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Bottom-Feeder 'Phones - The Cheaphone Thread

musichal

musichal

poet emeritus
I am become the Headphone Anarchist. Damn things will never sound as good as a decent pair of speakers - and the pricing has gone bananas. Plus, I find that my first choice of type are circum-aural closed-back designs. The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x remains my reference headphone.

I do still also have a pair of the AKG K240 Studio I bought two or three years ago, which are designated "semi-open," as well.

Three pair of ten-dollar on-ear Sony MDRZX110 and a pillow with a hole in it for bedphone listening.
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Ear-cups fit pillow hole (not ideal, but workable) - (neck) pillow on Amazon, too.


An old pair of Monoprice 8323 almost as good as the AT's.

And I just ordered another cheapie, which are on-ear and open, but I found irresistible at $35 on Amazon - the blast-from-the-past Koss Porta-Pro. I know they won't see much use here - most of the time I need closed-backs - but right now I'm listening in the den while the wifey sleeps in the bedroom, so this could be time for an open-back. However, I doubt I'll prefer their sound to the M30x... but they'll be here Monday, so we shall see.

Those who don't mind paying $150 or $1500 or $5k for headphones are welcome to them. I'm just not one of those anymore; I got off the bus.

I'll probably be trying a few more cheaphones, will add to this thread as I do for those who really are on a tighter budget, or who - like me - don't want to pay hundreds for headphones.
 
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I bought these based on an AKer's review and they sound excellent:

https://www.newark.com/stellar-labs/ho-5960/full-size-dj-headphones/dp/52W8580

They are cheap, ($18.19 + ship) cheapest I have seen them yet right now.

I have posted about them before but no one seems to be willing to believe that they can be good for that price.

I have JBL L300 and when I say that these headphones sound good, you should know that they really, really sound good.

What is it about this hobby that makes more expensive sound better than less expensive no matter what to some of us?
 
It’s hard for me to keep up with the constant stream of flavor-of-the-month Chinese “giant killers”. So if you leave those out, I think one of the undisputed cheap champions is the Koss KSC-75. I think they’re usually $15. I have an all black set from Drop.com.
 
For a long time at work I used the Sennheiser HD212 Pro headphones. They were cheap and if someone stole them I wasn’t out a ton of money. They are discontinued now by Sennheiser but you can still find them on the internet from time to time. These were gentle on the ears and pocketbook.


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faber12 said:
I have posted about them before but no one seems to be willing to believe that they can be good for that price.
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I am one who believes you. You certainly can't get stellar phones for $20 but you can get decent-sounding ones, usually made in South Asia by Chinese corporations and even sometimes in China itself. But ever since the latter's production of electronic equipment has taken a turn towards higher quality goods so have their prices.

Compromise is a given for ultra-cheap phones that sound ok though, the build quality and durability take a hit but since those phones are in the disposable category if you break 'em (it will happen sooner or later) you just grab a new pair from Amazon or Monoprice without giving it much of a thought, after all 20 bucks most people can afford to lose and you can always return them if they sound horrible. I don't have any in my collection but confess having used some on occasion and be impressed by certain ones whose brand I forget.
 
I have several phones in the $200 - $400 range (new) but I have bunches of cheapies that are very decent. I also buy stuff used.

They don't do any one thing spectacularly bit probably my favorite overall pgobes are the Sony MDR-1a I bought for $100.

The AKG K361s were about $70 or $75 new for a while and they are very, very good.

And the AKG K240s (mine are older and Austrian) but they were about $70 at Guitar Center and they are probably still my favorites for smaller scale string stuff. Trios, quartets and whatnot. I think they have a bit more texture than the Q701s.

I did buy a pair of Q701s for, I think $100 or $120. Very good phones. Definitely my most spacious sounding.

And I've bought AKG K44s and K52s Sennheiser HD201/202/212s for under $50 new. The K44s are probably my worst headphones but for $25, they weren't bad in their day.

Philips has probably been my best value brand. An older version of the Fidelios were $60 used like new from Amazon and the 9500s were $60 new. Both very, very decent headphones.
 
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cratz2 said:
I also buy stuff used.
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So do I, and demos. All of my higher-end phones (by that I mean $1000+ when new) are second-hand, except the Focal Clear. Many a time the seller is letting go of them "because they don't sound like they cost" as if the law of diminishing returns did not apply to him, or his equipment is a poor match. Fine with me, I find it funny that some people decide that they need $2000 phones because at that price, you can't go wrong. Fact is, you can go spectacularly wrong.
 
Well, yesterday two new 'phones arrived - the $35 Koss Porta Pro Classic, and the $32 OneOdio Studio Pro-10.

I've been curious about the OneOdio for some time due to its 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, so I've yet to hear the Porta Pro. The OneOdio does have a rather nice bass - not overblown, but a bit soft. However, overall the sound is pretty good. The cups are a little on the small side, so long-term comfort is compromised. Probably a great choice for females or kids, imo.

I believe the ear cushions are glued in place, making them a little more trouble to change cushions than many designs - at least upon a brief cursory look. The right cushion might just enhance comfort. Despite this, I am enjoying the listen with them.

I'll be hearing the Porta Pro for the first time in my life later today.

the skipper said:
Now, with me being a cheapskate, THIS is my kinda thread!

These are my go to "disposable" headphones. Koss KTX Pro 1. These were sold by Radio Shack under their own name (Pro 25) and here we are, thirty years later.

https://www.amazon.com/Koss-KTXPRO1-Titanium-Portable-Headphones/dp/B00007056H/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3NF4QEXJWGST6&dchild=1&keywords=koss+headphones&qid=1610982184&s=electronics&sprefix=koss,aps,220&sr=1-9

As A step up, i use their foldable Porta Pros when i travel
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Always nice to hear from the skipper!

JoeESP9 said:
My choice for inexpensive headphones is Koss Porta Pro's. They are on ear open back and $35 @ Amazon.
Mine did not come with a case. They came with a drawstring "pleather" bag.

Amazon.com: Koss Porta Pro On Ear Headphones with Case, Black / Silver: Home Audio & Theater
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And JoeESP9, too!


RamblinE said:
It’s hard for me to keep up with the constant stream of flavor-of-the-month Chinese “giant killers”. So if you leave those out, I think one of the undisputed cheap champions is the Koss KSC-75. I think they’re usually $15. I have an all black set from Drop.com.
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Well, RamblinE, I just couldn't help myself. Just ordered a pair based on your recommendation, with the hope being that it will work as my hole-pillow bedphones, replacing the Sony for improved comfort. And nice to hear from you, also!
 
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Today was Led Zeppelin Day for me, using the OneOdio hp. Led Zeppelin I, II, III, IV, Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti, In Through the Out Door and How the West Was Won in their entirety. A very rare mood.

Now It's Mandrill via the Porta Pro - not bad at all and so light and small. Comfy. I think I like bottom-feeding fones for fervent fun.
 
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Look closely at the Superlux models. A co-worker (in broadcast engineering) pointed these out to me, and I was so impressed I bought the HD-330 open-backeds.

To put it politely, their designs are "inspired by" those from AKG, Beyer etc., and in some cases use compatible replacement parts. (The 330s look great, too, and are very comfortable.)
 
RamblinE said:
It’s hard for me to keep up with the constant stream of flavor-of-the-month Chinese “giant killers”. So if you leave those out, I think one of the undisputed cheap champions is the Koss KSC-75. I think they’re usually $15. I have an all black set from Drop.com.
Click to expand...

"Ramblin' Jack Eliot had a lot to do with it..."

In my never ending quest for the most comfortable side-lying bedphone, I initially thought I'd found it in these. No headband makes them perfect for the pillow pictured in Post #1. But they became dislodged too easily. I was able to tighten them up by bending the steel ear-frame, and then I was certain I had it! However, it made them very difficult for me to put on, then they began getting dislodged again.

I have another idea that may work, but it involves Christine doing a little sewing, so that won't be quick. In the meantime, the champ is now the Porta Pro for this use. Works much better than the cheap Sony, and sounds better to boot.
 
Samson SR850 all day long. Sound absolutely terrible for the first week or so but after that they are clinically flat and accurate. They have most neutral and flat bass response I’ve heard yet. You can get different padded cover for them if the fake leather makes your head warm. They can be bought here in the uk for under £25! Unbelievable value
 
I love my Sony MDR-V6 headphones for recording live when I need isolation. I managed to find real leather replacement pads for them. The MDR-V66 appear to be the same as the MDR-V6, Sony just likes to come out with new model numbers for the same thing every year.
 
Ok, Guys. I didn't want to mentioned these, because they are SOOO cheap and you might not agree they sound as good as my son and I do. We are both hard on HPs, bad about pulling the wires on the plugs, etc. Also, for just general computer listening, and music transfer, I don't like phones that cup the ear. Too hot in the summer, and blocks extraneous sounds.
But, since someone else has opened this thread....these are from Big Lots, with volume control and very light. I think the sound is fine, especially for the price, which is about $5.00. I got them on sale once 2 for $7.50. LOL I keep two spares. The only thing I don't like about them is the short cord, only about 4ft.
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Found my old pair of koss ksc-75 lying around, the foam pads had long ago disintegrated. Bought some cheap vinyl pads from China to try out, but they made them sound like dark mush, with horrible bass. I decided to try drilling holes in the grill, but ended up cracking the grill instead, making them useless. Not only that with the pads it didn't help with the sound anyways.

Since I didn't want to have the drivers to be unprotected, I ended up buying 50mm speaker steel mesh grills e.g. (https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pcs-50mm...tective-Cover-Decorative-Circle-/223026361493). After gluing them on with a hot glue gun, they surprisingly sound decent without any pads. I think it's because they make the headphones sit further from the ear by .5 cm, it tames the treble despite not having the original grills anymore. The bass is pretty tight, and the headphones themselves sound pretty laid back and nice.

Perhaps this may work better for some instead of doing a kramer-mod or cutting a hole in the foams.

Edit: As some may know, if you take off the grills, the treble becomes unnaturally high/harsh and brittle. Some like to drill more holes into the grills to let out more treble, e.g. the kramer-mod.

Anyways after putting on these mess grils, the treble becomes natural again, rolling off naturally. After having listened for a few hours to all sorts of music whether classical, jazz, acoustic guitar, electronic, instruments sound natural, and best of all these phones have really become non-fatiguing, and you can listen to them for hours without having to take a rest.

IMG_7750.JPG
 
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