wanted: Bang for your buck Headphones opinions

I would think the foam would be considered a consumable item and not covered under warranty. Things like that the wear normally aren't covered. No idea about the clips.

I've been reading links for days not and the Audio Technica AD700's appear to be the best deal for my first pair since the 80's budget of around $100. If I get into phones I'll up the budget.

I just can't imagine a wireless signal having the sound quality of wire. Might be convenient but too many variables to chance for me.
 
tubeboob said:
I love my Audio Technica ATH AD700's, which earned a Stereophile Class "A" rating, and cost less than $100.00.

See my review in the Headphone forum.

They're truly amazing and worth every penny.

Cheers
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Seconded. I love mine, absolutely no complaints. Big, open but detailed sound and very comfortable for long periods of time.
 
JohnVF said:
Seconded. I love mine, absolutely no complaints. Big, open but detailed sound and very comfortable for long periods of time.
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I've read several reviews about them being big. I'm 6'4" 240. Do you think they might be big for me too?
 
I just ordered some Goldring DR100s as they were 50% off. I actually preferred the sound of these to their more expensive DR150s that I tried. Can't wait to get them.
 
DrMux said:
I've read several reviews about them being big. I'm 6'4" 240. Do you think they might be big for me too?
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They're big on my 5'2" girlfriend but fit fine on me, and I'm only 5'9" and 135lbs. I think you'll be fine. They have an odd system for sitting on your head. If it works, like it does on my head, they're extremely comfortable. If not, like on my lady, they don't seal right against your head. The ear-pads are really big a velvety which at first feels odd but once I got used to it I liked it. They're really nice. I like my AKG's about as much but for different reasons, and they weren't as cheap as the ATs.
 
JohnVF said:
They're big on my 5'2" girlfriend but fit fine on me, and I'm only 5'9" and 135lbs. I think you'll be fine. They have an odd system for sitting on your head. If it works, like it does on my head, they're extremely comfortable. If not, like on my lady, they don't seal right against your head. The ear-pads are really big a velvety which at first feels odd but once I got used to it I liked it. They're really nice. I like my AKG's about as much but for different reasons, and they weren't as cheap as the ATs.
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I'm pretty sure I'm going with the AT's. How are you hearing these? Do you have a dedicated headphone amp?
 
Got my M50's at $105...they do sound like $300 headphones, it was a good buy..and they are bang for the buck.
 
Lots of guys on the headphone specific sites have been saying good things about the JVC HA RX700 and HA RX900 headphones. And they are definitely a bargain. I just ordered the 700's from Amazon for $34 including shipping. Not a big risk in my opinion. Here's a thread on Head Fi discussing them and comparing them to some other more popular or better known headphones:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/375575/jvc-har-x700-and-900-two-of-the-best-dynamics-am-i-nuts


Hope this helps,

Warner
 
Warner said:
Lots of guys on the headphone specific sites have been saying good things about the JVC HA RX700 and HA RX900 headphones. And they are definitely a bargain. I just ordered the 700's from Amazon for $34 including shipping. Not a big risk in my opinion. Here's a thread on Head Fi discussing them and comparing them to some other more popular or better known headphones:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/375575/jvc-har-x700-and-900-two-of-the-best-dynamics-am-i-nuts


Hope this helps,

Warner
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Looks like that thread started a couple years ago. They both get great reviews all over online. Might try some.
 
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DrMux said:
Looks like that thread started a couple years ago. They both get great reviews all over online. Might try some.
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Yeah...I thought it was pretty telling that the thread had gone on THAT long with people still commenting positively. And for $35 how wrong can you go?

Warner
 
Speakerbox said:
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
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I'll second that. Without claiming they are a better buy than Grado, I can still say they are very satisfying for the money. There is a pair of Grado '80's on its way to me, so I'll be able to compare soon. But the Sennheisers do something the Grados can't: they block out environmental noise fairly well. So at times when that is a consideration, I can really recommend the Sennheiser HD280. I only paid about $80.00 for them from Amazon. At that price, there is nothing not to like!
 
Audio Technica ATH-AD700

These are excellent phones for the money and can be had for $89. Not a good fit for small or narrow heads though. A pair of these were my first foray into modern headphones. Have since purchased Beyerdynamic DT-770s and DT-880s. Recently picked up a pair of AKG K702s.
 
BmWr75 said:
Audio Technica ATH-AD700

These are excellent phones for the money and can be had for $89. Not a good fit for small or narrow heads though. A pair of these were my first foray into modern headphones. Have since purchased Beyerdynamic DT-770s and DT-880s. Recently picked up a pair of AKG K702s.
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I was looking real hard at those and the AT700's. Lots of good write ups on those cans.
 
I been an on-again-off-again headphone user for decades. Have a pair of Sennheiser ear buds that are very good - like $50. But as far as full sized phones I like my Allesandro Music Series 1 (tweaked Grado 125's). They can sometimes be had on the 'Net for $99 :) They just knock down my Koss's and Sony's.
 
Bang For Your Buck !

I am actually amazed that no one has mentioned Bang and Olufsen
Form 1 Form 2 { I own the F1 } I have heard both and prefer the form 1 but they are very rare . The fact that they now sell for about thier original retail { from 1987 } speaks volumes for thier sound quality . Absolutely incredible . IMHO Far superior to koss sennheiser and the other usual suspects . The only one that is good competition in the sound / bucks equasion are the grados . But the B+O s are an open design so do not block outside sounds ..
 
I'm kind of a headphone geek (9 or 10 pairs at last count) and I couldn't agree more with the previous opinions about the SR-60's. IMO, best HP value there is! :yes:
 
What amp do you have?

As an aside, need to know what amp you have before recomending HP's

Some HP's will sound good unamped or with minimal amping (and will improve with appropriate amping/source etc) - others sound terrible unless amped properly... frequently once amped these types can sound better than the easy to drive models that can go unamped.

If you have an old receiver that runs its HP Jack off the power amp section via a resistor, then you should be fine running some of the more demanding HP's - which can be purchased used...

Look for older 300 to 600 ohm designs from the late 70's to early 90's

Some great vintage phones include:

Beyer DT880, DT990, DT48
Revox 3100 / Synergy (DT880 OEM)
AKG K140 / K240 / K340
Yamaha HP1 / HP2 / HP3 (and the rest of the Orthodynamics)
Koss Pro4x

Another amping alternative (assuming you aren't looking for portables of course!) is to get something like the ART Headtap or Proco HJ6 units and use it to hook your HP's into the speaker out of your amp... this method usually works best with high impedance phones - like most of these great classics.

Note: most of the ones I mentioned are either open or semi-open - which tends to be the best option for transparency and soundstaging.
If you want isolation and/or more dominant bass - you would also need to consider sealed HP's

Outside of that I have recently been listening to a set of Audio Technica ATH-AD700 - low impedance and easy to drive, means they can get the best out of almost anything you plug them into (down to a cheapie motherboard integrated sound out), and still improve with better amping.
They are a strange fit - takes some getting used to but extremely comfortable - they are also HUGE - but they do sound great.

Good luck
David
 
my pics

My favorite so far is the Sony MDR-7506. I like the closed phone and they fit wonderfully and sound GREAT!

I did get a chance to also listen to the Audio Technica ATH-AD700 and they do sound great as well. Open back design and I could not get them to fit onto my head. Nice to know I am not a "big head" but seriously they slid around on my head or I would own a pair right now.
 
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