head then definitely go for the 558s.

[Beskamir]

5 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Nice, OK, then I vote open-backs.

If you have a large head then I would most definitely recommend the AD500X but if you have anything smaller than a Large baseball cap head then definitely go for the 558s.

I was also looking at some of Beyerdynamics stuff and I'm curious what your opinions of them are.

[Octavialicious]

1 minute ago, ElfFriend said:

I was also looking at some of Beyerdynamics stuff and I'm curious what your opinions of them are.

Love them as a company but never tried their lower end stuff  Their DT770 is pretty popular though

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, ElfFriend said:

I was also looking at some of Beyerdynamics stuff and I'm curious what your opinions of them are.

Yeah, Beyerdynamics stuff is good and VERY comfy, but, like the ATH M50s, very forward bass and treble (V-shaped sound signature) except with decent soundstage. I personally get headaches from excessive bass and treble but many like that very (for lack of a better word) "consumer-esque" sound signature. Try listening to this video from about 2:05 on and if you like the sounds of the instruments then I'd recommend those DT770s or the like.

 

 

[Octavialicious]

oh god sorry about the double post this new layout is confusing me so hard

[Octavialicious]

2 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Yeah, Beyerdynamics stuff is good and VERY comfy, but, like the ATH M50s, very forward bass and treble (V-shaped sound signature) except with decent soundstage. I personally get headaches from excessive bass and treble but many like that very (for lack of a better word) "consumer-esque" sound signature. Try listening to this video from about 2:05 on and if you like the sounds of the instruments then I'd recommend those DT770s or the like.

 

 

Good description, but what did I just listen to LOL

[STRMfrmXMN]

Just now, Octavialicious said:

Good description, but what did I just listen to LOL

I was looking for some clappy drum beats and Youtube just gave me that so eh

[Beskamir]

4 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

I was looking for some clappy drum beats and Youtube just gave me that so eh

I think I'll go with Sennheiser's although I'm not too sure how big my head is relative to other people. Generally I don't wear hats

[Guest]

This thread; losts of posts, little information.

I recommend the usual suspects. Sennheiser HD558 or Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Limited Edition.

20 minutes ago, STRMfrmXMN said:

Yeah, Beyerdynamics stuff is good and VERY comfy, but, like the ATH M50s, very forward bass and treble (V-shaped sound signature) except with decent soundstage. I personally get headaches from excessive bass and treble but many like that very (for lack of a better word) "consumer-esque" sound signature. Try listening to this video from about 2:05 on and if you like the sounds of the instruments then I'd recommend those DT770s or the like.

In the interests of being pedantic, "forward" is a descriptor that refers to the upper mid-range as an elevation in this part of the frequency response creates the sense that a vocalist is standing close to the listener - or in other words, standing "forward". It doesn't make much sense when applied to bass and treble.

[Guest]

Nevermind, the DT990 Pro LE is way overpriced in ca by the looks of it. The regular Pro version is more reasonable.

The Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro isn't a bad price by the looks of it. Closed back, and it lacks the typical Beyer treble mountain of death.

[STRMfrmXMN]

14 minutes ago, SSL said:

This thread; losts of posts, little information.

I recommend the usual suspects. Sennheiser HD558 or Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Limited Edition.

In the interests of being pedantic, "forward" is a descriptor that refers to the upper mid-range as an elevation in this part of the frequency response creates the sense that a vocalist is standing close to the listener - or in other words, standing "forward". It doesn't make much sense when applied to bass and treble.

Yeah, what I meant by forward was that they're more "in your face" if you will.

[STRMfrmXMN]

29 minutes ago, ElfFriend said:

I think I'll go with Sennheiser's although I'm not too sure how big my head is relative to other people. Generally I don't wear hats

The 558s are definitely a good choice but if you have a Best Buy near you they should have them on display to help you decide if you like them or not.