Headphone Buying Megathread/Guide V4 - Come here for all your audio needs! (New Threads are not need
4,875 replies, posted
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/l5t95.png[/IMG]
This is the fourth version of the headphone buying guide. It's been a while since I've changed much here. As before, if you need help or have questions shoot me a PM or use the thread. (The latter will be more efficacious probably.)
(I'd go right out and say go ahead and buy them if your budget were to be in that range if it weren't for the fact that different people need different styles of headphones. Quality in audio is often (to a degree) subjective in nature. )
I've cut out a lot of the bulk the old OP had, since very few people seemed to find most of the information of use. Hopefully condensing the OP will help people to see the post requirements. As always, Head-Fi.org is your best friend. Any high-level questions should betaken there if possible, as should questions involving headphones above the $500-mark (we'd love to hear about them though!). Ebay is an acceptable option that's often cheaper, give using it some thought. (It carries risks as always though.)
[HR][/HR]
[B][U]Things I've seen in the thread frequently that need to be addressed: [/U]
1. Don't buy a 'head-set', don't even consider it. Buy a desktop microphone for around $20, separately from your headphones. Clip-on microphones work well, they even sell ones that will clip onto headphones. (Desktop mics are still better generally)
2. If someone hasn't answered your question within a few days, send me a PM and I'll do my best to help you.
3. Use Foobar2000 for playing your music, see the additional resources at the bottom of the OP for more information.
4. See how to post below.
5. Look below at the "Terms to Know"
[/B]
[HR][/HR][B][U]How to make a post: (i.e. Use this convenient pre-made form)[/U]
Budget:
eBay:
Country:
Isolation:
Purpose:
Music Tastes:
Previous Experiences:
Comments:[/B][HR][/HR][U]Basic (and some not so basic) Terms to Know:[/U]
Circumaural: Covers the ears
Supra-Aural (Not a term I've seen often, in my experience most s-a headphones are on the cheap (low quality side)): Sits on the ears, sorta covers
Open air: Headphones are open to the air, sound may "leak out" or "leak in". Generally they're better for long term use (less hot feeling after a long periods of use) but aren't as good for gaming (can echo through microphones as a result of their leaking.) or listening in public places (Assume no one wants to hear your music) (If you're a performer avoid those headphones)
Closed air: Headphones are closed to the air (Obviously, given the name.), they tend to be less comfortable after long periods of time or in hot areas (depends on the pair though)
Semi-open: A combination of closed and open air traits, really varies from pair to pair.
[URL="http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-impedance"]Impedance (click me for a better explanation)[/URL]: Measured in ohms (Ω), impedance is a measure of resistance. If you can't understand it, you could read up on it - but if you're not really into high-end audio you probably will want to just ask someone who knows what they're talking about. It can be a difficult concept to grasp at first. Just think of it as the need for more power, higher impedance means you'll need more to "drive" the pair. (i.e. you'll need an amp) [URL="http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan03/articles/impedanceworkshop.asp"](Read more here.)[/URL]
Frequency Response (important): A measure of the sounds which an audio device may reproduce, measured in hertz. You'll need to read up on this if you're serious about buying anything decent on your own. More range generally = better headphones (oversimplification, but if you don't already know those terms it's a place to start from)[B][B]
[B]
~(Taken from head-fi below)~
[/B][/B][/B][U]Before buying headphones[/U]
1. Think about the whole system and budget for that. I can’t stress this enough. There are really good sounding headphones to suit almost any budget and any system requirements, but you really need to know what you’re getting into. Don't just think about the headphone. If you’re looking to buy a headphone, you also need to know what else you need (or don't need) to make it sound good. If you’re buying a reference quality headphone, they most often (not always) require dedicated home components to bring out the qualities that people talk about. That’s just the way it is. They require a well-matched amp that can drive them well. Many will be revealing of poor quality recordings and low bit rate downloads if you’re using your computer. If, for example, you're interested in the HD650 because you’ve read it’s good, just know that you might be disappointed if you don’t amp it properly, and if you amp it properly, you might be disappointed in the sound you’re getting if your source and/or recordings don’t cut it. On the other side of things, there are really good headphones that sound just fine without an amp and straight out of an ipod or computer soundcard if that’s what you want. You can get good sound in a lot of different ways at almost any price point, but research what you’re looking for, and put what you need in your budget before you decide on anything. It will actually save you money in the long run.
2. Portable amps aren’t the answer. Okay, sometimes they’re the answer, but mostly when portable headphones are involved. I know I’m going to get grief for this one, but so be it. I like portable amps, have owned some really nice ones, and have listened to a lot more. They are great for portable headphones, and do okay with some headphones designed for home use, but they do not take the place of a decent dedicated home amp when using headphones that were created for audiophile listening at home. Sure, they’ll make your headphones louder, but loudness does not equal sound quality, which is the real purpose of amplification. A properly driven headphone sounds amazing at very low volumes. If your lifestyle dictates that you need portability, then I suggest researching the many excellent choices in headphones that are not demanding when it comes to amplification. Don’t rush out and get a K702 because you heard it’s great with classical and expect to hear anything close to how it can sound with a portable amp. If you’re choosing a headphone that needs a amp, a portable amp may be a good stepping stone if you’re slowly building a system like I and many others did, but again, be aware of the compromise you’re making, and be happy with whatever you choose. Just think: if portable headphones were the best option for all headphones, no one would be making home amps, and that’s just not happening.
3. Source matters. Yes, it does. High quality headphones reveal your source. That’s their job. Garbage in, garbage out. I love my ipod, but when I’m using it, I choose headphones that sound good, but are more forgiving of my source’s flaws when listening. If I were to use one of my more revealing headphones, I wouldn’t be enjoying the music nearly as much. Whether you consider getting a good dac, a dedicated cdp, or lod for an ipod, there are a lot of different ways to go. For portable, I like choosing forgiving headphones and not worrying about amp or source; for home, I prefer the best cdp I can afford, and one day, I'd like a good turntable. Others may choose differently, but if you’re looking at getting high quality headphones, know that they’re only as good as what you’re feeding them.
[B][B][B][B]
[B][B][B][U]Additional Resources for your viewing pleasure:[/U]
[URL="http://www.head-fi.org/wiki/foobar2000-a-guide-to-set-up"]http://www.head-fi.org/wiki/foobar20...uide-to-set-up[/URL]
[URL]http://www.head-fi.org/wiki/headphone-impedance[/URL]
[URL="http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1089375"]The thread before last (v2)[/URL]
[/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][/B][URL="http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1160541"]Headphone Buying Guide V3 - Come here, do not make additional threads[/URL]
I'm thinking about the RP-HTF600-S's to replace my headset, so I was wondering what is a good, cheap clip-on microphone just for Skype and such?
Okay, money's in so tempted to buy them modded headphones :v: Who has them again? I added one of you on Steam, was going to talk.
[QUOTE=Mr. Agree;39755761]Okay, money's in so tempted to buy them modded headphones :v: Who has them again? I added one of you on Steam, was going to talk.[/QUOTE]
It's me, PM me your steam if you want to chat.
I decided to buy myself a new mic (trust starzz) because it was £10 and it sounds fucking amazing compared to my headset
the only problem is it picks up every single click of my keyboard (it's an IBM model M) and I think everybody on skype will hate me within 10 minutes, is there anything I can do? it's a cardiod pattern
but also, my dad co-owns an electronics company and he has some spare headphone amps that they discontinued a while ago and they are spare stock that they can't sell so I can get one for free :dance:
[QUOTE=Flash_Fire;39759338]I decided to buy myself a new mic (trust starzz) because it was £10 and it sounds fucking amazing compared to my headset
the only problem is it picks up every single click of my keyboard (it's an IBM model M) and I think everybody on skype will hate me within 10 minutes, is there anything I can do? it's a cardiod pattern
but also, my dad co-owns an electronics company and he has some spare headphone amps that they discontinued a while ago and they are spare stock that they can't sell so I can get one for free :dance:[/QUOTE]
Use push to talk? It's what I do when I play lol with my friends.
[QUOTE=Chubbs;39762819]Use push to talk? It's what I do when I play lol with my friends.[/QUOTE]
To be fair, push-to-talk is really annoying and removes the natural flow of a conversation, also it's another button to juggle when you're playing a game.
I had the same problem when I moved to Mechanical + Desktop microphone, however my friends got used to it and now they don't even notice, one even said they liked the background typing.
That or reduce the volume on the microphone and move it closer to your face.
[QUOTE=Chubbs;39762819]Use push to talk? It's what I do when I play lol with my friends.[/QUOTE]
Push to talk is really annoying, I don't want to hold a key every time I talk, especially when trying to play a game
[editline]1st March 2013[/editline]
What Tennant said really
I just tried it out, it worked fine and nobody seemed to complain about the clicking as I played, so it should be alright
I have a lot of people talking in the background though, so it gets really confusing for people on skype.
[editline]1st March 2013[/editline]
Also there isn't much flow when you're playing league on skype.
You get used to push to talk though. I used voice activation on Teamspeak for a long time but I got annoyed with having to mute my microphone all the time (Least ye hear the loud barks of my dog all the time) so I switched to push to talk.
Really weird at first, but then I got used to it and pressing my push to talk button (Middle thumb button on the G500) when I want to talk is natural for me.
Push to talk is fine if the button is easily accessible. Mine is on my mouse right where my thumb naturally rests. It is great with teamspeak because you can set it to transmit a couple seconds after you let go of the button too so you don't cut yourself off.
Anyone recommend some headphones for Gaming, Music and things like skype,teamspeak,etc? Closed Or Semi, Comfy, Something that doesn't need a fancy soundcard to get the best out of since I've only got an integrated soundcard and £100 max?
Htf-600s and a Xonar DG.
~$60 total.
My dad picked up some Grado SR80i's today. My god, they sound almost exactly like an uncomfortable ATHM50
[QUOTE=altern;39768060]My dad picked up some Grado SR80i's today. My god, they sound almost exactly like an uncomfortable ATHM50[/QUOTE]
Really? I'd consider them completely different, M50s are much more dark/warm than the Grados.
[editline]2nd March 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=DigitalySane;39766122]Anyone recommend some headphones for Gaming, Music and things like skype,teamspeak,etc? Closed Or Semi, Comfy, Something that doesn't need a fancy soundcard to get the best out of since I've only got an integrated soundcard and £100 max?[/QUOTE]
AD700s sound spot on for you, but they're a little bright (tilted towards treble a little) which some don't like, [URL="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-Technica-ATH-AD700-Audiophile-Headphones-New-/251130869338#shId"]this is a good deal.[/URL]
Bought Sennheiser HD 598 today and I am blown away by its sound.
[thumb]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/54374248/IMG_2087.JPG[/thumb]
I'm seriously considering getting the recommended Panasonics in the OP and some clipon mic for gaming. I was considering a Logitech headset before but my friend has had awful experiences with them.
I'm thinking about buying a decent set of headphones; been burned by some Sennheisers that I've bought, so I'd prefer something not by them.
Budget: $100
Country: US
Isolation: Circumaural I guess, as long as it's comfortable (comfort is pretty important to me)
Purpose: Everything, pretty much. Typical use would be on desktop computer at home, portability is a plus but generally unimportant
Music Tastes: Drum and Bass, a bunch of electronic mini/sub-genres, and hip hop/trip hop are what I listen to the most.
Previous Experiences: Had a pair of Sennheiser HD205's and 201's. The 205's were ridiculous, absolutely crushed my head and they even caved in on themselves from how tight they were. Decent sound quality I guess? The 201's were much better in the comfort department but the sound quality wasn't as good. Not much bass, either.
Comments: I'm seriously considering getting a pair of [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Series-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Sony MDR-V6[/url]. The impression I get from what people are saying is that they're probably one of the best pairs you can get for the price, but some of the padding wears out and mileage varies on comfort from long sessions, though I haven't heard any horror stories with comfort either.
So would this pair of Sony's be good, or should I get those Panasonics or something else. I'd really like something that's more in the tier of Beats, but not overpriced garbage. More like entry-level Bose, I guess.
The one thing to be careful with on MDR V6's is if they're fake.
[QUOTE=n0cturni;39773595]I'm thinking about buying a decent set of headphones; been burned by some Sennheisers that I've bought, so I'd prefer something not by them.
Budget: $100
Country: US
Isolation: Circumaural I guess, as long as it's comfortable (comfort is pretty important to me)
Purpose: Everything, pretty much. Typical use would be on desktop computer at home, portability is a plus but generally unimportant
Music Tastes: Drum and Bass, a bunch of electronic mini/sub-genres, and hip hop/trip hop are what I listen to the most.
Previous Experiences: Had a pair of Sennheiser HD205's and 201's. The 205's were ridiculous, absolutely crushed my head and they even caved in on themselves from how tight they were. Decent sound quality I guess? The 201's were much better in the comfort department but the sound quality wasn't as good. Not much bass, either.
Comments: I'm seriously considering getting a pair of [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Series-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Sony MDR-V6[/url]. The impression I get from what people are saying is that they're probably one of the best pairs you can get for the price, but some of the padding wears out and mileage varies on comfort from long sessions, though I haven't heard any horror stories with comfort either.
So would this pair of Sony's be good, or should I get those Panasonics or something else. I'd really like something that's more in the tier of Beats, but not overpriced garbage. More like entry-level Bose, I guess.[/QUOTE]
Bose are also overpriced garbage.
[QUOTE=n0cturni;39773595]I'm thinking about buying a decent set of headphones; been burned by some Sennheisers that I've bought, so I'd prefer something not by them.
Budget: $100
Country: US
Isolation: Circumaural I guess, as long as it's comfortable (comfort is pretty important to me)
Purpose: Everything, pretty much. Typical use would be on desktop computer at home, portability is a plus but generally unimportant
Music Tastes: Drum and Bass, a bunch of electronic mini/sub-genres, and hip hop/trip hop are what I listen to the most.
Previous Experiences: Had a pair of Sennheiser HD205's and 201's. The 205's were ridiculous, absolutely crushed my head and they even caved in on themselves from how tight they were. Decent sound quality I guess? The 201's were much better in the comfort department but the sound quality wasn't as good. Not much bass, either.
Comments: I'm seriously considering getting a pair of [url=http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Series-Headphones/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Sony MDR-V6[/url]. The impression I get from what people are saying is that they're probably one of the best pairs you can get for the price, but some of the padding wears out and mileage varies on comfort from long sessions, though I haven't heard any horror stories with comfort either.
So would this pair of Sony's be good, or should I get those Panasonics or something else. I'd really like something that's more in the tier of Beats, but not overpriced garbage. More like entry-level Bose, I guess.[/QUOTE]
I've heard that the Sony's have really bright highs and are more analytical, which may not be good for bass songs.
I've had the Panasonic headphones for the longest while and they're pretty good for electronic music.
I switched back to them just last night for a few hours and they were pretty muddy compared to my Senns but they're really good for the price, good bass and soundstage.
You should know that the Panasonic headphones have pleather earpads which get hot easily and usually crack after a while.
Other recommendations would be the HA-RX700 (Don't even think about getting the 900.).
Also, i think you should give Senns another chance. Their lower end models are notably uncomfortable but their higher end sets are very comfortable (HD 558, HD 598.)
[QUOTE=Anthrax713;39778188]Bose are also overpriced garbage.[/QUOTE]
Bose make some of the best active noise cancelling headphones, and the other stuff really isn't that bad.
[QUOTE=Anthrax713;39778188]Bose are also overpriced garbage.[/QUOTE]
Overpriced? Yes. Garbage? No.
My Headphone amp I got for free doesn't work (eh)
My speakers have a headphone plug on the front, and the volume control adjusts the volume, will this do fine as an amp or am I going to get hideous quality or something (Logitech X-140 speakers)
[QUOTE=David Tennant;39769934]Really? I'd consider them completely different, M50s are much more dark/warm than the Grados.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah upon further listening to more songs that seems to be the case. Really nice headphones if you like open isolation
[QUOTE=Silverspar;39780683]You should know that the Panasonic headphones have pleather earpads which get hot easily and usually crack after a while.[/QUOTE]
Really wouldn't call them pleather, more like flexible plastic with a bit of foam behind it
Absolutely awful pads on those things
Budget: 100-175
Country: United States
Isolation: Circumaural
Purpose: Gaming
Music Tastes: random and various techno genres, a bit of rock/punk/alternative
Previous Experiences: Able planet isolation headphones i purchased for around 50 dollars, they have great quality, i currently own my 2nd pair, but they have a habit of being fragile, mainly around the adjustment "rails", which snap if too much pressure is put on them.
Comments: I'm mainly looking for headphones that are durable for long term use at a computer, where they won't take much damage aside from maybe falling off a 3-4 foot desk, but still strong enough to withstand bending and whatnot so i don't have to treat it like fragile glass china.
My budgets pretty versatile, i'd prefer something cheap but if its expensive with a great rep, i'll consider it.
And thanks in advance for any suggestions and tips you guys give me.
Budget: $10
eBay: No
Country: US
Isolation: Circumaural
Purpose: Music, Gaming, Voice chat
Music Tastes: dubstep, something with some bass
Previous Experiences: junk
[QUOTE=tanktan38;39803071]Budget: $10
eBay: No
Country: US
Isolation: Circumaural
Purpose: Music, Gaming, Voice chat
Music Tastes: dubstep, something with some bass
Previous Experiences: junk[/QUOTE]
You're not going to get shit with that budget.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.