Best Headphones?

[JeremyPiven]

Hey everyone - have a little dilemma. I am looking for a good set of headphones for my PSP. I picked up the ones for the slim made by Sony but the damn cat's chewed up the wires on the buds. Pissed me off but hey, only paid 2 bux for them with all my coupons

Anywho - any recommendations on a new set? I would prefer a WHITE set to match the remote. I don't want anything bulky either.

Open to suggestions! Thanks!


(fyi - I put this here because it's audio related not psp related)

[bluewatergrigsby]

Go to crutchfield.com. Very good Schenheisser ( know thats wrong spelling ). Also check audioadvisor.com. Really great Grado's.

[silversnake]

i don't know about best, but i absolutely love my shure s3c but they dont' make them anymore apparently. I"m sure the SE is just the newer version. First day i wore them , almost ran into a bus because they were cancelling the noise so perfect. hehe. Great headphones , pricey, but i've had my others ones for about 4 years now, good investment

[cesca]

Hi guys, i'm a total audio newbie, but with the impending release of MGS4 for the PS3 I want a better audio experience; I have awesome Samsung HDTV, a PS3, HDMI, the works.... and I've just got a pretty lame audio system; I have some nice Harman Kaardon Seapkers, but i've got no surround installed yet as my TV room is an open space and I live with my a family of 4 so it'd be a bother for everyone.

I've been looking for a while into buying some good headphones, but while i've read most of the info on the board i'm still quite confused.

Do i need and amplifier to connect the headphones? Does is sound different If I connect directly to the TV or to the PS3 (does it have a jack)? Are 5.1 headphones legit? so many questions!

I do have and amplifier my dad bought a few years ago, a Sony STR DB 830....."Digital Cinema Sound Proccesing 32 bit" or so it says, it does support DD 5.1 and DTS though....

In my search i've found a few options; keep in mind though that these headphones will be used primarily for gaming and movies (bluray and dvd), so I need ones that give me the most immersive, and comfortable experience.

Here are the ones i've found:

Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007QN18U/ref=s9subs_c2_img2-2871_g1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=18PG1JNPVG6HK8B8J8VG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p =278240301&pf_rd_i=507846

Tritton AX360
http://www.trittontechnologies.com/p...s/TRIGA600.htm

Pioneer SE-DIR800C HDPH Dolby Digital 5.1 Wireless Headphones
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SE-DIR800C-Digital-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B0007XL43M/ref=pd_ybh_10?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&p f_rd_r=0FFA9BY3YP3TS0Y34WH8

I've only had experience with Sony and Sennheiser headphones (wich I loved) so if you can point me to the most value added buy I'd be extremely grateful!

[JeremyPiven]

Yeah, I have been looking at Shure and Sennheiser. However there are so many models out - it's not even funny. Hell, there are so many headphone types - my head hurts from reading them. I am just going to stick with the damned psp oem headphones for now.

100 bux for headphones? Not sure about that. I am hearing a lot of good reviews about the bose in ear ones. Then again, I have always known bose to be crap when it comes to speakers so who knows?

Initially, I was going for the Sennheiser cx 400's. White. Not sure now as the Shure's have equal length cords which I love. I hate the unequal cords.

[Thanos417]

I have the Bose in ear headphones, and I recommend them if you're willing to pay the $100.

[RUR]

The best? Shure SE530 @ ~$450. Ridiculous? Probably. One could buy Grado RS-1's (a very fine set of over-the ear headphones) for not much more. I don't believe Grado makes in-ear phones.

[RAILFAN]

Always stick with the same brand you are using. If you want good sound at a low price, I suggest the SONY MDR-EX55 earphones

I use the MDR-EX52 and the sound is awesome. You can get a pair usually for under 40 bucks

There is not much difference between the 2 I just mentioned. Prolly just a design change. But the sound quailty is excellent

[JTK]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/index.php?

^^ You wanna see how far, fast, and insane the world of headphones can really get? Hold on to your wallet if you go in there!

Those folks can find you an headphone for any taste, any price point, any application. You've already seen some good recommendations in this thread.

I love my AKG701's.

[dmxoneiuv]

i have the bose in ear headphones too...not saying theyre the best headphones around, but if you do decide to go for em, i got mine on ebay for 75 bucks rather than the 100 price tag on them. i just did a quick search and you can find em for about 50 bucks brand new on ebay.

[coolmilo]

Personally I am not a fan of in the ear headphones. I use Bang & Olufsen A8 earphones and I am very happy. They are comfortable and sound terrific.

http://www.amazon.com/Bang-Olufsen-E...1860079&sr=1-1

You can also buy them from the Apple Store.

Caution: Do not buy these from Amazon marketplace. These are cheap knock offs of the B&O product. I actually made the mistake of buying a $49 set when I was in the market for a spare set of A8's. Fortunately I was able to return them for a full refund.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by JTK

You wanna see how far, fast, and insane the world of headphones can really get? Hold on to your wallet if you go in there!

Just when I think I've visited all known audio fora, you show me a new one! An entire thread on the best portable amp for the 530's.

Where's bootman? He's an ex headphone junkie, I do believe.....

[JeremyPiven]

Lol, like I said - there are a TON of options.

I am starting to not be fond of the in ear head phones. For many reasons. Either ear buds or probably over the ears are what I need to look at. Off to hunt some more.

[FilmFiend]

I just got the Shure SE530's online for $300 shipped. They are amazing. 3 drivers in a small little headphone.... definitly worth the money, every penny.

I also have Sennheiser HD-595, which are your typical over ear headphones. They're really good too, but are probably not good for portable solutions, which is why I got the Shure's.

[HMtheJJ]

the BEST earphone u can get is SONY MDR-EX700SL

if u want an open style headphone that can deliver a wider sound stage get a pair of SONY PFR-V1

closed studio headphone get either MDR-V700DJ or MDR-V900HD, I personally perfer the V900.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by JTK

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/index.php?

^^ You wanna see how far, fast, and insane the world of headphones can really get? Hold on to your wallet if you go in there!

Those folks can find you an headphone for any taste, any price point, any application. You've already seen some good recommendations in this thread.

I love my AKG701's.

I'm sure you do! I have a pair of AKG 271s in my studio (sadly my 270s broke and the 271s are not quite that good, but only by a hair) and I really like them. My wife has a pair of 501s, they're of the half-open type instead of the closed 271s and they are really nice.

For some night time listening I got the ERGO II by the Swiss company Precide (click on the headphones tab). Beautiful ear-speakers with a very flat FR, very 'musical' sounding. It's the closest thing to electrostats like Stax that are still affordable.
You do look like an astronaut when wearing them but the sonic reward makes up for it

Next upgrade would be the Ergo A.M.T.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by HDJK

I'm sure you do! I have a pair of AKG 271s in my studio (sadly my 270s broke and the 271s are not quite that good, but only by a hair) and I really like them. My wife has a pair of 501s, they're of the half-open type instead of the closed 271s and they are really nice.

For some night time listening I got the ERGO II by the Swiss company Precide (click on the headphones tab). Beautiful ear-speakers with a very flat FR, very 'musical' sounding. It's the closest thing to electrostats like Stax that are still affordable.
You do look like an astronaut when wearing them but the sonic reward makes up for it

Stax, Omega, all that...way on a different planet from where I'm at.

Next upgrade would be the Ergo A.M.T.

Looks like some nice gear.

[dixonhill]

Originally Posted by bluewatergrigsby

Go to crutchfield.com. Very good Schenheisser ( know thats wrong spelling ). Also check audioadvisor.com. Really great Grado's.

...Schenheisser...

Hm, did you mean "hen-scheisser"?
That could be loosely translated as something like "chicken-shitter"
in a strange german-english lingo

Nevermind...

[jdc115]

I'd check out Etymotic's ear phones. they sound amazing and do a great job of blocking out surrounding noise. You can play them at quite low levels and have good sound without external noise masking the sound.

http://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Resea...97298&sr=1-198

The downside is that they insert into the ear canel which makes them not they most comfortable and not so easy to put on and off.

As far as the Bose inner ear phones, I thought they did a very poor job of blocking out surrounding noise and the rubber ear piece falls off too easily

[richteer]

Originally Posted by JTK

Stax, Omega, all that...way on a different planet from where I'm at.

Stax headphones (or Earspeakers as they prefer to say) are wonderful! I haven't got s pair myself (yet), but I'd like to get one eventually. Electrostatic headphones with a tube energiser: yummy!