Best Headphones under $100?
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runnin'
Super Member
Thanks, I’ve noticed that some people do prefer after market foam. I’ll eventually look into that, is it mainly a comfort thing or do they give a different sound with driver positioning?
KarlK
Well-Known Member
In my own experience the aftermarket foams (which look like cones) don't make a whole lotta difference seing as they are acoustically transparent.
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
I don't know how different after market cushions sound over the stock Grado's. I do know that the stock foam pads are extremely uncomfortable. They are so much so that I couldn't listen to the phones for more than 5 minutes with the stock cushions. Maybe it's just that foam and I are not compatible.
The Ear Zonk cushions that I use are covered in pleather. They are very soft and not irritating.
The Ear Zonk cushions that I use are covered in pleather. They are very soft and not irritating.
runnin'
Super Member
I haven’t had any discomfort with the stock pads on the SR125e, but I usually listen for under an hour. One thing I did notice was that there is a chemical smell to them, and the foam packing block in the box. I read where one chap suggested washing the foams in mildly soapy water, so I did that, rinsing them out well after. The smell has faded somewhat and I assume will continue to do so.
Right now I’ve got 13 hours on the phones, I’m keeping track of it until I get to 30. I didn’t notice that they needed breaking in, but it won’t hurt.
Right now I’ve got 13 hours on the phones, I’m keeping track of it until I get to 30. I didn’t notice that they needed breaking in, but it won’t hurt.
John Ess
Well-Known Member
Haven't listened to the Sony's that are mentioned, but I gotta give a +1 to the Senn HD280 PRO's. Been using them for over a year now and am very pleased for the 100 bucks. They drive easily at 64 ohms...hell, even my phone can make them play. They feel solid while wearing them, even with all the plastic, and they're comfortable enough for longer use. The cord is coiled and certainly long enough, and exits on one side. Cords are a small thing, but can be annoying if they don't fit your personal preferences. The only possible thing I could criticize is the small rise in the lowest octave or so...and it's not a huge deal. They should definitely go on one's short list for this price range.
cratz2
Addicted Member
I've had a pair of HD280s for several years. I do not hate them though they wouldn't be my first choice for a friend.
They are still my go to headphone for practicing guitar with a headphone amp.
My biggest concern may be a strength for some people... I do not find them comfortable. Neither initially nor after prolonged use. If I am looking to kick back and listen casually for a couple hours and perhaps even doze off, I would definitely not choose them.
Having said that, when playing guitar, esp when learning a song, I'll often look forward, then down at the guitar, then at the comouter screen or tablet or what have you. In that capacity, the headphones stay firmly in place.
Also worth mentioning, I've had these for about eight years, they are often thrown in a bag or very rarely shoved a gig bag. They've been abused and they are still 100% going strong.
I put the HD280s, the 7506/V6 and the ATH-M40s in the 'quite flawed, but a solid choice' category. They are each extremely popular and work for tens of thousands of people, are pretty reliable, don't sound horrible, don't require an amp, are affordable and other than the Sonys aren't fatiguing sounding.
I just think that, for me and for people wanting a more comfortable, less colored and more musically versatile option, there are better choices these days. Esp on the slightly used market.
They are still my go to headphone for practicing guitar with a headphone amp.
My biggest concern may be a strength for some people... I do not find them comfortable. Neither initially nor after prolonged use. If I am looking to kick back and listen casually for a couple hours and perhaps even doze off, I would definitely not choose them.
Having said that, when playing guitar, esp when learning a song, I'll often look forward, then down at the guitar, then at the comouter screen or tablet or what have you. In that capacity, the headphones stay firmly in place.
Also worth mentioning, I've had these for about eight years, they are often thrown in a bag or very rarely shoved a gig bag. They've been abused and they are still 100% going strong.
I put the HD280s, the 7506/V6 and the ATH-M40s in the 'quite flawed, but a solid choice' category. They are each extremely popular and work for tens of thousands of people, are pretty reliable, don't sound horrible, don't require an amp, are affordable and other than the Sonys aren't fatiguing sounding.
I just think that, for me and for people wanting a more comfortable, less colored and more musically versatile option, there are better choices these days. Esp on the slightly used market.
John Ess
Well-Known Member
Interesting..and a reminder that HP's are a component that requires the some of the most personal choices. After all, you don't wear an amp or CD player...yet. Making a fitting choice is more like picking out a good pair of hiking boots. I wonder if they changed the design any in those 8 years. I'm finding that the only thing I could object to regarding the fit is that because they seal so well, the summer weather caused a little extra perspiration around the pads...not really a huge deal.
I think SR80e's are a great deal, and you could even go for the SR60e's which are $79.
I just got mine recently but these certainly have a special character.
Great story about the company:
I understand John Mayer and Neil Young are fans of these! ha ha
KarlK
Well-Known Member
KarlK
Well-Known Member
Great sounding they are indeed, Stax made sure of that by offering an autonomous system. As for wearing them in public weeeeell, I dunno.
runnin'
Super Member
The Grado phones would also be solidly in the "cumbersome looking" category. After another week, I'm even more impressed with just connecting them to my phone! I've also tried them with 2 of my Schiit dacs, the Modi 3 and the Modi Multibit. With these cans, and the Vali 2 as headphone amp, I can hear differences between the two.
The Grados are the best phones I've got, and the best I've heard. Being open backed such adds so much to the sound, but it's not the best in public situations.
The Grados are the best phones I've got, and the best I've heard. Being open backed such adds so much to the sound, but it's not the best in public situations.
I agree, I find the SR80e's to be awesome I am surprised how much I like the "on ear" aspect - actually very comfortable to me - and it seems like the driver is in a perfect position to create all kinds of cool separation and dynamics in the music. It's very lively and entertaining for sure. Songs I know really well sound different with the Grados. Especially for the price they are just amazing headphones. I've been curious about them for a long time and I'm really glad I took the plunge; they are a blast for sure.
KarlK
Well-Known Member
Ah the plunge. I live for the plunge that's why I have so many headphones. Lots of plunges... but I never got spoiled
KarlK
Well-Known Member
At that price point on-ear phones will usually be the best sounding solution, at least in my experience they were. They're easier to design on a tight budget, there can be comfort issues but the typical user of small on-ear phones -and not just the lower priced ones, ask any Momentum on-ear user- spends less time under their phones than those who use large over-ear designs.
And also at that price point, imho Grado has the edge over Senn, which seem to have been less present in that segment over the last few years.
KarlK
Well-Known Member
A
ll the knowledge to inch towards best as it gets on this forum never ceases to impress me. I'd wish that back in the days where I could not afford high-end $1k+ phones the info found here would have saved me heaps of hit or miss mayhem on extra-affordable units... simply amazing.
Yep, and the fact is you can get fantastic sound without going anywhere near a grand. Personally, I would never spend that kind of money on headphones. I have the Hifiman HE-400i planars and I can't imagine needing anything more than what those give me in terms of sound quality. They sound amazing...to drop another $700 for some sort of incremental improvement (that my 53 year old tinnitus-afflicted ears likely can't hear anyway lol) just isn't in my game plan. For about $70 those Takstars blow me away. They sound great, and they are incredibly comfortable. Plus they can be driven by anything...no amp necessary. I also have a bag full of cheap earbuds - Yincrow RW 9, Snow Lotus, Panda PK2...ranging from about $7 to $25 a pair that all sound really really good. We really are in a bit of a budget audio golden age I believe...
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KarlK
Well-Known Member
I have the HE400i in my troop as well and they are the planars I turned to when I want to hear planars. I prefer them to the so-called high-end Audeze LCD X that I also have. Still in planars, the Hifiman Sundara were something out of this world in terms of SQ but unfortunately mine had a defective diaphragm
