Help me with buying headphones please!

[Redrazor39]

I need some help buying a good pair of headphones. These are what I want in order of priority.

1. Comfort! Can't use them of they hurt

2. Excellent sound quality. I listen to compressed audio (mp3, aac) so super hifi won't be good b/c I won't hear it well anyway. I need something that will reveal every detail in mp3 or aac compressed audio (some apple lossless).

3. Noise isolation or cancellation. I had some Bose in ear headphones and they were awesome on a quiet room. In a car, they were worse than the included apple earphones. I was thinking of the Bose qc2 for noise cancellation, but I read that they have a hiss and the sound quality isn't that good. Shure have excellent isolation, but the ones below $200 are not that great.

4. Price. I really don't as t to spend more than $300, and even that is really expensive. It's just that I haven't found anything good below $150.

So please, give me some recommendations. Those are the things I want in a pair I headphones, so helps out. I've spent countless hours researching and I still draw a blank. Thanks for any help.

[leg]

Just bought a pair of these (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3354318/Skullcandy-Hesh-Headphones/Product.html) as a christmas present seem good.

[Redrazor39]

Well, skullcandy isn't all that great. I've tried them and the sound is always distorted to me or the in-ears don't give a good seal.

Any other suggestions?

[OffHand]

I can really recommend the Sennheiser HD25 (http://www.sennheiser.nl/nl/icm_nl.nsf/root/02976)

[Redrazor39]

Are there any personal audio companies that put their focus on things like I stated in the first post?

Also, I hear mixed things about bose. Some say they are the best and make awesome audio equipment, while others say they suck and are severely overpriced for the quality.

[OffHand]

Are there any personal audio companies that put their focus on things like I stated in the first post?I don't know but all apply to the one I suggested.


Also, I hear mixed things about bose. Some say they are the best and make awesome audio equipment, while others say they suck and are severely overpriced for the quality.
I have been dj-ing for 10 years. A lot of my friends even longer. We all like the HD-25.

[mips]

AKG
Bose
Byerdynamic
Roland RH-300
Sony MDR-7509HD (http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/DisplayModel?m=10013&p=10&sp=79&id=83173) or 7506 (Apparently these are very good and used a lot of studio applications, even saw a mod on the net to use beyer dynamic velour pads)
Sennheiser HD600 etc

I've never been a Bose fan but then again I have only listened to their speakers.

If I had the money to splash out I would get the Sony MDR-7509HD or the 7506 models.

See these threads for some inspiration:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=561737
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=872638

[kinematic]

You also might want to check out Shure, Etymotic and Ultimate Ears.

[twisted_steel]

I had Bose QuietComfort 1 headphones about 6 years ago that were decent. I didn't like the pressure that I felt when wearing them or the fact that I had to keep replacing batteries. They didn't seem to hold together very well either. I gave them to my brother and he was using them for a month or two until they just broke apart.

I picked up some Etymotic ER4s (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.aspx) about 4-5 years ago that I really like (I didn't pay close to retail, even that long ago). They are really nice on airplanes and trains. The only downside that I've encountered is with the cable. I can hear a sound when I touch it or brush against it. I don't believe Shures have this problem. I wasn't sure I was going to be comfortable wtih jamming things in my ears, but I'm a big fan now :). The downside with in-ear headphones is you have to take them off when you eat, or you won't be able to hear your music.

You may want to look at HeadRoom (http://www.headphone.com/) (company) or head-fi.org (forums) for some more information. I was happy with my talks with the HeadRoom folks and I have one of their BitHead amplifiers, which works well for laptops because of the dedicated volume control, among other things.

[SunnyRabbiera]

Well it depends on what you need them for.
me I usually buy a cheap pair of Sony's or Phillips, $11 or so (United states)

[pp.]

1. Comfort!

2. Excellent sound quality...something that will reveal every detail in mp3 or aac compressed audio (some apple lossless).

3. Noise isolation or cancellation.

4. Price.

The solution probably will be: none.

I think #2 and #3 are mutually exclusive. If you really want audio quality, you can't listen in a noisy environment.

Under those circumstances, I'd go for two pairs, one for good listening conditions with high quality, one for high ambient noise where you can be glad if you hear your music at all.

I personally have been using Koss portapros in somewhat quiet environments, and they give very good value for money. Sennheiser would be all right, I suppose. I still grow nostalgic about my HD414 I used to use when young. Being open phones, they are not all that uncomfortable to wear.

[jimreynold2nd]

I agree with the above post. For quiet environment I have been using a pair of Bose TriPort AroundEar for 2 years now and it never fails me. It's light and I can have it on for hours without even noticing it. The only thing that it doesn't have on your list is noise canceling. You can get one for $130 now.
And for noise cancelling consider the Bose QuietComfort 2, AroundEar type wont hurt your ears for long time hearing, although the QC is much heavier than the TriPort due to batteries and electrics and thus less comfortable.

[Phreaker]

I would look into AKG products ;)