Reddit mentions: The best recording headphone audio monitors

If you want, I can copy-paste the response I usually give to people asking about gaming headset. Hope it will help you.

Wall of text ahead. Please, read only if you are really interested...


What I usually recommend when someone ask for advice about gaming headsets is: Gaming headset are crap 99% of the time. They provide very poor sound quality, and any good headphone (literally, even 40$ ones) will sound far better than expensive 300$ headsets. The question is not if headphones are better than headset (the answer is “Hell, YEAH”). The question is, are they better for you?


What are you planning to use your headphones for? Just for gaming, or for gaming and music listening?


If the answer is “just for gaming”, then ask yourself if a Hifi headphone is what you need. Usually games don’t really need high quality headphones, since they provide low quality sound, and you will be more concentrated gaming than listening. In that scenario, everything will serve you, and gaming headsets have the advantage of the integrated microphone.


So, if you want something good for gaming, and just for gaming, with integrated microphone, then the only two headsets with good enough quality sound (aka don’t suck) are:


HyperX Cloud (70$)


Sennheiser G4me One (170$)


Both are good choices. Or go with any fancy RGB headset you find (Logitech, Razer, Corsair, Steelseries, etc), you will most probably don’t notice the difference while gaming.


BUT, if you plan to use them for music listening besides gaming, then keep reading.


About the microphone problem


Hifi headphones for gaming have the disadvantage of having to deal with the micro thing. None of them have microphone incorporated, and you must find a workaround to the problem. Options available are:


1- Use a desk microphone like this


2- Some headphones have detachable cable. If the connector is a 3.5mm jack, you can substitute the cable with this V-Moda micro. That way you can have a microphone attached and still use a single cable. Main problem is that you must use this cable, no matter what, and if you end buying an amplifier, you can no longer use this microphone, as amplifiers don’t have micro input. Also, not all headphones are compatible, as not all use 3.5mm jack connections (Audio-technica and Sennheiser headphones are NOT compatible with V-moda Boom micro, cause they use 2.5mm jack)


3- use a modmic like this one or if your budget is tight, something like this.


The first option requires desk space and it’s expensive. The second one is not compatible with every headphone, and forces you to use this cable. The third one are detachable micro, with an extra cable you’ll have to deal with. Any of them are a nuisance. Any solution is annoying. All of them are an extra expense that must be accounted. If micro is a must and you are not willing to bother with this solutions, please, go back to HyperX Cloud or G4me One.


Ok, so, you really want some damn good headphones, that also can be used for gaming! Keep reading, please (are you bored yet?).


You can choose Closed back headphones (the classic ones you have already used. Closed back models offer good isolation and do not leak sound. This is your choice when there are people around you, or you want isolation from noisy a environment.) or Open Back headphones (Open back models offer next to no isolation and will leak sound -and allow you to hear what happens around you-, but they are the best sounding models). Open headphones achieve the best sound, soundstage (feeling that sound is coming from around you) and imaging (ability to locate the source of one sound).


If you are here because you want to get a replacement for a gaming headset, I would recommend you Open back, but since they don’t isolate, you must choose. If isolation is required, get closed back, if that’s not a concern, go open.


Some closed back cans:


Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. 100$. Balanced headphones, very good feedback from lots of people. Typical entry level headphones to the rabbit hole.


Sennheiser HD 598Cs. 125$. Balanced, very very detailed, great instrumental separation. Comfortable as hell, very recommended.


Beyerdynamic DT770. 160$. V-shaped signature (lots of bass and lots of treble). Amazing soundstage (for a closed headphone). Great for explosions, movies, and rock. Treble can be harsh if you are sensible. Get the 32 ohm version, as the 80 (may) and 250 (do) need an amplifier to work properly.


Those are some examples of entry-mid level of closed cans. There are lots more, depending of your budget!


As for open cans:


Superlux HD668b. 40$. Those are THE CANS. The best quality for low budget you can get. Hands down. Great soundstage, Bass light. They are not too comfortable, but pads can be changed for a deluxe comfort (extra expense). You are not getting anything better at this price. For gaming in a budget, this are the headphones you were looking for.


Philips SHP9500. 80$. Mid-forward signature. Good soundstage, great comfort. Very detailed. Another amazing quality for the budget headphone. Due its popularity, they’re getting harder and harder to get.


Sennheiser HD 598 SR. 170$. Very similar to the HD 598Cs, but with open back. Wider soundstage, a little less bass. Very balanced headphones. Super-duper comfortable. Great for long gaming sessions.


Philips Fidelio X2. 250$. V-shaped signature. Those are in another league. Build quality is just.. OMG. Extreme soundstage and imaging. More comfortable than the HD 598. Bass is BOOOOOM!!!. A little pricey, and can be somewhat fatiguing to listen if you are treble sensible, due to high treble.


Well, that’s all. I have selected only headphones that don’t need an amplifier. Now is your turn to research, watch some Youtube videos, read some reviews, and give them a try.


All this headphones are GOOD. No trash here, and all them will make you open your eyes when listening your music if you are coming from standard headsets. You will notice sounds, instruments, that you never realized they were there, even if you had listened this song a thousand times before. Try them, and be amazed.


Welcome to the rabbit hole.

Help! Comfortable Closed Back Headphone Needed.

• Budget - £150 (approx $215)
  
• Source - Laptop / Desktop computer with headphone amp.
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Good isolation. Using mostly at home, so don't mind a bit of leak.
  
• Will you be using these headphones in public - No.
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - Closed Back, Over Ear.
  
• Preferred Tonal Balance - Good, neutral, wide sound. I don't mind a bit of emphasis on the low and high ends, as long as they are well controlled and not muddy. I actually quite liked the bassiness of the ATH-M50x, but a bit more control would be nice.
  
• Past Headphones - Sennheiser HD 215 - very comfortable and they do sound good but looking for an upgrade.
  
• AKG K72 - don't sound too bad for the price, a bit muffled and lacking clarity. Like the design and very comfortable.
  
• AKG K550 - sounded amazing but I had a significant problem with comfort. After about 30 mins use, a real burning pain starts to slowly grow right at the crown of my head where the top of the headband rests. An hour in and it's pretty unbearable. As a result, they sat in my cupboard, unused for two years. I tried using them again a couple of weeks ago, but had the same issue, so I've been forced to sell them.
  
• Audio Technica ATH-M50x - I would say that in terms of sound, these were definitely a bit of a downgrade. The overall sound is just a lot more muddied and coloured, and the soundstage is nowhere near as good as the K550s. They are a bit more comfortable, but not by much. I can only really use them for about 2 hours before I am in considerable pain from the headband. I think I will be returning these and trying to find something more comfortable.
  
• Preferred Music - Listen to a bit of everything. Primarily EDM, Pop, Rock, Alternative, Classical.
  
• What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Comfortable! For long periods. I think I might be better off with lighter headphones, since the pain is always due to pressure at the top of my head.
  -Good, neutral, wide sound. I don't mind a bit of emphasis on the low and high ends, as long as they are well controlled and not muddy.
  
  With this is mind, a couple of candidates so far:
  
  
• Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm - from what I've heard, supposed to be pretty comfortable. Link: [DT770] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyerdynamic-DT770-Pro-Headphones-Ohm/dp/B0016MNAAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1463390210&sr=1-1&keywords=dt770)
  
• Sennheiser HD 380 Pro - again, supposed to be pretty comfortable and quite light. Not sure these are much of an upgrade in terms of sound. Link: HD 380
  
• AKG K271 Mk II - Lightweight and have a similar headband design to a pair of AKG K72 I have, which are really comfy. Link: [K271] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-K271-MKII-Circumaural-Headphones/dp/B0016MOC28/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1463389006&sr=1-3&keywords=akg+closed)
  
  What would you recommend out of these 3? Any better alternatives in my price range?
  
  If anyone can offer any advice or help, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
  

Budget - £100 Hard Limit

Source - My computer, asrock z97 pro4 onboad audiocard. I'll probably buy a better one soon, also, I'm not looking to buy an amp.

Requirements for Isolation - Little, I'm only going to be using these at home but I don't mind if there's none, or a lot.

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? - Not likely.

Preferred Type of Headphone - I would like on or over ear. I really want to try open back too.

Preferred tonal balance - Ideally I'd like a balanced set of Headphones but I'd like a fair bit of bass.

Past headphones - Nothing worth noting. Just some Sony, HTC and Apple IEMs.

Preferred Music - A lot of Rock, Post-Hardcore, Music with a lot of Screaming, Metal, Hip-Hop, a bit of Chiptune and music like Crystal Castles, You Love Her Coz She's Dead and Kap Bambino

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I'm not sure where I'm going after this, this is my first step into better headphones and potential audiophile territory. I will use the pair of headphones recommended to figure out what I will look for next.

I've already done a bit of research and have found a few sets of headphones that I am interested in but I lack the knowledge of if they're good or not.

Grado SR80e - From what I've heard, these headphones are very well received and liked but lack good bass which concerns me. I also LOVE the look of these headphones, they are probably my favourite.

AKG K240 MKII -
These headphones are my second favourite however, I'm concerned that I may need an amp to make these work to their full potential. I was also looking at the regular 240s but heard these were an upgrade.

Finally, the AKG K271 MKII - As with the K240s I've heard a lot of glowing reviews on these pair but I'm worried that I require an amp. I also really love the fact that the two sets of AKGs have detachable wires.

I'm open to recommendations, but if any of the headphones I'm interested in would be good for me then all the better! Sorry if this has been long winded!

Budget - We need to know how much you want to spend. If you can, please also indicate whether your budget is a hard limit, or whether it is flexible. Max budget is 220 with an amp/dac if needed. I'd like to use 3.5mm right from my computer.

Source - What are you plugging these into? 3.5mm Headphone jacks on my computer. Elna audio caps for my motherboard.

Requirements for Isolation - Do you need a lot, some, or none? If you're not sure what isolation is, more isolation will block outside noises, none will not. It's also helpful if you say where you mainly will use your headphones, for instance: At home, outdoors, on public transportation. I'd like these to be closed back. I'd be in my room but still want closed back. I will not use them outside, maybe at LAN parties.

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? No, maybe lan parties.

Preferred Type of Headphone - Do you want IEMs, full-sized, or on-ear? Full sized headphones.

Preferred tonal balance - Are you a basshead, particularly fond of a smooth midrange, strong highs, or do you want an overall balanced pair of headphones? I'd prefer overall balanced and good for games like CSGO, Arma 3, GTA V and overall good for games and music.

Past headphones - What have you used in the past, what did you like about them and what didn't you like about
Preferred Music - What do you listen to? If your music tastes are very esoteric, providing some examples (Youtube links work well) may be of some assistance to your helpers. Used Turtle Beach PX22, like nothing of them at all. I am using Logitech G430s I like the big ear cuffs, how comfy it is. It is very light, a nice cord, plugs into 3.5mm which is a must. Also durable but gets dirty.

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - What are you looking for going into your next headphone? More bass? More detail? More treble? Overall better detail and quality. My friend had the M50x and I liked sound but it was not full sized like I want. But I need to add a modmic to it or a Blue Yeti microphone so I'd love for it to be plugged in to it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008POFOHM/ref=s9_simh_gw_g267_i2_r?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-3&pf_rd_r=1H72PDTS3K06XT5QVAZJ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2084660942&pf_rd_i=desktop how are these? I like them, big, 3.5mm, good sound from what I've read. Also what are recommended cases to hold headphones in?

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Edition. Make sure you get the pro edition and not the "consumer" edition; MUCH cheaper and slightly more clamping, not all that much though. Cheaper than nearly every single other pair of headphones on the market that produce the same quality. German engineering, so this sonuvabitch won't break anytime soon. All the same, I obviously don't recommend stepping on them, although I have dropped them and sat on them plenty of times. Still the exact same quality as the first time I took them out of the box.

Some overview: MASSIVE soundstage, with unbelievable clarity. As such, they are an open pair of headphones; that is, you can hear nearly everything around you, and people that are within ~15 feet of you can hear what you're listening to if it's cranked up.

With the proper amp settings and a decent media player, they can also have throbbing, very present bass(I recommend Foobar2000, free download, with the graphic equalizer add-on; it makes a huge difference). Even without any sort of amp, this pair of headphones still delivers thumping bass (as long as your device has a decent soundcard; don't expect an RCA MP3 player to produce the same output). Rest assured, the bass isn't even close to overwhelming (think Audio Technica ATH-PRO700MK2, which are basically subwoofers strapped to your head), but can really pound if you truly desire it.

As for comfort? The product review states the Pro has higher clamping power than the normal version, but this is almost completely negatable due to the price difference and the fact that it barely clamps at all. The cups are fuzzy and warm; not so warm it makes you sweat, but it feels... nice. Like cuddling! It comes with a 1/4" adapter that screws on to your standard 3.5 mm adapter, and the cable is coiled, which is much more convenient to me than wrestling around with 4 feet of cable when I'm sitting 1 foot away from my computer.

Overall, they're incredible. They blow my fucking mind every time I load up Foobar2000. I just can't get enough of them, and cannot in one lifetime recommend them enough. Love 'em love 'em LOVE 'EM!

EDIT: It sounds like the actual music group is in the room with you. They're right there playing, on each side of your head. The sounds really sound like they're right there.

Hey everyone! So I am going off to college next year, and I definitely want to have a good pair of headphones that I can use and travel with easily. I currently have a pair of Audio Technica A900X that I use at home for gaming, but as you probably know, these headphones are pretty large. I love Audio Technica, and I know their M-series products are popular and high quality, and I wouldn't mind buying a pair if it's worth it in my situation.

Would I be able to get by traveling with and using my current A900X's in college?
OR
Would it be worth investing in an AT M-series pair?

If the later, which model is best to buy in the M-series? I like my purchases to be good investments, so I am more comfortable going toward the higher end models. Mainly looking at M40x vs M50x vs M70x.

I appreciate all input! Thank you and have a great day!!

these:

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54

• this:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Antlion-Audio-ModMic-Attachable-Microphone/dp/B00R98JVVU/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1491575296&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=modmic&psc=1
  
  and you will be considered the best Girlfriend ever.......there are a million choices out there on the market today, but, in my experiance there are a very few full on pre-made Gaming headsets that are truly super good, sure some sound ok but very few have the sound quality of a decent studio monitor headphone, and for me, that's important. Good luck, and, you're awesome for soliciting info like this, well done!!
  
  whoops, missed the wireless part, sorry!!!!
  
  logtiech artemis is a nice headset, I loved mine till I moved to the set up I have above, decent sound, lots of extras, good range, good mike:
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Artemis-Spectrum-Wireless-Surround/dp/B0148NPJ78/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491575575&sr=1-3&keywords=logitech+artemis
  
  and, if he already has some logitech gear, it works in conjunction with the software he already has.

Yeah, active noise cancelling headphones cost a bit more than other consumer grade headphones since it's a pretty big Back of the Box feature. The very best in isolation is going to be in the form of IEMs. I can understand not wanting to have things jammed in your ears all day at work, but if you find a pair with a good fit for you, they can block out everything, especially with a comfortable foam tip. Maybe check out the Mee 6 Pros and pick up some Comply foam tips if the silicone tips are uncomfortable for you. Really, a good tip can make a big difference on any IEM. I have a preference for foam, but those have to be replaced a bit more often.

If you'd rather a full sized pair, there are a few options, but since you don't care too much about sound, the important thing to look for is clamp force and the pad material. Clamp force is pretty obvious, you want tighter for more isolation. As for pad material, leather/pleather with soft foam or memory foam inside is gonna be the best for blocking out outside noises.

As for recommendations, I would probably look at the Audio Technica ATH-M40X, though the ATH-M50X do go on sale for $99 occasionally. I only mention that because I've read more opinions on the M50Xs because they're a bit more popular around here.

Now, as a disclaimer, my recommendations are largely just based on things that are spoken of positively around here, but since you don't care too much about sound, the important thing is fit and comfort which can potentially be found on an off-brand headphone for cheaper, but not knowing how your ears and head are shaped, that's something you'll have to figure out as you go. At least Amazon has a pretty forgiving return policy.

I hope that helps and feel free to ask anything else you might be wondering about.

Depends on some things.
Do you want virtual 7.1 simulation/EAX support? If yes, a standard Xonar DS soundcard for around 30-40USD will suffice. That will help with some of the more expensive headphones too, which will need a bit of extra power to drive.

Pretty much every gaming headset uses rather cheap mics and so can we. All voip comm will get heavily compressed, be it with TS, skype or ingame voice, so you really don't need a high quality mic for gaming. Many gamers are using a Zalman mic for around 10USD, but any cheap, sturdy clip on mic will do.

This left us with around ~150USD for a good headphone. There are plenty of alternatives in the <150USD range, I can give you a couple of often recommended options.

The favorite right now in hi-fi circles is the ATH-m50 at around 130USD.

A very comfortable pair are the AKG K271MKII at the same price level.

To complete the our maxing out the budget trio we have the Ultrasone HFI-780.

All three have superior drivers with very good sound characteristics, very decent isolation and are fun enough to listen to for gaming, music and movies.

But we don't really have to max out the budget to get superior sound quality. There are some very decent headphones under 100USD too, which can more than compete with any high budget gaming headset.

Some examples: Sony MDRZX700
Creative Aurvana Live, especially for Europeans where the price is better
similar famous like the ATH-M50 are the ATH-AD700. It's a open headphone though, so gone is any decent isolation in exchange for a better soundstage.

I could go on for a bit, but those mentioned above are pretty well known and tested with the hi-fi community. You should find plenty of reviews and user experience for them. While some of them are a bit more analytical than most users are used to, they are all pretty fun and warm and not so boring like traditional studio monitors.

Even if we look at the lower budget gaming headsets <100USD, many without any 7.1 simulation, we can find plenty of better sound headphones, especially if we don't need a soundcard.

Those Sony headphones actually aren't that bad, for what they are at least. I have a pair that I primarily use for VR but I've listened to music on them a decent amount. I know this sub loves higher quality, expensive gear but I see nothing wrong with entry level stuff. Headphones are headphones and we all love music, why exclude someone because they don't want to spend large amounts of money on headphones? I do recommend breaking outside the $20 range eventually if you haven't already, though, as higher quality headphones just sound fucking amazing and you'll never want to go back to anything else.

I can't speak for the Sound Intone headphones but the Sony's have pretty decent bass and a good amount of it, maybe a small boost in the midrange and the highs aren't really piercing or overly emphasized, just enough IMO. I'd take those over earpods or Skull Candy's any day. They're also pretty durable. They get dropped a lot and generally beat up through VR use but they don't have anything wrong with them yet, cosmetically or otherwise.

If you're fine with earbuds, the KZ ZST earbuds are great like others have recommended and so are the Tennmak Pro's which are both roughly in the same price range as the ones you linked. If you're sticking with your two choices, though, I'd go with the Sony's. Haven't even heard of the other brand.

If you're willing to spend a little more the Superlux HD 681 EVO will probably blow anything you've heard out of the water if you're used to sub $30 Sony/Apple/Skull Candy headphones. I highly recommend any of the things recommended by myself or other users over the two you chose but the Sony's are acceptable.

1. Budget

I don't have a budget since I'll be saving for each individual necessity for the long run, though I would not spend more than $1,000 for speakers. That being said, you can make a decision on what are price points for each respective item.

2. What are you looking for?

I'm essentially looking for a living room audiophile set up. I would not mind recommendations other than floor standing speakers, but that is what I have now and I'm very pleased with the way it looks. I do not know what I'm looking for since I'm not sure what should be upgraded and what is missing.

3. How will you typically be using the gear?

Mid-Field

4. What gear do you own?

Specifics, I have a Yamaha RX-V381BL Receiver with a pair of Pioneer CS-N575 speakers. For headphones, I only use an Audio Technica's ATH-M40X, which I was recommended because I'm not to fond of having a mobile headphone amp with me.

5. What do you intend on using for a source?

I'll be using a laptop connected via HDMI to the receiver (unless someone thinks I should opt for a different source if I get a dedicated stereo receiver.)

6. What material will you be using your gear for?

Dedicated for music. I would like it to connect this system with a laptop and/or television, though I'm willing to not go through that route.

7. Are you willing to buy used?

Yes, I am willing to buy used, though craigslist, etc. is not preferred. Something like Amazon would be nice. Local: Los Angeles.

Thoughts:
I really like how my system sounds and how accessible it is at the moment to my needs, but I know I would really like to have a nicer set up with higher quality sound. I do not know anything about amplifiers, DACs, tubes. etc. so if you could inform me, that would be appreciated.

Note:

This was re-uploaded for further suggestions and aid. I'm not too new to audiophile but I never have owned my own full set up. Any information would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advanced.

Full disclaimer, read through the sub but know very little about headphones.
I'm looking for a pair of over the year headphones with isolation and maybe noise cancelling. Currently in betweent TH-M50X and some refurbished Sennhiser Urbanite XL (Indeed, tons of refurb jobs here ).

• Budget - Around £80 but will stretch, no more than $120 or so - but would love if I could get something cheaper.
  
• Source - My android phone/macbook.
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Yes please. London commute, open plan office, bedroom by a noisy road. I need to be able to switch everything off. They sounded crap, but being able to switch the noise cancelling on/off on the Souls was pretty dope. Over the ear for sure.
  
• Will you be using these Headphones in Public? Yes yes yes
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - Over-ear
  
• Preferred tonal balance - I'd love for it to sound rich and to be able to pick up different detail/tonality. I know it sounds odd but when I hear music on friend's who knows about this shit set-up everything sounds enhanced and creamy. I'm a bit sensitive to high-tones. I lived with musicians and often, after a few hours of listening to music/guitar it literally scratches my ears... I tested the MX50s instore and it sounded a little quiet to me? The MX40s couldnt even drown out the sound of store...
  
• Past headphones - I tried to look for the exact model but it's not available anymore, it was basically a mid-range, Skullcandy earbud set. Wasn't a huge fan to be honest - super fragile, broke really quick and their customer support was dreadful. Sounded nice enough but I'm looking forward to hearing what a half-way decent pair of headphones can do.
  
• Preferred Music - Shit, I do listen to a lot of different stuff. I guess mostly house, ambient and similar electronic, but then throw in some bossa nova, samba and rock in the middle.
  
• What would you like to improve on from your set-up - As much as I love music its just not a facet of my life I spend a lot of money on so sound wise, I want an upgrade from the bare bones, with isolation/noise-cancelling if possible so I can switch off my commute/coworkers and busy road by my bedroom. A solid noob pair that will keep me happy for a while and is sturdy and preferably somewhat portable.
  

If you want portability, the the Cyrus Soundkey or Audioquest Dragonfly red are your options. I use the Soundkey, and it's brilliant. The soundstage and clarity is vastly improved. Then again my daily drivers are the Audio-Technica ATH M40X. For a DAC + amp, then the Teac AI-101DA. It's a bit pricy, but however it's a good DAC amp. I don't have it, but I have heard mostly positive reviews on it, also Zeos, our legend, has reviewed it himself. If you are on a tight budget, well the FiiO - E10K Olympus, has got you covered. It's a really good amp+DAC for the money. A lot of positive reviews. If you are gaming, the Senhiser GSX 1000 is there. What I she said in here are the best in each section.

Links:

Cyrus Soundkey: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B073RFVHVY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720112&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cyrus+soundkey

Audioquest Dragonfly red: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DFMV4NQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720178&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=cyrus+soundkey&dpPl=1&dpID=41JaKxrUrfL&ref=plSrch

Senhiser GSX 1000: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LDTP484/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720216&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=gsx+100&dpPl=1&dpID=41ermQbCqAL&ref=plSrch

Teac AI-101DA: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UGYFWQC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720282&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=teac+ai-101da&dpPl=1&dpID=41dClv7EX-L&ref=plSrch

FiiO E10K Olympus: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LP3AMC2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720327&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=fiio+e10k&dpPl=1&dpID=41Taa5DTsKL&ref=plSrch

By the way. If you want, buy a fucking pair of Audio-Technica ATH M40X: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HVLUR54/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1520720404&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=audio+technica&dpPl=1&dpID=41gFqXe5oBL&ref=plSrch

Zeos found the M40X'S brilliant.

I hope I helped you out, if you have any queries, reply to this comment. Good luck in finding what you want.

Look for the original ATH-M50 for around $80 USD refurbished, or a new M40x. The newer models are awesome but rise above your budget by a bit, with not too huge of a performance difference. The Sennheiser HD419's are a great deal right now, and are nice, sexy, and comfy, albeit with a fragile headband. 439's and 449's are also good budget options, especially on sale like they are now. Sony's MDR-7506 is a phenomenal industry-standard pair but might be a little more clinical than she'd like, as they have a mid-range boost for monitoring pro audio. MDR-V6 is a tad warmer and more musical, but just as detailed. Also good to note that the sony's are pretty much indestructible, and fold and bend nicely while the sennheisers can't bend much at all.

Hey guys. I'm a commuter student with a love for music. I need something to listen to my Spotify on my metro and bus rides. Seems to me like the only options for me are collapsible over-ear headphones or an IEM.

• Budget - $100-$200 (Eager to lean towards $175 if the bang for the buck is good)
  
  
• Source - Samsung Galaxy S4
  
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Public transportation is noisy, but I don't care enough to specify a fancy noise-cancelling can
  
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - I'd prefer an IEM that doesn't go around the ear (I wear glasses) but I'd be open to over-ear closed headphones too, if they aren't too bulky. Either works.
  
  
• Preferred tonal balance - I like a punchy bass that doesn't interfere with the melodic mids and highs. I like the strong foundation the lows provide in my type of music.
  
  
• Past headphones - I like my current Astro A40's but the soundstage is too open for intensive listening and it lacks the full sound I like.
  
  
• Preferred Music - I range from Alt-Rock to hard EDM. Here's my spotify playlist for those of you that can open it. Get to the more recently added songs for a more relevant taste.
  
  Sunlight - Bag Raiders An example of the lighter EDM I enjoy, note the the strong beat.
  
  Tightrope - Walk The Moon Note again the need for a strong bass in the definitive beat and pulse of the song, however there's a risk of the bass overpowering the melody
  
  Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand Alt rock, or the primary victim of a bass that doesn't know it's place
  
  Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet More of my rock that needs a responsible bass.
  
  I've scoured the lists and come up with a few cans that may do the job, however I'm light on an IEM option.
  
  

1. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x It seems pretty popular, but harsh on transportation.
   
   
2. Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 I've heard about the bass on this and I like it. Again, there's the issue of transportation. They seem pretty bulky like the Beyer DT 660 I also have my eyes on.
   
   The pair of IEM I've seen that I kinda like are the VSonic GR07 However I have little information on them and other IEMs.
   
   Thanks a lot guys!

Budget - ~$70-120 but willing to go up if really necessary


Source - For home use on my PC, for gaming and all genres of music.

Requirements for Isolation - I share a room and do not live alone. So I suppose the more isolation the better. If less isolation helps with quality while not disturbing isolation too much though, I'd entertain the thought.

Preferred Type of Headphone - I honestly don't care as long as the quality for what I want is good.

Preferred tonal balance - I honestly can't say. Whatever's balanced?

Past headphones - Sennheiser 201s and 202s, both did the job for me just fine.

Preferred Music - I honestly listen to a lot of different genres, and play a lot of games on my PC.

I was looking for good quality suggestions for headphones that shouldn't bother the people that live with me, and found these:


Creative Aurvana Live! Headphones



Sony MDRV6 Studio Monitor Headphones



KRK KNS6400 Studio Headphones


Takstar Pro80 Headphones

Any opinions? I'm also open to other suggestion of course, I'd appreciate any help given. I game a lot and listen to all genres so I don't really have a specific niche for some particular headphone style. Not having to buy an AMP would also be cool, but I'm willing to hear suggestions for buying.

Your first step should be to get off onboard sound. The two easiest routes here would either getting a dedicated sound card or a USB DAC/amp combo.

If you decide on upgrading your sound card, something like the Asus DG/DGX will do fine to start with; they'll clean up the sound nicely and will be good enough to drive an efficient set of headphones. Later when you upgrade your headphones, you can then upgrade to the ST/STX and get yourself a proper amp like the Matrix M-stage or 02. That would imo be the better option in the long run.

The USB DAC/amp combo like the Fiio E10 will be a better option if you plan on getting slightly harder to drive headphones from the get go, e.g. Senns, Beyer...

That leaves you with around $250-$300 for the headphones. For your uses(movies and rock), an open pair of headphones like the AD900 would be a great all rounder; great comfort and very efficient. Also have a look at the Beyer DT880, also a good choice within your budget. These would have a wide soundstage perfect for movies and be versatile enough for most music. An open set will generally sound more natural than a closed one.

If you really need closed, the Brainwavz HM5 would be a good choice and way under your budget, enough left over to get yourself a set of Grado SR80. Grados are known as the hardest rocking headphones around, with a fast energetic and upfront sound that goes great with rock/alternative/metal/anything fast paced.

As some others mentioned, the Beyer DT770 are a nice set but a bit too bassy for my liking. I much prefer the DT250-80, which have a great smooth midrange.

> good alternatives to these headphones with good bang for my buck

I got a chance to demo those Sonys. Can't say enough good things about them.

Also worth looking into Audio-Technica AT-M70X ($223). AT's new flagship monitor headphone with an amazing sound. Definitely gives the Sonys a run for their money, especially with such a competitive price. I might even like them better.

I'm also quite fond of NAD Viso HP50 ($249). Just an incredible closed-back can.

>amp designed for headphone listening, that I can plug into my Macbook pro and that is hopefully less than $100.

Nothing really worth looking at under $100. Maybe Creative E3 ($99) or Topping TP30 ($99).

However, if you save money on headphones by going with the AT-M70X or the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 (which are on sale for like $149), you could put the money you saved towards a better amp/DAC.

So if we assume a budget of, say, $200 for an amp/DAC, you can step up to something like Creative E5 ($189), Fiio E17 ($139) (it's even portable!), or Topping TP32EX ($159). Fiio probably makes the best offering in this range.

This is just completely off the top of my head, but there are the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x's , on sale for $99 on amazon. I only have experience with the ATH-M50's but if they're comparable I'd recommend them. Another thing that I've heard good things about are the Sennheriser HD 280 PRO's. Stat wise, the 280 PROs supposedly have a lower base range, but in practice that could mean anything.

Since I haven't used either, I have no idea what they'll end up like and can't recommend either, but I hope that's a pretty good starting place. If you can, try them out and figure which you like more. Under that 100 limit, your choices really start to drop off in terms of actual quality.

Also, just final word, I'd seriously get a second opinion on this. I'm not the best person to ask about headphone quality, I just figured I throw some links your way since I saw there wasn't really anything here before. I hope what I've given you helps, but the best place to ask might be Head-fi.org. Good luck!

I am looking for headphones with a budget of around $100. My only real priority is that they let me "hear" myself talk while I play PC games with my friends. Similar to how you can hear youself talk in normal life when having a conversation with another person. With or without a mic is fine, I can go out and buy a mic if I have to.

I have been using Turtle Beach headphones for the past 6ish years I am looking for something new that will last me a white longer. I have a goddamn huge head and the Turtle beachs always crack on me after a year or so. I am tired of having to buy a new headset everytime this happens. I bought a pair of V-Moda Crossfade LPs early last winter but returned them after a week or two because the leathery earcups make my ears sweat even in the winter and also made me unable to hear myself.. Similar to when your ears are stopped up and you sound like you are talking with your head in a glass jar. It drives me fucking crazy when this happens and I have the tendency to yell when I can't hear myself. I don't want to bother everyone else around me all the time so being able to hear myself is a priority. Other than the inability to hear myself the V-Moda headphones were the nicest headphones I have ever owned and I wish I could have kept them to play videogames with.

The only non Turtle Beach headset I have ever bought was a pair of Razer Carcharias and I liked them a lot. They were light and while they did not "play my voice back to me" the way the Turtle Beach headphones claim to do the felt/velour earcups did allow me to hear myself so I yelled less which was super nice for the year or so I had them.

I have looked into getting the Kingston Hyper X II headset and I have read they are just rebranded Takstar headphones. I don't know really anything about fancy headphones other than the company names. I don't know if being rebranded Takstar headphones means that is a good thing or not. It comes with an extra pair of velour earcups that maybe will fix the issue I have. If anyone knows that would elaborate on that for me that would be fucking awesome.

If there are any other options out there that are bette inside my price range I would be really appreciative to know. My current pair of Turtle Beach PX22s broke the same way my old sets did last night and now I am in the hunt for a new headset.

---

TL;DR I need a headset that allows me to hear myself and the things in real life that are happening around me so I don't shout and disturb the people around me while I play games with my friends. Budget is around $100.

I did a bunch of research after my old HA-RX700's finally broke and I wanted to get a pair of decent headphones, so hopefully I can save somebody a little time. (I couldn't wait anymore so I bought these from Audio-Technica's website for ~$85 ~a week ago. Promo code: gg2015 for 15% off). I narrowed it down to these and the Beyerdynamic dt770 pro 80 ohm, but chose the M40x's due to the lower price and portability.

These are on the list of preferred headphones <$100 over at r/headphones.
Sound quality is very good (no amp yet, just plugged into MB).
Build quality feels solid (hooray detachable cable, 2 included!). Screws rather than molding on metal, so replaceable parts.
The frequency response is relatively flat and pretty comparable to the M50X (for a bit lower price).
Comfort with original pads leaves something to be desired, but the ZMF cowhide pads are highly recommended on multiple forums. From what I've read, the angled Brainwavz HM5 are also a solid choice. (if you can wait a little while, camel tells me the price goes down to $22.50 somewhat regularly). There are also memory foam pads but apparently these alter the sound a bit and seem to be less popular.
Personally, I took the pads off and removed the foam insert, then put the pads back on. This made a little more room for my ears and improved comfort 10x. It probably changes the frequency response a little but for me, it's worth it until I can get some more comfortable pads. Before doing that, I could only wear them for 2-3 hours. Now I can leave them on for 4+ without issue.
Let me know if you have any questions about the headphones, haven't had them long but definitely enjoying them :)

Budget: ~$80 preferably, $110 maximum

Source: 3.5mm jack in a computer

Requirements for Isolation: None

I will not be using these headphones in public.

Preferred Type of Headphone: Full sized, preferably over-ear but anything will work. Long listening sessions need to be comfortable, and open eared headphones would be nice as well.

Preferred tonal balance: I'd prefer an overall balanced set of headphones. Most of the stuff I listen to has vocals so mid emphasis would be nice as well.

Past headphones: Logitech G430

Preferred Music: Usually Lana Del Rey and some other music

What would you like to improve on from your set-up: I'd like to have a headset that is somewhat sturdy. I understand that at this price range that this goal may not be possible, but it's one I'd like to keep in mind.

One of my friends recommended this and another recommended this, if that helps.

Been looking again for a Christmas treat. The gaming headphones thread in the OP just didn't seem to hit the spot on what I need.


Budget - $0-$50
Source - PC
Requirements for Isolation - No isolation required.
Preferred Type of Headphone - Full-sized or on-ear. As long as they are comfortable, I'm not picky.
Preferred tonal balance - These will be used for gaming, so I'm thinking midrange or balanced are probably the best candidates.
Past headphones - I've had wireless headphones in the past, and I do not want that again. I'd rather just plug them in than have to worry about charge. A microphone would be nice, but is not necessary. And in-line audio controls are awesome to have as well, but not necessary either considering I probably won't find that for this price.
Preferred Music - My preferred music regularly changes, but I'll just give you some examples of some favorites from each of my favorite genres.
Klangkarussel - Sonnentanz
Good Charlotte - Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous
Pegboard Nerds - Self Destruct
Hot Chip - Playboy

Please tell me if there's anything else you need to know.

Edit - Did a tiny bit of research. Do you guys recommended either of these as a good buy for my needs?

http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B00CAG1ZG0/ref=pd_rhf_cr_s_cp_11_H2D5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QJ14ZRAKBJV44TGM2T1

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001ARCFA/ref=psdc_172541_t3_B004444O46

Reviews say they are good and they seem like they would do me well, but I know very little about headphones and audio in general, and I'm somewhat stingy with big purchases. I just want extra verification.

"Preferred Tonal Balance" is simply how do you like your music, example: "I listen to Rap so I want as much bass as possible!". With your taste it would be safe to say you want a bit more bass.

Personally I wouldn't recommend buying something from Bose unless you really wanted good noise-cancellation (tip: you don't). They are a bit pricey for what you get.
At that price range you might want to check out headphones from Audio Technica, specifically the M50's or the M40X's. Now I like the M50's because they have nice slightly punchy bass but it doesn't overpower the rest of the song. Sounds pretty good with Glitch-Hop and other electronic music in general IMO. I've had them for 3 years now and is a solid common go-to with their sweet price tag.

The list goes on and on since around $100 is where you start getting good headphones but i'll throw in another two headphones for you to consider: Shure's SRH440. For more bass, check out the V-MODA Crossfade LP. They're quite stylish, come in lots of colors and have a more bassy sound. V-MODA has a few other headphone line-ups you might like if you like their headphones.

Hope that helps, give us updates!

This past year is the first year I listened to more "non-metal" than metal since I got into metal when I was a sophomore in HS and regardless of what I was playing they sound great. I went on a weird kick where I listened to Yo-Yo Ma pretty heavily and loved how Sakura Sakura (and the entire Japanese Melodies album) sounded. I'm also a really big Ryan Adams fan and think the subtleties of such a stripped down performance were really accented well. But honestly my favorite album of the year was an alt. country record by Sturgill Simpson and it sounds unbelievable. And then of course, my favorite album of all time, Grace, featuring this song is always very very pleasant to experience through those headphones.

I don't know if that answered your question, but you got quite an overview of most of my listening. I left out some pop stuff though. No matter what you listen to through those headphones, they'll sound fantastic. There are some cheaper options though:

• ATH-M20x, $35-$45 USD
  
  
• ATH-M30x , $50-$60 USD
  
  
• ATH-M40x, $70-$80 USD
  
  Pretty much anything from AT is going to be good. They kind of specialize (imo) at making great sounding headphones without being expensive as all get out. There's another cheaper headphone that is roughly $20 if I'm remembering right. I'm not sure what your budget is, but I think the M40x are the best for the money. They have a detachable headphone cable which is incredibly convenient.

Shit is getting expensive here. I managed to buy my pair of m50x for 120 not that long ago on amazon.ca. But I doubt you will be able to find them for that price now.

I can list a few options for you based on popular products.

Closed headphones:

Sennheiser HD 280 PRO
They are 112 right now, so a good deal. The only thing with them is that they are super analytical, so they have a very flat response.


Audio Technica ATH-M40X
The little borther to the m50x. Still a good pair of cans. A little less bass but still have the same sound stage as the m50x. Going for 130.

Open Headphones:

Audio Technica ATH-AD500x
These are a no brainier if you want them for gaming. Open sound stage really makes for good location accuracy. Still great sound quality for other uses. They are super open, so they won't be good for walking around. 130.

In Ear:

RHA MA750
No one will argue with these. They sound amazing, come with all the tips you could want. Have a great sound stage for in ears. A little pricey at 150 but so worth it.

Shure SE215
I loved these. I used them until they fell apart, then I upgraded to the MA750. Warm mid forward sound. I would recommend getting some comply tips for them. They go for 125.

Forewarning: I'm only a hobbyist. If you want more info, definitely go to the subreddits I linked as well as the resources in their sidebars.

---

Mic: $100

Shure SM58

Video of SM57 and SM58 sound test starts at 3:30

With either of these mics you'll need an XLR cable and a device to deliver phantom power to the mic. They're the same price but I linked to the SM58 amazon listing because that's the more popular one for vocals. These two mics are industry standards so you can't really go wrong with them.

---

Interface: $130

Shure MVi Digital Audio Interface

When getting your DAW, I recommend getting some sort of microphone amplifier / hardware interface. I'm not too familiar with the budget options of these but if you have any questions about DAW hardware and software, head over to /r/audioengineering and post in the appropriate stickies.

I linked to this shure interface because it does both XLR (microphone cables) and 1/4" TRS (Guitar/instrument cables). I highly recommend reading reviews and opinions about it to see if it's the right one for you because, again, I'm not too familiar with the budget options in this category.

---

Which leaves $170 left in your budget for your choice of headphones and other gear:

Mic stands, mounts, cables, and pop filters can be pretty cheap, get your preference for your work space. Get a floating mount if you're having problems with translation through the stand. (I.e. desk bumps, people walking in adjacent areas, etc.) If you get a wire mesh pop filter, make sure it has a bevel around it (I've cut myself on mine too many times).

My recommendation for headphones would be some type of closed monitors. Audio Technica M-series headphones are popular entry level cans. If you have any questions about them or how they compare to other cans, head over to /r/headphones and post in the sticky.

ATH-M40x $80

ATH-M50 $133

ATH-M50x $125

---

As for the DAW itself, any decent computer will work fine for single-channel recording, these days. If your computer can run minecraft then it's more than enough.

What's important is that your software and hardware can use ASIO drivers. ASIO drivers will help reduce any latency on the computer's side, which is really helpful for live recording and playback. Definitely read up on how to use ASIO devices for live recordings. Depending on what you get and what version driver you're running, you may have to mess with the driver settings manually from time to time.

I mean Imma be real with you, I think you should invest in good headphones. These ATH M40x headphones are great, and they're only 100 bucks. I know 100 bucks may sound like a big investment, but these headphones are actually on the cheaper side, and provide great value for your money. I personally have the ATH M50x headphones, which are maybe like 30 bucks more expensive, but those M40X's are actually even better for mixing, since they have a nice balanced audio response.

Edit: You should also get an external audio interface I recommend this. I have one and it isn't very expensive and works great, very simple to use too.

I have the game one headphones (the semi closed one, not the zero) and it's alright. I prob wouldn't suggest it. The one I have I hear some plastic particle moving in there. it feels overall very "gamery" where it looks nice but has a cheap plastic feeling to it. Earmuffs are really comfortable and so is the actual cup itself, however, the clamp i find overpowering and have to switch headphone. Sound is good. Not spectacular, but good. It sounds like its got a sennheiser house sound but i can't confirm. Mic quality is passable, not the best (comparing to an xlr mic into an actual interface which gets way more expensive) but it doesn't matter for discord or voip in game, just don't do podcasts in these. I don't know if my unit is defunct, but when hearing recordings back I often cut out. I don't if that's a mic issue or pickup issue.

I have no impressions on the SHP9500 or the SHP9500s since i missed the train. My opinion is worthless here.

I usually avoid mic and headphones integrated together at all costs, they don't do each job better and are harder to find what the issue is. They are cheaper overall.

If i can add suggestions, I would say the m40x is fine. It's 15 dollars more but Audio Technica is pretty no frills and reliable. Granted, hit or miss on how they handle their marketing and lines. This will sound flat, they are monitoring headphones. It's audio the way the audio engineers heard it. Flat, boring, excels at nothing, fails at nothing. As for quality, it's really good. Very presentable outdoors as well (then again, so are the SHP9500/s) and function well for public commutes, etc. These are closed set, so less sound goes out (leakage), but the soundstage is more narrow. If these are too much, go m20x or m30x (mixed reviews) just to try them. m20x are 70 or so dollars, so way cheaper then the shp9500 is currently but the shp9500 would dip below that frequently. m20x has a really long heavy aux cable that is non swap able and comes with a 6.3 jack converter if you're into that.

And then get a cheap mic and the sound quality should be close to the same. If you want a more headset like feeling, get a modmic. this has better quality anyway, but is more expensive. Can be attached to any headphones. comes with stick on magnets that it can stick to so you can make your headphones civvy friendly again by detaching them. this comes with a mute switch. cheaper version comes without one. If you have any questions, let me know.

Budget - $125. Really don't want to spend more than $100 unless you can convince me.

Source - Dell laptop

Requirements for Isolation - All the isolation. I don't want to hear around me, and I don't want them to hear me.

Preferred Type of Headphone - Closed. See above. I want solitude and I don't want to bother others with my music.

Preferred tonal balance - Probably can't really tell the difference in mids and highs, but I love bass.

Past headphones - Grado SR80i. Sounded great, but they're open so they didn't block out noise and everyone could hear me even at low volume, which is not what I want. Also the pads pressing against my ears for awhile hurt pretty quickly.

Preferred Music - Alternative Rock, Hip Hop, Ambient/Post Rock, Trip Hop

Misc - I tried my friend's Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and it was incredible. A little big, but I did like the coiled cable. The cable on my SR80 has gotten twisted a lot from storing it in various places. I will use these primarily for studying and occasionally watching TV or movies on my computer. I love the M50, but the price tag may be a bit too high. Should I go for the M40x or the M30x? How much "worse" is the M30x than the M50? Are there alternatives that are better for the price? Also I have Amazon Prime which is why I keep linked to Amazon haha. Saves 10-15 bucks.

Budget - Prefer around $70 but can go upto $100

Source - Laptop (Dell 15RSE) or Mobile (iPhone SE)

Requirements for Isolation - Some isolation needed

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? - Yes

Preferred Type of Headphone - full-sized, or on-ear

Preferred tonal balance - overall balanced

Past headphones - Panasonic HJE120E (purchased and used multiple times over past few years) - Found them to be relatively neutral and giving more detail than "standard earphones that come with the mobile". But since they are IEMs, they are not comfortable for very long durations. Also, looking to step up to higher quality sound now :)

Preferred Music - Varies from Progressive House to Metal to Acoustic to sometimes just audio books. This is why I am looking for a good balanced pair of headphones.

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - More detail. More comfort for extended duration (for example, listening to music while working throughout the day, and while commuting).

Additional info - I'd prefer ones with removable cable.

Currently considering - NVX XPT100 or ATH-M40x

I had posted the same info yesterday and /u/username1615 suggested the M40x, which is why they got added to the list today. I will be making my final decision within 24 hours now, and have been doing quite a bit of reading of reviews, but am still uncertain about which one of these two would be good.

Please let me know if it would really be worth paying the 25% extra for the M40x (since I am still a college student and every dollar saved counts).

The problem with the design of the PSVR is that although you really want a set of closed over-ear headphones like the Audio Technica M40x, they tend to not exactly fit underneath the strap quite perfectly if you have a fat head (like mine) or if you use thick replacement ear cups for better sound quality. Sure things sound amazing and immersive but it's not exactly the most comfortable option.

I've also tried Phillips SHP9500s which sound amazing (especially for their price) but again, you'll run into a situation where it might not fit perfectly tucked under the head band of the PSVR headset. These actually work well for me, but not so much for my son. The only complaint I have with them is that they are open headphones so I hear the outside world extremely easily.

Honestly, unless you're swapping the PSVR around frequently, I would say that a good set of ear-buds are going to be your best bet for isolating and giving you quality sound while not being too uncomfortable. Unless you just hate earbuds.

This is a question for gamers.

Budget: $100 - fixed

Source: PC primarly, this motherboard if that helps with suggesting any extra stuff, and an android phone.

Isolation: Enough that people about 15 feet away or so aren't bothered by it at moderate sound volume. The only public place I plan to use them are in my university's library.

Using in public?: University library only, not while walking around.

Type: Full sized and closed since I think that will help with isolation.

Tonal preference: I can't say, unfortunately, as I have no experience with more expensive headphones. I'm hoping my music preferences and other use case can help with that.

Past headphones: Nothing worth mentioning. I think pretty much anything would be a step up, but since this is my first expensive set of headphones, I'd like some guidance.

Preferred music: Rock music. I'm not too savvy with genres but from what I can tell, mostly progressive rock (Fair to Midland, Karnivool, Rishloo), and some heavy metal (Black Sabbath and similar commonly known bands).

Improvements from current set-up: I think ultimately anything remotely up there in price is better than what I've ever had.

My intended use is probably a 80-20 split between gaming (80%) (leaning more towards rpgs but I do play some FPS like battlefield 4 and overwatch) and music (20%) but I'd like to try to accommodate those equally in terms of sound quality if possible, sacrificing music quality if necessary. I'll be buying modmic so I'm hoping to get as much as I can out of $100 geared towards sound only.

I was looking towards the HyperX Cloud 2 at first, as they're one of the few recommended gaming headsets that are ok in the sound and voice department but I found the microphone a bit lacking from tests I'd watched/listened to so I decided to just buy a separate mic and buy some good headphones. At present I was looking at the Audio Technica ath-m40x but couldn't find a lot of info from those who use it for gaming. The detachable cable would make it convenient for me to take it around since I could bundle the modmic and one of the long cables and just detach the cable and use a shorter cable for on the go.

Thanks.

EDIT: I am dumb I just saw you wanted closed back.

​

open back or closed back? Open back is better for gaming but others will be able to hear what you hear. If it doesn't matter then open back for gaming.

OPEN Headphones:

ATH-AD700X - ~95 - 100 new https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S332TQ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=ATH-AD700x&qid=1563901733&s=gateway&sr=8-2

ATH-AD900x - ~135 new https://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD900X-Open-Back-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B009S331VU/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ATH-AD700x&qid=1563901733&s=gateway&sr=8-3

​

HE4XX - $180 new https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-hifiman-he4xx-planar-magnetic-headphones

​

Sennheiser HD 58X - 160 new - https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-sennheiser-hd-58x-jubilee-headphones

​

Closed headphones:

ATH m40x - $100 new https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ATH+m40x&qid=1563902298&s=gateway&sr=8-3

These are deemed better than the m50x's

​

DT770 80 ohm - 135 new https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphone/dp/B0016MNAAI/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=DT770+80+ohm&qid=1563902448&s=gateway&sr=8-3

​

ATH-MSR7 - 175 new https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-MSR7BK-SonicPro-High-Resolution-Headphones/dp/B00PEUBIKM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ATH%2Bmsr7&qid=1563902327&s=gateway&sr=8-3&th=1

I owned these and played CSGO and I had no issues hearing anyone. I made it to LEM (if that matters to you) Very clear audio. I also never used an amp with these so they can only get better. if you have more questions on these just message me, I can compare them to the HE4xx's as I now own those.

​

AMP & Dac:

FX Audio DAC X6 - ~54.99 new https://www.amazon.com/FX-Audio-Optical-Coaxial-Amplifier/dp/B072JJT7SF/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=FX+Audio+DAC+X6&qid=1563901865&s=gateway&sr=8-3

​

Schiit Fulla 2 - ~120 new https://www.amazon.com/Schiit-Fulla-Converter-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B07KWG13Q4/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Schiit+Fulla+2&qid=1563902076&s=gateway&sr=8-3

​

Basically I am no expert as I am just getting into the DAC/AMP world but from my research and this subreddits wiki and other sources, it seems better to put your money into better headphones and then into a better DAC/AMP. I would look for a used pair of headphones from

/r/AVexchange or /r/hardwareswap if you are wanting something better, I picked up a pair of HE4xx for 110 shipped.

​

Just my two cents. I could be wrong and anyone please feel free to correct me as I am still learning all this.

For your friend:

I recommend that she picks up a pair of Beyerdynamic Custom One Pros. You can get them here: http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Custom-One-Pro-Black/dp/B008XEYT48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369159044&sr=8-1&keywords=beyerdynamic+custom+one+pro

They are great headphones and only have a 16Ω impedance so powering them is not going to be a problem.

Another headphone I would recommend would be the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32Ω edition. Similar to the Custom One Pros but with a little better bass response. You can get them here: http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-770-Pro-Studio-Headphones-Limited/dp/B008POFOHM/ref=sr_1_5?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1369159022&sr=1-5

For you:

Coming in right at $400 is the HiFiMAN HE-400. I haven't listened to these myself but I hear that they are the best headphones you can buy for $400. You can get them here: http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMAN-HE-400-Planar-Efficiency-Headphones/dp/B007ZG32I4/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1369159720&sr=1-3

However, if you really want to step up I suggest you stretch your budget to the $500 mark and pick up the Sennheiser HD650. These are some of the best headphones out there and would be a considerable upgrade from what you currently have. Check them out here: http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-650-Headphones/dp/B00018MSNI/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1369159720&sr=1-1

I honestly think that if you have the money for it then that is the way to go. I think the HD650s are more suited to the kind of music you like than the HE-400s anyway.

Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend open back headphones for casual use. They have their use and purpose in specific situations (like recording studio for example-only instrumental!) but definitely not for casual listening, usage in public, and definitely not gaming. Especially, if you have noisy fans.

The golden standard is either [Audio Technica M40X] (https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54?th=1) or [Audio Technica AVC500.] (https://eu.audio-technica.com/headphones/hifi/ATH-AVC500)

M40X are portable (folding) have a removable cable, and are less heavier. Great for travelling or usage while moving (DJ for example). Also, the sound is mostly flat (a good thing), so you can use them for monitoring, audio edit or set them up as you like it in your EQ.

ATH-AVC500 are heavier, have bigger, ohms and range is wider. They also have a different range of highs, mids, and lows, so the sound doesn't need too much EQ tweaking, and are more comfortable for longer sessions.

I personally have both, and they are the best purchase of my life.

Budget - $100ish usd, flexible for notable quality increases

Source - Mainly phone/portables, some PC & home theater amp

Requirements for Isolation - Very little, mostly home use

Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear

Preferred tonal balance - Balanced w/ light bass preference, but kinda a newbie to this arena so unsure

Past headphones - Monoprice 8323, Monoprice 18515, Koss KSC75

Preferred Music - Alt. Rock, Musicals, Electronica, Film Scores, 90s revival & electro swing, Drum n' Bass, 80s New Wave.. kinda all over the map. Some favorites - Orbital, The Orb, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Shawn Mullins, Pentatonix, Autechre, Bjork, Danny Elfman, Primus, Nine Inch Nails, Ok Go, Michael Nesmith, Devo, Large piles of Demo Scene mod tracks.. (stopping here before this gets silly-long)

The Story - I've been pondering getting my first set of "real" headphones for a while now. I like the 8323's ok, but I know they are only a stepping stone. The 18515 sound a touch better but just are not comfy for me. All the sales flying around this weekend are getting my trigger finger itchy. Particularly the Philips SHP9500S for $52, the Sennheiser HD 559 on Amazon for $100, and maybe even the Monolith M560 for $150 or Monolith M565C at $183, if planar is really worth it.. or should I be aiming more at the old standbys of the ATH-M40x for $80. So many seeming good options, little ability to test any before dropping cash...

Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

ATH M50x: Nice starter headphones.

Beyerdynamic DT770: These are closed so they are good at bass. I linked the PRO-32s because I doubt you have a soundcard, or want to get one that can push the ohms.

Beyerdynamic DT 990: These are like the 770s, but they are open, so less bass, and better positioning (sound staging).

All three should be good for music and gaming, with the first 2 being better for bassy music and the last being better for more instrumental music.

Later on you should look at getting a DAC.

You can get good stuff at the price point you are looking for, but if you end up loving the sound quality, 150+ should be your starting point. Also check out head-fi forums for other suggestions.

Edit: Changed link for the 32 Ohm version of the DT990s

Sound Review:

First let me say that the best way to describe them is to say they are nothing like my HD650s. Really if the HD650s are dead north, these are dead south. They have pronounced mids and highs, small bass, but they are exceptionally clear. You hear details that simply did not exist before. They take quite a bit of power to drive (the OTL wouldn't drive them properly). Anyone should be able to build these for less than $200. I would say that at that price point these are a great value. I dont know that these will be my go to headphone, but they are definitely different than anything I have ever used before.

EDIT: Do not use self adhesive felt on the drivers, get non adhesive stiff back from Michael's or similar. This will give you nice strong bass, with excellent extension. These bad boys sound amazing now. Now if I could just get the pads to stay on better...

Information:
Original thread.

Stuff to buy:
Fostex T50RP
Sticky Stiff Felt
Modeling Clay
Shure Replacement Pads
Double Sided Scrapbook Tape
Silverstone Audio Block

Looking for a pair of headphones to plug in my home theater while playing on the Steamlink. Also used to watch tv when I/GF is sleeping.

Budget -150$ flexible

Source - Yamaha RXV-577 Reciever (big plug)

Requirements for Isolation - Dont think so, used only at home

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? NO

Preferred Type of Headphone - Open to suggestion

Preferred tonal balance - I would say balanced ?

Past headphones - Curently using Kingston Hyper X 2 on my PC and PS4, i think they sound good for the price

Preferred Music - Not using for music, but Metal/Punk

What would you like to improve on from your set-up? Need a longer cable than the kingstons, also would like a dedicated set for this specific use

Location: CANADA (would like an Amazon suggestion, or NCIX)

I am guessing i could get any type of headphone and just get an adapter for the bigger plug ? Also need a relatively long cable since Reciever is about 8fts away. So far my best guess is the Audio Technica M40x
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00HVLUR54?ref=emc_b_5_t

edit: Formating

Currently in the market for a new pair of headphones and wondering which pair would be best. I'm quite a noob in the headphone department, (currently owning the Cloud 1s). I have no idea about the high/lows and specs of those headphones so i would love if you could enlighten me :D. For reference, I listen to a wide variety of headphones but i personally love deep house and Rap.

I spotted the following headphones that would possibly interest me. I would take the Fidelio x2's but they are way to costly in Canada.

1-http://www.amazon.ca/Technica-ATH-A700X-Audiophile-Closed-Back-Headphones/dp/B005TPOED0/ref=sr_1_90?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1451434116&sr=1-90

2-http://www.amazon.ca/Technica-ATH-900x-Audiophile-Closed-back-Headphones/dp/B005TCZIQA/ref=sr_1_122?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1451434140&sr=1-122

3-http://www.amazon.ca/Beyerdynamic-Custom-Headphone-Accessory-Microphone/dp/B00PK2LJ4E/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1451434158&sr=1-2&keywords=beyerdynamic

4-http://www.amazon.ca/AKG-240-Semi-Open-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0001ARCFA/ref=sr_1_12?m=AUJBRIGYRJ3Q8&ie=UTF8&qid=1451434191&sr=8-12&keywords=beyerdynamic

5-http://www.amazon.ca/AKG-Pro-Audio-K240-MKII/dp/B0016MNBAM/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0DFSA1DA0ZAR3XQ4RF0P

Sorry for the wall of text and I hope you can help me

Sorry for my poor english, I am from Quebec in Canada so please bare with me.

Open/Closed I have had some of both in the past and loved either one of them. I have closed headphones and find my ears getting a bit sweaty with time and i also wear Gunnars when i'm on my PC so I think open might be a better idea but if u have any must-have suggestions with the closed-back type headphones, please give me them :D

The prices are in CAD, max i could go is around 250 cad

Budget - $150 - $200 CAD, $250 MAX

Source - I phone 5 SE and computer

Requirements for Isolation - Yes prefer Isolation. Using while traveling on bus, walking, at school (can get noisy sometimes). Using while studying

Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear preferred unless IEM is very comfortable.

Preferred tonal balance - I like Bass but for studying it can get annoying, so balanced I suppose?

Past headphones - cheap OEM earbuds (Samsung, apple) and KZ Zs3

Preferred Music - Deep House, [Rap]
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmRXzrbZ89Y)

Location -Canada

Other relevant info - slightly bigger ears. Lol

Current Black Friday Opportunities

Sony MDRXB950B1 - CDN$ 123.00

Bose QuietComfort 25 - CDN$ 229.00

Sennheiser PXC 480 - CDN$ 199.95

beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO - CDN$ 232.45

Sennheiser HD 598 Cs - CDN$ 158.95

ATH M50X - CDN$ 168.00

Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus - CDN$ 184.37

Jaybird X3 Sport Bluetooth Headphones - CDN$ 89.99

Shure SRH440 - CDN$ 109.00

I would love to hear your experiences with either of these and which one you recommend given my situation. Or even other ones not from this list you suggest. I would love to purchase one this weekend. So your advice is much appreciated.

Thanks everyone

For listening to music, the M50x is pretty, pretty darn flat to the point that your average listener will really enjoy listening to the music. However, I think it's worth pointing out that they aren't truly flat, there is a little bit of a bass boost. But I think that's actually what you want if you're just listening to music. If you're looking to go into production, you'd want to look into the ATH-M70x, which is truly flat. The thing is though a lot of people report the M70x sound kind of tinny, which is because they're actually flat. The M50x sounds better listening to music because there's that subtle bass boost you're used to when listening to music. That being said, I have the M50x and I love it.

tl;dr M50x if you want to listen to music, M70x if you want to produce music as well.

There are a few great headphones for doom metal in the price range.

Grado makes some of the best headphones for rock/metal for the fast and tight bass response the Grado SR80e would be a good choice for a more well rounded sound. However they can be bright and sound a bit cold however they are very fun headphones. Since they are open they also provide no sound isolation.

Superlux HD-681 EVO are another great pair in the price range. They come in two colors black and white they have a nice warm sound with good bass and decent mids these are also fun for doom. They come with a nice set of accessories 2 detachable cables 2 sets of ear pads velour and leatherette and a bag.

I own a pair of grados and wear the evos for about 8hrs a day at work. So I have experience with both sets. Depending on your choice in doom and other music would be the other types of music you listen to honestly.

Fear not, for you can still enjoy the wonders of surround sound with Hi-Fi headphones. Most "gaming" headsets use a built-in DAC (and BS marketing magic) to emulate surround sound over stereo. You can do the same thing using Razer Surround or similar software for free.

You'll have to decide between a closed or open earcup design. If you're not already familiar: a closed-back design will give you better noise isolation and more bass response, while an open-back design will give you a wider soundstage and better positional accuracy. 95% of headphones are closed-back, but there are some nice open-back options in your price range.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($100) are a decent option. They're durable, portable, closed-back headphones with a lot of bass response.

The Sennheiser HD 558 ($115) are a steal at that price. They're incredibly comfortable, open-back headphones with a very wide soundstage and warm signature. They'll do much better with surround software.

Both of those options have a relatively low impedance, so you shouldn't have to worry about amping (although they'll still benefit from it). If you're looking for a mic, the ModMic 4.0 is on MassDrop right now. It's a bit pricy, but I've heard great things about the sound quality. If you want something a bit cheaper, the Zalman Clip-On is always an easy option.

Edit:
This might be slightly skewed, because a brick sitting on my head would be more comfortable than the headband on my Q701s.

BUDGET: $75-$100 (Slightly flexible)

SOURCE: Phone, Laptop, PS4

ISOLATION: I don't mind outside noise since I'll be using them at home exclusively but at the same time I don't want to bother my wife if she's in the same room as me.

TYPE: I think I'd prefer Over- Ear but On-Ear could work also since I probably won't be using them for more than 30 minutes at a time (busy dad).

TONAL BALANCE: I have no idea. I don't think I've ever owned headphones that cost more than $10 from Walmart. I know I don't like a ton of bass.

PAST HEADPHONES: Like I said before I've never owned decent headphones. Right now I'm using the ear buds that came with my Galaxy S4.

PREFERRED MUSIC: Tool, Pink Floyd, APC, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins and sometimes a little electronic music like Uppermost and Digitalism.

I'm mainly just going to use these to listen to music while I veg out on the couch with my eyes closed. I like to be able to pick out the individual instruments throughout an entire song but I'm not sure what kind of headphones I need to be able to do that. I have no idea what neutral, warm, etc. mean at all. I'd also like something that's super comfortable and would also consider on-ear as I probably won't be using them very much in one sitting.

After some searching I'm considering these ATH-M40x

Thank you for any help.

Hey guys. I'm looking for some new closed back headphones for around 200-300$ CDN. I want to be able to use them on the go.

Budget - 200-400
Source - My desktop, laptop and phone
Requirements for Isolation - I'm planning to use these on the go a lot, as well as at home, so isolation is pretty important to me.
Will you be using these Headphones in Public - Yep
Preferred Type of Headphone - I think full-sized? Something that goes around my ear.
Preferred tonal balance - Strong highs I think. I listen to all genres but having great quality in my Rock/Metal/Jazz songs are really important.
Past headphones - I currently have Sennheiser HD 558s. They're 4 years old. My main issue with them is the sound leak, lack of portability and occasionally muddy sound.
Preferred Music - I listen to all genres, but like I said earlier getting clear instruments in metal, rock and jazz are the most important thing to me.
What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I think I'm looking for stronger trebles and highs.

Location - I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This means that a lot of US Headphones are going to be a bitch to get past customs, and our conversion rate isn't so strong.

Despite this, I've been able to identify a few headphones that I might consider. I'm mostly looking towards the cheaper ones though.... and especially the AKG and Audio Technicas:

https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-silver-wood-headphones (This one comes up to being waaaay out of my budget though, so only if it's truly the best)

https://www.amazon.ca/Over-ear-Passive-Headphones-travel-Black/dp/B00E1UVXHO

https://aiaiai.dk/headphones/tma-2

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica-ATH-MSR7-Gun-Metal-Resolution-Headphone/dp/B00OTADUJA

https://www.amazon.ca/AKG-3280H00100-K-553-Pro/dp/B00X3MT7F6

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54

Ah sure! So for under €100 the best would be the Audio-Technica-M40X. They aren't metal but they're super solid plastic. If you can stretch to €129 the Audio-Technica-M50X are apparently a little better.

They're both built extremely well and have superb sound for the price.

Maybe try getting him a nice set of headphones. Got both my parents a pair this year and did about 2 weeks of research. Found that closed back headphones (they don't leak sound so people don't hear what you're listening to / annoy others) is probably best.

I went with the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481500389&sr=8-1&keywords=mx40

If you're a bit more open with the budget I would go with the mx50's: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481500401&sr=8-1&keywords=mx50

These are some of the top rated headphones for the price, and your dollar is going to quality unlike branding with something like beats by dre (which just base boosts the sound). If he plays any instruments both types come with a jack to plug into a keyboard or guitar amp.

Personally I would love a set of the mx50s. I would suggest not going below an mx40 as the cord is not interchangable and its stuck at 3 meters in length.. way to long. where as the 40's and 50's have that as well as a 1.2m cable, and he can always buy a shorter one if he wants.

Happy holidays

Edit: This might also go well with travel plans

Budget - 150$

Source - Laptop mostly

Requirements for Isolation - A must have. Will be using at home when it's really loud most of the time.

Preferred Type of Headphone - Conflicted between IEM and full-size right now. I want the portability and isolation of the IEMs but I feel like I can get so much more from regular headphones at the same price point.

Preferred tonal balance - Nothing really preferred since I'm new to all this

Past headphones - Cheap 20$ hand-me-down from a friend

Preferred Music - All sorts

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - I want something durable that'll last for a good while. Need isolation above all else though.

I've been looking at the Shure 215 and the RE400 as my top picks so far. But I can get the ATH m40x for the same price as the 215s. Any advice?

Edit: The m6 pros look like a nice cheaper alternative too.

Hello everyone, just picked up some Beyerdynamic 770 Pro 32 Ohms over the weekend and I'm absolutely loving them so far.

Even at the risk of sounding like a dumbass, I'm stumped. They sound great but I'd love for them to potentially sound even better. I have a SMSL SA-50 Amplifer which powers my Micca MB42X speakers. This setup worked extremely well in the past as all I had were some crappy Steelseries Siberia V2's for gaming.

But now do I need more equipment to have my headphones sound as good as they possibly can? I know very little about DACs/Amps or audio equipment in general but from what I do know I'm missing something crucial.

Sorry if my question is vague and please let me know if you need more information!

Thanks for any help you can provide.

> Balanced except for bass, which I'd like to be strong if possible.

That's unfortunately not how it works. If you have a strong bass presence, mids will suffer. You can't have strong bass in a neutral headphone. People also tend to confuse more bass vs. good bass. Good bass is subtle and may have less of a kick to it, but it has texture.

> Isolation: Some or none

Since you state you'll be using these headphone with a phone, I assume you want to wear them outside and in public. In this case isolation is an absolute requirement. Open back headphones will leak the music to the outside and people around you can hear what you are listening to.

I suggest you take a look at these models:

• Brainwavz HM5 // NVX XPT 100: Very comfortable, neutral sounding headphones with a surprisingly wide stage for a closed back headphone in this price range. Unfortunately, they are rather bulky and cannot be easily carried around; they are meant to be used at home.
  
  
• ATH M40X. A good looking and neutral sounding model (with a light bass tilt) that has a detachable cable and swiveling cups. Can't really be beaten at the current amazon price. But naturally this pair has its disadvantages as well. The relatively small pleather pads only allow for sufficient comfort (nowhere near the godlike HM5 / XPT100 pads) and the soundstage is rather "intimate" (read narrow / small). However, the music you mentioned doesn't really benefit from great soundstage and I think the M40X will be a good match.
  
  If you want to go all out on the bass: V-Moda LP2

Noise cancelling works best against constant noise, but is less effective against stuff like talking. You may be better off with good studio monitors that simply block noise, instead of active cancellation.
I love these: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54

as others stated, gaming headsets are generally not the best here. get a decent pair of headphones, made by an actual headphone company and a mic and you will have 10x better sound than so called gaming headsets.

your best bet is probably ATH M40x headphones, $89 on amazon at the moment
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54

and a VModa BoomPro Mic for $29
https://www.amazon.com/V-MODA-BoomPro-Gaming-Headset-Headphone/dp/B00BJ17WKK/ref=pd_sim_267_12?


just plug the mic into the hedphones instead of the cord that came with the M40s and there you go. headphones when you just want headphones, and a full headset when you want that.


there is also the m50x for a bit more money at $139, though honestly i dont think its worth the extra money. especially just for playing games and basic listening from a computer or phone or something.
https://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-M50X-Headphones-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B01D6FKDT8/ref=sr_1_3?


there are also m30x that are only $69. but YOU DO NOT WANT THESE! these are cheaper than the m40, but these do not have the removable cable like the 40s and 50s do, meaning adding a mic will be more expensive/challenging as you cant just plug the $30 vmoda one in and be good to go.
so dont be tempted by the $20 savings on these> https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M30x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUQW8/ref=sr_1_1?

i own the m40x and the m50x as well as several far more expensive pairs of headphones and i can assure you it is hard to find much better sound, comfort and features for the price than you get with the the 40/50x. especially the removable cable, that is missing from my pairs that cost 6 times as much as the 40's.

Unsurprisingly, everyone is recommending m50xs... you should checkout the headphones subreddit, the people over there know their shit. The Sony's and msr7s you were asking about are on different sides of the sound signature spectrum. The msr7s are pretty punchy and bright, while the Mdr-1s are more warm and laid back sounding. I would say go for something like the beyerdynamic Dt770 they really are awesome for electronic music, and they're pretty affordable as well. Also if you want to spend a little more the focal spirit pro is a great choice.

Link to the dt770: https://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-770-PRO-250-ohms/dp/B008POFOHM?th=1&psc=1

Link to the spirit pro: https://www.amazon.com/Focal-Spirit-Professional-Studio-Headphones/dp/B00EXO8Y3Y

If you buy the T50RP Mk3, which is a little more expensive, it sounds like from various reviews and impressions that you get a slightly better headphone than the Mk2. The headband is better, the sound may be slightly better, etc.

That said, if you get the T50RP Mk2 it is a little cheaper and there are many, many mods to it that enhance its sound quality to an insane degree (some say rivaling that of an LCD-2). The mods are all very easy to do; I just finished mine last weekend and I am blown away that I only paid ~$100 for the headphones and ~$20 for modding materials and they rival my HE-400i for my favorite headphone.


Here is a link to the mod that I did, called DBV#3

And here is a link to a mod wiki on the headphone

Many of the same mods will work on a Mk3, but the resulting sound will not be exactly the same as the measurements you see in the Incremental Mod post. The beauty of this headphone is that you can tweak it to be whatever you want it to be.

Good luck to you if you purchase one!

I'm at work anyway so time flies here. :P

Do you need a mic with the headset? If so, we might go back to gaming-based headsets because they have one built-in.

One gaming headset that's 'pretty good' and has all the features with mics and all is the Hyper X Cloud.
https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-Gaming-Headset-PS4/dp/B00SAYCVTQ/

Going back to Audiophile headphones, a step-down from what I purchased:
https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AUD-ATHAD500X-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B009S333U4

That's an open-back headphone again, suitable for FPS games which you play too. You'll love playing Battlefield with it as well, hearing those gunshots whiz by. Big downside for open-back headphone is the bass is not that good.

Close-backed ones are, the opposite. One good headphone is :
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54
You're going to love the bass on this one, especially on intense gaming moments.

Another choice is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L1IIF1K/ref=psdc_172541_t1_B01L1IIEKM

Overall, there's a lot of headphones out there that might suit your needs. Those ones encloses your ears so they're pretty big. So feel free to research about these audiophile headphones that will work for you.

I have 2 sets of those Klipsch! They're great for gaming and I have a set plugged in to my TV as well. :)

Piggybacking on what others have said - yes, you need a pair, and yes, you'd need a soundcard. The best bang for your buck right now would be a reasonable USB soundcard (I recommend and own the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, $150) and a set of low impedance reference headphones - you can get the Beyerdynamic DT-770 in 32 Ohm impedance for $175.

Links to make life easier:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008POFOHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1396855842&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005OZE9SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1396855882&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

People love the Mx40's. I got the Status Audio CB-1's for my gaming headset. If you're looking for an open back, people seem to really love the shp9500. Like i said, those are open back and are light on the bass. Another open back that people love in the price range are the HD 559. I've heard good things about the Massdrop x HiFiMAN HE-350.

Kind of depends on what you're looking for in terms of sound and where you're using them.

E: if you aren't dead set on new, i'd find something more expensive and check out /r/AVexchange. Really good deals and it's a bunch of people with headphone buying additctions. Just buy and sell constantly. I mentioned above, but i paid $350 for what would've cost me about $600 new after mods. I find that headphones is an area where people take care of their stuff because it takes a special kind of person to start dropping hundreds on headphones that aren't beats.

From what I know, good home studio headphones will cost you at least over $200. If you aren't in the music production business then I can see why you'd be going for a nice pair of budget headphones.

Sennheiser and Audio Technica are 2 brands I really enjoy. I have used the Audio Technica m50x's for over 2 years and they still hold up great. They costed me around 175 CAD but I hear great things from m40x's as well which are going for around $80 USD on amazon ( https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=ath+m40x&qid=1554515435&s=gateway&sr=8-3 ). The price on the m40s are practically a steal right now, so they are my top recommendation.

I also know that open-ended headphones are usually best for mixing, which the m40s are not. The only reason I chose closed-ended was to prevent leakage when listening to music in public. Your preference may vary but it's something to take into consideration.

​

yeah im only talking about the use for csgo.

First you should decide wether you want an open or closed Headphone.

Open means the sides of the Headphones are, well open. They are usually covered by some kind of mesh. This means you will be hearing whats going on around you (people talking etc), but they will also hear whatever sounds are coming from your headphones.

Closed Cans are the opposite, people wont hear your music/csgo sounds, but you wont hear anybody around you either. I would recommend these if you dont have your own room to play csgo in or plan to use them on the go.

Personally I prefer Open Headphones for CSGO since they generally have a bigger Soundstage which helps alot telling for where Footsteps/Shots etc in CS are coming from. So should you have your own quiet room to play in i would highly recommend getting open type Headphones.

Open Headphones i would recommend:

• Superlux (not even 32 Pounds with Zalman Mic)
  
  
• Philips just re-released the SHP9500's in the US, where they are about 50$. you could use those with a BoomPro. Unfortunatly the new Model of these isnt available in europe yet, so you will have to wait a little bit. Everything you find here atm is still the old version and mostly listed at ridiculus prices (like in the link above).
  
  Closed:
  
  
• HyperX Cloud
  
  
• Tascam
  
  
• Creative (good sound but poor build)
  
  
• M40X
  
  Generally People recommend saving up for the M40X over the M20X
  
  EDIT: i forgot the Q-Pad which is basicly HyperX Cloud but as an Open Back
  
  You could also look into getting a used X1/X2 on Ebay and pairing it up with a boompro or ModMic

I changed only a couple of things.

No thermal paste, absolutely no need. Wouldn't see a difference unless you are custom watercooling. The CPU cooler comes with some.

cheaper motherboard. doesn't really make any difference.

Doubled your RAM for only $15

256GB 950 Pro + 500 GB 850 EVO. Not quite as much storage as the 1TB 850EVO, but the 950 Pro is simply astonishingly fast.

Changed the MSI R9 390 to a XFX one, same speed, but $30 cheaper.

The case comes with 2 fans, which is probably enough already. Added a third fan, just because. I would personally go with one higher quality fan vs 2 cheaper ones. Less noise.

I would not buy a gaming headset. They all suck. The Audi-Techica ATH-M40x are amazing for under $100. Much better all around sound experience.

All-in-all $6 cheaper for double the RAM, much faster storage (but only 750GB vs 1TB), and much better headphones.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type|Item|Price

----|:----|:----
CPU | Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor | $238.99 @ SuperBiiz
CPU Cooler | CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler | $34.50 @ Newegg
Motherboard | Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard | $134.99 @ Micro Center
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory | $59.99 @ Newegg
Storage | Samsung 950 PRO 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive | $177.99 @ B&H
Storage | Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive | $148.89 @ OutletPC
Video Card | XFX Radeon R9 390 8GB Double Dissipation Video Card | $299.99 @ Newegg
Case | Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case | $77.99 @ NCIX US
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply | $59.99 @ Newegg
Optical Drive | LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer | $13.99 @ Newegg
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM (64-bit) | $86.86 @ Amazon
Case Fan | Corsair CO-9050017-WLED 66.4 CFM 140mm Fan | $13.49 @ Amazon
Monitor | Asus VX248H 60Hz 24.0" Monitor | $139.99 @ Micro Center
Keyboard | Corsair K70 Wired Gaming Keyboard | $129.99 @ Amazon
Mouse | Corsair M65 RGB Wired Laser Mouse | $59.99 @ Micro Center
Headphones| Audio-Technica ATH-M40x | $87.95
| Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts |
| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $1830.58
| Mail-in rebates | -$65.00
| Total | $1765.58
| Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-29 07:55 EDT-0400 |

Budget - $200 hard limit (USA)

Source - PC

Requirements for Isolation - Yes, from the research I've done closed-back headphones are good for this?

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? No

Preferred Type of Headphone - Full-sized (circumaural?)

Preferred tonal balance - I think I want some headphones that are more toward the bass side but not too heavy. I play a few shooters (RS2Vietnam, BF1, CSGO, ARMA 3) and I think the music I listen to is on the mid-low side. Sorry if this sounds vague I just discovered this subreddit a few days ago.

Past headphones - Right now i'm rockin some $10 earbuds from Wal-Mart, not sure of the brand but its all-white i'm assuming Apple?

Preferred Music - I will mostly be using this for gaming and watching shows/movies/anime >90% of the time, but for the music I will be listening to, some R&B, Hip hop, lofi hip hop, Deep House, Flume, ODESZA, Chet Faker, Big House EDM, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Weezer, Tokyo Police Club, Coconut Records

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Better sound quality and some comfort. I would prefer it if they were compatible with a BoomPro mic, but it is not a requirement.

I did some looking and I came upon these pairs as possible headphones that might be good for what i'm looking for. The first two are what i'm leaning towards and the rest are in no specific order.

1.) Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus ($172.33) - https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-Custom-Headphones-Accessory-Microphone/dp/B00PK2LJ4E

2.) Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm ($179.00) - https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-770-Pro-Studio-Headphones/dp/B0016MNAAI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497743335&sr=8-2&keywords=dt770

3.) AKG 550 ($139.95) - https://www.amazon.com/AKG-K550-Closed-Back-Reference-Headphones/dp/B005CNR7B0/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1497744145&sr=1-1&keywords=k550

4.) Audio-Technica MSR7BK ($193.99) - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-MSR7BK-SonicPro-High-Resolution-Headphones/dp/B00PEU9CFA

5.) Shure SRH840 ($179.00) - https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SRH840-Professional-Monitoring-Earphones/dp/B002DP8IEK/

6.) Fostex T50RP MK3 ($154.90) - https://www.amazon.com/Fostex-Professional-Studio-Headphones-Semi-Open/dp/B0167XM092

7.) Audio-Technica M40x ($79.00) - https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1497704658&sr=8-3&keywords=m40x

Are these headphones appropriate for what i'm looking for? If not may I get a suggestion for what you think would be better? Also, what YouTube channels should I watch for reviews and to learn more about headphones in general? The only one I've watched so far is ZReviews.

For my last question, I am considering buying a soundcard (the Xonar DGX) with these headphones, is it enough to power the DT770 model i'm looking at?

Sorry for the wall of text, I was trying to be as detailed as I could with my limited knowledge. Thank you for reading this and your time!

Seconded on /u/Quicksilver16's Vmoda recommendation.

For pure bass, Ultrasone DJ1 pro works too but for the price the Vmoda is better built, even before you get to sound quality.

If you prefer over-ear to the VModa's on-ear, there's also the bassy brother to the classic Ath-M50, the Pro700mkII where you get a (in my opinion) key upgrade with the detachable cord. Also, nicer construction for the mobile user as it's built for traveling DJs rather than as studio gear.

I actually gave a full-day workout to the budget-beater Monoprice 8323s today. Though the DT250 pads as an upgrade are almost a required addition and unfortunately double the price, they make for an astonishingly good $45 (total) set of headphones. They benefit more from quality sourcing than the VModa M-100s, which don't change much when I go from iphone to laptop to usb dac/amp, but for the asking price that's not a deal breaker. Wouldn't mind seeing some reviews on the new Beats-looking Monoprices too. For $50 that might be a great package.

For your need, I think Audio Technica ATH-m40x with Brainwavz hm5 hybrid angled.

Total cost for both of this are around $130 but they are worth it.

The m40x are faily nuetral with a little bump on the bass. The imaging are good. The soundstage are quite narrow before changing the pads but after chaing tha pads thay are great for a closed back. Isolation are great enough to be used at noisy place like in a train. Comfort are quite back due to the clamping force but it will be fix after changing tha pads.

I've never tried the ws770 and anc27x so I can't really say anything about them.

Budget : Less than 200 cad/ 150 usd

What would be the best headphones for great game soundtrack lovers? ( Like witcher, dark souls and total war games ) I have gone over many options but can't decide because all reviews say X headphones are the best sound clarity under X amount of money while they review another pair and say the same thing.

Trying to decide between these 2 ( dont mind more recommendations)

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00HVLUR54/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1


https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00PK2LJ4E/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1




Help this pleb pls.

I'm all for repairs over replacement, but the materials/equipment on this one is probably going to run you $30-40, and if this issue is persistent for that set, won't it spring up again? Feels a bit like throwing good money after bad.

Options: If you must have an in-line mic and you like your current set otherwise, just get a refurb set off Amazon. $19.

If you just need an affordable set of quality headphones, I can't recommend the Superlux HD-681 Evos highly enough. Magnificent sound, $45 pricetag. Great customer service too; I had a small issue on the audio in line, and they fixed it and sent my cans back to me within a week.

ATH-M40X or ATH-M50X

Out of the box they are SUPER firm on your head, which makes them extremely uncomfortable after an hour or so, but for shorter demos they'll do an excellent job of blocking out outside sound while also sounding absolutely amazing inside the headphone. The ...'leather' (idk what it actually is, maybe leather?) that the ear muffs are made from would easily be cleaned with alcohol wipes, in case someone is worried about ear germs.

If you plan on giving longer demos, the 'tension' (ear-pressure) mechanism is in the head band. It's just a spring-steel bar. Bend it backwards (GENTLY! Small bends; nudge it till you get it right) will take the bite out of the headphones. They won't clamp as hard, but they'll be more comfortable long term.

If you go with the interface, your speakers should be "studio monitors", i.e. something that doesn't color the sound with "bitchin' bass" or whatever the cool kids are using on their 7.1 surround sound gaming rigs.

Same goes for the headphones. AT has some options that are a good bang for your buck.

For speakers that get loud but sound great at any volume I can highly recommend a pair of Yamaha HS5's, but you can certainly get decent monitors for less.

The Scarlett is a good choice. Spring for the 2i4 over a 2i2, because the PAD button will come in handy, allowing you to roll down the decibels without affecting the tone. Key if your guitar has hot pickups.

Sennheiser HD558 is just outside of your upper bracket by $2.99 on Amazon right now. I've never heard them, but having heard the HD598 recently, the HD558 should be a great candidate for you. The only downside would be these are open-back headphones, so they will leak a bit of sound and you can hear everything as if you don't have a headphone on at all.

For a closed-back headphone at that price range, lots of people recommends Creative Aurvana Live!, Sony MDR-V6, and Jaycar Pro Monitor Headphones (which is the same as this but less expensive). If you're into modding stuff, Fostex T50RP is considered one of the best headphone for modding and there's plenty of documentation online. Granted it is a tad over your upper bracket as well, thank the modders for that :D

Absolutely! I'm assuming you'll be using your phone for music?
A great set of headphones with great bass and clarity are the Beyerdynamic DT770. If you're intending to go simple and use the headphones with a portable device such as your phone or an iPod, you'd be wise to get the 32 Ohms version.

This "32 Ohms" is the measure of the headphone's impedance/resistance. This means that the headphone provides less resistance to the power being supplied by an amplifier. This means that with a lower impedance, your audio source's amplifier (phone, iPod, etc.) will be able to easily power to your headphones, and the headphones will have more volume and clarity.

The 250 Ohm version would need a decent amplifier—not found on phones. If you plugged a pair of headphones with an impedance of 250 Ohms into your phone, the headphones would resist a lot of the power coming from the phone's weak onboard amplifier—resulting in very low volume and clarity on the headphones.

I hope that I made sense with that description! Let me know if you have questions!

Not sure about metal specifically, but in general I can't recommend the [Audio Technica ATH-M40x's] (https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1502021666&sr=8-3&keywords=audio+technica+ath-m40x) enough. Some of the most commonly praised headphones are the M50x's, and the M40's are very similar. The specs are listed on that Amazon link, but basically the range sounds practically identical to a casual listener so there's no need to worry about a loss of frequency response unless you're looking to do some professional mixing. They're also lighter than the M50's so they're more comfortable to wear.

I listen to a fairly wide variety of music, metal included, and I'll tell you that the M40's are a very good value for only being $100. Do your own research and get plenty of opinions, but the M40's are a very good option for the price.

2 years ago I was pointed towards the Gemini HSR-1000. I absolutely love these headphones and use them every day.


Now I'm trying to get a pair of headphones for a Christmas gift.
As the Gemini HSR-1000 is difficult to find, I would like to find a similar pair of headphones (in quality, feel, and size).


They will primarily be used in a quiet office/library study situation.


I would like a balanced to slightly bassy audio profile, with cans that I can wear for 8 hours without too much discomfort.

Budget: <= $100 (preferably)

Source: Realtek High Definition Audio from a Dell Latitude E7450, mac-book, or smartphone

Type: Full size (I don't want it to touch my ears), closed (I don't want coworkers to hear).

Isolation: My friend likes to drown out people with pink noise while studying. I assume some noise canceling would help with this.

Preferred music: EDM, House, Pop, Classical

Location: MD, USA

Wired: I would like it to be wired, ideally with a removable cord.

Right at $200, and a Japanese Import. It doesn't get any better than this baby!

Very good bass headphone but can be a bit chunky, but also half the price of the JVC.

Looks like Beats, but sounds like winning.

m50, but bass that will rattle your brain.

Not sooo much bass as the ones previously listed, but a great value AND THEY ARE WIRELESS!

So yeah, you want some self powered ones. Do you really want the whole surround sound thing? If your dorm is anything like mine was, there isn't exactly a living room area to setup speakers around a couch, a pair of monitors and sub type is probably what you want. Lots of good options there, the logitech above, and Klipsch makes some good ones as well.

As an alternative, think about full closed headphones like the AKG k271 Mk2s (there are a few options there as well) You'll get arguably better sound than you can from a 200$ powered speaker setup, and you won't disturb your roomate/dorm while you're up late.

If you want to use them on the go youd need to be looking at closed headphones so sound does not leak out (the ones you have named are both open, and therefore will let sound in and out).

If you are looking to use a mic as well you either need a set that have an inbuilt mic on the cable or buy something like the Vmoda boom pro (so the headphones will need a detachable cable)

Audio Technica make a good few models for you to check out, M40x, M50x and MSR7

Other then those, Shure 840, various beyerdynamic's, and on the cheap side Brainwavz HM5 and HM9.


As you have a lot of options the best thing would be to buy potential headphones from somewhere with a good returns policy and trial them, or go to a store that has a good selection for you to listen to.

I'd suggest looking at the Audio Technica M40X. It's currently going for $99, and is truly an awesome pair of study headphones. They will be more suited than the M50X, because the M50X features more unnecessary bass and treble, and the soundstage is also narrower. Comparatively, the M40X is more neutral and pleasant.

But, if you can splurge upto $145, just look no further than the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250 Ohm Version currently going for $144, and is like miles ahead of what the M40X/50X can offer you.

Pair the DT770 Pro with an amp like the Fiio A1 currently for $28, and you get a long term solution. Basically for just $50 more ($144 + $28), you're getting a solution that's head & shoulders above your all expectations!

You can try just using your hand to redirect the sound waves from your mouth towards your ear, or you can try just closing one ear with a finger or hand. Sometimes you see people do it when they are doing licks or runs for pitch precision.

In terms of equipment, yes this is why musicians in studios wear headphones while singing. They can hear the background music and monitor their vocals as they are being recorded.

Equipment:

Audio-Technica AT2020USB PLUS Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5ZX9FM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=22NJSL3TGXXEH&coliid=I2ZQ8TLHXXM7FL

Rode NT-USB USB Condenser Microphone

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KQPGRRE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=22NJSL3TGXXEH&coliid=I2XMC8MD4Q3FO8

One of those USB microphones with built in headphone monitors should work for you. The Rode has better sound quality and comes with a pop filter. The Audio Technica is cheaper, comes with no pop filter, and is slightly bassy sounding. You will probably want a microphone stand and a decent pair of headphones as well.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1457017838&sr=1-1&keywords=Audio+Technica+m40x

These headphones are really nice and neutral sounding. Close-eared for good recording. The more expensive m50x actually are less neutral and will give a little bit of bass coloring to music.

Edit: If you start doing regular covers this will work well for that as well. You can download the audio files from youtube karaoke videos and then play them using Audacity as you record and monitor your vocals. Audacity is a free recording program that lets you also edit all your tracks. If you play instruments these microphones will do fine with those as well, but you'll have to be careful about placement and room reflections/modes/background noise etc.

Top three headsets for what you might be looking for.

1. Beyerdynamics Custom Street - There is an optional mic attachment, and they have little sliders for more bass.
   https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-Custom-Street-Headphones-Black/dp/B00UK7ZQXO
   
   Or use the MMX300 2nd Gen, or the 1st Gen.
   
   
2. The Sennheiser PC37X from Massdrop. Amazing mic quality, even more amazing sound, and super comfy.
   Sadly don't have a link to them when I am at work.
   
   
3. The LucidSound LS40 - Great sound, look, and design.
   https://www.lucidsound.com/ls40-surround-sound-universal-gaming-headset-lucidsound.html

NEED COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES

The headphones i currently have both start to hurt my ears after only like 15-30 minutes of use. I don't have an unusually huge head, my ears do stick out a little more than average though.

Brands I've Tried:

Audio Technica ATH-M40x Pro

Technics RP-DH1200

So anyhoo, recommend me a set of over ears where comfort is #1 priority. Big ear pads so my ears don't get smashed, not a huge cord (but who cares, sometimes you're stuck with some 8' monster ^hehe ), Open or Closed doesn't matter, and weight isn't a big problem for me mainly just the ear smashing thing.

My budge is ~$150, ideally looking for a sale to get it less than $100. Thanks!

So my Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro Headphones Black Limited Edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01ERLN180/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XMOtDbGYSJDK0 purchased 1st August 2017 aren't looking too good then?
I've not got anything to compare them to but they sound pretty good to me. Certainly very comfortable!

The ATH-M40x, the M50x it's younger brother.

They're comfortable, well build, look good, great sound, good noise cancellation and awesome sound isolation. I can't recommend the ATH series enough for people who want closed back headphones (aka, so your whole college class doesn't have to hear you blast your music)

Amazon link

If you game at all, the the HyperX are great for under 100.

If you're focusing just on music, pretty much any Pioneer headphones are fantastic, but I personally prefer the shape and style of the Panasonic DJ headphones. I still have my old Technics 1200 model, which is essentially identical to the Panasonic 1250 remake.

Edit: I just happened across these Audio-Technica headphones on sale, a cheaper alternative to Pioneers but pretty much the same style. I've heard a lot of good things about A-T headphones so these might be worth checking out too

Budget - $100-150
Source - iPhone > FiiO E6
Preferred Type of Headphone - Looking for IEMs for working out/general use.
Preferred tonal balance - I like a nice kick in my bass, but quality mids and highs are a must.
Past Headphones - Want to replace Skullcandy Titans, absolutely love my current ATH-PRO700MK2s
Preferred Music - Currently in an Alternative/Indie phase, but I enjoy other genres of music too.

I always have problems with IEMs staying in my ears and the listening experience often suffers. The only reference I have on IEMs are my friend's Denon AH-C300 Urban Raver whick have an amazing fit, but I don't really want to exactly copy him...

New post with different needs:

• Budget - Around $100, at most $150
  
• Source - ASUS Xonar soundcard, smartphone, standard laptops.
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Somewhat isolated, with the ability to hear outside noises.
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear with a large cup
  
• Preferred tonal balance - Mainly balanced with some bass.
  
• Past headphones - Monoprice 8323 with a v-moda microphone cable. Using it right now to watch the LAN show and comfort is a little bit on an issue.
  
• Preferred Music: Gaming, Electronica, VOIP.
  
  So my main concern is comfort. If these Monoprice cans sound good enough for me, most headphones should be fine. So comfort, overall looks (black/red/white main color scheme), and a removable standard cable for my mic to be compatible. So these are what I found that fit my budget/potential needs:
  
  

1. V-MODA Crossfade LP. There are MANY positive reviews mainly about comfort and build quality, as well as good sound to match. A few people said to stay away from them, but for what reason really?
   
   
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. Again, people say to get other products but don't give specific reasons why. They seem to have everything I need and are reasonably priced.
   
   I would want them to work on any device without needing an AMP or whatever. Thanks!

Dude, you are aware that the Clouds are Takstar Pro-80s with a mic on them, right? It's an actual good pair of headphones with a gaming slant, and it's basically the only way to get Pro80s anymore. The real question here isn't "are you buying into the marketing for a shitty pair of headphones," because they're good headphones. It's "are you willing to pass up on a good deal for a good pair of headphones because they're marketed towards a group of people you look down on." Are they the best pair of headphones ever? No, obviously not. But are they passable? Definitely. And at this price I'd definitely say go for them over the 558s if you don't have the money for the 558s.

Edit: Could I please get some more comments on this? I'm currently pretty much decided on the K550's but I don't really wanna drop $330 off of one recommendation if one of these is a better option.

So I was on here yesterday and I have narrowed it down to 4 pairs of headphones. Need some help deciding.

AKG K550 $330 NZD

DT 770 80ohm $234 NZD

M50X $229 NZD Can also pick these up in person.

ATH A900X $280NZD or Price 2 $315 overnight shipping from in-country seller

Also if you have any alternatives along these lines feel free to post them.

Hi guys, I'm about to buy the Beyerdynamic Custom Street but I'm not very comfortable with the leather pads. I have not found much info if they can be replaced by velvet ones or whatever and if they are easy to change.

Link to the headphones https://www.amazon.es/Beyerdynamic-Custom-Street-Auriculares-color/dp/B00UK7ZQXO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1523272299&sr=1-1&keywords=custom+street+beyerdynamic

If someone knows about compatible pads it would be great.

Thank you very much for the help.

If you ever feel the need to pull the trigger on some really good value higher-middle end headphones you should check these out. They used to be cheaper, and therefore better value and more talked about, but they're amazing headphones if not traveling. Ironic. I also have mild tinnitus at just this moment upon returning from my concert. Steam inhalation sounds like something you could do while listening to music.

And it is a real opinion. It's just wrong. "Gay or european" is just a meme. I'm too young to grasp who took the tight shirt thing from who, I'm sure there's some stylistic context or something. If you use that as the barometer for who's gay you're going to find yourself surrounded my far more gay people men (I don't know much about girls) than you realise. You got your Rob Halford gays as well, along with the Matt Bomer gays, the Simon Amstell gays (which are really far more prevalent by the way; the tight shirt thing was a product of the 80's and 90's, the new millennium was the rise of the hipster), of course the Elton John gays which are getting rarer. I guess the scene gays are kind of the tight shirt gays. More often than not they don't bother with the shirts though, which is nice. Then all the rest of them who are just guys who like dick, who can creep undetected. Gay acceptance has allowed gay stereotypes to grow and evolve.

http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00BWUHHYE

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Really good headphones for an excellent price. 7.1 is just a fancy marketing technique and a good pair of headphones is more than you'll need.

Mic is excellent as well, it clips on the cable of the headphone.

There is a white version of the headphones if you want, http://www.amazon.com/Superlux-HD-681-Professional-Monitoring-Headphones/dp/B00CAG1ZG0/ref=pd_sim_MI_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=00MCGHWWKXXYERJ2ZWW6

50 cad more and i would recommend this. Just because they are really great and best for the price. I your shoes, i would just save extra 50 and buy these. You can find the review here.

help guys, pros n cons between Beyerdynamic DT 1350 , Beyerdynamic T50p, and Beyerdynamic DT 770.

trying to decide on headphones, but confused. looking for somethign with quality. somethign an ipod can drive (likely going to go with 32 ohm ones), and something where sound doesnt leak, all of these are closed so hopefully not a problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-1350-80-Supraaural-Monitoring-Applications/dp/B004QMH8KI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380655501&sr=8-2&keywords=beyerdynamic+DT1350

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Tesla-Portable-Stereo-Headphone/dp/B003UGZ9UW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380655467&sr=8-1&keywords=beyerdynamic+t50p

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-770-PRO-32-Headphone-Monitoring-Applications/dp/B008POFOHM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1380655436&sr=8-4&keywords=beyerdynamic+dt770

thank you guys so much again

lookin for headphones for iphone. something i can wear all day at work. music type : edm, deep house, trance. i tried on the beyerdynamic 880 and 990s in a store and they were great, just open back and leaked alot of noise. hence y i am lookin at closed back versions of beyerdynamic. open to advice bout what is best, or something outside of these 3.

Best headphones for CS:GO or other competitive FPS games?

I don't really want to buy a headset due to me wanting to have the best audio quality and sound-stage possible, I was considering these but am not sure if they would be good for pinpointing enemy positions and such. Any other headphones worth considering? My budget is 80GBP or 100USD, I know this should belong on a headphone subreddit or something but whatever.

I also enjoy music production so if you could bare that in mind with recommendations that would be appreciated.

Thank^~you~

So far the Bose Sound True II for apple seems pretty good. Too bad the deal wasn't for the android variant of it :( https://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundTrue-around-ear-headphones-II/dp/B0117RFX38/

Don't think Im taking a chance on those bose earbuds. All the reviews rip it's Build Quality apart. I mean IEM's are mostly plastic but how do you make it that bad lol.


Sennheiser 598's SE are back on sale for 110$ 10$more than the lowest. Pretty good if you want open back. https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-598-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0126HISOO/

Pink Cloud II's for 75$ is pretty good. One of the best gaming headsets for your money. https://www.amazon.com/HyperX-Cloud-Gaming-Headset-PS4/dp/B00Y09G6H8/

Beyer Custom Street?!?! what are these? Bassier versions of the custom ones? Now even sure if it's a deal at 99$ https://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-Custom-Street-Headphones-Black/dp/B00UK7ZQXO/

Other than the usual cheap ass wood earbuds and shitty gamer headphones this sale seems kinda sad :(

So far pretty good for entry level stuff but that's the "amazon" usual so it seems with every big sale.


edit: So in 2 hours this is supposed to drop in price, anyone hear anything good about these? I might bite to try them out as I'm currently using shit for iems. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQG7IC2/
--

8AM PST these are going to drop in price, I know they are very popular :P https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B1QENY/ DT880 250 Ohm O.o
--

832AM Brainwavs hybrid pads are lined up for sale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZGGG3KY/

I have a pair of Audio-Technica ATH-M35.

I would rebuy them without any hesitation.

Looks like they're not available any more, but you can get the ATH-M30x for $55 on amazon. The ATH-M40x for $90 and the ATH-M50x for $120.

I'm really impressed with the M35, and the 30x is supposedly the newer version of it. If you want you can spend more money and get he 40 or 50, but I think you would have to take a hard look at the specs and understand the differences to justify it.

I've had mine for 4 years, used every workday. Continually solid.

I also have some Sennheiser HD205II, and a Logitech G930 with the 7.1 surround, mic, and wireless.

The Sennheiser are just not in the same ballpark, and are a very tight fit, leading to me not wanting to wear them for extended periods. The ATH I can and do wear all day. The logitech are mostly just for gaming and for taking advantage of the wireless (and for conferencing with work when I WFH).

In my opinion, its tricky to recommend peripherals to others due to the fact that they are so opinion based because everyones different. However, I rock audio technica m40x's with a cheap microphone from amazon. (Huge upgrade from my Astro A-40s... prime example of buyers guilt) Keyboard wise I recommend going on https://mechanicalkeyboards.com to find the perfect keyboard for your unique self. Mouse wise, not sure I use a pos mouse lmao.

M40x's- https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NLHBZ30/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504666870&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=m40x&psc=1

Cheap ass Microphone- https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K68MT9Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1504666913&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=microphone&dpPl=1&dpID=41fKuwYE1NL&ref=plSrch

Edit: Added Links

T50RP! There a little over $100 at $114 but these are with out a doubt the best headphones for the money out there with a great modding community out there. But even if you don't want to get into a project they have some of the best drivers for the money however the encasing itself kinda sucks unmoved. http://www.amazon.com/Fostex-Semi-Open-Headphones-Commercial-Applications/dp/B0002MT6RY

These Koss Porta Pro headphones are on sale right now for 30 bucks USD, and they're honestly worth every penny in sound quality. They're the cheap gems of the audiophile community. Also, if you prefer over-ear, they've got these guys here for only 26 bucks. The build quality of Koss headphones are nothing to write home about, but the sound is always consistent and clear. If you want to spend more, for $100 USD the Audio Technica ATH-M40x headphones are worth their weight in actual gold for the amazing sound quality.

If you're willing to extend your budget about $20, or if you're willing to wait until the right time, I recommend Beyerdynamic DT770 Pros, 32 ohms. Over the ear, extremely comfortable, extremely durable (if you break anything on them you can get replacement parts instead of having to buy a new one). Perfect for when I'm listening on my phone/iPod or on the computer. They are German, so the price fluctuates with currency exchange, so I've seen them priced on Amazon everywhere from $230 to $160. I bought mine at $170, and sprang for extra comfy velour earpads for $20.

Edit: Right now they're $250, so you'll have to wait. But they're well worth the wait, their sound is orgasmic.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008POFOHM?cache=58b9c80c4073d6688fa166f21682dee6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1409590132&sr=8-6#ref=mp_s_a_1_6

Open back headphones have an open earcup behind the driver, meaning you will hear much more background noise while using them but generally sound more "natural".

For gaming, people usually prefer closed backs, in which case i'd reccomend the monoprice retros with pads that are actaully comfortable. If you're looking for something with a microphone you can pick up a little lav mic or go with the V-moda boompro. The boompro requires your headphone to have a detachable cable but its only one cable which is nice.

In my experience he most popular heaphones for the boompro are the Philliips shp9500 for open back and the ATH M40x for closed.

I own everything but the M40s but i hear they're great for gaming.

These are my suggestions

​

In ear:

Shure SE215(Very neutral sound signature they used to be $200 but is now on sale for $99)

​

Sennheiser IE60(A warmer relaxing sound signature, you might not get a good seal without third party tips such as comply foam though, but get that and they sound amazing)

​

I own both of these. I put comply foam tips on all my IEMs, cause that's what's most comfy to my ears

​

Over ear:

Audio Technica M40x(Cold somewhat neutral sounding over ear)

​

Sennheiser HD 569(A warmer sound signature but relaxing)

The HD 569s are really comfortable at least to me.

Make sure to try them out first though. Noice cancelling headphones might make it feel like you constantly have a preassure on your ears (like the one you get when you're on an airplane and it's climbing) and that's really uncomfortable. Not all people experience this but I do and I can't stand to have noice cancelling headphones on for more than 5 minutes. Instead I bought a pair that are closed headphones that passively cancel out noice instead of actively like the Bose quiet comfort do. I have pair of these and they are also great on a plane but they don't fold down as nice as the Bose ones do.

Not a fan of the keyboard you linked for work use; the Roswell K9000 is more subtle, better yet MK Typist is a much higher quality and versatile board.

To go with the mouse is a good mousepad; I like the SteelSeries 9HD. Another worthwhile investment is a good set of headphones; I prefer studio style over "Beats" or whatever, so I have Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (due to this review) and a DAC (due to the same guy reviewing it).

Not trying to discourage you, what you have is very similar and if it suits your taste then more power to you.

PC: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478566796&sr=8-1&keywords=m40
REALLY good clarity because its studio monitor headphones

Console: https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Beach-Stealth-Wireless-Headphone-Surround/dp/B00MNP9PD8/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1478566880&sr=8-9&keywords=turtle+beach
Turtle beach is pretty good

I got two options for you. Both very well kept and in great condition.

HD 555 (discontinued now, most similar is probably the HD 595) for $50 shipped.
ATH-A900X (also discontinued) for $70 shipped (I prefer these over the m50x for the natural reproduction and better soundstage)

Let me know! I'll send you pictures tonight if you're interested. http://imgur.com/Fn8wb9o

Hey all,

I'm currently in the market for a pair of cans (over the ear) that are designed with a strong focus on the low end (BASS) and that are ideally under $250. These will be primarily used for listening to bass music/EDM and occasionally in tandem with my SubPac. While I am looking for bass primarily, mids and treble remain important.

I've been browsing and found a few that stand out. Any opinions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated !



(No particular order)

1. http://www.amazon.com/Skullcandy-Crusher-Headphones-Built-Amplifier/dp/B00J3QMDSE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_25&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
   
   
2. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDRXB950AP-Smartphone-Headset-Silver/dp/B00NBMHYC6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_26&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
   
   
3. http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50X-Dark-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00MMKZ7UE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_27&smid=A13BNE3P7C8THK
   
   
4. http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-PRO700MK2-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B004KCLIFA?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_24&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
   
   
   Looking forward to your input, thank you !!
   
   
   dubstep.
   
   

Question: Would the KRK KNS8400 sound "correct" to a non-audiophile?

I'm looking to purchase a pair of headphones as a gift and am strongly leaning towards the KRK KNS8400. The primary requirements for selecting the gift were comfort (with glasses), durability, and isolation (specifically not leaking noise). Based off everything I've read it seems that the 8400 is the correct choice for these. My concern is that neither I nor the recipient are anywhere close to audiophiles so they will sound just a little "wrong" to her. All descriptions call them very neutral and balanced. Considering that she's currently using, I believe, JVC marshmallow earbuds do you see the change in sound signatures to be a problem. I'm guessing not, but it's worth a check.

As a side note, the runner up was the Beyerdynamic DT770 since it also received good reviews on the comfort front. My basic reasoning is that the 770 looks bigger and heavier whereas people have described the 8400 as being barely noticeable while wearing them. Based on descriptions of the 770 I have a lot less concerns about the exact nature of their sound. Realistically speaking, if I were to go with them I'd probably get the 32ohms because she'd be running them off of a phone. I guess the second question is would that be a better option? Or something else?

• Budget - <$100
  
• Source - PC/Motherboard
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Closed back, Used at home living room.
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - Over ear.
  
• Preferred tonal balance - Balanced/flat? What will help distinguish details/direction of noise? while gaming.
  
• Past headphones - For little bro, currently uses cheap $10 on ear headphones. Anything would be an improvement. But since I'm buying would like monies worth.
  
• Preferred Music - Not for music, for gaming. Battlefront, overwatch, warframe, etc..
  
• What would you like to improve on from your set-up - More detail.
  
  Hello, Looking for headphones for my little bro. Will be used for gaming, would like detailed/direction of sound.
  
  I'm undecided between Audio-Technica ATH-M40x or Sony MDRV6 would replace pads with these in the near future.
  
  Would very much appreciate r/headphones opinion's or recommendation of another headphone before making a final choice.

I currently use

Speakers: M-Audio AV30 Good speakers. Just don't turn them all the way up or you will go deaf.

Headphones: Audiotechnica M40x REALLY good headphones. The best you can get for about 100 USD. 'Nuff said.

Mouse: Steelseries Rival Good mouse. Feels nice, moves nice, no problems. The software on the other hand is shit and I haven't gotten that to work since I first used it. No fucking clue what the fuck is wrong.

Keyboard: Coolermaster Storm Quickfire Rapid w/ Black keys Good keyboard, feels nice, works well.

Don't buy earbuds or anything bluetooth if you value quality of sound or your ears. Earbuds will damage your eardrums and potentially your inner ear structure if you use them for too long and bluetooth headphones sound like dogshit.

I have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40x headphones and they've been the absolute best investment I've ever made. I'd even recommend bumping up to the M50xs if you can afford to do so. They're over-ear and sound absolutely stunning. You'll notice tones in drums and bass that you have never noticed before. They're studio quality and pretty durable. I bring them everywhere with me.

I've got my eyes on two specific pairs of headphones, I can't decide which one to get. The headphones in question are the AKG Pro Audio K271 MK11 and the Onkyo ES-FC300. THe AKG cans seem to have a sound signature that I'd like better (I don't like much bass), but the Onkyo ones have better portability and looks which would be useful since I plan on using them on-the-go. Which would you guys recommend?

Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 32Ohm or Audio Technica m50X would be my recommendation. If you need something a bit cheaper than that the Sennheiser HD598cs is a really good option.

Here are some of the differences:

Beyerdynamic

• Very comfortable
  
• Built to last a lifetime
  
• V shaped sound signature (emphasized low end and high end)
  
• Can be harsh at times, overall sound is 'lively'
  
  Audio Technica
  
  
• Can be uncomfortable for larger ears, ear cup is shallow
  
• OK build quality, pads tend to flake after many years of use (removable cable is a big plus)
  
• Emphasized low frequencies, fun headphone to listen to
  
• Not harsh, highs will not pierce your skull
  
  Sennheiser
  
  
• Lightweight and comfortable, good for long listening sessions
  
• Built to last, but not as well built as DT770
  
• Warm to neutral sound signature, laid back is a good way to describe how these sound
  
• Never offends, never excites.

looks nice, but im not sure if i can trust amazon here.. i hope its okay to post links https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00UK7ZTUY?smid=A1JK12XYOBOQH6&linkCode=df0&creative=22510&creativeASIN=B00UK7ZQXO&childASIN=B00UK7ZQXO&tag=geizhals10-21&ascsubtag=9HtjrXL5WQj3kEm1s2tHUw&th=1
are these which u mean?

Well, since you already looked up the Schitt, might as well get both the Magni and Modi.

Magni($99) - Modi ($99)

For cans, it depends. There's gonna be a lot of different talks in regards to what sounds best. My advice would be to visit some stores, and give them a test with the songs you listen to.

Check head-fi for some comparisons and what not. A quick google:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/719539/best-bass-hitting-headphones-under-300-preferably-unamped

I currently own the : ATH M50x, VModa M100, HD650. I prefer the bass on the vmoda more than any other cans i own atm. But my endgame would be the Fostex TH900.

https://www.amazon.com/Fostex-USA-Headphones-Japanese-Magnetic/dp/B007G8UMP2

Good luck kiddo. also, visit headphones

The ATH-M50x ( new version is better then the old one but still not my cup of tea) Tbh the ATH-40x is better for neutrality. http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456952408&sr=8-1&keywords=ath-m40x

I cant comment on long term comfort or build quality but imagine it is decent.

http://www.amazon.com/Noontec-Audiophile-Definition-Technology-Comfortable/dp/B00VR3Q3BY/ref=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1456952705&sr=1-2&keywords=Noontec

Are suppose to be good sounding style cans and come in many different colors.

> Im interested in why the HyperX cloud is that much better for hearing footsteps then the siberia, is it something about certain frequency levels being higher/lower on the cloud?

Because the HyperX is based of actual audiophile headphones, they just rebranded it and gave it a microphone.

Siberia created their own "gaming headphone" bullshit that you see in 99% of headsets and it sounds like the typical gaming stuff, trash.

If you want to know what the actual headphones are, it's this:

http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-Headphones-Monitor-Earphones-Professional/dp/B00FXSVSDW

Feel free to save yourself money if you have your own mic. They are exactly the same thing, branding aside.

A FiiO BTR3 for 79€ - that's a bluetooth receiver/dac/amp with great sound, no amp hiss and LDAC decoding. I have one, and it's easily the best sounding Bluetooth anything I've heard.

You can also plug it in to a PC with USB and it becomes a USB DAC/amp so you get crisp clear sound out of a PC too.

That would leave you up to 70€ if we go by your max to buy in-ear monitors with. That would buy some nice IEM's easily. Here are my current low price faves https://www.amazon.de/Advanced-Model-Ear-Monitor-kabelgebunden-Black/dp/B07FYQ5KP2 - nice punchy dynamic driver bass and clear sound. They're a bit plasticky (and at that price point that's probably not a surprise) but they really deliver on the sound, and mine have held together for over a year just fine.

They come with decent tips, but a solid upgrade for isolation would be Comply P-series extra long isolating foam tips.

Over the ear cans... not sure, maybe https://www.amazon.de/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-DJ-Kopfhörer-Studio/dp/B00HVLUR54 people say nice things.

That's great but we have been giving you recommendations and you have been ignoring them. Everything Xodium recommended would work. Anything from the sidebar links in your price range will work.

Here, I'll even do the work for you:

Fostex T50RP

Shure SRH440

Incipio F38

Koss PortaPro

Grado SR80i

ATH M50

If you're a not a fucking audiophile, then ANY of these headphones will be fine for you. All of them are a better value than Beats/Bose. If you will be using it primarily on the train, pick a closed headphone for noise isolation, like the ATH M50 or Incipio F38.

There, done.

If you're okay with a wired pair instead of wireless, the HD598CS (closed version of the HD598) sounds perfect for you.

ATH M40x is another neutral-sounding option, but may provide a different listening experience, and is overall less comfortable. Still a great budget pair.

edit: added links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXR65M6/

DT880 are a brilliant neutral and detailed openback headphone, this chrome edition and the regular premium edition are acoustically equivalent but the chrome is being sold for a great deal rn (and looks better imo)

Welcome.

Since I again concur with u/Jawntily on all points, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x at $79 on Amazon is a good buy and some claim the ATH-M40x is better than the ATH-M50x.

If you're not convinced to try the budget basshemoth which is the Modern Retro + Brainwavz XL but you want quality bass at ~$100, then I suggest focusing on overall good headphones with sufficient bass extension and leaving it to your amp and EQ to tweak the sound, however if you can find another $49 (or $39 with a referral from an existing Massdrop subscriber) and catch the next Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee drop (or get lucky on a used deal) then you'll have one of the best headphone deals of all time and lack nothing in bassland.

The used market including r/AVexchangecathederal is a good place for headphone deals. That's where I got the Monoprice Monolith M1060C on my head (which has a cathedral of bass, but not for $100).

I love my mouse. The only thing is that it is kinda heavier compared to other mouses. For headset, I would suggest getting something like an M40x and a modmic. This way, you'll get better sound and a better microphone. Unless you want a headset then I would say the Cloud II.

I tried to find a pair of open-backed headphones for under £100 that I could recommend. These were as close as I could get:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/beyerdynamic-770-PRO-Studio-Headphones/dp/B008POFOHM


For closed backs, these are a good option:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006MA9XXM?psc=1

edit: The m40x 's you found are a very good option for a semi-closed set of headphones, but the stock pads are not quite up to snuff in the comfort department, so purchasing an additional set of more comfortable earpads, such as HM5's, is advisable.

This is the mousepad i currently use. I've had it for around a year or so as of now, no fraying, its washable, and pretty nice.
https://www.amazon.com/Cmhoo-Professional-Large-Computer-35-4x15-7x0-1IN/dp/B01F0XHA5E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519945838&sr=8-4&keywords=mouse+pad+large

The headphones i currently use are the ATH m40x's
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1519945928&sr=8-1&keywords=ath+m40x
I've had them for about the same amount of time, and they are suuuuper fuckin comfy. I can wear them all day, and no complaints. I usually am an in-ear guy, and these are definitely one of the few i enjoy that are over ear. Sound quality is great, the only thing they lack is just a bit on the bass. All in all wonderful headphones

Turtle Beach...


The Call of Duty of headsets.


Just because a lot of people use them and like to justify their bad purchases doesn't mean they're good.




T50RPs are fantastic for their price. I'm 100% sure they're better than anything that Astro or Turtle Beach makes.

Muddy bass doesn't equal good. Astro and Turtle are both good at muddy audio. Like a car with a too large subwoofer.



Ask anyone that knows anything about headphones and they'll agree.

Okay, so it looks like I'm getting a pair of M40x!

My last question about them is: where should I buy them?

They're on amazon for $99, just the headphones, cords and bag


[Then there's this $99 bundle with a $30 amp (I plan to sell it, I know that an amp won't do much with these headphones)]
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NLHBZ30/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_tYravb16479AK/)

[Finally, there's this $109 bundle with a $40 amp]
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T58SB18/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_zZravb132AM6Y)

Is there a better deal somewhere else? I plan to sell the bundled amp for about $25, so hopefully I'll get the headphones for about $75.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I'm looking to add suggestions and bring attention to my poll on massdrop for entry level headphones that are less than $100! Any suggestions that you have are welcome!

Link: https://www.massdrop.com/vote/entry-over-the-ear-studio-headphones-less-than-100

Budget - $100-200

Source - Phone and Laptop

Requirements for Isolation - Isolation is useful, will be using it in dorm/public places

Will you be using these Headphones in Public? Yes

Preferred Type of Headphone - over ear closed

Preferred tonal balance - Don't know much about this.

Past headphones - skullcandy skullcrushers. Not the greatest.

Preferred Music - Rock, pop, indie, jazz. I listen to a wide array. I also play drums and synth and am looking for something that will be good to plug into the synth as well as listen to music while I play my drums. Isolation may be a bigger factor.

What would you like to improve on from your set-up - Just want a "real" pair of headphones that's worth my money.

EDIT:
I've seen the beyers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERLN180
And the sennheiser 598 with an open back. Does the open back let out much sound? Can the beyers be used with a phone?

Audio-Technica ATHM40x Professional Monitor Headphones https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JnP3CbEQ4NFQE

These are probably the best headphones I ever had.

If you dont like over ear I’d recommend

1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones Hi-Res Headphones with High Resolution, Bass Driven Sound, MEMS Mic, In-Line Remote, High Fidelity for Smartphones/PC/Tablet - Gold https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7G35S0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LiP3Cb3DG1833

They dont have active noise cancelling but they offer many different ear buds. If you find the perfect size you can seal the sound

There are better if you have more to spend but I personally try not to spend more than 100 on headphones

m40x - $75-100

-cheaper, under $100 pretty good bang for your buck

-fairly old model with 40mm drivers and no bass port

-somewhat flat sound signature

-closed style headphones, detachable audio cable

-all plastic construction with use of fake leather (can get warm for long listening)

-I noticed a slight lack in the mid to low bass in terms of detail. Other than that the sound quality is quite impressive for the price

m70x - $200-250

-better build quality using metal, and I think real leather (still odd choice to have a plastic headband top)

-very flat sound signature

-very detailed sound considered to be a true monitor headphone, some say too bright for a relaxing listening session

-45mm drivers

-closed headphones, detachable audio cable

In that case then this will be better. Slightly less bass than the M50x but its barely noticable and IMO not worth the extra ~$100. I also own a pair of these and they sound great! Pair it with this in-line mic and you're good to go.

Budget - $120
Source - Iphone or macbook pro
Isolation - Would like not to disturb others while out, but not a priority
Preferred type - Over-ear
past headphones - cheap earbuds
music - most genres, primarily EDM and alternative rock
Location - US of A
Other - For casual use, also listening to podcasts/books. This will be my first quality set.
Considering ATH-M40x and AKG K 240 more recommendations welcome.


Thanks for the introduction to /r/headphones !

I would recommend the Beyerdynamic DT-770 pro. They have very good low end/sub bass which is perfect for the genres of music you listen to. The only negative is that it has an attached cable.

I'd check out some reviews, but they sound like they are in your price range, they're closed back which is similar to your M40x's and they have great punchy low end.

They come in 250, 80 and 32 ohms. If you don't know what ohms are, simple put, it's how much power your headphones need. So if you don't have a headphone amp I would look at the 80 or 32 ohm versions on amazon. Something like a phone can push a 250 ohm headphone, but it wont get as loud as it would with a 32 ohm.

Link to dt-770 pro "limited editions" (Limited edition just means the velour pads are black)

Budget $100

Source PC, HTC One M8

Requirements for Isolation I plan on purchasing an antlion modmic to go along with the headphones, so enough sound isolation so that anyone I'm in a call with is unable to hear my computer's sound. I also listen to a lot of music on the bus to and from school.

Preferred Type of Headphone Preferably full-sized, though on-ear may be fine.

Preferred tonal balance I'm not particularly knowledgeable here, though I think I would like an overall balanced sound.

Past headphones Right now I use a pair of Turtle Beach x12's while on my computer and the stock HTC earbuds with my phone.

Preferred Music Things like this, pretty much anything by alt-j, as well as the pixies. So basically alt rock.

Other Stuff
I'd like for the headphones to be comfortable for extended periods of time on my larger-than-average head. Also, if possible, I'd really like for the headphones to have a removable cable. So far, I've primarily been considering the ATH-M40x, though I've heard that Audio Technica's M series is a bit overhyped. Would they be a bad decision overall?

Any idea what I should go for?

>I thought my turtle beaches were balanced pretty well, I suppose something neutral?


Those are pretty bass oriented. Pretty much all Gaming Headphones are.



I would try the Beyerdynamic Custom Streets or Sennheiser Urbanites. The Urbanites have both on ear and over ear options. Both are 150 USD or less.


http://www.amazon.com/beyerdynamic-Custom-Street-Headphones-Black/dp/B00UK7ZQXO


http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Urbanite-On-Ear-Headphones-Black/dp/B00M3NZYKI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1462638055&sr=1-1&keywords=sennheiser+urbanite


http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Urbanite-XL-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B00M3NZKA2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1462638055&sr=1-2&keywords=sennheiser+urbanite

Hi, im look first first intro headphones, and im focused on comfort. Would u suggest CB-1 55$ on amazon or Philips SHP9500s 44$ on newegg
https://www.amazon.com/Status-Audio-Closed-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B01BDX1IVW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511540911&sr=8-3&keywords=cb-1 . or
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826138190

or should i just say fk it and get m40x for 79$ as everyone seems to promote them https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1511541914&sr=1-2&keywords=m40x
Thanks!

Might want to go up to the ATH-M40x instead, but this line of Audio Technica headphones has never been noted as great gaming headphones. Good for music, and general all rounder in this price range. Pads might not suit you, but are replaceable.

This pair of DT 770's is just within your price range if you want another choice.

Hi everyone, I'm on the market for closed-back over-the-ear headphones under $150.

I'm looking for durability, comfort, good noise-isolation, and a relatively flat response, maybe with a slight boost at the low end. Mainly to be used while working at coffee shops, but I also mess around with making electronic music.

I'm looking at the Sony MDRV6 or the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 right now. Any ideas of which I should choose? I'd love some other recommendations as well.

I currently own Sennheiser HD 598 but I need something with more noise isolation for things like working in public places, listening loudly at night, etc.

Edit: Guess I'm also considering the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO and the ATH M40x at this point.

Edit 2: Also, what are the headphones in the picture in the sidebar credited to u/Makirole?

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO700MK2 ($200)

"The bass on the Pro700 Mk2 will put most other basshead headphones to shame. The Beats, the Denons, or what ever other bass heavy headphone you can think of — I’ll gladly put the Pro700 Mk2 for a challenge. And despite the condescending tone audiophiles tend to have over basshead headphones, the recent success of the JH16Pro and the Audez’e LCD-2 tells me that we may love bass more than we’re willing to admit. Of course the Pro700 Mk2 is a $200 headphone and it would be silly to attempt to match it to the $1,000 orthodynamics or the 16 drivers custom in ears. But I am quite sure that the Pro700 Mk2 can have the bragging rights when it comes to the bass category under the $500 mark" -- Headfonia

I currently own a pair of Sennheiser HD598's. I would like to get a pair for on the go use, though I'm also not opposed to upgrading the 598's for home use. My only concern with IEMs is spending a lot of money to have them broken/lost. I'm hoping to spend <$200. I listen to a lot of jazz, hiphop, and classical. Bass isn't particularly important.

Would either of these Beyers be an upgrade to my 598's? They're currently on sale on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-770-PRO-32-Headphone-Monitoring-Applications/dp/B008POFOHM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417122888&sr=8-2&keywords=DT770+PRO
http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1417122917&sr=1-2&keywords=Beyerdynamic

For IEMs, I'm looking at these Westones:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UM2HW
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMPro10

Which of these would be a better buy for a DAC/Amp (honestly not that sure of the difference)? I'm also open to other options in the ~$50 price range.
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Headphone-Amplifier-Micca-Cable/dp/B005JT8OT6/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1417121587&sr=8-8&keywords=fioo
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B005PWPUW6/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1417121587&sr=8-12&keywords=fioo

Thank you very much!

I really like the Audio-Technica M40X. I think they're pretty neutral overall (nothing particularly emphasized), they're closed (so no sound leak at all), and they're either comfortable out of the box (for some) or can be easily made much more comfortable with different ear pads (thoroughly tested by others already!) and extra padding on the headband (mine actually have both, and I use them at work).

Beats aren't well liked around here, but it's hard to give an immediate answer.

First, what kind of music do you listen to?

Second, what is your budget?

Third, do you have things you like and don't like about headphones you've tried?

Last, what are you planning to use them for? Are they at home? On the subway? Do you want to be able to hear your surroundings? Does it matter if the sound leaks a little?

Under 100, [Mshenay](
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/7z6fly/8_headphones_under_100_3_songs_1_winner_results/) just did a comparison and the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x came out on top. These are well reviewed and are a good introductory headphone.

From my current knowledge, there's not a huge difference between integrated sound and buying a separate sound card anymore. So, generally what you're looking for is a good pair of headphones foremost, and then into DACs/AMPs. There's plenty of them combined into one device.

This or This are what I'd recommend for something that'd actually make a difference at a lower price point.

I'm unsure of headphones because I don't know what you'd want out of them. All headphones do something a bit different or have different sound profiles. These are what I have. I found these on sale on Amazon so those might also interest you.

I'm not much of an audiophile so anyone that knows more feel free to correct me!

Realistically the DACs are not necessary if you don't want to, a good pair of headphones will do you just fine.

http://www.amazon.in/Technica-ATH-M40X-Professional-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491327982&sr=1-1&keywords=audio+technica+m40x Slightly over his budget, just linking to make it easier for him to find but i can also recommend the M40X, they are great.

i have tried these (the ath m40x) round a friends house and they are great https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1493146433&sr=8-6&keywords=audio+technica+headphones#HLCXComparisonWidget_feature_div or their older brother (the ath m50x) which is slightly out of your range https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493146783&sr=8-3&keywords=audio+technica+headphones+m50x
hope this helps!

• Budget - $300
  
• Source - PC, Smartphone
  
• Requirements for Isolation - Purchase point of importance, as little leakage as possible
  
• Preferred Type - Over Ear, Closed
  
• Current Cans - HE-500, HD-650, HD-555, SHR-440s
  
• Preferred Tonal Balance - Balanced
  
• Preferred Music - Jazz, Classical, Instrumental, Alt Rock, Folk, Punk, Rock
  
  I am looking to pick up a new pair of over ear closed back headphones for office use. I currently use my HE-500s and HD-650s with even use at home, but would like something of reasonably higher quality than my current SHR440s (most uncomfortable I've ever owned/worn). I am currently stuck between picking up [DT770 32Ohms] (http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-770-PRO-32-Headphone-Monitoring-Applications/dp/B008POFOHM/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) and the new [NAD VISO HP50s] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E9FYC06/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AKR88PAWTQVN2) based on the reviews for comfort and sound quality, and am interested in hearing what r/headphones has to say about selecting between the two, or similar pairs.
  
  Cheers!
  
  

Hi! I'm looking for closed on-ear headphones around ~£30-40 (45-60$). Initially, I was interested in Sony's MDR-XB450, but after a quick search it seems like bass is not very well defined, just loud. I'm mostly interested in a well resolved mid and low range, especially at high-bitrates (I usually listen in FLAC). I'm also planning to use them outside, so they need to be well isolated.

After browsing through this sub and head-fi.org, I've found the following options:

1. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X: the only obvious problem with these is that the cable is too long! I couldn't find any cheap M40X's.
   
   
2. Sennheiser 504291 HD 202: these are very cheap, but I don't think they are as good as option (1).
   
   Any suggestions?
   

Budget - $80 - $120

Source - PC/Android

Isolation - I live in NYC, so isolation is important

Preferred type - Over ear

Preferred tonal - I like bass but not at the expense of drowning out the other ranges

Past headphones - Mostly cheap earbuds and a pair of Sennheiser HD 202 II's which I find to be just okay. They also get pretty warm on the ears.

Preferred music - Hip Hop and electronic with some indie pop mixed in.



The headphones I'm most considering are:

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x

V-MODA Crossfade M-80

Creative Aurvana Live! Headphones

Alright, you can look at These ones - i use them, I really liked them.

Have a look at this list as well for an idea of different kinds at different price.

Go for Over-Ear/closed headphones to cut down on sweaty ears and comfort.

If you have the cash Beyerdynamic DT770 or DT990 are good calls as well

Wow they look really good! I've been doing more research too, how would the Sony MDR1A compare to something like the Audio Technica Pro700 MKII for example?
Unfortunately I'm just not a big fan of the looks of the V-MODA headphones. Thanks for the suggestions!

A few weeks ago, I posted this thread requesting help seeing if the ATH-M50s were right for me, and I was about to get them, when I stumbled across the M-Audio Studiophile Q40s and wasn't sure if they were better. I'm no audiophile, but I do enjoy good quality.

(Semi)Long story short...

What pair o' cans would you suggest?

I use a pair from Audio-Technica that do the trick pretty well. Haven't had issues ear wise, unless I'm wearing a thick beanie with the headphones on top of it. After several hours having them on (with the beanie), it can be an issue. Works fine with a thin beanie however.


You can find the pair I bought over here. The full name on Amazon is: "Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones"

If you want to save a little bit of money I bought the Audio Technica ATH-M40'S
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVLUR54/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and they get the job done perfectly. They are not better than the ATH- m50s but they are still great amp headphones.

http://www.amazon.in/Technica-ATH-M50X-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421391232&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+ath-m50x

http://www.amazon.in/Technica-ATH-M40X-Professional-Over-ear-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1421391341&sr=8-14&keywords=audio+technica

http://www.amazon.in/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD500X-Audiophile-Open-Air-Headphones/dp/B009S333U4/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391395&sr=1-3&keywords=audio+technica

These will give you a phenomenal soundstage (instruments will appear to be separated spatially, giving the feeling of listening to a live performance from nearby).

http://www.amazon.in/Audio-Technica-ATH-WS77-Over-Ear-Headphones/dp/B009FRPN4M/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391395&sr=1-10&keywords=audio+technica

These should have good bass.

http://www.amazon.in/Sennheiser-HD-558-Over-Ear-Headphone/dp/B004FEEY9A/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421391474&sr=1-19

This Sennheiser will give you god-level sound, but you'll need to use the equalizer if you want very strong bass.

Oh ok that makes a lot of sense then. I'm going to go ahead and order the Beyerdynamic DT770s. Thanks so much for the suggestions and explaining everything to me. It's really nice to get unbiased feedback and support for something I find so insanely confusing. Are these the ones I should buy?

Nice writeup OP! For those looking to save a bit more.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TMZ1BK

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAG1ZG0

https://smile.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

with a zalman gives amazing sound/audio for under $100 for everything. i cant go back to "gaming" headsets.

Hi



I was gifted these (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-UE-4000-Headphones-White/dp/B00A668N16/) Logitech UE 4000 Headphones many years ago and they're starting to show their age (wear/tear). I've got a gift card for Amazon UK and would like to invest in some new headphones.



I normally use bluetooth earphones when travelling, and I use headphones normally when sat on the couch/desk and working on my desktop/laptop. I listen to music, but my taste is very diverse so it's difficult to say "I need a lot of bass" or "I listen to classical"....


I'd like to spend around £100, I've been looking at the m40x which is currently £85 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HVLUR54/ and the m50x which is currently £112 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HVLUR86/. The price different between these two is not a factor I want to take into the decision. I've found many threads/articles/videos online and I can't come to a conclusion.


It doesn't have to be these two, but having the replaceable cable is a must for me (they break so easy...)


Looking forward to any help!

Some people just appreciate the minor differences? In our industry, I think it's more common for people to develop a taste for $340 keyboards and $1300 headphones. I don't think the average person would appreciate why they're so much more expensive than what you'd find at Best Buy. I guess one person's "45gram sensitivity, 4mm travel Topre Electrostatic Capacitive Key Switches" is another person's "fabric made on vintage loopwheeling machines in Japan."

Okay, I haven't listened to a lot of IEM's but I recently bought the Tin T2's and I'm loving those.

Small on-ears could be the 1More 1707, Audio Technica M60X. Though these are out of your price range.

​

The only really lightweight in your price range would be the Koss Porta Pro, where you can easily swap out the foam pads. There's also a bluetooth version available.

I'm thinking about getting the takstar pro80, it looks great to me, but I was just wondering if there was anything else better suited for my needs before I do get it.

Budget: ~$100

Isolation: Not necessary but would be nice

Music Preference: Metal and a lot of rock like punk. Specifically Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, The Hives and My Chemical Romance

Personally use these 3, amazing for music and great quality - have used the first 2 for nearly 4 years, have had no issues so far!

• Open headphones, Audio Technica: ATH-AD900
  
  
• Closed headphones, Beyerdynamic: DT250
  
  
• In ears (best for bus/train/public transport rides, since it's easier to carry around): Westone UM Pro 10
  
  

this is my shit right here, shoutout /r/headphones

Best bet for your price range is probably ATH M50x, nice punchy bass while retaining a lot of detail in the rest of the frequency range

The Beyerdynamic DT770 are a little more pricey but worth the extra cash imo, again you get nice deep bass without sacrificing sound quality anywhere else and these bad boys are built like tanks

On the more budget-friendly side of things is the Sony MDR-V6, this is a straight up classic headphone that punches above its price point as far as sound quality goes although I personally would have some reservations about the non-detachable cable

There are a ton of other headphones that fit your general requirements and price range but these are the first three that popped into my mind!