Buying headphones online.

Scott Dolan · December-18th-2005, 01:33 PM

Time for Mo to upgrade his headphones. His current pair are coming apart at the seams.

I'm considering going with Grado SR125's. Big problem. Nobody around here carries them.

So have any of you bought cans online? If so, what site did you use?

stonemonkts · December-18th-2005, 01:51 PM

Scott,

I purchased Sennheiser HD-580 cans here

Excellent site with very useful information too.

stonemonkts · December-18th-2005, 01:53 PM

Grado cans

Chris D · December-18th-2005, 06:15 PM

If you don't mind a warranteed demo, this is a steal for SR-125's:

Grado demo

I've always had good luck with Audio Advisor.

The 15-foot extension cord is key for late night rambling around the family room listening when the rest of the house is asleep.

Scott Dolan · December-19th-2005, 10:53 AM

Wow!!

Thanks gentlemen. I've been combing the web for the last two days and have changed my mind approximately a million times about which set of cans I was going to get.

Decision made. Just completed my order for a nice, shiny pair of Sennheiser HD 595's. They'll be tickling Mo's senses come Christmas morning.

Sweetness!!

By the way, do either of your dipshits have any experience with Etymotics? I just got into the MP3 player market a few months back and have been looking to upgrade the ultra shitty ear buds that came with it.

That whole "canal phone" thing kinda freaks me out(seems like a sure fired recipe for excellerated hearing loss), but everywhere you look those things are getting incredible reviews.

stonemonkts · December-19th-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

By the way, do either of your dipshits have any experience with Etymotics?

Not this dipshit, no.

Scott Dolan · December-19th-2005, 11:09 AM

I'd love to hear them, but that'll never happen around these parts.

And I just don't know if I'm audio snob enough to spend almost $150 on phones for my MP3 player.

Chris D · December-19th-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

By the way, do either of your dipshits have any experience with Etymotics?

None. Sorry, Ace. Who'd you buy your 'phones from?

Scott Dolan · December-19th-2005, 11:33 AM

HeadRoom.

I almost went with Audio Advisor because they had them listed at $249. HR had them at $289.

But, HR had a $60 rebate on them, so I snagged them for $229. Couldn't beat that. Free shipping, should arrive on Thursday.

Man, I'm excited. This will be the first really nice pair of cans I've ever had. No more Sony's for this sorry bastard!!

stonemonkts · December-19th-2005, 11:46 AM

Next thing you'll need is a headphone amp.

I don't have one, but I'm told I need it.

Scott Dolan · December-19th-2005, 11:56 AM

Well, I might.

I'm really only going to use them with my Harmon Kardon receiver. It has a decent enough sound playing through the speakers, but don't know how well it will drive the Senns.

I know my Sony MDR-V600's always sounded like shit through it. But, from what I've read, they sound like shit no matter what they are attached to.

If I'm not completely blown away, then perhaps an amp will be the next step.

Chazro · December-20th-2005, 09:26 AM

Wazzup Scott!
You're on your way to audio nirvana! I have a pair a HD-600's, replaced the line cord (it's removable) with a Cardas headphone cable and picked up a Musical Fidelity V2 Headphone amp used from Audiogon. Granted, it cost a coupla hundred to get this rig up and rollin' but......it's all about the music appreciation and it's truly great sound on the cheap! So you bought yourself a set of cans for Xmas and you're actually waiting 'til Xmas to try 'em out!? Man, you got alot more patience than I do. I bought myself a new preamplifier last week, it arrived Sat. morning and I've been listening to it since Sat. afternoon!

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

Scott Dolan · December-20th-2005, 11:32 AM

Chazro, you are the type of person my wife warns me to stay away from.

rollhead · December-21st-2005, 10:02 AM

Yo, Bros! Wazzup, dipshits?

Any recs, props, etc., etc., on a pair of noise cancelling cans, dudes and dudettes?

My daughter has asked Santa to bring a pair for her, and Momma went to Radio Shack and bought a pair of $15 jobs for her.

I told her that they weren't noise-cancelling cans. Momma didn't know what I was talking about.

Scott Dolan · December-21st-2005, 10:10 AM

Wazzup, my Blaaaaaaaa??!!!

Noise cancelling? Shure!

E4c

http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/eseries_e4c.html

"The Mercedes of iPod headphones."
Arik Hesseldahl, Forbes.com, April 18, 2005

rollhead · December-21st-2005, 11:08 AM

Thanks, bro.

Aren't you glad you don't have me on ignore anymore, so we can have these constructive interactions?

Scott Dolan · December-21st-2005, 11:17 AM

True dat, Homey!

Scott Dolan · December-26th-2005, 09:26 PM

Been listening to all kinds of different stuff with my new cans!!

There are a few things I've already noticed that I never did before:

1. Most modern rock/pop/cRap cd's are grossly over-boosted! While they may sound just fine in my muddy and boomy over the top power car stereo, once you throw them on a cleaner system, with cleaner cans for close inspection, sonically they are a fucking nightmare.

2. If members of the band were recorded in isolation, there's almost little hope of overcoming that fact in the final mix. If the group was recorded together in the same room, the soundstage has more depth and the acoustics are more natural. In isolation, the soundstage tends to be very flat and the artificial placements of the instruments stands out.

3. Recording analog is far, FAR sweater than recording digitally. (something I've always known, but these cans have really driven the point home)

Ron Thorne · January-6th-2006, 07:16 PM

Scott, I'm glad that you're pleased with your new Sennheisers. They make extraordinary products, including some of the finest microphones for the money. I used Sennheiser headphones and mics exclusively while in broadcasting, and still own a pair of treasured HD414's from my days at K-Jazz.

I've also used and admired Grado products for over 45 years, and have two pairs of their phones, a pair of SR-60's (arguably the finest headphone in the world for its price-$69.00), as well as a pair of SR-80's, which I also love. They're a no-nonsense company, not interested in frills or space-age appearance. In fact, their phones have a retro look, as I'm sure you know.

I would strongly urge you to consider a pair of Sennheiser PX-100 foldable mini headphones for your MP3 player. They're incredibly clean and full-range for their size and price, and the soundstage is amazing. I bought a pair to use with my iPod, and have been in heaven ever since they arrived. I've even used them on airplanes, and while not noise-cancelling or closed-air in design, work very well. They come with a protective carrying case which is pretty hip, too. You can find them for under $40.00* easily. I've listened to mini phones costing twice this much which don't sound nearly as good. Transparent highs, solid mids and incredibly rich bass.

*$27.99 was the lowest I've ever seen!

Gary Delligatti · January-6th-2006, 10:29 PM

Can anyone reccomend the SENNHEISER HD 202 Headphones? A pair on E-bay is going for about 20 bucks

Chris D · February-8th-2006, 10:03 AM

So the wife needed a cheap, durable set of headphones for work: She teaches video production and jumps from studio to workstation to control board. My pals at Audio Advisor were at a higher price range, so we checked out Headroom. They had some nice bargain Senns for $25; ordered them yesterday afternoon. Got an e-mail that they shipped that afternoon! Wow.

Scott Dolan · February-8th-2006, 10:42 AM

Yeah, HeadRooms service kicks ass. They'll be in your hands tomorrow, guaranteed.

So which ones did you get. The 201's?

Chris D · February-8th-2006, 10:50 AM

Yep, the 201s. Sound like just the thing for banging around, better than other crap ones at the big box stores for the same price.

Scott Dolan · February-8th-2006, 11:30 AM

I agree with you there.

Made their top ten list.

Only downside in my book is that they are sealed. Since purchasing my 595's, I don't think I could ever go back to a sealed unit ever again. Although, it sounds like that's what your wife would need(as far as sound isolation goes).

Chris D · February-8th-2006, 11:40 AM

The dang things showed up already! I mean, I ordered them yesterday afternoon, and they arrive FedEx the next morning. Shazaam.

Scott Dolan · February-8th-2006, 11:42 AM

Hahahaha...............

Got mine in two days. They ship from Montana, so it doesn't really surprise me that you got them today.

Enjoy!!!

chuckyd4 · March-14th-2006, 07:41 PM

Does anybody have/or have tried the Sennheiser PX 200s? I definitely need something with a closed back (I use headphones mostly on the train/walking on the street), but in terms of size/style/etc. I like these a lot better than most over-the-head style headphones - don't want constant "who is that alien guy" staring on the train.

I read a bit of criticism of the bass on these, but can't really tell if it's just audiophile geek whining, or a legitimate concern. I'm not an audiophile, but I want reasonably impressive sound - I listen to everything from jazz to hip hop that needs decent bass, so they'd have to be able to handle different kinds of music pretty well. I'll be driving them almost exclusively from an iPod, too, which seems important to note.

If not the PX 200s, any other suggestions?

Ron Thorne · March-15th-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckyd4

Does anybody have/or have tried the Sennheiser PX 200s? I definitely need something with a closed back (I use headphones mostly on the train/walking on the street), but in terms of size/style/etc. I like these a lot better than most over-the-head style headphones - don't want constant "who is that alien guy" staring on the train.

I read a bit of criticism of the bass on these, but can't really tell if it's just audiophile geek whining, or a legitimate concern. I'm not an audiophile, but I want reasonably impressive sound - I listen to everything from jazz to hip hop that needs decent bass, so they'd have to be able to handle different kinds of music pretty well. I'll be driving them almost exclusively from an iPod, too, which seems important to note.

If not the PX 200s, any other suggestions?

I've also read criticisms of the lack of a proper seal with the PX200s, leading to poor bass response. I have a pair of Sennheiser PX100s which I really love, but they're an open-air design, which isn't what you're looking for.

I'd seriously recommend trying to give a listen to a ridiculously inexpensive Sennheiser closed-ear headphone . . . the HD201, available for about $20.-25. USD.

Read what HeadRoom has to say about them!

Chris D · March-15th-2006, 02:31 PM

We talked about those above, Ron, as I got some for my wife's video editing purposes. She loves them. I tried them out at home, and they sound like much more expensive cans.

Scott Dolan · March-15th-2006, 06:09 PM

The open air design of the Senns make such a difference in the depth of the sound stage. They make other enclosed headphones seem a bit claustrophobic.