Is it worth spending $90 for headphones?

[THClord]

I want to upgrade my stock "ipod headphones," but I don't know if I should buy a really good headphone, or sacrifice some quality and get a cheaper one.

Newegg.com - SENNHEISER CX400B Canal Black Noise-Isolating Headphones (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826106178)

[zeitgeist]

If you got money just laying around, I would. Although I do feel you could find a better deal for the same quality. Look around some more first

[jimmy8778]

i agree about if you just have money, i wouldnt spend 90 on a set of headphones unless i had a good 5k sitting around and needed to be spent. I personally think that the iPod headphones are of good quality, atleast they used to be, and i dont know if they still are, but the soft ones that apple makes, with the little soft rubber thing instead of hard plasitc would be better, and those are only about 20 or 30 last time i checked, a much more reasonable price for a set of earbuds, and if you turn it up enough you dont hear the kids on the bus, thats what i did. Now i have a car, and some logitech headphones that are rather soundproof.

[psteve]

Absolutely, yes.
I've worked my whole life in recording studios, and good comfortable headphones are one of my most essential pieces of equipment.
When I go into a different studio, the one thing I always bring is my own headphones.
And yes, you can get good quality headphones for around $90

[Breukelen advocaat]

I voted "go for something cheaper". Grado has iPod headphones for $49, that some people claim sounds better than most any iPod cans, including the Sennheisers and others that cost over 100 dollars.
Grado - I-Grado iPod/MP3 Headphones-Audio Advisor (http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=GRIGR)
Amazon also has them listed.

I don't have the Grado iPod headphones, but I do own a full size professional Grado headphone, and their headphone amp. The Grado phones aren't the most comfortable to wear, but their sound is first-rate. If I ever need new phones for use with portable playback equipment, I wouldn't hesitate to get Grado's smallest model.

[ghosty]

I wouldn't spend $90 on a pair of earbuds, I'd rather get some studio monitoring headphones. However... A decent pair of headphones is usually worth the money in sound quality. Senheiser makes some pretty good products. Some headphones can run up into the hundreds, and many of them are actually worth the price. The sound quality in a pair of higher grade headphones makes a world of difference over the stock ones.

[jimmy8778]

oh, i just remembered this thing i read out of a handymans magazine once, its more of a hobbyist do it yourself magazine but here it goes, get a pair of soundproof earmuffs, like what construction workers wear. And get a pair of cheap, overthe ear, headphones, but the ones that are seperate, without the headband, drill a hole to allow the wire through and glue the headphone in the ear pocket, the sound quality on even cheap headphones is nice, its just that there is too much background noise to hear very well, this eliminates the background noise, and are very comfortable.

[psteve]

oh, i just remembered this thing i read out of a handymans magazine once, its more of a hobbyist do it yourself magazine but here it goes, get a pair of soundproof earmuffs, like what construction workers wear. And get a pair of cheap, overthe ear, headphones, but the ones that are seperate, without the headband, drill a hole to allow the wire through and glue the headphone in the ear pocket, the sound quality on even cheap headphones is nice, its just that there is too much background noise to hear very well, this eliminates the background noise, and are very comfortable.:wtf: Don't try this at home. Get a pair of real headphones.

[silkyblue]

are ya kiddin me !


Don't try this at home. Get a pair of real headphones.
__________________



spend the monies it will be worth it in the long haul on yo ears, we only get one set, of ears, ) (

[StickyfingahZ]

I just bought me a pair of skullcrushers and they were about 80 bucks and they got th is bass switch that hits Bob Marley's "Stir it up" just awesome.
I always thought that song was about smoking...you know"I'll push the wood,blaze your fire,and then I'll satisfy your,hearts desire,all you got to do baby,is keep it in it,so Stir it up"
lol

[zeitgeist]

I do need to buy some better headphones also. I havent heard some good bass in years. But my cheap ass sure as hell wont be spending $90 LOL

[Mississippi Steve]

Don't waste your money on more of the same as what you got, and get a *REAL* headset. For 30% less money your can get one of these;
Koss PRO4AA Headphones - Yahoo! Shopping (http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Koss%20PRO4AA%20Headphones:1990334619;_ylt=AkWS8 i5iJpqlDg.sHnSfUh71SHAD;_ylu=X3oDMTA4ZXVyOWdvBHNlY wNyZWNv)

[psteve]

For 30% less money your can get one of these;
Koss PRO4AA Headphones - Yahoo! Shopping (http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Koss%20PRO4AA%20Headphones:1990334619;_ylt=AkWS8 i5iJpqlDg.sHnSfUh71SHAD;_ylu=X3oDMTA4ZXVyOWdvBHNlY wNyZWNv)
Don't do it.
Koss headphones are one of the worst brands on the market.
Look at Sony Professional series, Sennheiser, Akg, or even Bose would be much better than Koss.

[McLeodGanja]

My iPod headphones lasted about a year :(

[ghosty]

I need to get a pair of new good headphones, especially cause I'm going into producing... My birthday is coming around soon, perhaps I could ask for some.

[jimmy8778]

bose headphones

[Metaphor]

i know not everyone likes having relatively large headphones but i would never spend 100$ on earbuds. that just seems like a waste. I had the bose in-ears before and they crapped out in less than 3 months. never again.

i have been eyeballing these though, just not quite sure if im ready to shell out the dough. Amazon.com: Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJIF4E/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3CJ9DMU7WX88A&colid=231CUT5GCK6TX)

[stinkyattic]

Good headphones (I like a larger studio-type earpiece) are an investment in your hearing. Cancelling out other noise so you don't have to turn the volume up so high will be better for your ears in the long run.

[psteve]

i have been eyeballing these though, just not quite sure if im ready to shell out the dough. Amazon.com: Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AJIF4E/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3CJ9DMU7WX88A&colid=231CUT5GCK6TX)
This is what I use most often. They are excellent for all kinds of situations.
I love my 7506's :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I've had them for over 6 years and they're still going strong.

[b0Ng h!tz 4 mE]

heh get some decks 2 go with it lol

i ussually spend a tener on a pair of headphones and they can last me awhile but obviously if ur lookin 4 quality sure spend 90 buck-a-roo's on sum headphones def

[Breukelen advocaat]

This is what I use most often. They are excellent for all kinds of situations.
I love my 7506's :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I've had them for over 6 years and they're still going strong.

The most annoying thing about today's portable equipment is that you can't get a CD walkman with a dedicated line-out jack. I've got a Panasonic SL-320, from the 1990's, that has one, and it sounds great when plugged into a headphone amp, my Tivoli radio, or even a full stereo rig. I'm very careful with that Pannie - it' over 10 years old and I'm going to mourn the day it dies. It can play everything I've thrown at it, unlike my SlimX, which is fussy with CD's.

I don't know anything about iPods, but I think that most of them also use a cheap op-amp for their headphone jack.

Don't do it.
Koss headphones are one of the worst brands on the market.
Look at Sony Professional series, Sennheiser, Akg, or even Bose would be much better than Koss.
For the most part, I agree with you about Koss.

I have the Koss ESP/950 Electrostatics, and they're fantastic - and sound even better when powered by batteries in the source equipment and the supplied amp. The only drawback is the amplifier, which is built kind of cheap. But, the product is guaranteed for life. I've never needed to send the phones, or the amp, back to Koss for repair or replacement.

[Mississippi Steve]

I don't know anything about iPods, but I think that most of them also use a cheap op-amp for their headphone jack.

For the most part, I agree with you about Koss.

I have the Koss ESP/950 Electrostatics, and they're fantastic - and sound even better when powered by batteries in the source equipment and the supplied amp. The only drawback is the amplifier, which is built kind of cheap. But, the product is guaranteed for life. I've never needed to send the phones, or the amp, back to Koss for repair or replacement.


I have both Koss Pro4AAA and Koss VFR-Technician headsets... both are over 30 years old and are still in top condition, never a problem with either, ahd you can get replacement ear cusions for them.

[slantedcorners]

bose headphones

Agreed. I got a pair over the summer, they cost $125 but I absolutely love them...noise cancelling so you can hear the music better and it's handy for loud places (I live in London so you can imagine, I wear them most of the time when I'm walking around, regardless of whether I'm listening to music or not).

I can't stand earbuds...I had some for a bit and took out my tragus piercing cos it couldn't fit (although they usually don't anyway) and now I regret it, I really liked that piercing.

[psychocat]

IMO you can't get better than Sennheiser headphones. :thumbsup:

[Mr. Clandestine]

I got a pair of decent Koss titanium studio headphones (PRO4AA) a couple of years back. They're comfortable as they can be, have a detachable 1/4" stereo plug that screws into a 1/8" headphone jack, great lows and clear highs, and actually look halfway decent, too. They were about $169 retail when I bought them, but that was a few years ago and you can probably pick some up now for under $100. Mine have been used and abused, but they still sound terrific. I've actually got a pair of super expensive AKG headphones (K601 model) that have never even been taken out of the box... simply because I love the Koss so much. I use them in my Mackie ONYX1220 (studio mixer) and then unplug the 1/4" jack and take them with me to listen to on my iPod. And I'll probably keep wearing them until they quit making sound.

[JeffersonBud]

Never understood why people don't invest in good earphones. You spend a lot of money on an ipod and enjoy listening to music right? Are the headphones not the most important choice when using these two items together? Thats why I have these...
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takes 300 hours to burn them in. I think I am on hour 40 something

[smok3y]

Yea its defo worth spending the money on a good pair of headphones... :jointsmile:

[fiddyonefiddy]

Good headphones (I like a larger studio-type earpiece) are an investment in your hearing. Cancelling out other noise so you don't have to turn the volume up so high will be better for your ears in the long run.

this is the reason for good headphones,also you will here more stuff you never heard before. and 90 bux is cheap for a set of good headphones.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I want to upgrade my stock "ipod headphones," but I don't know if I should buy a really good headphone, or sacrifice some quality and get a cheaper one.



Sacrifice? Not necessary! I'm a major audiophile and right now I'm listening to tunes on some $20 headphones, and the sound is abstolutely perfect (for what I'm looking of anyway). If you're only looking for earbuds to keep in your pocket, then maybe you will have to go expensive. But if you're willing to get some nice big headphones, you can get something with beautiful sound for less than $30.

Many of these ones over a hundred dollars are only that expensive because they play an array of frequences that "lower" headphones can't reach. The rediculous facter here, though, is that those extra frequencies you're paying for are outside the range that regular people can hear. Yeah, the corporate world sucks.


Right now the headphones I'm listening to are called "EXCEL international electronics - CDS850". Like I say, $20 and fantastic. Otherwise I recommend going with something from KOSS; they make great headphones as well.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Good headphones (I like a larger studio-type earpiece) are an investment in your hearing. Cancelling out other noise so you don't have to turn the volume up so high will be better for your ears in the long run.


I completely forgot about this; good point stinkyattic! Protecting hearing is a good investment too; although I never seem to get damaged hearing from all my loud music (had it tested a couple times).

[zeitgeist]

I just got studio type BOSE headphones from my mom. I think they were like 50 bucks. OMG, Im in love with music all over again. I cant wait till I smoke with these on

[Euphoric7]

I have the CX300 version of those headphones; they slip out really easily. And the only way to get ANY bass is to have a PERFECT fit (suction). When they work, they sound amazing; too bad a slight nudge can pull 'em out.