Good Budget Headphones

jpcjr

jpcjr

jpcjr
Hi all,

I was wanting some help finding some budget headphones. I am in no hurry to purchase (gotta recover from purchasing a second receiver and speakers)

I currently have I guess you could say super budget Sony MDR-ZX300/RED. And am looking for something that will have great sound/comfort. I kind like the looks of the JBL J88/J88A and Klipsch Image One II.

Any suggestions are welcome, I am open minded as long as its under $150 :banana:
 
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In the past 35 years or so Ive owned several pairs of AKG K240 headphones.Comfortable,and sound pretty darned good.Still a studio standard,and available online for around $100.
 
+1 on the ATH-M50's they are nice sounding

however they have a lot of clamping force... which some may find a bit much

I put Shure 840 earpads on my M50's which i think makes them sound better (slightly better isolation) and perhaps tames the bass a bit.. with the stock pads the m50 have a lot of bass ... they don't not have a good amount of bass with the 840 pads but a slight bit less.

mainly the comfort is better i think ...
 
these I have owned for nearly 2yrs now...

these are staggerlingly good for the $33 i paid for them JVC HA-RX700...I think these really are just very good price not withstanding..

$40~ now

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-P...82257555&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=jvc+harx+700



some other budget ideas...


Takstar HI 2050

http://www.amazon.com/Takstar-Monit...e=UTF8&qid=1382257711&sr=1-2&keywords=takstar


or

Gemini DJ HSR-1000 (basically Takstar Pro80s)

http://www.amazon.com/Gemini-DJ-HSR...e=UTF8&qid=1382257777&sr=1-3&keywords=takstar


could also consider used...

I have to wait till the end of the month for them to be legally clear for sale (ca law) but I have a DT 770 Pro 80s on hold getting them in excellent condition for $80

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-770-PRO-80-ohms/dp/B0016MNAAI
 
Good short list read the reviews I have the KRK, Senns, and AKG all are good
the Sonys are used by many professionals good reviews also lots of folks like the
MDR V6 and then 7506 try to hit up guitar center or somewhere and give these all a listen.
see this :http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan10/articles/studioheadphones.htm


Sony MDR V6 good reviews supposed to be very good never heard them myself

Sony MDR 7506 good reviews same as above some prefer the V6 never heard them myself.

KRK Kns 8400 I own these
KRK are accurate not bass monsters but fairly clean forward midrange good for tracking can be harsh and fatiguing when loud.



AKG K240S AKG I own these
is good all around good bass airy highs neutral and uncolored semi open back I prefer closed back definitely listen to these though


Sennheiser HD-280 PRO I own these
Senns is between AKG and KRK as for being warm or strident good Phone excellent all arounder musical.

Audio Technica ATH M50 supposed to be one of the best in price range .they sounded very good in store almost bought them still might definitely consider these they will added to the stable here
cnet says The bottom line: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are among the best available for less than $200, offering excellent sound and build quality.


Shure SRH440 IIRC OK reviews SRH 840's are supposed to be much better (very good) but cost more never heard them myself
 
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+1 on the Grados. Grados have a distinct sound that you generally either like or not. I love the sound - started out with SR-60's with the changed earpads mentioned above. I moved up the line eventually but I still remember the SR-60's great sound.
 
There's a lot of good headphones in "budget" category from Grado, Sennheiser, AKG, Audio Technica, Sony, etc... It's just a matter of finding the right combination of comfort and performance for the dollar. The biggest problem is finding a shop to try the various phones.
 
I've loved my Sony MDR-V6 (MDR-7506) headphones since day 1. Still use them as location recording monitors.
 
djmtascam said:
Go listen to a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50....nice cans!
Click to expand...

I have checked this out on youtube and amazon, maybe guitar center will have them. Don't know many places in AL to get headphones other than bose or beats. :sigh:

2DualsNotEnough said:
In the past 35 years or so Ive owned several pairs of AKG K240 headphones.Comfortable,and sound pretty darned good.Still a studio standard,and available online for around $100.
Click to expand...

Those look really good too, hmm this is going to be a tough choice, especially after looking up some of the Grado's that are being mentioned.
 
Robinhawaii said:
Jpcjr:

How are you going to use them? That may have an impact on the recommendations you get.

Take care,

Rob
Click to expand...

I will mainly use these around the house to listen to FM/vinyl through the SX-750. Or my DAC plugged into the computer through the 750.

That way I can be a night owl and not upset the neighbors. :music:

The Sony pair I currently use will be demoted to use on my Droid 4 when on the go.
 
atarione said:
+1 on the ATH-M50's they are nice sounding

however they have a lot of clamping force... which some may find a bit much

I put Shure 840 earpads on my M50's which i think makes them sound better (slightly better isolation) and perhaps tames the bass a bit.. with the stock pads the m50 have a lot of bass ... they don't not have a good amount of bass with the 840 pads but a slight bit less.

mainly the comfort is better i think ...
Click to expand...

I've tried many of the budget phones mentioned above and still own a few. Find it very hard to say ONE is the best because they all do somethings well and somethings not as well? Very very subjective this sound thing! But I will say that I don't understand this comment about AM50 clamp force because after a while the Technicas get very LOOSE on the head and threaten to fly off if you start shaking your head to some tune. lol

Wish they had MORE clamping force like the Digitech Pro Monitors. Now those have CLAMPING force!

I should add that my head is on the larger side, not huge but big.

Sonys, decent bass, fairly flat, prominent mids (forward), highs can get a little harsh

Shures, generally a fairly BRIGHT phone but you'll hear most of what is there. Not a lot of bass!

ATH-M50s, a nice all arounder with bass and high emphasis, slightly recessed mids.

Brainwavz, Digitech Pros, Fischer, etc., very flat, very flat, not much emphasized, Clean sound, good tight bass but no kick. Detailed highs--quasi-sennheiser-like mids.

Takstar, more bass than the Brainwavz, a bit more sound stage (semi-open back). OK mids, good highs. A bit deceptive. Better with some genres than others.

IMHO, which of the above is the "best" will depend on your ears and your taste in music. I don't see a clear winner?

cnh2
 
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I like the Sennheisers also. This will be tough, at least I am asking the experts. :D

I am just trying to read reviews for each of the suggestions.

I know what I am listening to may make a difference, but I listen to a little bit of everything. lol

Anything from AC/DC to Beatles, Billy Joel, Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Metallica, Genesis/Phil Collins, etc.

Doing lots of reading/watching videos now, never heard of most of the brands brought up so thank you for introducing it all to me.
 
Takstar HI2050s are an amazing value. By far the best budget headphone I've heard. Easily worth twice the going price.

cubdog
 
frankxbe said:
Good short list read the reviews I have the KRK, Senns, and AKG all are good
the Sonys are used by many professionals good reviews also lots of folks like the
MDR V6 and then 7506 try to hit up guitar center or somewhere and give these all a listen.
see this :http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan10/articles/studioheadphones.htm


Sony MDR V6 good reviews supposed to be very good never heard them myself

Sony MDR 7506 good reviews same as above some prefer the V6 never heard them myself.

KRK Kns 8400 I own these
KRK are accurate not bass monsters but fairly clean forward midrange good for tracking can be harsh and fatiguing when loud.



AKG K240S AKG I own these
is good all around good bass airy highs neutral and uncolored semi open back I prefer closed back definitely listen to these though


Sennheiser HD-280 PRO I own these
Senns is between AKG and KRK as for being warm or strident good Phone excellent all arounder musical.

Audio Technica ATH M50 supposed to be one of the best in price range .they sounded very good in store almost bought them still might definitely consider these they will added to the stable here
cnet says The bottom line: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones are among the best available for less than $200, offering excellent sound and build quality.


Shure SRH440 IIRC OK reviews SRH 840's are supposed to be much better (very good) but cost more never heard them myself
Click to expand...

Like i have said been doing a lot of reading, I will agree with cnh2 about some Sonys having the highs a little harsh.

And I like the way you have described the KNS ones. I'm going to try to go to guitar center or bailey brothers soon and see if they have some of these to give them a listen.

Hoping I won't be dissapointed with the selection. I am used to AL not having many options.
 
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